This guitar is currently being added to the Back From The Dead Guitars catalog. Full specifications, restoration and upgrade details, condition disclosures, and additional photographs are still being documented.

Online purchasing is temporarily disabled until the listing is complete.

If you are interested in this guitar before the documentation is finished, please contact Back From The Dead Guitars for current details and availability.

Scale Length: 25.5 inches
Nut Width: 42 mm
Nut Material: Bone
Pickup Configuration: SSS (Three Ceramic Single-Coil Pickups)
Pickup DC Resistance:

• Neck: 5.90 kΩ

• Middle: 5.92 kΩ

• Bridge: 6.01 kΩ

Fretboard Radius: 12 inches
Weight: 6.59 lbs
Body Color: Black
Playing Orientation: Right-Handed
String Action at 12th Fret: 1.50 mm

X    Deep Cleaning

X    Electronics Cleaned / Tested

X    Tuners Serviced

X     Fretboard Cleaned / Hydrated

X     Neck Adjusted

X     Intonation Set

X     Setup Complete

X     Body Polished / Buffed

Upgrades and Modifications

New Components

• Hand-shaped and polished bone nut, replacing the original plastic nut.

• Two new Alpha A250K mini potentiometers.

• One new Alpha A500K mini potentiometer.

• New black PCB-style 5-way pickup selector switch.

• Gilmour neck-on switch for expanded pickup combinations.

• Treble bleed circuit to help retain high-frequency clarity at reduced volume settings.

• Two 0.022 µF tone capacitors.

• New Ernie Ball Regular Slinky .010–.046 gauge strings.

Reconditioned Components

• Tuning Machines: Upgraded to reconditioned 18:1 sealed die-cast tuning machines sourced from an Indiana-branded electric guitar.

• Tremolo Bridge: Upgraded to a reconditioned vintage-style tremolo bridge sourced from an Eleca electric guitar, believed to have been manufactured during the 2000s.

Electronic Upgrades and Modifications

The original electronics were removed and replaced with a revised wiring configuration designed to provide greater tonal flexibility and control.

The guitar's tone controls were rewired from the conventional Strat-style arrangement to provide dedicated bridge pickup tone control and shared neck/middle pickup tone control.

• Tone 1 (Middle Knob): Shared tone control for the neck and middle pickups. 

• Tone 2 (Knob Closest to Output Jack): Dedicated bridge pickup tone control, allowing adjustment of the bridge pickup's brightness.

• Gilmour Switch: An additional neck-on switch allows the neck pickup to be combined with the bridge pickup or with both the middle and bridge pickups, expanding the available pickup combinations.

• Treble Bleed Circuit: Installed on the master volume control to help preserve high-frequency clarity when the volume is reduced.

• Dual Tone Capacitors: Two 0.022 µF capacitors were installed, one for each tone control circuit.

• Cavity Shielding: Conductive copper foil shielding was added inside the body cavity to help reduce electrical interference and unwanted noise.

The internal wiring was also reorganized to provide a cleaner installation and improved serviceability.

Restoration and Installation Work

Nut and Tuning Machines

The original plastic nut was removed and replaced with a bone nut that was individually shaped, fitted, and polished.

The original covered tuning machines were replaced with reconditioned sealed die-cast tuners sourced from an Indiana-branded guitar. To accommodate the replacement tuners, the original mounting screw holes were filled, and the tuner holes were enlarged to accept the 10 mm mounting shafts.

The back of the headstock was then sanded and resealed to provide a clean, finished appearance.

Fretboard and Fretwork

The frets were crowned and polished to improve string contact and overall playability. The fretboard was cleaned and conditioned with lemon oil.

Body Restoration

The original black finish was restored using a two-stage polishing process with a dual-action polisher. This process helped restore the gloss and depth of the original black paint while preserving the existing finish.

Electronics and Shielding

The original electronics were removed from the pickguard, and a new mounting hole was drilled to accommodate the Gilmour switch.

The replacement potentiometers, 5-way selector switch, treble bleed circuit, dual tone capacitors, and modified pickup switching were then installed and wired.

Conductive copper foil shielding was added to the body cavity to help reduce electrical interference. The wiring was arranged and secured to provide a cleaner internal installation.

Final Assembly and Setup

Following reassembly, the upgraded vintage-style tremolo bridge was adjusted to a floating configuration.

