U.S. Peavey Club

[richntiff]

So how does one tell if they are looking at a custom shop milly or not? I’m going to be looking at a Milly from a local guy. His asking price is on the high side of the range - esp considering he wouldn’t have to ship - and I believe the factory case is gone. Don’t know the year but it’s trans red, maple board, and hip shot ultralights (I think). Any other clues to look for? I don’t really need it as I have and love my US Cirrus 5 - but if it’s in great shape (as it appears to be), and I can get him to come to a price more in line with the ‘market’ - which is obv subjective, I might buy it. Thanks!

 

[Chuck M]

For what it is worth, I own a Cirrus 6 that was sold as a custom shop instrument. My bass has a highly figured flamed Redwood top and the figure in the Pau Ferro fingerboard is fantastic. There are no special markings on the bass. Peavey may be able to identify a bass as custom shop by the serial number. How much is the seller asking for the bass?

 

[ahbass2500]

I have yet to see a Millennium advertised as custom shop that did not look (and probably play) like a standard USA Millennium. Typically when I see "Custom" it is on a Millennium Plus instead of the standard Millennium. Great basses, but I don't think I would pay more for one, because someone claimed Custom Shop. Did they even do Custom Shop Millies? I know the old custom shop web application was Cirrus only and came out after the demise of the US Millie.

I would say the same for a Cirrus. The only thing that would make a Custom Shop Cirrus different to my knowledge is wood selection. If I was looking at the same woods (both type and quality) on one that was "Custom" and one that was not, I would not pay a price premium. That said, most Custom Shop Cirrus basses I have seen are worth a premium due to higher quality woods and/or unique wood combinations that were not on the standard line.

 

[Runnerman]

I had my Millennium out last night and that bass never ceases to amaze. The only "problem" I have is that the crystal clarity of the pre coupled with relatively new roundwounds magnifies every bit of sloppiness in my playing. The bass rewards good technique with exceptional tone though. The pauferro I believe has something to do with it also, I find it livelier than the maple necks I own. Unplugged the bass still sings. If there is such thing as a bass that pushes you to play your best, this must be it. Okay, gushing over. Back to your regular scheduled programming.

 

[Chuck M]

My Cirrus does indeed have very nice wood in it...better than the typical Cirrus so it may have been a custom shop bass. I paid a fair price for it but less than what most are asking for nice Cirrus 6's that have wood much less attractive than mine. There is a Redwood top Cirrus 6 up for sale now and the seller is asking $320 more than I paid for mine delivered. The wood in that one is only moderately figured.

I agree that I would not pay extra for a bass that is identified by the seller as custom shop. I would, however, pay a bit more for a bass with really nice wood in it. In the case of my Cirrus 6, the only reason I bought it was because of the fantastic wood and the low price. I did not expect to love it as much as I do. It turned out to be a great playing and sounding bass as well as beautiful.

 

[songwriter21]

So how does one tell if they are looking at a custom shop milly or not? I’m going to be looking at a Milly from a local guy. His asking price is on the high side of the range - esp considering he wouldn’t have to ship - and I believe the factory case is gone. Don’t know the year but it’s trans red, maple board, and hip shot ultralights (I think). Any other clues to look for? I don’t really need it as I have and love my US Cirrus 5 - but if it’s in great shape (as it appears to be), and I can get him to come to a price more in line with the ‘market’ - which is obv subjective, I might buy it. Thanks!

I have yet to see a Millennium advertised as custom shop that did not look (and probably play) like a standard USA Millennium. Typically when I see "Custom" it is on a Millennium Plus instead of the standard Millennium. Great basses, but I don't think I would pay more for one, because someone claimed Custom Shop. Did they even do Custom Shop Millies? I know the old custom shop web application was Cirrus only and came out after the demise of the US Millie.

I would say the same for a Cirrus. The only thing that would make a Custom Shop Cirrus different to my knowledge is wood selection. If I was looking at the same woods (both type and quality) on one that was "Custom" and one that was not, I would not pay a price premium. That said, most Custom Shop Cirrus basses I have seen are worth a premium due to higher quality woods and/or unique wood combinations that were not on the standard line.

I had my Millennium out last night and that bass never ceases to amaze. The only "problem" I have is that the crystal clarity of the pre coupled with relatively new roundwounds magnifies every bit of sloppiness in my playing. The bass rewards good technique with exceptional tone though. The pauferro I believe has something to do with it also, I find it livelier than the maple necks I own. Unplugged the bass still sings. If there is such thing as a bass that pushes you to play your best, this must be it. Okay, gushing over. Back to your regular scheduled programming.

