NBD Mahogany body Peavey Patriot

[godofthunder]

 I was making the rounds this past Saturday and came across a 1980's Peavey Patriot with a natural oil finish mahogany body, I sold these back in the day at the H.O.G. The mahogany body is one of the more unusual and pretty rare. The bass was filthy they didn't even clean it off but I plugged it in and everything worked so I plonked down the princely sum of $99.00 and brought it home.  These basses are super well made and were designed to go head to head with Fender and import basses of the day. The two piece maple neck reminds me of a 70's P, not thin like a Fury. The neck is straight as a arrow nice fret work it needed minimal tweaking to get it adjusted to my liking. The Super ferrite pickup is plenty loud, I have yet to try it through a worthy amp. I remember selling these new for about $180.00 I think that was a bargain even back then. The Patriot like the Precision is a no frills simple bass but it's execution is near perfect and more refined that the Precision. Another stellar sleeper from Peavey.

[ack1961]

Yup - I agree - they're simple and reliable and the Super Ferrite is a great little pickup.
I just sent my '85 mahogany Patriot to a buddy in Colorado who wanted to learn how to play bass.

I've owned most of the US-made Peavey's at one time or another (including your '90 Fury), but I've been on a selling frenzy since I lost my job. I'm down to just a small handful now: The Sarzo, Axcelerator, T-45, Foundation, Koa Unity & Forum.
The US Peavey basses are all pretty reliable instruments. The Sarzo is never leaving - I thought it was gaudy and kinda stupid looking at first, but after playing it, I fell in love with that thing.

[Dave W]

Can't go wrong at that price.

Peavey did use some mahogany but you don't see it that often.

[ack1961]

BTW, one of the rarest pictures you'll ever see is a Patriot that doesn't have a crack in the pickguard next to the output jack.

[godofthunder]

This bass has been sitting in the stand next to the PC so it has been getting a lot of use as I learn songs for my new band. Best 99 bucks I ever spent.

[Highlander]

That's silly money...

[Granny Gremlin]

Congrasts on the steal!.... is that neck joint plate backwards (i.e. is that 5th hole  a mount point for a strap pin)?

[godofthunder]

 That's for neck tilt adjusment.

[Granny Gremlin]

How is it that not all bolt on neck instruments have that - brilliant (do I ever hate making shims and trial error testing if they're thick enough).

[Dave W]

How is it that not all bolt on neck instruments have that - brilliant (do I ever hate making shims and trial error testing if they're thick enough).

Probably because some builders think you get better contact with shims than with a tilt screw.

[Granny Gremlin]

I would have suspected that there was more too it than just a simple screw.

[Dave W]

I would have suspected that there was more too it than just a simple screw.

IIRC it's similar to the Fender micro-tilt. The screw bears against a metal plate in the neck. I haven't seen one up close in a long time though so I could be remembering wrong.

[4stringer77]

It's a good feature and one that Leo championed at his last venture with G&L. The downfall was it's potential for making the necks susceptible to the dreaded ski jump when set ups were left to dunder headed owners or inept techs. Would rather have that type of set up than six bolts like the G&Ls have now. Nice hog P btw SD.

[dadagoboi]

It's a good feature and one that Leo championed at his last venture with G&L.

It was first used on 3 bolt Fender necks introduced in 1972 ('micro tilt' along with the headstock truss rod adjuster).  Also the original Sting Rays ('76) and then the G&Ls.  IIRC it was something Fender came up with BEFORE the company was sold to CBS.

Actually works better with a three bolt because it's less likely to distort the neck due to excessive tightening of the screw(s) closest to the tilt adjuster.

[Granny Gremlin]

Good info guys; thanks.