Guitars

1979 was the year when the modern Carvin guitar really took shape.  The wide-at-the-top headstock was replaced, and Carvin's own set-necks were being used on Carvin bodies (versus Hofner necks on Carvin bodies, or Hofner necks on Hofner bodies assembled by Carvin), making this the first truly fully made by Carvin guitar.  

1979 Basses

1979 Guitar Amps

1979 Bass Amps

1979 Pro Audio

Although there were only two body styles (the Les Paul-style CM series, and the Gibson-inspired DC series), Carvin was already beginning to offer a good selection of options and finishes - but this was just the beginning...

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1979 Carvin Catalog Cover
1979 Carvin CM130 Guitar

The CM series of guitars were very similar to the Les Paul (in those days, practically every guitar made by everyone was either an LP or Strat clone).  The CM130 was available in two different models, the CM130CM (left) which had a clear finish on maple body and a maple fingerboard, and the CM130CE (right), which had a clear finish on maple with ebony fingerboard.  The CE had a variant, the CM130BE, which had a black finish and ebony fingerboard.  The CM130CM sold for $370 (of $400 for a leftie), the CM130CE and CE130BE both sold for $390 (no lefty available).  The HC10 hardshell case was $50. 

1979 Carvin CM130 Guitar
1979 Carvin CM140 Guitar

The CM140 was Carvin's flagship single-cutaway model for 1979.  The design was the same as the other CM guitars, but had more features, such as mother-of-pearl block inlays and headstock inlay, stereo wiring, and available gold hardware.  It was available as the CM140B (black finish), the CM140C (clear finish), and the CM140L (left-handed).  The C and B models were $470, and the L model was $500.

1979 Carvin DC150 Guitar

The DC150 is a model that's still around today.  In 1979, the DC150 was available in the same variations as the CM models - black/ebony (BE), clear/maple (CM) and clear/ebony (CE).  All three were available in left-handed models (extra $30), and gold hardware was also available for an additional $50.  The DC150BE (left) and DC150CE were $430, and the DC150CM (right) was $410.

1979 Carvin DC150 Guitar

The DC160 was the top of the line model for 1979. This model was essentially an upscale DC150, made from curly or birdseye maple, with abalone block inlays, abalone headstock inlay and 24K gold hardware as standard features.  Electronics were the same as the DC150.  The pickguard found on all other Carvin models was noticeably absent, allowing the wood to show - a feature that would soon be standard on most Carvin guitars. The DC160, in curly or birdseye maple, sold for $670, or $700 for a lefthanded model.

1979 Carvin DC160 Guitar