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Peavey: Reactor vs. Generation EXP tele


stanfield

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Both are Peavey, both are tele models, what would you rather play?

 

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Should be a Generation EX to be fair (EXP = 3 p'up). Below are the Gen. EX specs - I believe the Reactor is now discontinued, but was similar to 1960's Telecasters with a thinner neck.

 

* 25 1/2" scale

* Alder body

* Three-ply pickguard

* Vintage-wound bridge and neck pickup

* Maple neck

* 21 vintage frets

* Single volume and tone controls

* Three-way pickup selector

* Ashtray-style bridge

* Vintage tuners

* 6-in-line headstock

 

Generation-EX.gif

 

The Reactor had single-string, non-barrel saddles in the bridge. String-thru body, I've read both Poplar and Alder. Apparently Peavey discontinued the USA-made Reactor and went with an inferior Asian made version. Perhaps this is where the wood changed?

The Reactor's neck was 22-fret, all maple. Bolt-on. I've seen two different headstocks, one with 'smoother' lines. The body of the Reactor was also closer to a traditional Fender Telecaster, and not as rounded as the Gen. EX model.

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Well I've owned a Reactor and I let it go. That's the only one that makes me wince a little. I also let one of those 3 pickup tele's go. Great sound, nice player ... don't miss it though. Figured I could get another if I wanted to. But..... although I haven't formally introduced her, I now have a Generation Ex and I think she's the balls! Barking tele tones!! Great feel and great tone!

 

Peaveygenex01.jpg

 

And she's quite the looker!

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Frets, glad you popped in. Care to briefly compare the Reactor and Gen EX? Specifically the necks and pickups.


Sweet looking axe btw, I really like the blonde/black colour scheme on any tele.

 

The two were a bit different. The reactor I had was the 2 dbl rail version which had a thicker tele tone. Swamp ash body and a rosewood fretboard. It was a formidable axe. The high E string had a tendency to slip off the board the way I played. Probably an easy fix but..Other than that, tonewise and playabilty, it was great! Phat tone. I could use it for anything.

 

This one is vintage Fender tone. Depending on amp setup, I can hear Paisley tone, Buchanan tone. I love this neck. As nice a neck as I've ever played on. body is alder and neck is maple. I am very impressed with the pickups. The neck is glorious. The bridge can grab those spank highs without piercing an ear drum.

 

bigA.jpg

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I played a Strat-style EXP today and was not impressed, but I can only assume Peavey has used multiple manufacturers in their oversea endeavours? This particular one was MIC.

I also played a New York Pro traditional Tele-style, and I would not recommend them. The pocket was not level, and not 90 degrees with the bridge. The hardware looked like chrome-plated zinc (junk). Not surprising from a $150 copy, but too bad.. I kind of dig the headstock :cool:

 

HW1 - Those triple P90 Peaveys look so nice, I've yet to see one in person. Some day...

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I played a Strat-style EXP today and was not impressed, but I can only assume Peavey has used multiple manufacturers in their oversea endeavours? This particular one was MIC.

 

 

 

I had the same experience. Before I go into "the piezo thing," I had purchased a Peavey EXP Tele. I loved it, and when I got a chance to buy the Strat EXP, I was very excited.

Man, that guitar was total disappointment.

 

Another thing about Peaveys, it seems, is not just the different manufacturers; it's the many permutations of each model.

The Gen EXP ACM, for example, has so many variations (revisions? improvements?) in the course of its evolution, that it's a bit difficult to figure out what you're getting at first--and it makes them extremely difficult to sell.

The Reactors, were all Tennessee-built. Right?

 

There is also a pre-EXP Generation series that is extremely sweet. I would recommend looking into them. (Someone posted a NGD thread about one in the not-so-distant past.)

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  • 12 years later...
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I have an early Reactor. I use a Tonerider Hot scatter-wound bridge pickup and Fender Fat '63 neck pickup. I went to a Joe Bardon "ashtray" with intonated brass barrel saddles (installed bridge, set string height and intonation was dead on!!!) which changed string spacing to 2 1 /8" to get rid of the "Modern" 2 3/16" spacing. Also put in new Switchcraft  3-way switch and jack, plus CTS pots with a no-load for tone. It is better sounding than any Tele I've ever owned! The Poplar body gives it a "tone of it's own"!

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