Ken smith vs cirrus?

[bongostealth]

Smith made a lot of basses in the 90's. He also expanded his line to include bolt-on's and Asian made models. But if you count only the neck-through models, Smiths aren't up for sale more than most other high end brands.

I don't know. I've been seeing a lot of NT models for sale lately. I would love to have one. But I just CANNOT justify spending that much money on a bass! I'm sorry. I love my instruments just like everyone else here on TB but boy would I feel guilty spending that much money! For that much money it better do my laundry and take me to work!

You can play a super-high-end bass and sound like a million bucks, but in the end your bass is not curing cancer nor feeding the homeless nor solving any other societal problems unless you give away every penny you make from music you make with those basses to various charities. We get so worked up buying, selling, trading, upgrading, and constantly seeking "that sound" and all it does is feed the marketing machine. In the end we're still left searching. I'm honestly getting really tired of it. I envy those that find that one bass that does it all for them. That's just my take....

The other thing is that I understand the whole experience of the craftsmanship, etc. But I feel like the sound can be obtained other ways. I guess that's just what's most important for me in their respective order: 1) sound, 2) playability, 3) looks, 4) craftsmanship, 5) re-sale value. But your results and experience may vary....

 

[ster]

Get the Cirrus and enjoy the money you've saved. I don’t know if you’ve tried one or not but once you play one you’ll know its quality far exceeds the usual market price for a used one.

 

[Rev.Dr.]

You can play a super-high-end bass and sound like a million bucks, but in the end your bass is not curing cancer nor feeding the homeless nor solving any other societal problems unless you give away every penny you make from music you make with those basses to various charities. ..

Actually, music therapy can be a very effective adjunct in the treatment of many medical disorders. There are numerous controlled studies which validate the above. By the way, I've owned both; and there is no comparison. Smith wins hands down IMHO.

 

[bassbenj]

Just so we're all clear, I'm not the OP.

Also, I'm curious as to something I keep noticing. Believe me, I'm not trying to disrespect the Ken Smith brand. I too think they are wonderful basses. My dream Smith bass is a 6 NT Elite with quilt maple top and ebony FB. However, I notice that Ken Smith basses come up for sale A LOT! Both here AND on eBay. Why is that??

I don't think they come up for sale THAT often, though perhaps less often than a Peavey Cirrus. The import Smiths contribute to sales and also is the fact that the Smith bass is one of those unique kind of basses that you either love or don't. A Stingray is like that. A blast of a bass but not for everybody.

Oddly some days ago I finally ran across a used Cirrus. I tried it out. It was a nice bass, but I'll say I wasn't about to sell my Smith to trade down to it. And mine is a Burner. Now it's a high end Burner with more laminates in the neck and a solid flamed maple body, but still a Burner. Personally I don't get the lack of love for Burners around here. Mine is an amazing killer bass.

As for a comparison, the Cirrus was nice but extremely heavy. Was a sort of a standard bass. My Smith on the other hand always amazes me every time I play it. Now the wide flat Smith body shape isn't exactly my favorite bass body style, but other than that there is little about my Smith I don't like. I bought my Smith used and the frets had big grooves worn in them and the tuners were literally worn out! Talk about high mileage! So you KNOW that bass was a player!

 

[bongostealth]

I agree. Most Cirrus basses I've played are not that outstanding. I've briefly "owned" three of them. What happened was that I would buy them, try them out for a day and then return them because they didn't do it for me at all. But I did own a USA Custom Shop Tiger's Eye 6 string which I sold for no good reason. I regretted that decision every single day after that! It's actually the bass in my avatar. Now that thing was the bomb!! Completely unlike every other Cirrus I've played! The millennium preamp on it was really nice.

Hopefully one day I can find my dream Smith at a "reasonable" price. Plus, if my wife finds out how much these things go for she would NEVER let me buy it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I agree. Most Cirrus basses I've played are not that outstanding. I've briefly "owned" three of them. What happened was that I would buy them, try them out for a day and then return them because they didn't do it for me at all. But I did own a USA Custom Shop Tiger's Eye 6 string which I sold for no good reason. I regretted that decision every single day after that! It's actually the bass in my avatar. Now that thing was the bomb!! Completely unlike every other Cirrus I've played! The millennium preamp on it was really nice.

