Author Topic: Peavey B Quad 4 (Read 261 times)

bigbadbill · « **on:** October 09, 2005, 11:52:57 AM »

Has anyone spent any time with one of these basses? Only I've seen one in very good condition up for a pittance, and there are places I won't take the Alembic.......so I'm very interested. I've got some footage of Brian Bromberg using one and it sounds great. I'd be grateful to hear any comments.

muller1007 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2005, 03:36:23 PM »

I've actually played one of Brian Bromberg's personal B-Quads during a clinic he gave about ten years ago. The B-Quad is an incredible bass!! The sound is unbelievable (magnetic pickups and Piezos) and it plays like a dream, basically due to the light weight, fast neck, perfect balance and ergonomical design.

It's a great bass for relatively little money. I would love to get my hands on one, but they're hard to find. I might also go for the new Brian Bromberg bass, by Dean Guitars.

Check out the B-Quad on this (rather poor quality) video. Mind you, it takes a little time to load the file:

http://www.basslobster.com/videos/brian_bromberg.html

Btw, What footage of Brian Bromberg do you have???

Duncan

bigbadbill · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2005, 02:22:35 AM »

Hi Duncan! Many thanks for the reply and for the link, which is awesome! You played one of Brian's personal basses? How cool is that! I have to ask how it was set up.....

I did actually play one very briefly some years ago, but not enough to form an opinion. When they came out in the UK they were ?1999 (they were $1999 in the US, retail), and I've seen one in the UK before used for ?850, but the one I've just seen is only ?450 (around $800), which is less than the price of a mexican Fender; not bad for a bass with a Modulus neck and high tech electronics. I get the impression they were never that popular, which is a shame (although good if you can find a used one!).

The footage I have of Brian is from a German satellite channel, only one song (I don't even know what it is), but Brian takes a beautiful melodic solo on his natural B Quad; lovely tone and lyrical phrasing.

muller1007 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:48:27 AM »

Wow, 450 is a great price!! No doubt, go for it!!

I don't really remember how Brian's bass was set up. To be honest, I was so excited to play one of Brian's basses (while he played along on another B-quad!!), that I didn't pay enough attention to certain things I would have normally wanted to know. Afterwards I realized that. It was like having been drunk and not quite remembering what you did. What I do remember is that it was extremely easy to play, which assumes low string action.

Is there any way I can get my hands on that footage??? Can you possibly zip and email it to me:
duncan.muller@hccnet.nl

Thanks and good luck on your purchase. If you ever find another one for that price, or if you decide not to purchase it ;-) please let me know.

Duncan

bigbadbill · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2005, 12:25:57 PM »

Duncan, will do. I have a combo to sell first (potential buyer currently trying it out) but hopefully I'll be on top of it asap. If not, I'll let you know. I also believe the other one which I've seen may still be for sale, although that's likely to be much more. It has been sat there for ever though, so you never know; may be worth an offer. I'll try and find out just in case. The cheaper one is burgundy, the other teal.

With regards the footage, I'd love to send it to you but unfortunately it's just on VHS - I haven't yet made copies of all my music stuff to digital (haven't actually got the means yet). As soon as I do, I'll try and sort something out for you.

I can understand that you weren't paying attention to the set up; I didn't realise Brian was actually playing alongside you! I think I would've fluffed everything....although it would be a fantastic experience I can't think of much more terrifying! How inadequate would I have felt...

muller1007 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:36:37 PM »

Indeed, normally I would have felt inadequate too, but Brian is such a nice guy that you can't help feeling ok playing alongside him. He just puts you at ease in a natural way and takes you seriously when you make the effort of playing with him. Also, he did not overrule me with fancy playing, he just plucked the strings a bit, to make my bass part shine a bit more. What a great musician! It was an unforgettable (five minute) experience, especially as he is one of my all time favourite bass players.

If you know more about the other B-Quad, let me know. Coincidentally, the bass that I played was teal as well! Brian played his burgundy/purple one.

muller1007 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2005, 04:28:14 PM »

I would just about give my eye and teeth for a copy of that Brian Bromberg footage. Do you have the possibility to copy the VHS tape? I'd be happy to reimburse you for a copy of that tape.

Please let me know through email (see post above).

Thanks.

beelee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2005, 04:37:38 PM »

If you don't have Brian Bromberg's instructional video, pick it up its very good.

Brian is such a nice guy that you can't help feeling ok playing alongside him

That just goes to show you the caliber musician and teacher he is.

I wish he lived in my area or vice versa, it would be great to take lessons from him.

Peavey made some great basses, I used to have a Tim Landers TL-6 string, I picked up a 2nd one for a backup and used them for many years. I sold them both last year to get $$$$ for my custom Alembic 6.

I know Peavey made a 5 string version of the B Quad also. It would have been nice if they made a 6 !! being able to pan the strings in the stereo field was a neat idea Brian came up with.

Bruce

bigbadbill · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2005, 07:03:23 AM »

Duncan and Bruce, sounds like Brian is how a musician/teacher should be; very giving and supportive. Although I'm sure it's much easier to be like that when you're as good as Brian! I may have to look into that instructional tape, I didn't know he'd made one.

BTW Looks like my combo has gone, so providing it's still there and barring any mishaps I should be on for the Bquad...just got to get it past senior management somehow! Bruce, re the BQuad5, there was a fretless on ebay recently but the guy would only ship to the states (and I did ask), so I missed out.

Duncan, I'll e-mail you about the footage and see if I can find out anymore about the other B Quad if it's still there.

beelee · « **Reply #9 on:** October 11, 2005, 11:09:07 PM »

There is a B Quad up on Ebay now, GC is selling it here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PEAVEY-B-QUAD-4-DOUBLE-CUTAWAY-BASS-NR_W0QQitemZ7357318851QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know what other ones have been selling for, but I guess the price is kinda steep.

There are quite a few mistakes in the description:
22 frets....it has 24 !
Neck Thru....it a bolt on !
Neck Wood: Maple....Its Graphite !
Fingerboard: Rosewood....Its Graphite !

There may be more innacuricies but these are pretty hard not to see, nothing personal but it just goes to show you how cluless GC sales people are.

no mention of the piezos in the bridge either.

B.

bigbadbill · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:44:26 AM »

They're really good at this aren't they?

I saw that one last time it was up. Nice...not too steep for the UK, but then they don't ship over here. May have hit a snag with the other one...senior management doesn't approve. Unfortunately just bought a couple of Aguilar GS112s to help my back and it looks like that's all I'm allowed (!!!). Even though I was selling my combo.....sometimes this sucks. I bet Brian Bromberg doesn't have this problem!!! Anybody else have to go through this???

palembic · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2005, 05:33:39 AM »

Brothers

a similar story about senior management
.:+?^^*&(

+%^-*

?:=>:;

bigbadbill · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:42:02 AM »

LOL!!! You tell it Paul....we all feel it!

bigbadbill · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2005, 02:04:47 PM »

Duncan, did you get my e-mails ok?