The Rudy Sarzo signature bass guitar from Peavey stands out with its distinct character, offering a unique sonic palette that sets it apart, although it might not be considered the most versatile bass on the market. Its design is clearly influenced by the Aria SB-LTD bass famously used by Rudy Sarzo. However, while Sarzo’s Aria featured Alembic Activator pickups without filter-type EQ, the Peavey version took a different path. According to Rudy Sarzo in an interview, his preference was for Peavey to incorporate Alembic pickups, but Hartley Peavey opted to utilize existing Peavey designs and hardware, a common practice for the company.
This decision led to the integration of the Dynabass preamp into the Sarzo bass.
The pickups in the Peavey Sarzo bass are essentially modified T40 humbuckers. These are underwound to produce a more scooped sound with less emphasis on the midrange frequencies compared to standard T40 pickups. Housed in a different casing, these pickups are genuine four-wire designs, which unlocks a wide array of wiring configurations. Players can explore options such as coil tapping (single or both coils), and series or parallel wiring, significantly expanding the tonal possibilities of this Bass Guitar Peavey.
Experimenting with coil tapping on the Peavey Sarzo bass reveals interesting sonic textures. In particular, coil-tapping the neck pickup and blending it with the bridge pickup can noticeably open up the overall sound, adding airiness and clarity. This modification is easily achievable, especially if the active/passive switch becomes redundant due to aftermarket preamp installations like a Glock preamp, which often includes an active/passive pull switch on its volume control. Furthermore, the control cavity of the Sarzo bass offers ample space, especially when the original Dyna circuit board is replaced or removed, providing room for custom modifications.
Whether Rudy Sarzo himself ever owned a Peavey signature bass equipped with Alembic pickups remains uncertain. However, it is known that he possessed a five-string version that did feature Alembic pickups and, seemingly, an Alembic preamp as well. Footage from Whitesnake’s “Live in St Petersburg” video shows Rudy Sarzo playing a fretted version of the Peavey bass, which appears to be equipped with the Dyna preamp. Conversely, the lined fretless version pictured here likely showcases Alembic components, suggesting a customized instrument tailored to Sarzo’s preferences.
