New Peavey Cirrus comes out in October

[Bluestar]

I spoke with an engineer at Peavey today and he said they are coming out in October and November and will be made in checoslovakia. Peavey USA is designing the entire bass but simply being made over there.
When asked why not make them in the USA I was told there was not enough skilled labor in Mississippi. And to bring that labor into Mississippi would be to expensive. So that's the latest

 

[smperry]

Reopening. While political discussion is not allowed on TalkBass, it is okay to discuss where basses are being built and the economic choices companies make.

 

[bakageta]

Is there an existing guitar/bass manufacturer in the czech republic? I can't say that's one I'm familiar with, but I have to assume there is if they think they've got enough skilled labor there.

 

[India_Sierra]

Well, it worked wonders for Stuart Spector Design in the early 90's and the arrangement was continued after Stuart regained the rights to the Spector name. We still think of Spector Euro basses as exceptionally high quality instruments even today, so there is no reason why Peavey couldn't pull the same trick. The Czech republic has a long history of musical instrument making. This is very exciting news for Cirrus fans!

 

[CletusMarley]

The Dean instruments made in the Czech Republic back in the day were really really nice. Every bit as nice as the USA Deans.

 

[songwriter21]

Is there an existing guitar/bass manufacturer in the czech republic? I can't say that's one I'm familiar with, but I have to assume there is if they think they've got enough skilled labor there.

Guessing it could be where the Czaech Spectors are made, so they'll be nice quality if that's the case.

 

[fhtagn]

I spoke with an engineer at Peavey today and he said they are coming out in October and November and will be made in checoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia hasn't existed since 1993. Just a side note.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I spoke with an engineer at Peavey today and he said they are coming out in October and November and will be made in checoslovakia. Peavey USA is designing the entire bass but simply being made over there.
When asked why not make them in the USA I was told there was not enough skilled labor in Mississippi. And to bring that labor into Mississippi would be too expensive. So that's the latest

There was enough skilled labor in Meridian, MS until Peavey shut down its facilities. Starting that capacity again is surely an expenditure Peavey does not want to make. I just hope bassists get over their Peavey prejudice and buy these new Cirrus basses because there is no way they will be cheap. As I said in another thread, the new Cirrus was not a cheap bass, it had low resale value because of the perception of Peavey as a budget brand.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Since I'm on a ridiculous Cirrus kick right now, I will surely snag one!

 

[kodiakblair]

Is there an existing guitar/bass manufacturer in the czech republic?

Has been for decades.

 

[Tubehed]

Exciting news for sure. Just not sure how well they will sell. The Indonesian made reissues that came out awhile back were really high quality, affordable instruments that many felt approached the quality of the originals. Unfortunately, they came and went without much attention. I wonder what will be better about the Czech made ones. Will people think they are better because they'll cost more than the Indonesian reissues?

 

[Geri O]

Exciting news for sure. Just not sure how well they will sell. The Indonesian made reissues that came out awhile back were really high quality, affordable instruments that many felt approached the quality of the originals. Unfortunately, they came and went without much attention. I wonder what will be better about the Czech made ones. Will people think they are better because they'll cost more than the Indonesian reissues?

Certainly the quality will be a factor and under scrutiny, but the factory making those basses a good track record with quality instruments (they make the current HP2 guitars, which I hear are quite recent. Friends don't let Geri O play guitar, so I wouldn't know….)

Yet it's certainly up in the air about how well or not they will sell. Since I missed out on the USA Cirrus and they are scarce and gosh-expensive, I'd kinda to get one of these newer Cirruses.
My good friend and Peavey contact hasn't heard the exact date they will be available.

 

[kodiakblair]

Unfortunately, they came and went without much attention.

Couple of reasons for that .

First was timing. The Indonesian built Cirrus all had rosewood boards, Peavey released them just weeks after the CITES restrictions on rosewood; they also had a Bubinga version to take advantage of the Bubinga restrictions too. Upshot was none of their distributors worldwide would touch the Indonesian Cirrus, they were stuck with just the US market.

Second was pricing. In 2017, US Cirrus were fetching around $600 - $800 on the used market. Peavey priced the Indonesian Cirrus at $1000 and $1200. Very few folks in the US were prepared to spend more on an imported product when it was cheaper to buy USA.

 

[Motorhate]

Made in the USA really isn't a sign of quality any more since the advent of CNC machines. The final QC is what makes a quality instrument and sadly, if Gibson is anything to go by, the USA just isn't doing that any more. South Korea have proved that they can supply perfect instruments as have China lately.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I sure hope the new Cirrus catches on. The price is bit outside of my comfort zone, but a nice Czech Cirrus could be a legitimate last bass I buy, especially since another Ken Smith just simply too much money to even consider.

 

[Bluestar]

I truly hate that your right on this. I don't understand what had happened to the qc on the hand time that makes or breaks an instrument.
We all want made in the USA as much as possible I would hope. But you gotta have the reason for people to pay that much more for it

Made in the USA really isn't a sign of quality any more since the advent of CNC machines. The final QC is what makes a quality instrument and sadly, if Gibson is anything to go by, the USA just isn't doing that any more. South Korea have proved that they can supply perfect instruments as have China lately.

 

[Motorhate]

I don't understand what had happened to the qc on the hand time that makes or breaks an instrument.

It's a fact that countries like Japan, Mexico, South Korea and yes, even the Czech Republic (I have two Euro Spectors and can account for their quality) can ship flawless instruments worldwide and the USA are slipping a lot down the ladder on their once renowned reputation. As I mentioned, CNC machines really have levelled the playing field as has the substitution of traditional woods which are just as good as USA woods, but there are other factors in play that I've noticed.
The electrics, previously unavailable to guitar manufacturers outside the USA are now highly available which again, levels the playing field in producing great sounding guitars and basses.

Economics, wages and cost of living has a lot to do with it. The fact is, it's cheaper for countries to manufacture elsewhere where they can afford to pay staff less but for some unknown reason get highly competent and skilled employees that pay attention to detail and produce flawless instruments. I'd wager that an employee in the USA on minimum wage is going to let things slide on the QC side of things (as has been shown with Gibson) or that they simply aren't good at their jobs.

Ultimately, you really do have to weigh up whether that extra £1000+ is really worth it for an instrument when there's alternatives at half the price which are just as good, if not better in terms of quality. I think companies such as Gibson, Fender etc. aren't really innovating in the way companies like ESP and Solar are at the moment.

 

[jd56hawk]

We all want made in the USA as much as possible I would hope.

Except when it comes to cars, TVs, cellphones, etc?

 

[scuzzy]

i'll be very interested in checking one of these out. I love my euro spectors.

 

[kodiakblair]

We all want made in the USA as much as possible I would hope.

That may be the case for some of the 330 million living in the USA but not so much for the 7.7 billion living outside the USA, they just want instruments