U.S. Peavey Club

[mb94952]

I should have added the word "labeling" to the sentence "inconsistancy of Peavey." I wasn't addressing build quality at all. My point is that being a company there should be a consistancy in the placement of serial numbers and where the item was made. My opinion is based on the fact that there were serial numbers stamped, painted, and ingraved on the headstock, not present at all, or on stickers some of which were on the back of the battery cover or the back of the control cavity cover or both, some have it on the top of the cover. Some have USA on them and like mine which has the sticker under both covers and neither have USA on them. The confusion this has caused is evident in the varied responses I received in my search to find where my bass was made. The conclusion was either look at the front of the headstock for BXP or know that USA models have the ABM bridge (I'm addressing specifically the Cirrus) and the imports have the individual "finger" style bridges. However, I recently found out there are USA Cirri with finger style bridges. So looking at the bridge is not a sure fire method either. I would not be suprised if there are import Cirri without BXP written on the headstock.

The older Peaveys have a definitive record of serial numbers. It's the Cirrus, Millennium, etc, you know the big guns of Peavey that you had to call them and they'd have the date it was made, what wood was used. There has to be someone who has access to those records, but who ?

So, when it comes to your Cirrus the best WE can do here is make an educated guess. For example, does your Cirrus have a block logo or script logo ? If it's block, it can be 1998-2006. It it starts with a 0**** or 105*** it's probably an earlier one like '99-'02. A 5**** it's probably around a 2006. That's from MY experience.

 

[mb94952]

And the old, classic Peavey lightning logo is the Made in Indonesia, I think. I don't remember if there was a made in China Cirrus for a year.

 

[kodiakblair]

I would not be suprised if there are import Cirri without BXP written on the headstock.

You would be correct in that regard.

After Peavey stopped US production in 2010 technically all basses were 'export' so the BXP distinction was redundant.

When it comes to origins "Made in", "Handcrafted in", "Crafted in " and finally stickers with just "Loc 2", these were Peavey's attempts to keep ahead of changes in US country of origin regs.

However, I recently found out there are USA Cirri with finger style bridges. So looking at the bridge is not a sure fire method either.

No, you'd look at the neck.
Only US Cirrus with mono saddle bridges were bolt on neck models.

 

[kodiakblair]

I don't remember if there was a made in China Cirrus for a year.

There were a few and the Sarzo sig Cirrus with Bamboo wings was a Chinese build; his other Cirrus sig was Indonesian.

 

[mb94952]

There were a few and the Sarzo sig Cirrus with Bamboo wings was a Chinese build; his other Cirrus sig was Indonesian.

Oh yeah that's right ! I don't know how they did in the long run. I felt like when Rudy was promoting the bamboo he was pretending to be excited. I've never heard of bamboo being used in instruments before like basses, but I know it makes for very durable hardwood floors, so that says something. I know for me it would not be my first choice for no logical reason other than skepticism. Who knows, it might be great, but then I'd expect Sire, and all the other Far East companies to use it because it's probably growing 10 feet from the front door.

 

[Larry Balara]

All I can say is I'm glad mine was made in the USA!

 

[kodiakblair]

I felt like when Rudy was promoting the bamboo he was pretending to be excited. I've never heard of bamboo being used in instruments before like basses, but I know it makes for very durable hardwood floors, so that says something.

The whole point of using Bamboo was to highlight responsible forest management.

 

[Murivan]

However, I recently found out there are USA Cirri with finger style bridges.

Not the same finger style bridge. USA Cirri bolt-on are equipped with Hipshot triple lock down bridge.

Quite likely your bass had a sticker that stated the manufacturing location (including the plant number), but because the sticker was on top of the plastic film covering the electronics the sticker is now gone. Is that a bad idea? Sure. Does it take something away from the bass? I am not that sure.

 

[Larry Balara]

Not the same finger style bridge. USA Cirri bolt-on are equipped with Hipshot triple lock down bridge.

