Help with restoring my Peavey TL-5 Tim Landers to original condition

[rmpn1985]

Hello everyone,

I own a Peavey TL-5 Tim Landers Signature bass from the early 90s. Mine is in good playing condition, but the hardware has been changed (currently black). I would like to restore it back to its original factory condition, with the correct gold hardware (bridge, tuners, knobs, etc.).

I am looking for advice from collectors or luthiers who are familiar with this model:

What were the original tuners used on the TL-5? (I know they are open-gear style, but I want to confirm the exact model/brand).

What is the exact bridge model and where could I find a gold replacement?

What type of knobs and potentiometers were originally used?

Any recommendations for sources (Reverb, eBay, specialist sellers) where I could find authentic parts?

I’ve already tried to contact Peavey customer service without success.

Here is a link with an apparently original model for reference:
 Peavey TL5 5 String Bass Active Pickups 90s Green With Case | Reverb

I would also like to hear tips on restoration (cleaning, refinishing, setup) that would help preserve originality and value.
Attached are some photos.

Any help, catalogs, or experience from other Peavey TL-5 owners would be highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

[AndyTravis]

@kodiakblairwill know everything 

[rmpn1985]

Thanks a lot @AndyTravis

[JPJ]

I’m afraid I can’t help with the restoration, but it’s a bloody lovely looking bit of 80’s bass you’ve got there 😍

[kodiakblair]

15 hours ago, rmpn1985 said:

What were the original tuners used on the TL-5? (I know they are open-gear style, but I want to confirm the exact model/brand).

 

You may be confusing the DynaBass ,which Tim Landers helped design, with his TL-5. The DynaBass and the 1st generation TL-5 share the same electronics and bridge. However where the DynaBass had both Schaller tuners and Schaller 3D bridges the 1st gen TL-5 only got the Schaller bridge.

 

Neither 1st or 2nd generation TL-5s had  'open gear' tuners, always mini tuners like Gotoh GB-7 & GB-707. They may have used actual Gotoh though it's not guaranteed, Peavey used Korean Gotoh copies for their premier model the US Cirrus.

 

15 hours ago, rmpn1985 said:

What is the exact bridge model and where could I find a gold replacement?

  For the 2nd generation TL-5, Peavey moved from the Schaller 3D to an unbranded bridge. I'm almost certain these were sourced from ABM in Germany. The black bridge on that green bass is an ABM bridge or a copy of one. Peavey used those bridges on the Cirrus and some later year 2nd gen TL-5s shipped with them.

 

Reason for the change was more practical than economic. 1st generation TL-5s had Peavey's Super Ferrite pickups. Designed for 4 string basses, they were not quite wide enough for a 5 string bass 😞 The Schaller bridge allowed players to tighten up string spacing for a more even signal. The 2nd gen came with an actual  5 string pickup which rendered adjustable string spacing obsolete 👍

 

There's a good chance that green bass has a stock bridge and tuners.

 

The 'rugby ball' jack socket plate is an addition, the original bass had a Switchcraft barrel socket. Like all barrel jack sockets it will have failed and I imagine some damage occurred while replacing it; hence the cover plate.

 

16 hours ago, rmpn1985 said:

What type of knobs and potentiometers were originally used?

 

 

  Knobs are 1/4" (6.35mm) solid shaft for the Vol and Balance,  1/4" with 1/8" top shaft for the tone pots.  If any pots fail I would look at replacing the entire EQ rather than attempting to solder new pot to the PCB.

 

Looing at your photos I think somebody has already tampered with the EQ section. You should have 2 dual pots, Hi/Low and Mid shift/Mid +/- . Could you provide a photo of the control cavity ?

 

3 hours ago, JPJ said:

it’s a bloody lovely looking bit of 80’s bass you’ve got there 😍

OP's bass is from early/mid 90's😀

 

 

Obligatory photo of my TL basses 🙂