Hopefully one day I can find my dream Smith at a "reasonable" price. Plus, if my wife finds out how much these things go for she would NEVER let me buy it.

Since the Cirrus doesn't do it for you, and you can't swing a Smith, why not just get something tonally different for now and save for the Smith?

 

[bongostealth]

Since the Cirrus doesn't do it for you, and you can't swing a Smith, why not just get something tonally different for now and save for the Smith?

Yeah, my Warwicks will hold me over just fine.

 

[smcd]

I don't know. I've been seeing a lot of NT models for sale lately. I would love to have one. But I just CANNOT justify spending that much money on a bass! I'm sorry. I love my instruments just like everyone else here on TB but boy would I feel guilty spending that much money! For that much money it better do my laundry and take me to work!

I'm honestly getting really tired of it. I envy those that find that one bass that does it all for them. That's just my take....

Give it up, then. You're never going to be able to find a Smith in the price range that will soothe your conscience.

 

[bongostealth]

Give it up, then. You're never going to be able to find a Smith in the price range that will soothe your conscience.

Okay. No need to get pushy. See this is what I don't like about all those who swear by the super-high priced basses. They feel threatened if anyone says anything. Too much of a snob factor. I think it's the ridiculous price that they paid that is getting on THEIR conscience. Once they realize their bass is just another combination of wood and metal, it finally hits them. "Wow, I could have bought a used car for this price and could have had something 100x more practical!"

 

[StuartV]

Okay. No need to get pushy. See this is what I don't like about all those who swear by the super-high priced basses. They feel threatened if anyone says anything. Too much of a snob factor. I think it's the ridiculous price that they paid that is getting on THEIR conscience. Once they realize their bass is just another combination of wood and metal, it finally hits them. "Wow, I could have bought a used car for this price and could have had something 100x more practical!"

Whoa, dude! I think you're out of line there. smcd was just taking what you posted and drawing the logical conclusion. You won't spent what a Smith costs and you're not going to find a Smith for what you're willing to spend. So, give up. Move on. Focus on something else. If you find a Cirrus that plays like you like (and you may have had some duds, or more likely ones that just need a good setup - possible including a Plek job), try some Smith electronics in it.

 

[bongostealth]

Whoa, dude! I think you're out of line there. smcd was just taking what you posted and drawing the logical conclusion. You won't spent what a Smith costs and you're not going to find a Smith for what you're willing to spend. So, give up. Move on. Focus on something else. If you find a Cirrus that plays like you like (and you may have had some duds, or more likely ones that just need a good setup - possible including a Plek job), try some Smith electronics in it.

Okay. No problem. These are basses we're talking about here. Nothing else, and I think we're making much ado about nothing. The problem is that sometimes it's hard to ascertain exactly what kind of inflection someone writes with. I was not trying to be "out of line." However, I am entitled to post my opinion. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful or confrontational. I sincerely apologize if that's what it seemed like, as I do tend to be very conclusory sometimes. But, you're right, I will just have to try Smith electronics to see how that goes.

Up next: my opinions about Fenders! Aaaaand let the fireworks begin!

 

[StuartV]

Cool. All good.

What was the difference between the Cirrus you didn't keep versus the 6 that you loved? Was it just the preamp?

I had a Cirrus 5, have a Cirrus 6, and I've played a few other Cirrus 4 and 5s. They have all felt great to me. Ones with a really good setup do play a bit more nicely than the ones with an "average" setup. One of them (a 4) had been setup by Gary Brawer, in San Francisco, and that was as good-playing a bass as I've ever held in my hands. I subsequently had Gary do setups on my SB-2 and Sterling 5. Both needed a Plek job. He transformed both of them from average players to Stellar!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

There is nothing wrong with saying a bass is out of your league financially for whatever reason. I love boutique Fender style basses, but they just too much cheddar. I admire them, but I don't worry about getting one. Fortunately, regular Fenders or even Squiers work just fine for me!

 

[bongostealth]

Cool. All good.

What was the difference between the Cirrus you didn't keep versus the 6 that you loved? Was it just the preamp?

I had a Cirrus 5, have a Cirrus 6, and I've played a few other Cirrus 4 and 5s. They have all felt great to me. Ones with a really good setup do play a bit more nicely than the ones with an "average" setup. One of them (a 4) had been setup by Gary Brawer, in San Francisco, and that was as good-playing a bass as I've ever held in my hands. I subsequently had Gary do setups on my SB-2 and Sterling 5. Both needed a Plek job. He transformed both of them from average players to Stellar!

