Peavey T-60

If you've read any reviews or seen the guitar, you already know the features (22 frets, 2 humbuckers with a volume and a tone control for each, plus a phase switch, called by my local guitar adjustor "the mystery switch"). Unlike most T-60s--including the one I bought in 1983--the one I have now is *not* heavy as a tank: the upper part of the body has been slimmed somewhat, making the guitar thinner and lighter than usual. Let me stress that this is how the guitar was manufactured, not a private job. I had heard that late-model T-60s were lighter than earlier, but I had never seen one until recently.

The neck feels good (rather thin, just right for smallish-handed guys like me), and the maple neck and fingerboard let you simply *fly.* The construction all the way around is solid, and the neck-tilt adjustment option (through the neck plate) is a godsend.

My only two complaints: 24 frets would be nice, and the torsion rod in the neck takes an actual socket-type wrench rather than the standard allen wrench, which makes adjusting the neck bend mildly inconvenient.

Sounds fantastic, whether you want a Les Paul-type sound or a Strat-like sound. After foolishly parting ways with my original T-60 fourteen years ago, I searched high and low for another guitar with such versatility of sound, and I never found one until recently, when I bought another T-60. When the tone is cranked all the way up, the pickups sound like single-coils; when you back the tone down to about 7, they become humbuckers. And the "mystery switch," when you use both pickups together, creates a singularly cool sound.

It's doesn't--and can't--have the lowest action I've ever seen, but it works pretty well. Combine the neck-tilt, the torsion rod, and the adjustable bridge, and you've got multiple ways to adjust the action to the Nth degree, but for some reason I've never been able to get super-low action without some fret buzz.

As reported by so many others, it's a tank. In the event of nuclear war, cockroaches and T-60s will inherit the earth. I got my current T-60 through a pawnshop, and the bridge pickup didn't work and the phase switch was broken. Took it to the local guitar shop, where they popped in a new DPDT-type switch for the phase ($3.99 at Radio Shack), and the whole machine works and sounds like a brand-new instrument.

I've been playing since '83, and it goes without saying that if this guitar were stolen, I'd buy another one. But I'd do it SOON--the price of these things is rising steadily, as more and more people free themselves from the grip of the "cool factor" and realize what a solid and versatile instrument the T-60 is.

This was my first electric guitar, purchased new in 1983. It's gloss black with a black pickguard. I've plastered it with geeky stickers because it was so, well, black. Other reviewers have described it below, but to summarize the most relevant features:

* Pregnant stratocaster body style
* Weighs more than you do
* 2 Peavey toaster-styled "blade" humbuckers
* Tone controls that gradually tap one pickup
coil when turned from 7 to 10, yielding a bright
single-coil sound at 10.
* Phase reversal switch for the bridge pickup
* 2 piece bolt-on maple neck
* 25.5 inch scale with 21 medium frets
* Big tele-styled, string-thru bridge
* Included a custom-molded hard plastic case

The T-60 has a very neutral sound. While this means the guitar lacks a distinctive individual tone, it also allows for superb versatility. It sounds good either clean or distorted. In full humbucking mode, it does a good Les Paul impression, albeit somewhat brighter. With the coils tapped (tone on 10), it provides acceptable tones for country (recall that before EVH gave the company rock credentials, Peavey mainly catered to the C & W crowd), and it can do the Fender thing minus the extreme twang. Putting the pickups out of phase produces mondo quack -- which can be tempered by rolling back the volume on either pickup. The pickups' output isn't that hot by modern standards. The noise floor is quite low, even with the coils tapped.

I have no recollection of the quality of the original factory set-up. I have tweaked the truss rod, saddles, pickups, and neck joint so many times in the last 20 years that any deficiencies in its playability are probably my fault. That being said, there is a bit of fret buzz when adjusted to a medium-low action (4/64th on the high-E). Bends are easy, and artificial harmonics ring out nicely. The neck profile is on the thinner side, but not extreme. The bridge feels good against my palm.

It was designed during the height of the Cold War to resist a Soviet ballistic missile attack. The T-60 is indestructible.

No personal experience.

This is solid, functional instrument that won't impress those who care about brandname or expensive finishes. For everyone else, the T-60 was and still remains a tremendous value. From the other reviews, it seems that used prices are not much lower than the new price I paid 20 years ago.

