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Differences between a Millenium and a Cirrus?

ledyard

ledyard

Jan 31, 2010
1,655
46
Upstate NY
www.elephant-mountain.com
#1
I have owned a MIA Cirrus 6 and a Cirrus 4. I sold the Cirrus 4 recently and I am reaping the rewards of realizing what a collossal mistake I made.
The only thing for me....visually...the Cirrus doesnt fit into a vintage vibe situation. Yes, when your in a pro caliber band...looks matter it sticks out like a sore thumb. I have Fender's for that. I was using it in a metal band where it was just incredible. But we split for 6 mos and i didnt think we would get back together. The Cirrus wasnt getting used so i figured it would be ok to move it. WRONG! So now that we have established that i am an idiot.... ^^ this is the only negative I can find on a cirrus. Short of that, my opinion is that the cirrus has the best neck i have ever played period. Not to mention balance, fit and finish, quality, and sound versatility.

I have never laid hands on a Millenium. What are the differences?

*Neck dimensions and feel?
*Weight?
*bolt/NT?
*Woods used?
*sound differences given the MM and J pups?
 
#2
ledyard said:
I have owned a MIA Cirrus 6 and a Cirrus 4. I sold the Cirrus 4 recently and I am reaping the rewards of realizing what a collossal mistake I made.
The only thing for me....visually...the Cirrus doesnt fit into a vintage vibe situation. Yes, when your in a pro caliber band...looks matter it sticks out like a sore thumb. I have Fender's for that. I was using it in a metal band where it was just incredible. But we split for 6 mos and i didnt think we would get back together. The Cirrus wasnt getting used so i figured it would be ok to move it. WRONG! So now that we have established that i am an idiot.... ^^ this is the only negative I can find on a cirrus. Short of that, my opinion is that the cirrus has the best neck i have ever played period. Not to mention balance, fit and finish, quality, and sound versatility.

I have never laid hands on a Millenium. What are the differences?

*Neck dimensions and feel?
*Weight?
*bolt/NT?
*Woods used?
*sound differences given the MM and J pups?
Click to expand...

From what I've read, the general consensus is that there are USA Mills out there that, pound for pound, are every bit as good as a Cirrus.
 
#3
ledyard said:
*Neck dimensions and feel?
*Weight?
*bolt/NT?
*Woods used?
*sound differences given the MM and J pups?
Click to expand...

The neck is a little thinner as a whole, but with my left hand technique, I really don't notice much of a difference.

Weight is about the same, give or take.

Bolt on.

All have alder bodies and a maple neck with an optional maple top as well as pao fero or bird's eye maple for the fingerboard.

They sound different from a Cirrus, which isn't a good or bad thing, just different. I hear a lot more punch and clank.

The only thing the Millennium generally needs is a good neck shimming to play like a Cirrus.
 
#5
ledyard said:
So being a bolt on are they 34"?

I cant imagine an even thinner neck than the already small streamline cirrus.

I searched classifieds and there hasnt been one up FS here since like december i believe. :eek: Either theres not a ton going around or people are hanging on to them.
Click to expand...

All MIA Millenniums are 35" scale except for the passive P/J Millennium Standards.
 
#6
ledyard said:
I cant imagine an even thinner neck than the already small streamline cirrus.

I searched classifieds and there hasnt been one up FS here since like december i believe. :eek: Either theres not a ton going around or people are hanging on to them.
Click to expand...

That's what people say. I'd have to measure, but I have no gripe with the neck other than the M/MM and J/J ones being 35" scale, which the top horn makes no prob and you already like the Cirrus.

As for the availability of them, it comes and goes. Quite often, you'll see people sing their praise, form a club, sell them, form a club talking about basses they sold and wish they could get back, etc.
 
#7
I had a Mill 4, but never a Cirrus 4. I currently have a Mill 5, Cirrus 5, and Cirrus 6.

Comparing the 5s:

Cirrus neck is thinner in the middle and thicker towards the edges, compared to the Mill neck. In other words, the Cirrus neck is flatter on the back. The Mill neck is more of a D shape. The Mill neck feels almost identical to a Lakland 55-94 (or 55-02) neck. The Cirrus neck was my all-time favorite - until I got my Mill 5. Now, it's kind of a toss-up.

Cirrus is neck-thru 35" scale. Mill is bolt-on 35" scale.

Cirrus top horn extends up to about the 14th fret. Mill top horn goes to about the 12th fret. The difference results in the Cirrus body hanging about an inch further the to player's left and, thus, a slightly (1" maybe?) longer reach to the first fret on the Cirrus.

Cirrus has soapbar pickups. (My) Mill has J/MM pickups. The Cirrus has a smoother sound. The Mill offers more of an edge or growl.

The stock Cirrus preamp has a 3-band EQ, but no sweepable midrange frequency. The Mill preamp has the same 3-band EQ but adds a sweepable midrange frequency. I upgraded both my Cirrus to the Mill preamp. The preamp itself costs just over $50, new from Peavey. With that upgrade, I think both sound equally good - but a bit different.

Mill and Cirrus both have Alder bodies. At least, mine do. I think the Mill was only made in Alder. The Cirrus has been available in numerous wood combinations.

I have 11 basses. If I had to give up all but two, I would keep my Mill and my '66 Precision. If I had to pick between those two, I'm not sure which way I'd go. '66 Precisions aren't that hard to find and I've never seen another bass as pretty (to me) as my Mill. Though not as expensive, MIA Millenniums definitely seem to be harder to find than a '66 P.
 
#8
StuartV said:
I had a Mill 4, but never a Cirrus 4. I currently have a Mill 5, Cirrus 5, and Cirrus 6.

Comparing the 5s:

Cirrus neck is thinner in the middle and thicker towards the edges, compared to the Mill neck. In other words, the Cirrus neck is flatter on the back. The Mill neck is more of a D shape. The Mill neck feels almost identical to a Lakland 55-94 (or 55-02) neck. The Cirrus neck was my all-time favorite - until I got my Mill 5. Now, it's kind of a toss-up.

Cirrus is neck-thru 35" scale. Mill is bolt-on 35" scale.

Cirrus top horn extends up to about the 14th fret. Mill top horn goes to about the 12th fret. The difference results in the Cirrus body hanging about an inch further the to player's left and, thus, a slightly (1" maybe?) longer reach to the first fret on the Cirrus.

Cirrus has soapbar pickups. (My) Mill has J/MM pickups. The Cirrus has a smoother sound. The Mill offers more of an edge or growl.

The stock Cirrus preamp has a 3-band EQ, but no sweepable midrange frequency. The Mill preamp has the same 3-band EQ but adds a sweepable midrange frequency. I upgraded both my Cirrus to the Mill preamp. The preamp itself costs just over $50, new from Peavey. With that upgrade, I think both sound equally good - but a bit different.

Mill and Cirrus both have Alder bodies. At least, mine do. I think the Mill was only made in Alder. The Cirrus has been available in numerous wood combinations.

I have 11 basses. If I had to give up all but two, I would keep my Mill and my '66 Precision. If I had to pick between those two, I'm not sure which way I'd go. '66 Precisions aren't that hard to find and I've never seen another bass as pretty (to me) as my Mill. Though not as expensive, MIA Millenniums definitely seem to be harder to find than a '66 P.
Click to expand...

Extremely informative thanks!

I figured if I searched classifieds here I would get at least a half dozen current ones up for sale. HA! no such luck. Nothing in months. I was actually thinking maybe a Mill 5'r. But just thinking at this point.
 

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