The string action was set to approximately 1.50 mm at the 12th fret across all six strings. The guitar was then intonated and adjusted under workshop conditions.

Final testing was performed through an amplifier to verify proper operation of the pickups, 5-way selector, Gilmour switch, dedicated bridge tone control, shared neck/middle tone control, and master volume.

The instrument was also checked for fret buzz, electronic noise, and overall playability.

The Story Behind This Guitar

Peavey International Series Raptor I — A Second Chance

Some guitars spend their lives being played, cherished, and carefully maintained. Others enjoy a brief moment in the spotlight before being forgotten, tucked away somewhere to collect dust while the world moves on without them.

This Peavey International Series Raptor I appears to have experienced both sides of that story.

Its documented history begins in St. Paul, Minnesota, where it surfaced through Goodwill-Easter Seals in 2023. How it arrived there, who previously owned it, and the places it traveled along the way are mysteries that may never be answered.

But looking at this guitar, its age, and the condition in which it arrived, it's not difficult to imagine the life it might once have had.

Built for a New Generation

During the 1990s, American guitar manufacturers faced increasing competition and rising domestic production costs. Peavey, a respected American manufacturer known for producing dependable musical equipment, was among the companies offering more affordable instruments through overseas manufacturing.

The International Series Raptor I was part of that approach.

With its economical multi-ply body construction, comfortable neck, ceramic single-coil pickups, and inexpensive but functional hardware, the Raptor I was never intended to compete with expensive professional instruments.

It was built to make owning an electric guitar possible for someone who might otherwise have been unable to afford one.

A teenager working a part-time summer job could realistically save enough to purchase one. For many young players, that first affordable electric guitar represented something far more important than its price tag.

It represented opportunity.

The First Owner — An Imagined Beginning

Imagine a young teenager in the mid-1990s, walking into his local music store with money he'd saved from working through the summer.

He wasn't looking for an expensive guitar. He wanted something that felt comfortable, sounded good, and would allow him to learn the music he'd grown up listening to.

He chose a Peavey Raptor I.

At first, there were the usual struggles: sore fingertips, difficult chord changes, and countless attempts to make simple melodies sound like the recordings he admired.

But unlike many beginners, he kept practicing.

With help from a guitar instructor at the local music store, he progressed from basic chords and scales into more advanced playing. Before long, he was playing with friends and helping form a high school band.

His dedication eventually led to a part-time job at that same music store.

Working for minimum wage and earning occasional sales commissions, he discovered that being a young guitarist made him particularly good at helping other beginners. He could take an instrument from the wall, play a few familiar riffs, and show another teenager what might be possible with practice.

His involvement in the local music scene helped attract younger customers, and his enthusiasm made selling guitars something he genuinely enjoyed.

Through it all, his dependable Peavey remained the guitar that had started everything.

But eventually, as his playing improved and his savings grew, he began dreaming of something more.

A Fender Stratocaster in classic sunburst.

After months of saving, he finally purchased the guitar he'd wanted for so long.

The Peavey, which had carried him through his earliest lessons, rehearsals, and performances, was traded back to the music store.

It had served its first purpose well.

A Second Owner — A Different Path

The Raptor I was cleaned up and placed on the store's used guitar rack, waiting for someone new.

About a month later, imagine that same young salesman helping a parent and teenager choose their first guitar.

The teenager had just enrolled in lessons, and the used Peavey was an affordable choice. The salesman knew the guitar well and could confidently recommend it because he'd learned to play on that very instrument.

The guitar changed hands once again.

But not every aspiring musician develops the same passion or determination.

Perhaps the second owner discovered that learning guitar required more patience and practice than expected. Lessons may have stopped, interests may have changed, and the guitar may gradually have been set aside.

What began as an exciting new hobby could have become something stored in a bedroom closet, basement, or garage.

Months turned into years.

The guitar that had once been played almost every day might eventually have been forgotten.

More Than Two Decades Later

By the time this Peavey appeared in Minnesota in 2023, it showed the unmistakable effects of long-term neglect.

Its black finish was hidden beneath years of dirt and grime. The strings were broken, the bridge saddles were out of adjustment, and the once-white pickguard had yellowed with age.

Corrosion had developed on portions of the hardware, and the tuning machines and electronic controls had become stiff and gritty.

