| Author | Message | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 501 Registered: 5-2007 |
I have been trying to sell my MusicMan for months now and have not been getting any decent offers. So today a guy offered me a trade for a Peavey Cirrus 5-string (fretless), a US-made model. Anybody have any experience with those, or any comments about the proposed deal? Thanks in advance. | ||
| thumbsup
Advanced Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 367 Registered: 7-2008 |
Hum....I'd preferr the MM myself. | ||
| wishbass
Junior Username: wishbass Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2011 |
Stick with the MM.My 2 cents. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1752 Registered: 9-2002 |
For me, they're the most overlooked neckthru there is. Built in Mississippi with typical Peavey solidity, interesting pickups/electronics, good hardware. They seem to somehow feel very thin, depthwise, not nearly as thick as a bolt-on. Like all Peaveys though, they take a beating resale-wise, so IF you're in the MM for a lot of money, you won't see it back when the time comes to horse trade the Cirrus. It's amazing to me just how much Peavey most guys have in their past, but act like they don't want to admit it later ! I've always been a huge Hartley Peavey fan, a real 'straight, no chaser' kind of guy. My kind of guy. Amazingly, T40's sell now for more than they listed for in the late 70's, early 80's. I have no doubt about them as axes. But . . . I'd try it, see if you like it, that comes first. If you don't like it, there's your answer. If you like it and the money seems OK, go for it. MM's seem to really be strong resale-wise at this time, maybe just not in your locale. J o e y | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1047 Registered: 10-2006 |
I don't know how much this would apply to your situation, as I'm not sure I've ever even held a Peavy instrument, but I think every band I ever worked for had at least 1 piece of Peavy electronics and, based on that experience, my advise would be that when one is faced with the opportunity to acquire anything Peavy, the most prudent course of action is to turn around and run like a sissy! In seven years of full-time roadie-ing, I don't think a month went by that I didn't utter the phrase "The *&%^%$% Peavy's &^$&*%^$# dead again!" Peter | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4928 Registered: 7-2004 |
I always liked the T-60 guitars - very underrated. My impression of Peavy amps was that they were great for someone who played in their basement or garage and didn't have to move it much, but once you started moving them around they weren't reliable. Bill, tgo | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1979 Registered: 10-2003 |
Peavey stuff is renown for surviving catastrophe after catastrophe. The Cirrus 5-string is a nice instrument. It probably has one of the better B strings around. John | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 503 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks, everybody, for the advice. Unfortunately, it came a little too late, as the deal went down last evening. The reason I wanted to do it was that the MM is a 4-string and I am switching to 5-ers, so the MM sat in the closet anyway. I did some research on the web and found that the Cirrus series is very highly regarded, not your dad's typical Peavey, so to speak. (Yes, I know it doesn't rate with Alembic.) I have had that love/hate relationship with Peavey products for years, and some of their products would definitely have me runnin' in the other direction (a certain amp called Bandit 112 comes to mind - with a horrible distortion circuit called SuperSat). Anyway, I made the trade after checking the bass out and it seems like a real good instrument: US-made, graphite reinforced neck, nice walnut top, 35" scale, good sound, etc. So I took the plunge; it was a straight-across trade, no cash changing hands. I think both parties are happy about it. Time will tell. Here's what it looks like.  | ||
| jcdlc72
Intermediate Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2009 |
> > > > GORGEOUS! > > > | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1981 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think you'll be very pleased with that instrument. John | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1020 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think you made the right move, Ben. I'd love to check it out sometime! I've thought every now and then about getting one of the Peavey graphite basses. They can be had silly cheap considering the necks are supposedly made or licensed from Modulus. However, these days I'm going mostly short scale.... | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 505 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks, everybody. You can try it anytime you want, Edwin. Maybe it's not obvious from the picture, but it's fretless... I wonder how long until I put flats on it. And, come to think of it, the body does have a Modulus Quantum look to it. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 763 Registered: 4-2004 |
Ive stated several times on this forum that the ideal beater bass for me would be a T-40 with a fretless neck, and dark star pups..... I have not kept up with the Cirrus models, but they bare a similar resemblance to the Rudy Sarzo model..... When that came out all the dealers couldn't help but brag about the obvious Aria/Alembic influence..... If one fell from the sky, I wouldn't blink at loading it up with Activators..... | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 902 Registered: 6-2004 |
Nice looking bass. | ||
| thumbsup
Advanced Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 371 Registered: 7-2008 |