Quite likely your bass had a sticker that stated the manufacturing location (including the plant number), but because the sticker was on top of the plastic film covering the electronics the sticker is now gone. Is that a bad idea? Sure. Does it take something away from the bass? I am not that sure.

No, my bass had the sticker only with the serial number under both the battery and control cavities. USA is nowhere on the bass. It may be under the humungus board in the control cavity. But nowhere it ca be seen.

 

[mb94952]

No, my bass had the sticker only with the serial number under both the battery and control cavities. USA is nowhere on the bass. It may be under the humungus board in the control cavity. But nowhere it ca be seen.

None of them say made in USA. You're all good, Larry !

 

[Murivan]

No, my bass had the sticker only with the serial number under both the battery and control cavities. USA is nowhere on the bass. It may be under the humungus board in the control cavity. But nowhere it ca be seen.

Have you bought the bass new in the late 90s?

 

[Larry Balara]

No, baught it here on TB.

 

[Murivan]

No, baught it here on TB.

Ok, so how do you know that there wasn't a sticker with the manufacturing location?
Like this (pic taken from one of the latest cirrus that sold here on tb):

 

[Larry Balara]

There is no indication of there having been a sticker or anything else on the control cavity cover.

 

[Murivan]

There is no indication of there having been a sticker or anything else on the control cavity cover.

What do you mean there is no indication? The sticker was normally placed -on top- of the film protecting the control cavity, remove the film, no sign of sticker. You can also very easily clean glue residues.
I am not entirely sure what your question is. Multiple users provided information related to that bass, and how Peavey basses were in general dated/placed.

 

[mb94952]

What do you mean there is no indication? The sticker was normally placed -on top- of the film protecting the control cavity, remove the film, no sign of sticker. You can also very easily clean glue residues.
I am not entirely sure what your question is. Multiple users provided information related to that bass, and how Peavey basses were in general dated/placed.

Not always. I have some with zero markings. I've even had a couple with NO serial number at all, maybe they were first runs or something.

@Larry Balara - Don't trip. Your Cirrus is a Thousand percent made in USA.

 

[Larry Balara]

I don't know why you're asking what my question is. It was asked and answered. As I said I'm glad it's made in the USA! But I didn't know The sticker was on top of the film. Thank you! But if I were Peavey I would not have placed it on film that is easily, and probably expected to be, removed.

 

[Larry Balara]

Not always. I have some with zero markings. I've even had a couple with NO serial number at all, maybe they were first runs or something.

@Larry Balara - Don't trip. Your Cirrus is a Thousand percent made in USA.

Not trippin! I realize mine is made in the USA. As previously mentioned, my problem is with Peavey's labeling. If they had been consistant this discussion would be mute.

 

[Murivan]

Not always. I have some with zero markings. I've even had a couple with NO serial number at all, maybe they were first runs or something.

@Larry Balara - Don't trip. Your Cirrus is a Thousand percent made in USA.

The most common occasions where I saw a neck (or the entire bass if NT) without any marking behind the headstock were between 2003 and 2005, and more commonly ebony or maple boards (probably because they were made "to order").
The normal locations for serials have been: back of the headstock, on top of the film protecting the electronics, inside the battery cover, inside the electronics cover, combinations of the aforementioned places.
EDIT: Forgot inside the pickup routes, but those were really unreliable.
But yes, Peavey has a very bad track record on serial numbers for instruments.

 

[kodiakblair]

USA is nowhere on the bass.

Probably because most US Cirrus didn't reach the quota to bear a "Made in USA" stamp.

The breakdown was

Tuning pegs. Korean.
Nut. Canadian.
Bridge. German.
Pickups. Korean.
Preamp. Korean.
Knobs. Korean.
Strap Buttons. Korean.
Control Cover. Korean.
Battery Cover. Korean.

Screws,TR and fretwire were also likely imported.

The catalogues were sneaky. On the pages there was " Peavey Made in USA" in a stars and stripes livery but the wording changed to "USA Crafted" when describing the actual bass.