The instrument appeared to have spent much of its later life stored without proper protection.

Yet underneath the dirt and neglect remained the solid foundation that had made these affordable Peavey guitars worthwhile in the first place.

The neck was straight. The truss rod worked. The frets remained serviceable, and all three original ceramic pickups still produced sound.

The guitar hadn't reached the end of its useful life.

It simply needed someone willing to give it another chance.

Back From The Dead

On December 26, 2023, this Peavey International Series Raptor I arrived at Back From The Dead Guitars.

What followed was a restoration focused on preserving the instrument's original character while addressing the weaknesses and deterioration that years of neglect had left behind.

The body was cleaned and polished to restore the depth of its original black finish. The fretwork was serviced, and the neck was cleaned and conditioned.

Worn and unreliable components were replaced with carefully selected new and reconditioned parts, including a hand-fitted bone nut, sealed tuning machines, and a replacement tremolo bridge.

The electronics were rebuilt with new controls, improved shielding, a Gilmour switching modification, and dedicated tone control for the bridge pickup.

Most importantly, the original ceramic pickups were retained, allowing the guitar to keep an important part of its original sound and identity.

Today, this Raptor I is no longer a neglected instrument waiting to be discarded.

It is once again a playable electric guitar, ready for someone to pick it up and make music.

Perhaps its next owner will be another teenager learning their first chords. Perhaps it will become a dependable practice guitar for an experienced musician, or a comfortable everyday instrument that doesn't need to be treated like an expensive collectible.

Whatever its next chapter may be, this Peavey has already demonstrated something worth remembering.

A guitar doesn't have to be expensive to be worth saving.

Sometimes a well-built, affordable instrument needs little more than proper care, thoughtful improvements, and someone who recognizes the potential that remains beneath the years of neglect.

That is what Back From The Dead Guitars is all about.

Giving Each Guitar a Second Chance With a New Life.

Initial Intake & Condition Assessment

Instrument: Peavey International Series Raptor I
Restoration Classification: Restoration Tier
Date Received: December 26, 2023
Source: Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota
Origin: 1270 Energy Lane, St. Paul, MN 55108
Condition Upon Arrival: Poor — Significant cleaning, servicing, and component replacement required.

Initial Condition

This Peavey International Series Raptor I arrived heavily covered in dust, dirt, and accumulated grime. Its condition suggested extended storage without a protective case or cover. Oxidation and corrosion on several metal components also suggested possible exposure to humidity, although its storage history is unknown.

The original black finish was dull and dirty, with scratches, scuffs, and several small chips. The white pickguard displayed yellowing and discoloration from age and possible light exposure. Several strings were broken, and the remaining strings were in poor condition.

Despite its neglected appearance, the guitar appeared to have a solid foundation worth restoring.

Neck, Nut, and Frets

Inspection found the neck straight, with no apparent structural damage. The truss rod, accessed at the body end of the neck, was tested and found operational.

The original frets remained serviceable and did not require replacement. Cleaning, crowning, and polishing were recommended to restore smooth string contact and playability.

The fretboard required thorough cleaning and conditioning. The original plastic nut was identified for replacement with a properly fitted and polished bone nut.

Tuning Machines and Bridge

The original covered tuning machines were cleaned and tested. Although functional, they continued to exhibit a gritty, uneven turning feel after servicing. Replacement with reconditioned sealed tuning machines was recommended.

The original vintage-style tremolo bridge showed wear, accumulated contamination, and surface deterioration. Cleaning and servicing did not restore it to the shop's acceptable standard for reuse, making replacement necessary.

The existing output jack and strap buttons were considered suitable for continued use.

Electronics and Pickups

Removing the pickguard revealed disorganized wiring, heavy solder buildup, and aging electronic components.

The original potentiometers were stiff and gritty when turned. Cleaning improved their operation but did not restore consistently smooth adjustment.

The original 5-way pickup selector felt mechanically loose and occasionally interrupted the signal during testing.

Following preliminary cleaning and restringing, the guitar was tested through an amplifier. All three original ceramic single-coil pickups produced sound and remained suitable for continued use.

Although the volume and tone circuits functioned, the inconsistent selector switch and deteriorated potentiometers did not meet the shop's standards for dependable operation.

Replacement of the potentiometers and selector switch was recommended, along with improved wiring organization and cavity shielding.

