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Basses
1974 saw no significant changes in
Carvin's bass lineup. In fact, the bass models, and the catalog itself
only had minor changes from 1973 - 1975 (except for some minor price increases over
the years).
Click each picture
to see a larger version.
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On the
far right
(below) of the bass page is the SB60, which had minor changes from 1972,
including a chrome cover on the bridge pickup and an inlaid design on the
headstock. The SB60 was made from solid Eastern hardrock maple, with a
clear satin finish. It had the short-scale 22 fret Höfner bolt-on neck
with rosewood fingerboard, APB4 humbucking pickups, and aluminum bridge and
tailpiece. Electronics included a 3-way pickup selector switch, and
volume and tone controls for each pickup. Prices increased slightly from
1973, with the SB60 now selling for $189.95, or $199.95 for a lefthanded
model, plus $32.95 for the SC18 hardshell case.
Next is the SB40,
which had similar changes from the 1972 model as the SB60. This model
sported the same electronics and neck of the SB60, but was made from
unspecified wood - probably some variant of plywood, and was finished in
sunburst. The SB40 sold for $169.95, and wasn't available in a
left-handed model.
The last model was
the AB45 semi-hollow-body bass. This bass also featured the same Höfner
neck and electronics of it's solidbody counterparts, with aluminum bridge and
tailpiece, MOP pickguard, and sunburst finish with white binding. The
AB45 jumped in price to $199.95, or $209.95 for a left-handed model. The
AC21 softcase was $18.95.
Click
here to see the actual catalog page featuring the descriptions.
To see the
doubleneck models offered in 1974, see the 1974
Guitar Page. |
In
the 1960's and early 1970's, Carvin bought necks from
Höfner, and used them on their own guitars and basses. Höfner
was founded in Schönbach, Germany in 1887 by master luthier Karl
Höfner, and was the largest manufacturer of stringed and fretted
instruments in Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
His two sons, Josef and Walter, joined their father's company in
1919 and 1921, and they successfully expanded Höfner's worldwide
market, enabling them to survive the years of recovery following
World War II.
Carvin's relationship with Höfner began in the mid-1960's, and would
last until the late 1980's. Carvin guitars and basses from
1964 until 1978 had bolt on Höfner necks, and the SH225 was
made by Höfner and sold under the Carvin name.
The
Höfner 500/4 bass above is remarkably similar to the Carvin AB45.
Obviously, Carvin got the body as well as the neck from Höfner, as
the body shape, F holes , binding and finish are identical.
Note that the headstock logos are also the same. The
significant difference is that Carvin used their own electronics and
pickups in the AB45.
For more, see
1969 and
1981. |
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