I'm not sure when it was made but it looks to be fairly old and most of the reviews say late 70's to late 80's so that is when i assume it was made. It is a 21 fret guitar with a black pickguard. has three way pickup select for the 2 humbuckers. One for each and one for the middle of it. There is also another switch but i haven't figured out what it does for certain yet. It has two volume adn two tone knobs for the humbuckers. I think it has all the same Peavey manufactured parts on it i don't know how many owners its been through. It came with a hardshell case that is extremely durable, but has a weird smell.

I play mainly more along the lines of heavy metal and this guitar isn't suited in my opinion for it but don't get me wrong this is a pretty nice guitar. I am a beginner i have only been playing about a year but I am playing on a Fender(dont know the specs right off) and a Crate GX-15R. On the Fender it produces A LOT of Feedback when you turn it up over halfway on the lead channel, but other than that that is the only problem i have with it as far as sound goes. One las problem with it is the weight. This guitar weighs like 15 pounds or something. The guitar produces a wide variety of tones and sound that i am satisfied with.

I didn't get the guitar from the factory so i couldn't tell you about the original specs or if the original stuff is still on it but i have no complaints about most of the stuff on it. The only thing i don't like is this nut on the inside where the input jack is it comes lose adn i have to tighten it up every month or so.

This guitar can withstand a lot. It has taken quite a bit of punishment from me. It has fell over( I don't have a guitar stand) a few times and the only damage is a chip above the third fret. I am playing my first jig saturday and i am not going with a backup. THe finish is still pretty good for it being so old and everything hardware wise is still in very good condition. This is a very dependable guitar if you can withstand the weight.

Never have had customer support always repair myself.

I have been playing about a year this is my first guitar and I own a Crate GX-15R. I am currently working on getting a new guitar, but i am not getting rid of it. I hate the weight of it and the feedback at louder volumes. This guitar is very versatile though and sound pretty good.

I'm not sure when it was made but it looks to be fairly old and most of the reviews say late 70's to late 80's so that is when i assume it was made. It is a 21 fret guitar with a black pickguard. has three way pickup select for the 2 humbuckers. One for each and one for the middle of it. There is also another switch but i haven't figured out what it does for certain yet. It has two volume adn two tone knobs for the humbuckers. I think it has all the same Peavey manufactured parts on it i don't know how many owners its been through. It came with a hardshell case that is extremely durable, but has a weird smell.

I play mainly more along the lines of heavy metal

Mine has 21 frets. Volume and tone for each humbucker pickup. And another tone switch or some kind of shit.

Ok the sound, if you have the money to buy a good amp and effects, is great. Of course if you have the money to buy good amp and effects, you wouldn't buy this guitar. Their is a buzzing on Neck and Bridge pickups but with the selector in the middle and the tone switched to up (deep) it is ok.

The only problem I have had was the tone switch having to be replaced at the ripe old age of about 15. Also, my brother fell on the neck and broke the head off. It was a very rough and splintered break. NO REPLACEMENT NECKS AT ALL! I paid about $65 (US) to have it repaired and you never would have known it was broken..... until a week later. Wouldn't you know it, the thing fell over after I had set it up against the couch and split where it was repaired. Still holds a tune like it was new. YOU CANNOT KILL THIS GUITAR.

Never used them

If you have a little money to put into it, and you can play worth a shit, it's a wonderful guitar. A classic.

i have no idea of age,,i'm guessing ..80..but, yeah...its got 22 frets,,, sloid peice a tone here. i love it... tone+volume controls for each pick up, three way selector, and a ohase swtich... tone controls pickups ..at around 7, is the border from hum to sing..a dn phase only works on middle selector, since, u can't have apickup out of phase or in phase with, itself... oh yeah, heavey as junk, thin neck, un shakeble tuners.. did i mention this thing could kill someone if it fell on you..(doesn't sound right some times, can't play really heavy open power chords with light strings)(its a 10, but i don't feel generous)

umm.. from a strat to punk chugging les paul,, two twists and a switch.. its amazing,, first real nice tone i've had in a guitar.. first guitar tring to sound like itself,, real old.. nice 'nd quiet too. insulated electronics,.,i use a peavey classic chorus 130(not 212, different, not as versitile, but more,,,hard to explain) and i have metal zone.. with this set up,. i can easily knock stuff down in my room... or, a couple adjustments, and i have the butteriest clean sound every, or tone it down for nice muddy solos at about the 12th fret.. over all. this is the guitar..
(this is the guitar, heavy, but, the best tone i've played)(i'm not gettin a tele cuz of this thing)

