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Ken smith vs cirrus?

K

kreed

Oct 18, 2005
115
1
Singapore
#1
Are ken smith's stuff good? i've heard really good things about his basses. so does anyone have something bad to share abt his BASSES (not ken smith himself)?

and actually i've got a used deal on a cirrus and a ken smith, dunno which one to choose. (the ken smith's almost twice the price of the cirrus)
 
#3
If money is really an issue, get the Cirrus. They are great basses that really get a Ken Smith style tone. If you can afford the Smith, check it out, you may like it's neck our string spacing better, and Smiths also can go passive while still getting a great tone. That said, I cannot say a Smith is actually better than a Cirrus, it will just be worth more, and it may fit you better.
 
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#6
D.A.R.K. said:
it depends on the model smith...
if it's a burner, go with the cirrus.
otherwise, go with the smith for sure!
(i can say without a doubt a real smith is much better quality than a cirrus)
go check out the specs on the sites, they speak for themselves.
Click to expand...

I owned a really nice bolt-on Ken Smith six for over a year, and I regret letting go of that bass more than any I have ever sold or traded away. Even though it was a great bass, I don't think it was better constructed than a Cirrus. I liked it preamp and total electronics package, but it is different from a Cirrus, not better. I don't think the overall Smith workmanship is better either, it may be more elaborate, but not better. Heck a Cirrus and a Ken Smith have fancier workmanship than a Sadowsky or Celinder, but they are definitely not better than those two jazzes, they are just different.
 
#8
Name is a big thing. You'll have much better resale with a Ken Smith bass than a Peavey. That's not to say a bass that costs twice as much is twice as good. You could probably get 2 killer Cirrus basses for less than one Ken Smith bass.

Personally, I enjoy how mine play, sound, and feel. I can afford better, but am really satisfied with the Cirrus as a whole.

If you want a total custom job, I'd think Ken Smith can do whatever you want. The Peavey Custom shop makes some good stuff, but customer service isn't always their strong suit.
 
#9
Dr. Cheese said:
I owned a really nice bolt-on Ken Smith six for over a year, and I regret letting go of that bass more than any I have ever sold or traded away. Even though it was a great bass, I don't think it was better constructed than a Cirrus. I liked it preamp and total electronics package, but it is different from a Cirrus, not better. I don't think the overall Smith workmanship is better either, it may be more elaborate, but not better. Heck a Cirrus and a Ken Smith have fancier workmanship than a Sadowsky or Celinder, but they are definitely not better than those two jazzes, they are just different.
Click to expand...

i've played both extensively. i've owned a few smiths, the cirrus was a loaner. no comparison in build quality imho. not to mention how smith ages his woods. and the graphite in the necks. and the better quality electronics. i could keep going...just do some research. both are great basses, some will prefer the feel of the peavey. but i believe they're not remotely in the same class, ime.
anyway, i'd try both and go with whichever speaks to you.
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/
Invalid Link Removed
i suggest taking the factory tour on the smith site...a real eye opener.
 
#10
D.A.R.K. said:
i've played both extensively. i've owned a few smiths, the cirrus was a loaner. no comparison in build quality imho. not to mention how smith ages his woods. and the graphite in the necks. and the better quality electronics. i could keep going...just do some research. both are great basses, some will prefer the feel of the peavey. but i believe they're not remotely in the same class, ime.
anyway, i'd try both and go with whichever speaks to you.
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/
Invalid Link Removed
i suggest taking the factory tour on the smith site...a real eye opener.
Click to expand...
+1. No disrespect to Peavy, the better Peaveys are under rated, IMO. That said, there is a huge difference in the way Ken Smith makes his basses. I played a Black tiger, fretted model. I think it was easily one of the finest basses I have ever played. If I hadn't been specifically looking for a fretless that day, I might have bought that Black Tiger. The degree of precision in the fretting is astounding. Another thing about the Ken Smiths that impresses me is the consistency from bass to bass. There are few makers that are that consistently on target. And that's why it costs so much more than a Peavey. If you want to compare in the same category with a Ken Smith, there is Ritter, Fedora, Johnny Morch, perhaps Carl Thompson, and several aspiring makers that are quite good if less well known.
 
#11
The Cirrus is a serious bass at a seriously cheap price (Esp used)
The KSD Basses are Top notch basses... the lower end models are pretty much the same quality as a Cirrus (In my opinion) and the higher end models are superior to the cirrus (in my opinion) that being said... Ken Smiths are good... nothing about them really shine or stand out (TO ME !!!) So id go with the cirrus... you said its half the price, and comparable in quality.

If i had the money for a KSD Custom id personally go with something like a Nordstrand / Roscoe / MTD but of course, thats me ;p not you.
 
#12
Cirrus is a good solid bass for the money but not in the same build class as any of the U.S.A. Smith's.

If you can do a side by side comparison that would be the best way to judge.

Play what you like, but assuming the feel and spacing are what you're after, the Smith's are a great long term investment in your playing. The B strings have been consistently top notch and the neck stability is the best out there. Soundwise Smith's are very flexible, my fretted/fretless 6's cover everything I do.

It's cheaper in the long run to buy what you really want right from the start. It takes some of us longer to figure that out than others.:crying:

Have fun...:bassist:
 
#16
Ken Smith basses are some of the best quality basses out there in terms of construction and playability. The Cirrus is definitely a great bass, even at double the price.

The basses are different and the it really depends on what you are looking for. One advantage of the Ken smith over the Cirrus for me is the neck joint/heel which is smoother and has more craftsmanship (IMO). What distiniguishes the Smith over the Cirrus is the extra attention to detail with Smith basses

The electronics are up to the tastes of the player. Smiths have a definite sound. The peavey has less character and is more neutral in tone.

For both basses, you need to consider the wood combinations. That can me a big difference on which bass is best for you
 

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