Upgrading a Peavey Reactor

I recently bought a mint condition Peavey Reactor – a made in USA Fender Telecaster copy – for $125 on craigslist (see here: http://tonewarrior.blogspot.com/2009/12/peavey-reactor-great-telecaster-copy.html). These are very nice guitars for the money and are ideal platforms for a wide range of upgrades.

While the guitar played really well, the stock pickups were fairly average in tone so that’s where I started. There are so many fantastic high-end pickups around from the likes of Lindy Fralin, Don Mare, Lollar and Kinman, but as this would not be my main guitar I decided to go with a more economical choice. I wanted a traditional ‘50s Telecaster tone so I selected a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rhythm STR-1 and a Seymour Duncan Vintage ’54 Lead STL-1. I am very happy with the results.

The STL-1 is a vintage-correct reproduction of 1954 Tele lead pickup and is well suited for a wide range of styles, from traditional country, country pop, chicken pickin', rockabilly, blues, and blues-rock. The STR-1 is a vintage-correct reproduction of 1954 Tele lead pickup that delivers a twangy, bright and biting sound. The Seymour Duncan web site states that the rhythm (neck) pickup should compliment the bright twang of the lead pickup with a smooth and open tone, warm lower-mids and airy highs. I agree and these pickups work well together. Compared to the stock pickups they are louder, fuller, and much more articulate (less muddy) – especially the neck pickup.

While I was at it, I also decided to upgrade the electronics. I have been interested in trying a 4-way switch for some time and this was a great time to experiment. I replaced the stock 250k pots with 500k pots because I wanted a really bright sound and added a Sprague Orange Drop 047µF Capacitor. I also dropped in a 4-way switch, which was wired in this manner:

• Position 1: neck/bridge pickups in series
• Position 2: neck pickup
• Position 3: neck/bridge pickups in parallel
• Position 4: bridge pickup

These upgrades have made a huge sonic difference. This Tele really rocks now and delivers great twang and bite. Play with some gain and this little guitar is a blues-rock monster. Position 1 is absolutely killer. It sounds incredibly rich, combining the fullness and power of a humbucker, but with the nuances of single coils.

Cosmetically I also made a few changes to improve the guitar’s appearance. I ordered a custom cut pearl white pickguard from Chandler guitars (unfortunately the more cost effective standard Telecaster pickguards do not fit the Peavey Reactors). I also added two new black knobs with pearl tops ordered from Stewart MacDonald. This guitar now looks as good as it sounds.

So for about $350 I have a great Telecaster that I would put up against all imports without hesitation and even some of the U.S. made Fender Telecasters that start around $799.

Peavey Reactor - Great Telecaster Copy

I love Craigslist. I just picked up this Peavey Reactor for only $125. These typically sell for $200-$300 on eBay and this one is in mint condition so I would expect it to sell near the top of that range. There is literally not a scratch on it and no fretwear.

The Peavey Reactor is a really nice copy of the Fender Telecaster that was produced around '93-94 and is made in USA. It features a superb, fast playing and smooth two-piece maple neck and three piece poplar body. The pickups are decent and quite usable, but not great. The neck pup sounds rather muddy for my tastes, but the bridge pup delivers some nice treble tones and bite. With the current pickups, it is ideal for blues and rock, and although you could play country on it, it is not as twangy as you would expect compared to many of the Fender Teles.

I am planning on swapping out the pickups, getting a new pickguard, changing the pots and adding a 4-way switch for some more tonal options. I am noticing some tuning issues, so the tuners may have to go - or it could just be the old strings that I haven't changed yet.

For the money this is a great guitar with excellent build quality. It is certainly superior to many of the Mexican, Chinese, and Indonesian imports that are flooding the low end of the market and could give the USA Fender Telecasters a run for the money - if you upgraded the electronics. If you see one under $300, give it serious consideration.

I'll post pics of my upgrades when they are done.