well, i'm third marriage her, so, its been busted up a little, some dings, but, its got the kinda finish(natural) that doesn't show dings.. and it plays so nice....the action is really really low, like, any lower and it'd buzz, but its real good for fast stuff,,

this thing with break b4 it goes out of tune... my room mates droped it from his towering pinhead highth and its great.. better even, i recomend u throw it down the stairs a bunch if u have one
it improves tone

peavey, great company... they gave us the van halen sound... great online support, i have an old amp and guitar, (same time really) and i don't need to talk to anyone, they got the manual for free

been playing for 2 years learned my first song on this guitar (dave's had it for about that long) and as i develop in my skill, this guitar takes it to the max.. thats all i have to say

I bought my Peavey T-60 from a friend about two years ago and it has been a great guitar. This baby has two humbuckers with a phase switch. (I guess that is to turn them into singles) As for features this guitar is no too fancy. It is very heavy and resonates very well. It has 22 frets which have worn well for me.

It has good tuners on it and it will stay in tune through a hurricane. It has a fixed bridge which I like very well. I replaced the string saddles a few months ago because the old ones were breaking strings like mad. I put graphite ones on there and that made it a new guitar.

As for the body and neck, the neck I thing is mapel and I'm pretty sure the body is wood. I do know it is very heavy.

This guitar was my first one and I still have not got another one even though I play in some pretty hot bands now. If your starting out like when I got it or am playing with a team now it is a very good banjo. I give it a ten because I like the guitar, even though it is pretty basic.

I can play everything from metal to smooth jazz on this babe. The pickups are set so I can get a hot single coil sound or a smooth rhythm sound. Very good setup.

This one, I don't know about others, blares a bit when you get up on the higher frets with your bottom strings. (E A and D) I don't know what this is from but don't mind it too much.

I use it in church and for all the different sounds I need it works very well. A ten for sure.

I have my action very high. I found that I like the sound better up there. When I got it is was very LOW.

The guitar is comfortable to use, althogh hard on the back and neck when using a strap for a long period of time.

This puppy was made back when they made things good. (Before my time.) It was lasted well, and will last. Just by looking you can tell that. It is built great.

No idea. It's such a great guitar it probably wont need support, but since the age it might not have it.

Over all I give it an 11. I don't rattle off on stuff like this but this guitar I love. The hum on the high frets is kind of annoying but all the other features make up for it. If lost I would get another one ASAP.

This guitar was made in 1978. It is the first guitar ever made by Peavey. I cant figure out what kind of body it has. The online manual just says hardwood. The neck in maple and so is the fretboard. It has 2 humbuckers, 2 volume and 2 tone, a 3-way toggle switch for the pickups, and an interesting switch that puts the guitar "in phase". I never figured out what that means, but it only works when both pickups are selected. The neck is very easily to play and it has a fixed bridge, no Floyd Rose crap!

If you like to play classic rock, this guitar is for you. It has sort of an AC/DC type of tone. I haven't noticed any noise from the pickups since i've had this guitar. My step-dad bought it in 1978 when it came out. I play hardcore metal, so I don't use it very much. The thing that makes this guitar great is the phase switch. When both pickups are selected, the switch gives the guitar sort of a hollow sound which I think sounds unique. The guitar has lots of low end, and is also very bright when you use the bridge pickup. I'm currently running it through a Line 6 POD Pro and into a Mesa 20/20 power amp and out to a Marshall 4x12 cab.

Like I said, this guitar was bought in 1978 when the model first came on the line, so I don't know how it was when it was first bought. When I started playing guitar about 6 years ago, I had to get the pickup switch repaired. But the finish is still great, and i've never had to adjust the trus rod.

This guitar can definitely withstand a live tour. The body is so solid that I don't think it would even crack. Since it is so old, it would problably need to have the hardware serviced about every ten years or so. The finish seems like it would never come off. I problably bring a backup with me just in case, but I doubt that it would give out during a perfromance.

never dealt with them

I've been playing for 6 years now. I also own a Carvin bolt guitar, and Ibanez 7 string, a Fender P-Bass, and an Ibanez 5-string bass. If it was stolen, I would be heartbroken because of how nice it is. It is practically a piece of guitar history. Again, it is really designed for classic rock, not modern hardcore metal. It also works well with punk rock. Overall, it is a great ax!

