Guitars After maintaining the status quo for a couple of years, many things changed in the Guitar Department.  The only model to go away was the single pickup Holdsworth models, the H1 and HF1.  But there were a whopping 8 new models;  the Cobalt Series of acoustics, which had 6 different models, and a pair of new models for the Collector's Series.  In addition to new models, the Fishman Acoustic Bridge, a piezo-equipped bridge that simulated acoustic tones, was offered, as was the new TBH60 twinblade pickups, which were pickups that allowed a humbucking side-by-side pickup in a single-coil space.  Another new option was the Carvin-licensed Floyd Rose tremolo for the DC727 and DC747 7-string guitars - a first for these models.  Lastly, the "Custom Flame Package" went away, as the options included in it were now a standard part of Carvin's ever-growing option list. 2001 Basses 2001 Guitar Amps 2001 Bass Amps Click each picture for a larger version.

The last of the Collector's Series was introduced at the beginning of 2001.  This was the Catfish AE185 (far right), created in conjunction with marquetry artist T. Breeze VerDant.  This model was made with California Claro Walnut (top), Honduras Mahogany (body & neck), Ebony (fretboard).  Additionally, the inlays were made from Hawaiian koa, bubinga, satinwood, macassar ebony, rosewood, tulipwood, koto, mahogany, boxwood, paua abalone, and gold mother of pearl. As with the other Collector's Series models, only 10 of these were made, at a cost of $6100, including tweed hardshell case and certificate of authenticity. To see the other Collector's Series models, see 2000 Guitars. The catalog photo is from the Spring 2001 catalog.

The AC375 Swallowtail (above) was the only non-AE185 instrument created for the Collector's Series.  The catalog photo is from the Winter 2001 edition.

The Bolt (left) was unchanged, and used the same photos from 1999, laid onto the new background.  The price increased slightly, to $499 for the hardtail model, but dropped slightly to $539 for the Bolt-T, with Wilkinson tremolo.   

The catalog photo showed a Bolt in clear gloss on swamp ash with Sperzel tuners, black pearloid pickguard, dual black/cream twinblade pickups, bridge humbucker with coil tap and on/off switch; and a Bolt-T in clear gloss on swamp ash, Sperzel tuners, white pearloid pickguard, Wilkinson tremolo, and bridge humbucker with on/off switch.  The inset photo showed a Bolt-T in Sapphire Blue with maple fingerboard, white pearloid pickguard, C22T humbucker and black chrome hardware.

The DC127 (near right) and DC135 (far right), were unchanged for 2001, but benefited from the available twinblades and Fishman acoustic bridge.  The prices achieved parity, with both models now selling for $599, or $639 with the Wilkinson tremolo, or $679 with the Floyd Rose tremolo. 

The catalog showed the DC127 in tung-oiled koa with matching headstock and rounded body sides, Wilkinson tremolo and gold hardware.  The DC135 was shown in Cherry Sunburst on flamed maple with matching headstock, rounded body sides, maple fingerboard, twinblade humbuckers in the neck and middle position, 5-way pickup selector switch, and black hardware.

The TL60 (left) rose slightly in price, to $589 for the hardtail model, and $629 for the TL60T with Wilkinson tremolo.  The Crowe Option Package, which included Harlequin Prismatique finish, body binding, reverse matching headstock and dual humbuckers rose to an additional $300.

The catalog photo showed a TL60 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, abalone block inlays, active electronics with Fishman acoustic bridge and standard chrome hardware; and another TL60 with the new Crowe Option Package with black hardware.

The SC90 (right) was unchanged, but the prices rose slightly, to $599, while the SC90T with Wilkinson tremolo was $639, and the SC90C, with Floyd Rose tremolo, $679.  

The catalog showed an SC90 in Ruby Red Stain on flamed maple with matching headstock, mother-of-pearl block inlays, rounded body sides, gold hardware and cream pickups; and an SC90 in Cherry Sunburst on quilted maple with matching headstock, rounded body sides, abalone block inlays, single volume/tone with coil splitters/phase switch and gold hardware.