Body and Cosmetic Condition

The original black body finish showed substantial dirt, surface scratches, scuffs, and minor chips.

Initial cleaning revealed that much of the deterioration was superficial. The factory finish remained suitable for restoration without completely stripping or repainting the instrument.

A two-stage machine-polishing process was recommended to restore the original finish's gloss and depth while preserving the existing paint.

The aged white pickguard remained structurally serviceable and was approved for cleaning and reuse.

Restoration Recommendations

Original Components Approved for Reuse

• Neck and fretboard

• Original frets, following crowning and polishing

• Three original ceramic single-coil pickups

• Original body and black factory finish

• Original white pickguard

• Output jack and strap buttons

• Operational truss rod

Components Requiring Replacement

• Original plastic nut

• Original covered tuning machines

• Original tremolo bridge

• Original 5-way pickup selector switch

• Original potentiometers

Recommended Restoration Work

• Complete instrument cleaning

• Fret crowning, polishing, and fretboard conditioning

• Restoration of the original black finish

• Installation of a fitted bone nut

• Replacement tuning machines and tremolo bridge

• Electronic component replacement and wiring improvements

• Conductive cavity shielding

• Complete restringing, assembly, and setup

• Tremolo adjustment, action setting, and intonation

• Final amplifier testing and playability inspection

Final Intake Assessment

Although this Peavey Raptor I arrived in neglected condition, inspection revealed a fundamentally sound instrument with a straight neck, working truss rod, serviceable frets, functional original pickups, and a restorable factory finish.

Its primary deficiencies were concentrated in the deteriorated hardware, inconsistent electronic controls, and overall cosmetic condition.

Rather than replacing every original component, the restoration plan focused on preserving serviceable parts while replacing those that could not meet the shop's quality standards after cleaning and servicing.

The guitar was approved for restoration with the goal of preserving its original character while improving appearance, reliability, electronic functionality, and overall playability.

Restoration Approved — Back From The Dead Guitars

Giving Each Guitar a Second Chance With a New Life.

Condition & Honest Assessment

This guitar has undergone several modifications and upgrades intended to improve its playability, functionality, tonal versatility, and overall reliability while retaining its character as a well-used instrument.

Headstock & Tuners: The headstock has been redrilled to accommodate 10mm tuners, and the original tuner mounting screw holes have been plugged. The finish on the back of the headstock was sanded down and refinished using a mixture of shellac, denatured alcohol, and boiled linseed oil. The currently installed tuners are reclaimed from an Indiana-branded guitar and are not new replacement parts.

Electronics & Wiring: The original 5-way selector switch and potentiometers have been replaced, and an additional hole was drilled into the pickguard to accommodate a Gilmour switch. The pickup leads have been trimmed for cleaner wire management but should retain sufficient length for future conventional wiring configurations.

The upgraded electronics include a Gilmour switch, treble bleed circuit, dual tone capacitors, and a dedicated bridge pickup tone control. Together, these modifications provide greater tonal flexibility and additional sound-shaping options beyond the guitar's original configuration.

Bridge & Tremolo: The installed bridge is a reclaimed unit from an Eleca-branded guitar. It has been adjusted to a floating configuration, allowing greater tremolo movement than a decked setup. While this provides additional expressive possibilities, frequent tremolo use may require more regular retuning. The upgraded bone nut helps support overall tuning stability.

Cosmetic Condition: This guitar falls firmly into the used category in terms of appearance. It has the cosmetic character and signs of previous use expected from an older instrument that has been played, handled, and modified. It is not being represented as a cosmetically restored or collector-grade example.

Overall Assessment: All installed components are functioning as intended. The modifications have been made to improve the guitar's practical usefulness rather than to create a showroom-quality instrument.

This guitar is a solid choice for a beginning player seeking an affordable, capable instrument to learn on. It is equally suited to an experienced guitarist looking for a dependable, versatile guitar for casual playing, rehearsals, or jam sessions.

Perhaps its greatest appeal is that it is a guitar meant to be played and enjoyed rather than carefully guarded. It can accompany its owner to rehearsals, gatherings, and public performances without the constant concern that an occasional ding or scratch might diminish the value of a treasured collector's instrument.

This is an honest, well-used guitar with practical upgrades, expanded tonal options, and plenty of playing life ahead of it.