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Guitars
Carvin offered a wide
assortment of guitars in 1962, in a variety of configurations,
included a left-handed model. As in previous years, Carvin also
offered Martin guitars, and an assortment of steel guitars.
Click each picture for
a larger version.
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The model #62-SGB (left)
was
the top-of-the-line model for 1962. Taking a cue from the hugely
popular Fender Strat, the #62-SGB had three AP-6 adjustable pickups,
which was unusual for the time. The body and neck were made from
"genuine hardwood", which was presumably maple. The 25
1/8" scale fingerboard was rosewood, and the neck had an adjustable truss
rod. The electronics configuration was a little unusual - the three-way
selector switch selected either the neck pickup, neck and center
pickup, or bridge pickup. There were two volume and two tone
controls, with controlled the neck and center pickup together, and the
bridge pickup. The model #62-SGC sold for $159.90, and the
Guitar Vibro unit (inset photo) was an additional $19.50 (more on this
unit below). There were two cases available, both hardshell, one
plush lined, the other felt lined, which sold for $23.90 and $19.90 respectively.
The model #11-SGB
(right) was Carvin's entry-level electric guitar for 1962. It was based
on the #62-SGC, but with a single AP-6 adjustable pickup, and single
volume and tone controls. All other aspects were the same.
The model #11-SGB sold for $79.90, and was also available as the model
#22-SGB, which had a single, non-adjustable A-1 pickup. |
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The model #32-SGB
(left) was built on the same body as the #62-SGC, except it had two
AP-6 pickups versus 3. Otherwise, materials and construction was
the same. The #32-SGB sold for $119.90. It was also
available as the #42-SGB, which had non-adjustable A-1
pickups. In addition, it was offered as the #2-BG, which
was sold as a bass guitar, but was actually a standard guitar tuned
one octave lower. It sold for $125.00.
The model #10-LSGB
guitar (right) was the same as the #32-SGB, in a left-handed
version. It sold for $139.90. |
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Carvin offered a pair of
doublenecks in 1962, both of which were based on the same design, and
had a 6-string on the bottom. The #4-BS (left) was a
doubleneck guitar/bass, with 3 pickups (two AP-6's and one AP-4), and
individual volume and tone controls for each neck. The #1-MS
(right) had a six-string guitar and a mandolin with 3 pickups (two
AP-6's and one AP-8) and individual volume and tone controls for each
neck. Construction and materials were the same as their
single-neck counterparts. The #4-BS guitar and bass sold for
$229.90, and was also available as the #5-BS, with
non-adjustable pickups, for $199.90. The #1-MS guitar and
mandolin also sold for $229.90, and was available as the #2-MS, with
non-adjustable pickups, for $199.90. |
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In addition to guitars,
Carvin offered the #1-MB mandolin (left) in 1962. This
was constructed using the same techniques and materials as Carvin's
other guitars, and had a single AP-8 pickup with single volume and
tone controls. The #1-MB sold for $89.90, and was also available
as the #2-MB, with a non-adjustable pickup, for $79.90.
Throughout Carvin's
early years, they offered gear by other manufacturers. In 1962,
you could order a wide variety of Martin instruments (right) from
Carvin, including an assortment of guitars and other stringed
instruments, such as mandolins and ukuleles. |
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A new innovation
created in the early 60's was the Guitar-Vibro (above), which was
similar in principle to the Bigsby Vibrato, but without the familiar
arm. The Guitar-Vibro clamped to the strings between the bridge and
tailpiece, and doubled as a palm rest. By depressing it with the palm,
the pitch could be dropped as much as a half-step. The Guitar-Vibro was
available on most Carvin guitars in 1962, or could be purchased separately for
$19.50.
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Carvin made it's name
early on by making pickups for steel guitars, and then by creating
their own line of lap and pedal steel instruments. In
1962, an assortment of these instruments were offered.
The #6DHG-5B
(far left) and #8DHG-5B (near left) were Carvin's main single
neck lap steels. Both were constructed of maple, with plastic
fretboard, molded nut and bridge, ivory tuners and single AP-6 or AP-8
adjustable pickup with volume, treble and bass controls. The
model #6DHG-5B 6-string sold for $49.90, and was also available as the
#6DHG-6B, with non-adjustable pickup, for $39.90. The
model #8DHG-5B 8-string sold for $69.90, and was available as the #8DHG-6B,
with non adjustable pickup, for $59.90.
The model #80B
eight string steel guitar (right) was similar in design to the DHG
series, but had the 3-position tone changer (note the lever on the
bridge) that allowed the guitar to be instantly retuned to A, E or
Cm7. The model #80B sold for $129.90, and the 6-string #60B sold
for $99.90. |
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The model #C8806-D
(left) was a double-8 steel guitar, that had the 3-position changer on
the outer neck. Construction & materials were the same as
other Carvin steel guitars. The #C8806-D with adjustable AP
series pickups sold for $179, and the #C8806-E, with
non-adjustable pickups, sold for $159.90.
The model #6606-B
(near right) and the model #8806-B (far right) were essentially
the same as the #C8806-D, without the 3-position changer. The
#6606-B double-six with adjustable AP-series pickups sold for $89.90,
and the #8806-C with A-1 non-adjustable pickups sold for
$75.00. The #8806-B double-eight was $119.90, and the A-2
equipped #8806-C sold for $99.90. |
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In addition to selling
guitars by Martin, Carvin also sold other brands - notably, pickups
and foot pedals by DeArmond. DeArmond made pickups for all sorts
of acoustic instruments, including ukuleles, mandolins, violins and of
course, guitars. |
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An interesting feature
of early Carvin catalogs was the inclusion of hand-drawn schematics
for different pickup configurations on guitars and steel guitars. |
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