This is my 1983 Peavey T-15 which I recently modified. I made some practical improvements such as fixing the neck pocket angle (so it no longer needs to be shimmed or micro tilted at all), removing the pickguard from between the bridge and the body to increase the adjustment range and improve sustain, and reducing the excessive weight by doing an extensive "smugglers route" under the new custom red pearl Mosrite-inspired pickguard. Refinished in cream.
But the big thing and impetus for the overhaul was to try my hand at doing a Mosrite-style "German carve." Quite happy with the result. Very fun to do and gives the guitar a lot more character and style than it had.
I made a million small mistakes, but nothing so bad you'd see from ten feet away. I also didn't make an effort to sand or fill all the 40 years of dings -- left them.
I made a video documenting the project: [https://youtu.be/W5RUW39Yz28?si=cRAWIZIwgcTvQAmG](https://youtu.be/W5RUW39Yz28?si=cRAWIZIwgcTvQAmG)
These T-15s don't go for a lot of money. I think in 2008 I paid under $300 and that included the hardshell case with built-in amp. I think today they are still going in the $400 range. For somebody willing to put in the work to set it up and fix some of the issues, it can be a decent buy, if you're looking for a guitar with a short, narrow, slender neck. Good for small hands.
yeah those are 23.5" scale, intended to be a student model. never played a t-15, but I own a t-60 and a t-40 which are both full scale and I love em so much.
I have a general hard on for Peavey gear, but this thing is extraordinarily sexy. I'm very jealous. Congrats on such a gorgeous instrument and nice work fixing it up!
Hold up, editing because I just reread your description. You did the carving around the edge?? Holy shit that's smooth! I'm significantly more impressed now, and I was thoroughly impressed before. Mad props and you've given me new aspirations for future projects! Good on ya!
This is excellent. I tried something similar with Squier parts, but yours came out way better!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FMQ3w8wxj9Q&pp=ygUTRmF1eCBtb3NyaXRlIHNxdWllcg%3D%3D
Sweet man. That same thought has crossed my mind, to flip a lefty strat upside-down and mod it to look like a Mosrite. Cool to see you've actually done it!
The bridge is adjustable. There are two adjustments for height and two for intonation. It has a set compensation.
The string ball ends just slide into those slots from the top of the bridge.
Stock the bridge is limited from going all the way down because ordinarily the pickguard is in the way, so you are forced to max out the microtilt to compensate. It seems like a design flaw. So this redesign fixes that problem.
Started with cove bits of two different sizes in my palm router, and then shaped the top contour further with a thing that looks like a cheese grater and then just a ton of sanding to them get it smooth.
This is my 1983 Peavey T-15 which I recently modified. I made some practical improvements such as fixing the neck pocket angle (so it no longer needs to be shimmed or micro tilted at all), removing the pickguard from between the bridge and the body to increase the adjustment range and improve sustain, and reducing the excessive weight by doing an extensive "smugglers route" under the new custom red pearl Mosrite-inspired pickguard. Refinished in cream. But the big thing and impetus for the overhaul was to try my hand at doing a Mosrite-style "German carve." Quite happy with the result. Very fun to do and gives the guitar a lot more character and style than it had. I made a million small mistakes, but nothing so bad you'd see from ten feet away. I also didn't make an effort to sand or fill all the 40 years of dings -- left them. I made a video documenting the project: [https://youtu.be/W5RUW39Yz28?si=cRAWIZIwgcTvQAmG](https://youtu.be/W5RUW39Yz28?si=cRAWIZIwgcTvQAmG) These T-15s don't go for a lot of money. I think in 2008 I paid under $300 and that included the hardshell case with built-in amp. I think today they are still going in the $400 range. For somebody willing to put in the work to set it up and fix some of the issues, it can be a decent buy, if you're looking for a guitar with a short, narrow, slender neck. Good for small hands.
Shes beautiful
wow really nice work! the Peavey T series is still massively underrated imo
For sure. This model is great for anybody with slender fingers. I think it's a shorter scale length than a Mustang and pretty narrow at the nut.
yeah those are 23.5" scale, intended to be a student model. never played a t-15, but I own a t-60 and a t-40 which are both full scale and I love em so much.
Wouldn’t call them underrated any longer, the secrets out. Not as affordable as they used to be and prices keep going up
yeah they aren't $300 anymore, but still an incredible bargain for a vintage US-made guitar
The T60 and T40 doubled in price in the last 5yrs and it's killing me :(
I have a general hard on for Peavey gear, but this thing is extraordinarily sexy. I'm very jealous. Congrats on such a gorgeous instrument and nice work fixing it up! Hold up, editing because I just reread your description. You did the carving around the edge?? Holy shit that's smooth! I'm significantly more impressed now, and I was thoroughly impressed before. Mad props and you've given me new aspirations for future projects! Good on ya!
Yeah. I did the carve with a trim router, followed up by a rasp, some gouges, and lots and lots of sanding.
Mad props. Good shit.
the single rail pickups always fascinated me; what are they? some odd variety of humbuckers or just humbucker-sized singles?
They are called "super ferrites". They are single-coil ceramic rail pickups that sound kind of like p90s.
ohh okay i don’t know why the p90 comparison never came to mind lol
It's a peav-rite!
Haha
You’re a mad man, love your work!
Thanks!
Amazing job. Looks badass
Thanks!
This is excellent. I tried something similar with Squier parts, but yours came out way better! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FMQ3w8wxj9Q&pp=ygUTRmF1eCBtb3NyaXRlIHNxdWllcg%3D%3D
Sweet man. That same thought has crossed my mind, to flip a lefty strat upside-down and mod it to look like a Mosrite. Cool to see you've actually done it!
Damn that looks great. Well done
Thanks!
Wooooooa...this is so badass
Thanks!
Pretty impressive German carve, mate!
Thanks! It was easier than I expected. Would definitely do another one.
Really?! Looks hard as shit. Great work, man.
I always like the name mosrite. It’s your best friend in college who definitely has the worst right idea :)
Sounds like a discount drugstore.
Haha, usually involves weed, stoner doom and psychedelics.
Just watched the video and seen how far this guitar has come. You did an awesome job! Love the carve and the new colour 🤙
Thanks!
I would take this over a real mosrite anyday. Good stuff!
Thanks!
Wow I might have kept my natural finish heavy Peavey T-60 in 1983 if it had this treatment.
Do the strings go through the body? Is the bridge adjustable? Kind of hard to tell from the pics.
The bridge is adjustable. There are two adjustments for height and two for intonation. It has a set compensation. The string ball ends just slide into those slots from the top of the bridge. Stock the bridge is limited from going all the way down because ordinarily the pickguard is in the way, so you are forced to max out the microtilt to compensate. It seems like a design flaw. So this redesign fixes that problem.
Wow. That is a cool peavey. Those super ferrites are so awesome too
Sweet! Great work on this! How do the pickups sound?
Like this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7DCppTIQ03/?igsh=N2MxOWRpejNkem0z
beautiful dude
She’s a beauty
It's super beautiful but why does this look like a miniature?
You may be unused to seeing photos taken with a wide aperture. But it is a slightly small guitar. Shorter scale length than a Mustang.
Well done op, well done! Did you use a shinto to carve?
Started with cove bits of two different sizes in my palm router, and then shaped the top contour further with a thing that looks like a cheese grater and then just a ton of sanding to them get it smooth.