The DC200 and DC400 (below, left) were unchanged, but got new catalog photos, once again showing the DC200, and relegating the DC120 12-string to an inset photo. The DC200 rose slightly, to a base price of $699, and the DC400 dropped, to a base price of $899. The Wilkinson and Floyd Rose equipped models dropped slightly on both models.  The DC120 remained $749.

The DC400 Anniversary model, which was a highly upgraded DC400, with 5-piece maple/koa neck, flamed maple top and matching headstock, and 3 piece alder/koa/flamed maple (or Claro Walnut) body was still available as a $200 upgrade to the DC400, DC400T or DC400C.

The catalog photo showed the DC200 in Tobacco Sunburst with black painted headstock, Wilkinson tremolo, and cream pickups with black bezels, and the DC400 in Ruby Red Stain on quilted maple with matching headstock, Floyd Rose tremolo and gold hardware.

The DC727 (near right) and DC747 (far right) 7-string guitars were unchanged for 2001.  The prices remained the same at $629 for the DC727, and dropped to $659 for the DC747.

The catalog photo showed the DC727 in Antique Brown Stain on quilted maple with matching headstock, licensed Floyd Rose tremolo, and black hardware, and the DC747 in Harlequin Prismatique with matching headstock, licensed Floyd Rose tremolo and black hardware.

The Holdsworth H1 and HF1 (left) were retired, leaving the H2 and HF2.  Base prices remained the same, at $799 for the H2, and $899 for the HF2.

The catalog showed the H2 in Tobacco Sunburst on quilted maple with matching headstock and black hardware, and the HF2 Fatboy in Blueburst on quilted maple with matching headstock and black hardware.

The AE185 and AE185-12 (right) were unchanged for 2001.  The base price of the AE185 remained $799, and the base price of the AE185-12 was $849.  The same catalog photo was used as in 2000.

The catalog showed a AE185 in flamed koa with matching  headstock, body binding, coil splitters and phase switches and black hardware, and an AE185 in Tobacco Sunburst on quilted maple with matching headstock and coil splitters and phase switches and black hardware.  The inset photo showed an AE185-12 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, body binding and gold hardware.

The AC175 and AC275 (left) remained the same, although the prices increased to $669 for the AC175, $719 for the AC275, and $779 for the AC275-12.  The same catalog photo was used as in 2000.

The catalog showed an AC175 with natural spruce top, gold hardware, and inline headstock.  The AC275 was shown in Classic Sunburst on flamed maple with body binding and chrome hardware.  The inset photo showed the AC275-12 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, body binding and black hardware.

The AC375 (near right) was also unchanged, but it's base price rose to $839, plus $118 for the HC16 hardshell case.

The CL450 (far right) was unchanged from it's introduction in 2000.  Base price on the CL450 increased to $879.

The catalog showed the AC375 in clear matte sating finish with koa headstock overlay and gold hardware, and the CL450 in clear gloss on red cedar with body binding and gold hardware.

In 2001, Carvin tried something totally new, the Cobalt Series of acoustic guitars.  Unlike Carvin's other guitars and basses, these instruments were made overseas, and did not have the long list of options available.  Essentially, they were mass-produced, off-the-shelf type instruments, but were sold at a very attractive price, and were comparable to other import acoustics on the market.  However, unlike other imported acoustics, Carvin's Custom Shop inspected and set-up each instrument, providing the same exacting quality control as the USA-made guitars.  Standard features on all models was Grover tuners, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard and headstock with inlayed Carvin logo, ebony bridge pins with abalone inlays, Tusq saddle and Elixir NanoWeb strings.

The C550 (left) had a AA spruce top, rosewood back and sides, satin finish and gloss body with abalone soundhole purfling.  Price on this was $499.

The C250 (top, near right) was slightly smaller than the C550, with all the same features.  It sold for $419.  The C250S (top center) was the same as the C250, but with an AA cedar top.  It sold for $419, also.  The C350 (top, far right) had gloss mahogany top, sides and back, with satin mahogany neck, and sold for $429.  The C750 (lower near right) was an acoustic electric single-cutaway model, with Fishman Matrix pickup and Fishman Prefix Plus electronics, with AA spruce top and mahogany body.  It sold for $549.  The C850 (lower far right) had the same features of the C750, with rosewood back and sides, and sold for $629.