The Cirruses that I didn't keep were returned because they just didn't feel that special to me. I know that sounds highly arbitrary as they did sound good. However, I can't really explain it. They just didn't have "it". But the Custom Shop Tiger's Eye just felt more refined to me, not mention that it was more beautiful, at least to me.

I would love to have a guy who could perform serious revival work on instruments! Count yourself lucky to know someone!

 

[bongostealth]

There is nothing wrong with saying a bass is out of your league financially for whatever reason. I love boutique Fender style basses, but they just too much cheddar. I admire them, but I don't worry about getting one. Fortunately, regular Fenders or even Squiers work just fine for me!

Dr. Cheese, I must say that I highly appreciate your input. It's obvious that you are wise in your ways!

 

[Modulus1906]

I don't know. I've been seeing a lot of NT models for sale lately. I would love to have one. But I just CANNOT justify spending that much money on a bass! I'm sorry. I love my instruments just like everyone else here on TB but boy would I feel guilty spending that much money! For that much money it better do my laundry and take me to work!

You can play a super-high-end bass and sound like a million bucks, but in the end your bass is not curing cancer nor feeding the homeless nor solving any other societal problems unless you give away every penny you make from music you make with those basses to various charities. We get so worked up buying, selling, trading, upgrading, and constantly seeking "that sound" and all it does is feed the marketing machine. In the end we're still left searching. I'm honestly getting really tired of it. I envy those that find that one bass that does it all for them. That's just my take....

The other thing is that I understand the whole experience of the craftsmanship, etc. But I feel like the sound can be obtained other ways. I guess that's just what's most important for me in their respective order: 1) sound, 2) playability, 3) looks, 4) craftsmanship, 5) re-sale value. But your results and experience may vary....

Dude, "your take" is foolish. Why not keep the discussion limited to the merits of the Smith vs. the Peavey without launching into what comes off as self-aggrandizing, judgmental statements about individuals who decide that they want to spend a nice chuck of change on a nice bass. Just because you can't justify it doesn't render your criticism about others who can valid. Are you curing cancer, feeding the homeless, waging wars against "marketing machines", etc., or are you just using this as a platform to grandstand? Even if you are, it's pretty foolish and telling that you assume people can't have other constructive purposes in their lives if they buy expensive basses.

What I'm tired of are people like you who get on these social forums and judge complete strangers based solely on your preferences, standards, or what are most likely just personal hangups. If what others are doing results in you "getting tired of it", then perhaps you should seriously look at your own issues instead of trying to rationalize why everyone else is screwed up and you're the only sane person in the room. Really? Just because you would feel guilty spending that much money doesn't mean you should lecture from a "high horse". Besides, it may not be a lot of money to some, but even if it is, it's not your money!!

Your commentary reminds me of when I played high school football in 1983, and we called an onside kick to recover a kickoff cuz we were loosing late in the game. Everybody was suppose to shift right to recover the kick, but one "dummy" (nice guy actually) went left. To this day, this guy maintains he was right, implying the 9 others were wrong. Morale of my response? Be able to smell your own S^%.

 

[bongostealth]

Dude, "your take" is foolish. Why not keep the discussion limited to the merits of the Smith vs. the Peavey without launching into what comes off as self-aggrandizing, judgmental statements about individuals who decide that they want to spend a nice chuck of change on a nice bass. Just because you can't justify it doesn't render your criticism about others who can valid. Are you curing cancer, feeding the homeless, waging wars against "marketing machines", etc., or are you just using this as a platform to grandstand? Even if you are, it's pretty foolish and telling that you assume people can't have other constructive purposes in their lives if they buy expensive basses.

What I'm tired of are people like you who get on these social forums and judge complete strangers based solely on your preferences, standards, or what are most likely just personal hangups. If what others are doing results in you "getting tired of it", then perhaps you should seriously look at your own issues instead of trying to rationalize why everyone else is screwed up and you're the only sane person in the room. Really? Just because you would feel guilty spending that much money doesn't mean you should lecture from a "high horse". Besides, it may not be a lot of money to some, but even if it is, it's not your money!!

