Guitars

Apart from some price increases, everything remained mostly the same in 1975 as it had been in 1974 (and 1973, for that matter).  The 1975 catalog would be the last that was primarily black-and-white, and most of the product lines (guitars, basses and amps) would be discontinued following this year.

1975 Basses

1975 Guitar Amps

1975 Bass Amps

Click each picture for a larger version.

 

1975 Carvin Catalog Cover

1975 Carvin Guitars

The AS50B (far left) was a semi-acoustic guitar, with a bolt-on maple Höfner #800 neck.  The top was spruce, and the back and sides were flamed maple, finished in sunburst with "polyester" clear coat.  Amenities included cast aluminum bridge and tailpiece, white MOP pickguard, Kluson tuners, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP fingerboard and headstock inlays.  Electronics consisted of a pair of AP6 humbucking pickups with dual volume and tone controls and 3-way selector switch.  For the third straight year, prices went up - $259.95 for the basic model, or $289.90 with a Bigsby tailpiece.  A left-handed model was available for $269.95, or in a 12-string version for $239.90.  The AC11 soft case was $19.95.

The CM95 (second from left) was a solid maple, single cutaway guitar with a bolt-on maple Höfner #800 neck.  It was only available in clear satin natural finish, and featured a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, MOP inlays, Kluson tuners, cast aluminum bridge and celluloid pickguard.  Electronics consisted of a pair of AP6 humbucking pickups with dual volume and tone controls and 3-way selector switch.  Base price rose to $249.95, or $249.95 with a Bigsby tailpiece (CM95B).  A left-handed model was available for $259.95 (CM95L).  The SC14 hardshell case was $34.95.

The SS75 (second from right) and SS65 (far right) were essentially the same instrument, with the only difference being the construction and finish.  Both used the Höfner #500 neck, which had narrower string spacing than the #800 used on the CM95 and AS50.  The SS75 was made of solid maple, with a clear satin natural finish.  The SS65 was made of "lighter high quality wood" with sunburst finish.  Both models had otherwise the same amenities as the CM95.  The SS75 sold for $199.95, or $229.95 with Bigsby tailpiece.  Although a left-handed model was offered in 1973, this was not mentioned in the 1974 or 1975 catalogs.  The SS65 sold for $179.95, or $209.95 with Bigsby tailpiece.  The SC15 hardshell case was $34.95.

To see the complete catalog write-up for these instruments, click here.

1975 Carvin SS120 12-String Guitar

The SS85 (right) was unchanged in it's sophomore (and final) year.  This was basically an SS75 with the #800 neck of the CM95, resulting in a hybrid instrument.  Electronics were the same as the SS75, and the SS85 was offered with a conventional tailpiece or with a Bigsby vibrato.  The SS85 sold for $239.95, or $269.95 with the Bigsby. A left-handed model, tha SS85L was available for $249.95.

The SS120 (left) was also unchanged for 1975, in what would be it's last year.  The body, electronics and all features were the same as the SS75.  The SS120 sold for $219.95.

 

1975 Carvin SS85 Guitar

The features of the DTS90B (right) were basically the same as the SS75 guitar, and was unchanged from 1974.  It had Höfner bolt-on necks with rosewood fingerboards,  AP6 pickups with a 3-way selector switch.  Additionally, the necks were wired independently of each other, so each neck could be plugged into a different amp.  The 6-string neck was available with or without the Bigsby vibrola.  The DTS90B sold for $339.95, and the DNS98 (without the Bigsby) sold for $309.95.  A left-handed model was not available.  The SC27 hardshell case was $34.95.

The features of the DBS98B (left) were basically the same as the SB60 bass, and the SS75 guitar, and was also unchanged for 1975.  Like the DTS90B,  each neck could be plugged into a different amp.  The guitar neck was available with or without the Bigsby vibrola.  The DBS98B sold for $309.95, or $339.95 with the Bigsby.

 

Carvin's steel guitars were fading fast by 1975.  At the height of their popularity, Carvin offered as many as 10 models, but in 1975, there were only two and their variants: the PRO series single and doubleneck 6 and 8-string models.

The PRO-S8 8-string (far left) sold for $89.95.  The PRO-D6 doubleneck 6-string (near left) sold for $149.95.  Also available was the PRO-S6 6-string model for $79.95, and the PRO-D8 doubleneck 8-string, which was $169.95.  A set of telescoping chrome-plated screw-in legs was available for $24.95, and the SC12 hardshell case sold for $29.95.