Jim
Alkire's
Collection
Carvin BBS ID: boogie5strg
WWW: http://www.galleryofsouls.com
This is
a great collection, encompassing all sorts of Carvin gear. Multiple basses
and guitars, and assorted amps
- this is as good as a collection as they get.

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First is this beautiful Ruby
Red LB75A. Stunning! Says Jim::
"The LB75A was my first Carvin.
This one is a '98 model that I ordered in April of that year. It took
eight weeks to build and arrived while I was on tour in the Bahamas. It
has a five piece maple/koa neck, a three piece alder/walnut/maple body
with a quilted maple top with matching headstock in Ruby Red, rounded
body sides, mother of pearl block inlays, gold hardware, Straploks and
H50 pickups."
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Next up is Jim's
purple LB75, which actually is now part of the
Lizzy Daymont collection. Jim adds:
"This LB75 is a '99 model that I
ordered right around Dec. 30, '98. It too took about eight weeks to build.
It has a one piece maple neck, alder body with flamed maple top with
matching headstock in Deep Purple, rounded body sides, mother of pearl
block inlays, gold hardware, Straploks and J99 pickups."
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Next is this LB76. Jim writes:
"This LB76 was a particularly fun
one to purchase. I ordered this from Joel Kiesel at the Santa Anna store
while on vacation. It's a 2000 model ordered in October of that year. It
took about six weeks to build. It has a five piece maple/koa neck, alder
body with a quilted maple top and matching headstock in Blueburst, rounded
body sides, abalone block inlays, black chrome hardware, Straploks and HB/J99
pickups with coil splitter."
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Here is Jim's
dual-HB2 LB76P. Jim says:
"This is a LB76P that I ordered
from Joel Kiesel at the Santa Anna store. It's a 2001 model. It has a five
piece maple/koa/maple neck, alder body with a quilted maple top and
matching headstock in Emerald Green, rounded body sides, abalone block
inlays, gold hardware, Straploks, 18 volt electronics with 2 HB pickups,
each with coil splitters and a Piezo pickup in the bridge. this was order
in late July of 2001 and Carvin was not and would not install a second
splitter for the neck HB (I was told no many times). Finally through
pleading and begging (and a little extra cash) they agreed to do it. This
was probably one of the first basses with these options from the factory."
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This is
Jim's Pearl
Silver LB76, bought in 2003. Jim says:
"This is an LB76 that I purchased
July 2003 at the Santa Anna store while on vacation. It has a Pearl Silver
finish with matching headstock, rounded body sides, J99/HB pup's, chrome
hardware and Straploks. This metallic finish really sparkles under
lights. It was priced to sell. I got it for $599.00 including the case."
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In addition to the basses, Jim
has an impressive collection of guitars, as well - and if you look close in the
photos, you'll see a wide array of Carvin amplification, also. Here's the deal:
"AC275-12. I'm not sure of the
year. Probably a '99 or 2000. I bought this at the Santa Anna store when
I ordered my LB76. This had been hanging on the wall so long the strings
were past being dead. Joel made me a screaming deal and I couldn't fly
home without it. It has a Mahogany neck and body, Flamed Koa top and
matching headstock with body binding, abalone block inlays, Sperzel
locking tuners, chrome hardware and Straploks. This baby sounds sooo
good.
Bolt T. I don't know the year, I bought this off Ebay for 300
bucks. It's a Bolt, pearl blue, Wilkinson trem, Sperzel locking tuners,
black chrome hardware, AP11 single coil pickups and a Holdsworth
humbucker with coil tap.
SC90 - Purchased July 2003 at the West
Covina store. It has a mahogany body and neck finished in Translucent
Purple and matching headstock, rounded body sides, black hardware, C22
pups and Straploks. There is something unusual about this guitar in
that the Carvin logo on the headstock is not a decal. It is inlaid
Mother of Pearl. No one at the store knew this until I noticed the logo
was changing color while the guitar was laying on the counter. This was
another $599.00 purchase including the case."
Never one to rest on his
laurels, in 2004, Jim added a pair of Carvins to his already impressive
lineup. Here's what he says:
 "LB76P (right). Mahogany body
with 5 piece maple/koa neck. Quilted maple no show top with matching
headstock, finished in Burnt Umber with Cherry Burst. Headstock has drop
shadow Carvin logo. Fretboard is birdseye maple with abalone dot inlays.
Dual HB pickups each with coil taps, Piezo bridge pickups with 18 volt
electronics. toped off with chrome hardware and strap locks. I ordered
this in early Jan, 2004 and received it in mid March. This has become
my main bass.
DC120 (left). This
was an Ebay purchase. It's your basic DC120, Alder body with maple
neck, rounded body edges finished in transparent red. Ebony
fretboard with mother of pearl block inlays. C22 pickups with active
electronics, coil taps and phase switch. Gold hardware finish it
off. The seller found it hard to play, it needed a set up badly. I
had it professionally set up and the thing plays like a dream and
sounds fantastic."
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Below is Jim's
IC6 Icon, which
was the first IC6 ordered from Carvin. Jim received it on 3/28/06.
It's finished in umber stain on quilted maple with matching headstock, alder
body, and 5-piece maple/koa neck. Other features include a Birdseye maple
fingerboard with abalone dot inlays and stainless steel frets. Electronics
consist of Carvin's new soapbar pickups and new 18V preamp.
Jim says:
"All I
can say is, Carvin has out done themselves. This is by far the best bass I
have played. it just smokes my other Carvins in how it sounds. These new
Soapbar pup's along with the new 18volt electronics are outstanding. It is
the first bass I've ever played that after 5 minutes of playing it for the
first time I was wanting another. They are that nice."
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