Peavey Fury II

Bought this (barely!) used for ~$125 from ebay.

When it works it has a great sound, very playable. It stays in tune well, provided you're careful with it (why do all bass guitars have such huge tuning knobs?).

The electronics have been a huge problem for me. First the input jack wires came loose and then came off. The 9V battery (for the active pickups) clip wires have come off forcing me to manually clip the wires to the terminals. All kinds of connecting wires within the bass have come off as well. I have had a problem with the electronics of this bass at nearly every show I've played so far. I have to keep the back cover off because I need to tweak with the wires so often.

The musical components of this bass are solidly built. The neck is straight and plays well, the tuning components are very solid, all the knobs have stayed on and it looks pretty slick.

I cannot recommend this bass due to all the problems I've had with the electronics. It may just be this particular one that's giving me trouble, but unless you've got a warranty or you feel comfortable fixing the wiring inside the bass yourself I'd stay away. Definitely not reliable enough to play gigs with, but if you're only going to be using it to learn how to play at home you might think about getting one cheap because it plays so nice.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

(Originally written by BiXeR/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- This bass guitar was probably made in (South) Korea.

- 21 frets, one-piece maple neck with rosewood. The body shape is almost the same as a chamfered PB but much lighter (poplar, agathis?).

- Peavey dual-coil pickup in center position (see picture).

- 3-band active EQ plus volume control.

- Burst aluminum hardware, sturdy badass-type bridge, lubricated machine heads (they are very thin but they stay perfectly in tune).

I miss a pickguard in spite of the very high-quality varnish.

UTILIZATION

- Ultra slim neck (slimmer than a Jazz Bass!). It's flat and not very wide. In short it's very pleasant, for small hands too.

- Jazz Bass-like upper frets access...

- Very ergonomic instrument thanks to its lightness, perfect balance and pleasant neck.

- Very good sound with generous mids and lows. The active EQ doesn't allow you to get a twangy Jazz Bass tone even when the treble control is turned fully up. That comes from the humbucker in the center position. So this bass guitar is made for rock and reggae but it can also produce good slap sounds with the appropriate amp settings.

The 3-band EQ provides a wide range of sound possibilities. I'm always surprised when I see active basses with only two EQ controls, because everyone knows that only the mids shape the sound.

SOUNDS

- This bass is good for rock and heavy metal players. It's not as good for funk. In spite of the active pickup, the bass produces a vintage sound with an old Fender amp.

- The Fury 2 provides well-defined lows, and present, warm and natural mids (unlike an active Ibanez). Boosting the high frequency range allows the sound to cut through a mix (for walking bass parts, for example).

I give it 10/10 considering its price range! It's not an Alembic.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for some months and it does exactly what an old rocker like me expects of a bass guitar.

I love its lightness (you don't feel tired even after playing three straight hours).

I also own a passive Peavey bass and both have an identical sound range. But this one is half as heavy. With its very slim neck it's perfect for girls who don't want to play a short scale bass!

You should put on a heavy string set (45-100 minimum). I got it with light strings (90-30 or something like that)

It's a very good bass for people who want an affordable active bass with few controls. This bass has simple and effective controls.

Once again, this Peavey offers a very good value for money.

- Low presumably made Korea (South))
- 21 frets, stick a piece of maple, rosewood fingerboard. The body is roughly that of a PB chamfered and much lighter (poplar, agathis?)
- Unmute double Peavey (3 bands) single center position (see photo).
- 3 knobs active EQ & volume.
- Brushed aluminum fittings, bridge type solid Badass, mechanical oil bath, fine but keep the agreement in an exceptional way.
It lacks a pickguard, even if the varnish is very good (for my taste)

UTILIZATION

- Handle hyper-fine (more than a jazz bass!) Not very wide and flat. In short, very accessible even for small hands.
- Access to acute worthy of JB, with the heel that goes ...
- Ergonomics of its light weight, perfect balance and handle the most practicable.
- Its really good, in the register big full bass and midrange. Active equalization does not have the slamming of a JB even with the treble at the bottom. Blame the humbucker in the center position. A for use Rock-Reggae while working at the amp can slap a more than respectable.

That said, the 3-band EQ allows adjustment of the real. I am always surprised to see low active EQ with 2 knobs. Everyone knows that by acting on the mediums that hollow sound (or not).

SOUNDS

- Suitable for the good old Rock-Metal families. Slightly less for the funk. On an old Fender, it sounds very roots despite the active microphone.
- The Fury 2 delivers well-defined bass and midrange convincing without seeming "synthetic" or "cold" (like Ibanez active). Push the treble can get out of the mix on walking, for example.

10/10 for me. I say this every time, in this range of instruments. This is not an Alembic. Comparison is not right ...

OVERALL OPINION

Used in recent months, it fulfills its function perfectly for an old rocker who does not meet the Stade de France.
I love its light weight (pain-free after 3 hours) and the serious present.
I have another Peavey passive, they are worth the same in a register. This one weighs two times less. With mache too late, certainly a case for girls who do not want Short Scale!
A ride with real strings (mini 45-100). I got it with ropes momolles (90-30, exist? It was like that ...)
A great choice for those who want an active around € 250 without countless knobs. There is very simple and effective.
Again, Peavey has a very good compromise € € € / quality.