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. 

 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."

 

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."

 

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."

 
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."

 

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."

 

 

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."

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."