Peavey TL-5

1991 USA made 5-string model sporting a multi-laminate thin profile maple neck w/ medium frets and a decent flamed maple body. Finished in decent golden transparent poly finish with gold hardware. Peavey light-weight tuners with strings running over a bass nut on a 34" scale leading to a heavy duty bridge. Two soap bar pickups running into a fully active 3-band EQ (9v).

Wide range of tonal variations w/ the 3-band sweepable EQ. Very little perceptable hum even at high volumes/ settings (some expected hiss with max. treble settings). Lots of string detail or huge bottom and even that Jazz growl depending on where you set the EQ/sweep (w/ flat amp EQ). Haven't used in studio. Decent B-string tone (using .130 string to get max. tension over the 34" scale). Output energy is decent.

Since I purchased the instrument used, it already has some minor "wear and tear" for a bass of this vintage. Thru neck construction is stable and provides low action. Could be even lower if I wanted to work a little more on the set-up. Intonation is very good for a bass of this caliber. Fit/Finish seems very good and quality of flame top is decent. Only probs. I've encountered have been a dirty EQ pot (cleaned/lubricated), a loose tuner and I had to readjust the pickup heights. Both probs were easily corrected. One other problem was that the preamp circuit board bottom does not have a barrier between it and a ribbon cable below. When I cleaned the pot and reassembled the circuit board, the ribbon cable came into contact with the bottom of the board creating some major noice/hum. To solve, I cut a piece of thin flexible plastic a placed between circuit board and cable/wiring. No problems since then.

I've only had this bass a few months, but have gigged with it--without a backup--with no problems. Its a solid instrument w/ great tone and flexibility. The instrument easily stays in tune during 4-hr. sets.

Never contacted or tried to contact Peavey. They have a useful website from which I was able to obtain an owner's manual. That's got to be good for something.

I've been playing out for about 6 years and share the Peavey with my 4-string Fender American Jazz. However, I'm finding that more and more I reach for the Peavey 5-string. During gigs w/ lots of other instruments playing out, it allows me to taylor my tone to cut-through even the loudest g*&%#r or keyboard. I've also had some favorable comments on the finish. The string spacing is a little tight, but that's probably because I'm use to my 4-string. It's a lot of bass for the value on the current used market. With the .130 b-string, I don't have a floppy b-string even over a 34" scale. Even with the additional tension, the neck is rock-solid.