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.
Click each picture for a
larger version. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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