If the Millennium, in question, is a transparent finish on the body, then it's probably a Millennium Plus model. The regular Milleniums had no top, had a pau ferro or non-figured maple board, and they had a black or regular (non-painted) headstock (pretty sure). The top model, the Plus BN, had a transparent/figured top, a matching headstock, along with a birdseye neck and board. My Milly is in the first few pics, which is a Plus BN.

Regarding true custom Cirruses, I haven't seen many. I'm actually selling mine, and the fifth pic shows the designation of being a special order.

Yes, my Millenium is acoustically loud, too, and I am in agreement that the pre does amplify any less-than-stellar technique. Imagine how I was "mortified", when I plugged my bass into a Markbass Mini Boost and Darkglass Vintage Ultra Bass...I need to woodshed more!

 

[richntiff]

Ok thanks - he’s not calling it ‘custom shop’ that’s just me misquoting what I meant as Millenium plus lol. This one has regular non matching headstock, but a transparent red flame maple top on the body. I’m guessing not a plus - or maybe there was a neck change during its life?

I like basses that push me technique wise. I find the Cirrus to be similar that way.

 

[songwriter21]

Ok thanks - he’s not calling it ‘custom shop’ that’s just me misquoting what I meant as Millenium plus lol. This one has regular non matching headstock, but a transparent red flame maple top on the body. I’m guessing not a plus - or maybe there was a neck change during its life?

I like basses that push me technique wise. I find the Cirrus to be similar that way.

The transparent flame top designates a Plus model.

 

[NicJimBass]

Ok thanks - he’s not calling it ‘custom shop’ that’s just me misquoting what I meant as Millenium plus lol. This one has regular non matching headstock, but a transparent red flame maple top on the body. I’m guessing not a plus - or maybe there was a neck change during its life?

I like basses that push me technique wise. I find the Cirrus to be similar that way.

The Hipshot tuners, flame top and transparent finish all designate it as a Plus model. From there, there are many variants... some have figured necks and fingerboards, some have abalone inlays (versus the normal black dots... abalone was common on figured necks), some have black headstocks, some have natural (unpainted) headstocks, some have matching headstocks. There doesn't seem to be any real consistency besides the tuners and top/finish.

Regardless, ANY Mill you get it going to be awesome. I've owned a handful and I miss them all.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

love the "custom paint" on this T-40

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[richntiff]

Thanks guys - truthfully not worried if it’s a standard or plus - sounds like it’s a plus though.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

That T40 is local to me but no thanks, i don't need another one that badly!

 

[kodiakblair]

I'm looking at trans finish,matching headstock,hipshot tuners with the D-tuner. Abalone dots on a bird's eye maple neck.

Guess it's a Plus BN Learn something new every day.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

That T40 is local to me but no thanks, i don't need another one that badly!

i'd snag it if it were nearby -- i always need donor instruments for my various projects.

i could also throw the body on the T-40 refin pile!



(natural body on the left will be my first sunburst attempt, the body on the right was bondo'd and primered and I'm trying to bring it back to some semblance of usefulness. B-301 in the foreground is getting a ground-up restoration.)

 

[Relsom]

I know of no custom shop Millenniums but lots of variants that blur the line between a standard and a plus. Cirrus' on the other hand, if it's got a factory Millie preamp, wooden control covers, and maybe an ebony board, then yeah, that would be a custom shop and I think I'd pay a bit more for it. Especially with an ebony board.

 

[58kites]

Red Axcelerator for $199 at GC
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[Mvf]

now this ... this is a bass.

View attachment 2835555 View attachment 2835556

That sure is a BASS! I have the same, with the original "F type" case. See picks and some info at #9751. Had her out for a gig a couple of weeks ago, sounded awesome through my Fender Rumble 500 head and 2*115 cabs. Next gig will be tonight..

 

[songwriter21]

So how does one tell if they are looking at a custom shop milly or not? I’m going to be looking at a Milly from a local guy. His asking price is on the high side of the range - esp considering he wouldn’t have to ship - and I believe the factory case is gone. Don’t know the year but it’s trans red, maple board, and hip shot ultralights (I think). Any other clues to look for? I don’t really need it as I have and love my US Cirrus 5 - but if it’s in great shape (as it appears to be), and I can get him to come to a price more in line with the ‘market’ - which is obv subjective, I might buy it. Thanks!

Here are more nuggets of goodness!

 

[songwriter21]

Just grabbed this off of Ebay! I've only seen one other in this color, metallic blue (seller could be the same I talked to a ways back...communication was lacking), and the bolt-on Cirruses are rare enough.

 

[songwriter21]

There's still a walnut/bubinga bolt-on Cirrus on Ebay, Peavey nuts! These are way rarer than the neck-thru models.