Basses
Late in 2003, Carvin
made a bold and welcome marketing change - the return of the full-sized,
8½ X 11 catalog. The small-format catalog was 10 years old, and
had started to appear dated, despite the new photography in the Summer
2003 edition. The photography of the new catalog was
similar to the last small-format one, but the new larger format
allowed more instruments to be shown on each page, in a unique and
visually appealing "one large, three small" layout.
There were a few minor
changes with Carvin basses at the end of 2003 - the dual HB2 pickup
configuration, which had been a "hidden" option, was now
shown in the catalog. A new hybrid color, Burnt Umber with
Sunsetburst, was introduced. Additionally, rosewood was offered
as a no-charge fingerboard option.
Click each picture for
a larger version. |
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Carvin's Bolt basses,
the B4 and B5, were unchanged, but like many other
models in the new catalog, fully loaded models were shown, versus the
mid-level equipped (or even bare-bones) models that had been shown in
the past. Prices on both these models dropped, to $569 for a B4
or B4F (fretless), and $669 for a B5 or B5F.
From left to right, the
catalog showed a B4 in Umber Stain/Sunsetburst on flamed maple with
matching headstock, abalone dot inlays, HB2 pickup and gold hardware;
a B4 in Translucent White on swamp ash with HB2 pickup and gold
hardware; a B5 in Ruby Red Stain on quilted maple with matching
headstock and black hardware; and a B5 in Sapphire Blue on swamp ash
with HB2 pickup and chrome hardware.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog. |
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The LB-bodied
four-string basses, the TBS4, LB20 and LB70 were
unchanged from the previous catalog. All three models were
priced the same, at $899 for the TBS4, $669 for the LB20, and $749 for
the LB70.
From left to right, the
catalog showed the TBS4 in Umber Stain on quilted maple with chrome
hardware; an LB20 in Sunsetburst on maple with black chrome hardware;
an LB70 with figured walnut top and matching headstock and gold
hardware; and an LB70P in Tobacco Sunburst on swamp ash with matching
headstock and chrome hardware.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog. |
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The XB75 was
moved to the page with the LB75, versus sharing a page with
the XB76. Base prices on the LB75 and XB75
remained the same as 2003, at $799 and $869, respectively.
From left to right, the
catalog showed an XB75P with satin finished flamed koa top
with matching head-stock, dual alnico pickups and gold
hardware; an XB75P in emerald green on swamp ash; an LB75 in Ruby Red
Stain with blackburst edges on quilted maple with matching
headstock, MOP block inlays and black hardware; and an LB75P in koa
with chrome hardware and no fingerboard inlays. The inset picture
shows an XB75P with a figured Claro walnut top with birdseye maple
fingerboard, alongside an LB75PF in walnut, an LB75P in umber stain
with sunsetburst edges, and an LB75 in classic sunburst on swamp
ash. |
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Like the XB75, the XB76
moved to the page with other LB-bodied 6-string basses. Base
prices on the XB76 and LB76 were unchanged from the previous
catalog, at $969 and $899, respectively.
From left to right, the
catalog showed an XB76P with clear satin finish with 5-piece neck,
dual HB2 humbuckers, Bird's Eye Maple fingerboard and gold hardware;
an XB76 in Sapphire Blue on flamed maple with matching headstock,
abalone dot inlays and gold hardware; an LB76 in clear quilted maple
with blackburst edges, matching headstock and gold hardware; and an
LB76P in Cherry Sunburst on quilted maple with matching headstock, MOP
block inlays and gold hardware.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog. |
In May 2004,
Carvin made an unprecedented move, and announced on their
BBS that a 1990/91 model DC200 reissue, complete with
pointy, angled headstock and large Carvin logo, would be
made available in a limited run for anyone who placed an
order for it by the end of June '04. During the next
few weeks, at the request of the BBS members, the project
evolved to the point that any guitar (except Holdsworths,
Cobalts and the CL450 classical) could be ordered with the
1990 headstock for a $100 upcharge. Even Carvin's kit guitar
could be ordered with this option. Soon after, the
"Pointy" became one of Carvin's many "hidden" options and
the June 30th deadline was eliminated. The official option
code: PTH.
The Webmaster's
2005 BB70EP
1991 LB70 |
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The Bunny Brunel
Signature Basses, the BB70, BB75 and BB76, were
unchanged, and their prices remained the same, at $849, $899, and
$999, respectively.
From left to right, the
catalog showed a BB75F in Umber Stain on flamed maple with matching
headstock, fretlines and chrome hardware; a BB70P in clear gloss on
swamp ash with traditional headstock, MOP block inlays and gold
hardware; a BB75P in clear gloss on figured walnut with 5-piece neck
and black chrome hardware; and a BB76P in Ruby Red Stain on quilted
maple with matching headstock, MOP block inlays and chrome hardware.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog. |
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Carvin's LB70, LB75 and
LB76 continued to be available in the Claro Walnut Series (W
Series), and had no changes from the previous catalog. The
prices were also unchanged.
The catalog also shows
the Anniversary model (A Series), which was also unchanged.
The base price on the
LB70W/A sold for $1149, and $1249 for the "P" option.
The LB75W/A was $1199, and $1299 for the "P" option, and the
LB76W/A was $1299, or $1399 (from $1449) for the "P" option.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog. |
The acoustic AC40
and AC50 basses were unchanged from the previous catalog, and
the prices remained the same, at $799 and $849, respectively.
From left to right, the
catalog showed the AC50 in satin finished koa with matching headstock,
body binding and gold hardware; an AC50F with flamed koa top and
matching headstock with chrome hardware; an AC40F in clear gloss on
quilted maple with matching traditional headstock; and an AC40 in
clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, abalone block
inlays, body binding and chrome hardware.
The picture and prices
are from the Fall/Winter 2003 catalog.
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