I have to admit that is simply a stunning bass ...plus I'm a 5er fan! If it plays half as good as it looks you may have have gotten the better end of the stick! (Message edited by thumbsup on August 17, 2011) | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1754 Registered: 9-2002 |
IF memory serves, if you look in the photos from the NoCal Gathering recently, I believe in amongst the assembled faves there IS a Cirrus with ALEMBIC p/u's and electronics. Along the lines of the Alembic / Aria influcence, John Taylor plays these now in the current Duran Duran, a guy who made his bones with Aria SB's. And too, back in the day, Rudy had some of his Peaveys and Arias reloaded with Activators. Nice long horn and cutaway to almost the last fret. These things are well made, and unfortunately overlooked. So you're going to five-strings, eh? My advice is ONLY play fives: If you go back and forth to your fours when it all gets a little confusing, it'll take a lot longer to completely transition. It's amazing how many times I'd tell myself 'the four strings I'm used to just moved down one space, get over it!' and would then make a mess of things, but eventually it jelled and now a four-string feels funny. I wish I was one of those smart guys who can go back and forth, but . . . . J o e y | ||
| jcdlc72
Intermediate Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 104 Registered: 11-2009 |
Well, Aria was not the only one to try copying on Alembic styling... My first neck-thru bass, which I bought secondhand about 20 years ago, is an Alembic influenced neck-thru Hondo:  Been thinking on putting Activators to it (came with 80s DiMarzios). Besides, the P/P combination is quite uncommon, but nice sounding, at least on this one. I also own a somewhat lower sibling of the Cirrus, a Peavey Grind. I had to modify the electronics (the original pickups were WAY too bad) with EMGs, but it is quite comfy, and a nice sounding neck-thru:  Definitely more of a "beater" than my Epic 5. ;) (Message edited by jcdlc72 on August 18, 2011) | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 506 Registered: 5-2007 |
It took me 8 months to learn to play a 5 string! I was fretting different strings from the ones I was plucking... Like Bullwinkle, I'm easily confused. But I got it now. Switching back and forth with 4-stringers is a minor challenge, but I can do it without too many clams. I got up way too early this morning and had time to change over to flatwounds. It changed the sound enormously. We'll see if I like it. Hmmm, Alembic pickups on the Peavey, eh? Now there's an idea. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1022 Registered: 5-2002 |
Let us know what you think of the flats. I'm more of a roundwound fretless guy myself, but I'm always curious about the experience of others. These days I play mostly 4 string shorts, but I've gone through periods of time where I've switched between a 4 string short scale, 5 string 34" fretless and 6 string 35" fretted during sets frequently. It becomes pretty easy after you do it a few times. Now that I don't gig 5 nights a week, I don't think I'd try it on the fly. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1756 Registered: 9-2002 |
Straight (the other) HP, no chaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjpEoN2jL5Q&feature=related J o e y | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1051 Registered: 10-2006 |
Interesting; Hartley seems likable, and he gives a very good sales pitch. But his electronic gear still sounds like crap & breaks constantly. Peter | ||
| jcdlc72
Intermediate Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 106 Registered: 11-2009 |
Well, not always... My Peavey Grind's electronics were absolute waste, but I've had a Peavey Express112 for 20 years already, and it's in tip top shape. Not that it is the most pristine sound, agreed, but it is well built, and has stood 20 years of gigging, sometimes heavy. I do also have a Classic 50 2x12 tube guitar combo, which i bought secondhand, that is also 18-20 years old, but it has not seen that much of daylight, and it's doing quite fine after all these years. I think it depends great;y on what kind of equipment, and the year/place of building. Generally I've found that electronic stuff built in the last 10 or 15 years tend to be less "built like a tank" than the stuff I grew up accustomed to, which is definitely sad. One turns up looking for stuff built +20 years ago (I definitely do... my whole guitar and bass rigs are "state of the art" by 1992 standards!) and then mistaken by secondhand equipment dealers as "Vintage lookers", so they charge you double, haha! | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 510 Registered: 5-2007 |
I couldn't stand the new flats (GHS) I had put on the Cirrus. Made every note sound like a dull thud. So I switched them to GHS Brite Flats today. MUCH BETTER. I'm not a big fan of Peavey electronics, either. But I would have to give credit for speakers that last a long, long time. I've seen some SP-2 models that have been around since before there was electricity, still working fine. (You do need a forklift to raise them off the ground, though.) The electronics on this Cirrus bass are quite usable and very quiet. (Message edited by Benson_Murrensun on August 19, 2011) | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1052 Registered: 10-2006 |
Let me say again, I have no idea about the instruments, and I'm glad you like your new bass. My Peavyphobia is based the kinds of gear that give a roadie/soundman headaches; mixing boards, power amps, guitar amps, etc. And my experience with them is 1970s-80s. Peter | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 511 Registered: 5-2007 |
Since the name Aria came up, I thought I'd mention that there is an Aria bass for sale on Craigslist in Denver. I will post the link in the "seen on Craigslist" etc., section in case anybody's interested. |