Your commentary reminds me of when I played high school football in 1983, and we called an onside kick to recover a kickoff cuz we were loosing late in the game. Everybody was suppose to shift right to recover the kick, but one "dummy" (nice guy actually) went left. To this day, this guy maintains he was right, implying the 9 others were wrong. Morale of my response? Be able to smell your own S^%.

First of all, I have to say that I agree with this post entirely. Thus, I have to apologize to everyone for voicing my own subjective reasonings on a public forum. I never intended to be on any type of high-horse or soapbox, as I am NOT the moral compass. What people do with their money is their own decision and their decisions are irrelevant to others' lives so long as it doesn't affect others' lives. I sincerely apologize for that.

Therefore, unfortunately, I myself am not curing cancer. I'm not in the medical field. Sometimes I wish I was, sometimes I don't, but that's neither here nor there. Second, what I REALLY meant when I stated that I'm getting tired of us buying, selling, trading, etc., was that I MYSELF was getting tired of doing it. This was merely a poor choice of words in my sentence. Mea culpa.

I'm not trying to judge anyone because I realize that we are measured by the same yardstick with which we measure others. The simple truth of the matter is that I'm trying to be self-accountable for my financial choices (so that the wife doesn't get on my a$$), and I realize that this is NOT the place to do it. God knows that if I had the money, I would buy one of those brand new Corvettes (in all black) in a heartbeat. But then I would probably feel guilty. Not that I'm a cheap person, but that's just my own internal struggle. But I sure do want one, and believe me, I do not judge anyone who has one. Those are freaking nice!

Once again, I apologize to everyone and I hope you all make plenty of money off of your instruments and that, most importantly, you enjoy your instruments regardless of the brand. I always make it a strict point to smell my own S#$T but this time this one slipped by me.

 

[StuartV]

God knows that if I had the money, I would buy one of those brand new Corvettes (in all black) in a heartbeat. But then I would probably feel guilty. Not that I'm a cheap person, but that's just my own internal struggle. But I sure do want one, and believe me, I do not judge anyone who has one. Those are freaking nice!

+1000!

 

[Bass Viking]

First of all, I have to say that I agree with this post entirely. Thus, I have to apologize to everyone for voicing my own subjective reasonings on a public forum. I never intended to be on any type of high-horse or soapbox, as I am NOT the moral compass. What people do with their money is their own decision and their decisions are irrelevant to others' lives so long as it doesn't affect others' lives. I sincerely apologize for that.

Therefore, unfortunately, I myself am not curing cancer. I'm not in the medical field. Sometimes I wish I was, sometimes I don't, but that's neither here nor there. Second, what I REALLY meant when I stated that I'm getting tired of us buying, selling, trading, etc., was that I MYSELF was getting tired of doing it. This was merely a poor choice of words in my sentence. Mea culpa.

I'm not trying to judge anyone because I realize that we are measured by the same yardstick with which we measure others. The simple truth of the matter is that I'm trying to be self-accountable for my financial choices (so that the wife doesn't get on my a$$), and I realize that this is NOT the place to do it. God knows that if I had the money, I would buy one of those brand new Corvettes (in all black) in a heartbeat. But then I would probably feel guilty. Not that I'm a cheap person, but that's just my own internal struggle. But I sure do want one, and believe me, I do not judge anyone who has one. Those are freaking nice!

Once again, I apologize to everyone and I hope you all make plenty of money off of your instruments and that, most importantly, you enjoy your instruments regardless of the brand. I always make it a strict point to smell my own S#$T but this time this one slipped by me.

If it helps, I didn't find your post offensive. Sometimes people read things into a post that may not be there or intended.

One thing I would point out (and I've seen it mentioned on TB before): Sometimes it's better and less expensive to pay more to buy what you really want, instead of spending money going through cheaper versions.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If it helps, I didn't find your post offensive. Sometimes people read things into a post that may not be there or intended.



One thing I would point out (and I've seen it mentioned on TB before): Sometimes it's better and less expensive to pay more to buy what you really want, instead of spending money going through cheaper versions.

That is the truth. I know I am getting ready to buy another MIA Fender Jazz V very soon. I let my 2008 Fender and Roscoe Beck V go during the aftermath of the 2008-2009 downturn and downsizing at work. I know for a fact that running through a bunch of basses has cost me more than simply scrapping together the scratch for what I actually like, a MIA Fender.