Aftermarket pickups similar to Cirrus?

[Kindly Killer]

What are the closest thing you can buy aftermarket to the whole Cirrus vibe? Soapbar, detailed, sweet top with plenty of muscle?

Does Peavey sell the pickups? What would be the closest non-boutique thing? E.g. Duncan, EMG, Bartolini, etc...?

BTW for a 5 string.

[tubby.twins]

On a few occasions, some people have been able to buy replacement "VFL" pickups from Peavey. Usually they were told it was a special one-off arrangement from Peavey, which explains why they aren't generally available. I have seen them show up on eBay, from time to time.

I've tested one of these (which I acquired in a trade) and in my opinion the closest match was the EMG "CS" series of humbuckers, such as "40CS" and "45CS". The Peavey VFL pickup still had a sweeter upper midrange and sounded less "forced" in the lower midrange than the EMG.

The 5-string and 6-string Cirrus basses appear to use the same size of VFL pickups.

[Biga173rd]

The answer to your question is Ken Smith Classic Humbucking pickups. The Cirrus pickups pretty much sound like a poorman's man smith. This has been discuss numerous times here in TB. Ken does sell his pickups that are used on his famous basses go to his website and shoot him an email for a price quote he also sells his pre amp too. It's amazing how peavey was able to emulate 90 percent of the smith sound lol. It's crazy cuz i own a cirrus myself becuase it comes so close to sounding like a smith witch i love!!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Biga173rd

The answer to your question is Ken Smith Classic Humbucking pickups.

You think so? The Ken Smith pickups (which are made by Kent Armstrong) are wired up in parallel. I haven't looked at a VFL pickup, but they sound very different to me, and sound like they are wired in series.

[Biga173rd]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

You think so? The Ken Smith pickups (which are made by Kent Armstrong) are wired up in parallel. I haven't looked at a VFL pickup, but they sound very different to me, and sound like they are wired in series.

Trust me this has been discussed for a min they sound very identical two identical if you ask me lol . I could not afford a Smith and that was the reason i got the Cirrus. And yes i do know kent supply ken with his pickups witch they custom wound the pubs to his specs for him.

[MNAirHead]

There are under the radar basses that use the same pickups.

I thought someone like Bart had an ALMOST fit for a Cirrus ish bass.

[Biga173rd]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

There are under the radar basses that use the same pickups.

I thought someone like Bart had an ALMOST fit for a Cirrus ish bass.

Umm i have seen a vid on youtube i forgot his name he order a pair of custom barts to replace the VFL pickups on his Cirrus he had someone routed the pubs for him. Just search for peavey cirrus on youtube this guys mods all his basses with barts. The pubs he uses sound very punchy not as mid range as the vfl pickups but still has the classic bart sound. i never seen anyone replace the cirrus pickups before he might be the first lol me personally i would never.

[tubby.twins]

Except for the mounting ears, the larger Cirrus pickup shell is the same size as the standard EMG 45 or Bartolini M5. There are many options for replacement.

[Modulus1906]

I can see where EMG CS series pickups will fit the bill. I can also see tjhe Bartolini CB series as well, say a Bart M55CBC or M56CBC. If you go EMG, I would opt for the newer EMG CS-X pickups. There's some guy on YouTube demonstrating the new CS-X series and they sound fantastic. I plan to upgrade a Spector of mine with the EMG TW-X pickups.

[Texan]

I recently bought Cirrus replacement pickups directly from Peavey for $60 usd each...Ironically, if anyone wants to purchase a Cirrus 4 or trade for an American Fender bass let me know. Great bass, just not for me.