Made in the USA, by all accounts. 21 Frets, 2 volumes, 2 tone, single/double coil switch, 3-way pickup selector. All original equipment (with the Peavey logos everywhere, no less). The adjustable bridge is nice, and the pick-guard covering the electricals makes working on it easy. The body is one solid mutha - a big hunk of wood that resonates well, except the neck is total crap. Stays in tune well. I pulled it out of the case after two years of sitting in the closet and it was barely a half-step out of tune. I have a T-40 hardshell bass case that I keep it in and it fits just fine.

Not exactly Seymour Duncan, but the blade pickups do have a classic sort of tone. I had to adjust them close to the strings to get a decent output. With .13 gauge strings it has better sustain than with the .11s or whatever I had left on it when it was in storage. In single-coil mode the tone is pretty crunchy with the axe tuned to open-G and the 6th string tuned another whole step down.

The action reeks because the neck reeks. I had to adjust the bridge and truss rod quite a bit to get rid of string buzz - and that's AFTER putting .13's on it. Some may like the glossed maple neck, but to me it feels like playing on snakeskin. I keep waiting for it to coil around my neck and trying to choke me. Still, if I can replace the neck, I may not be embarassed to play it in front of people.
The finish is trashed because 10 years ago a friend of mine sanded it down and put a horrifically graphic paint job on it, painting it white and splashing red paint over it, so when you're playing it you look like you've been disemboweled. The laquer has yellowed over they years, making it look positively gruesome. I may sand the entire thing down and put a clear coat on the bare wood if I ever get to it.

The frets are pretty worn, but other than being a bit on the dirty side (which polish fixed), the axe has survived mostly being locked up in a the closet over the years and innumerable temp/humidity changes. If you need a sturdy axe for your kid who is learning, want something unsual to tinker with when you don't feel like retuning your main axe, or if you just need a spare manhole cover, this axe will stand up to twenty-plus years of off-and-on use.

No idea.

I have a Peavey VTM 120 head and 5150 412 cabinet that I am very hapy with. That being said, Peavey tube amps are is a different class from Peavey guitars. I bought this off a friend who picked it up in a pawn shop, which is where it belonged at the time (back around 1988 or so). It's a cool, oddball old guitar that I keep because it was my first axe. Now, I have some nice axes, and this isn't one of them. But it's decent enough to hang on to, like an old AMC Gremlin you just can't let go of. If I ever get bored, I may rip it apart, put a decent neck on it, put some PAFs or something else unusual in it, and pretend it's not a Peavey. But like that old Gremlin, no amount of tinkering or nostalgia will free it of that dubious pedigree.

1979 USA Peavey T-60. 3 piece swamp ash body. 21 frets on a 25.5" maple neck with a maple fretboard. 2 volume, 2 tone(With concentric coil tap) and a phase switch. 2 Peavey "Toaster" blade-style humbucking pickups. Natural finish. Hard tail. Non locking tuners. The body shape is what I like to think is what would happen if a strat and a Les Paul has a baby. Lots of great features.

I play in a punk rock band, and the tones I get are perfectly suited for the style I play. You can get any type of sound you want to out of this beast. The pickups were a bit noisy, but after taking them out and cleaning them the hum decreased drastically. They still hum, but not too much. Very warm, buttery tone with the humbuckers on and a good tele-style snap with the coil tapped.

This guitar was made in 1979, so wear is expected. The three piece body is in great condition considering that it's probably been dragged around on stage for years. The first 3 frets are very worn, and I need to get them recrowned. The saddle height adjusting screws are rusted, but other than that it's great.

It's been said before: This thing is a tank. It's heavier than a les paul, and has twice the tuning stability of a Tele. I've had straps break on this thing, and after picking it up I discovered that the guitar was still in tune! I never like to gig without a backup, but if given no other choice I will.

Never had to deal with them.

I've been playing for 4 years. I also own a self-made Telecaster, and a Marshall JMP 50 MKII. If it were stolen, I would make it my life's mission to find the person who stole it and take it back, along with the fret hand of the theif. Definately my favorite axe.