1970 GUITARS
The SS65B guitar was identical to the 1969 #35-SGC, but with a new name. As in 1969, this model was constructed from a maple Hofner neck with rosewood fingerboard and Kluson tuners. The body was made from "select woods from the Black Forest" with a sunburst finish. Electronics consisted of a pair of Carvin AP-6 pickups, with dual volume and tone controls and three-way selector switch. The Bigsby tailpiece was optional (indicated by the "B" following the model number). Price on the SS65 was $140.00, and price on the SS65B was $170.00.
The Carvin SS70B guitar was identical to the 1969 #65-SGC. The Bigsby tailpiece was standard, and a hardtail model was not offered. Materials were the same as the SS65, with three AP-6 pickups versus two. Controls consisted of a single volume and tone control, with an on/off switch for each pickup. Price on the SS70B was $200.00. The SC22 hardshell case, which fit either the SS65 or SS70, was $26.00.
The semi-hollow AS50B was identical to the 1969 #36-ASGC. This model had a standard Hofner maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, maple body with spruce top, Kluson tuners and AP-6 pickups with dual volume and tone controls and a 3-way selector switch. The Bigsby vibrato tailpiece was optional. The AS50 sold for $160.00, and the AS50B was $190.00. The AC24 hardshell case was $40.00.
Carvin offered 3 lap steel guitars (also referred to as Hawaiian steel guitars) in 1970. The PRO-S8 was a single neck 8-string model with single AP-8 pickup and master volume and tone controls. It sold for $80.00. The PRO-D6 was a doubleneck 6-string model, with AP-6 pickups, and master volume and tone controls. It sold for $100.00. The PRO-D8 was a double-eight, with AP-8 pickups and master volume and tone controls. It sold for $130.00.
There were two doubleneck pedal steel guitars offered in 1970 - the P6000 double-ten and the P4000 double-eight. Both were constructed from Eastern hardrock maple, with standard 23" scale fingerboards and lacquered sunburst finish. Electronics consisted of an AP-8 or AP-10 pickup with a single volume and tone control. The P6000 with 8 pedals and knee lever sold for $675.00. The P4000 with 8 pedals sold for $550.00. A double sharp and double flat changer could be added for $50.00.
There were also a pair of single-neck pedal steel guitars offered in 1970, which were featured on the back cover of the catalog: the P2500 10-string with 6 pedals, and the P1500 8-string with 4 pedals. The construction materials and electronics were the same as the double-neck counterparts. The P2500 sold for $450.00, and the P1500 sold for $360.00.
The hollow-body AB45 bass was available in sunburst finish, and was equipped with the standard 22-fret Hofner-made neck that would be a mainstay of Carvin basses until they began producing their own necks in the late 1970s. The catalog referred to the body as "German made", but did not specifically mention if this was also made by Hofner. However, the body looks identical to the Hofner 500/6 bass from the same era, so most likely, the entire instrument was Hofner-made, and assembled by Carvin in California. Other features of the AB-45 were Kluson tuners, rosewood fingerboard, pearl inlays, and APB-4 pickups with dual volume and tone controls, and a 3-way selector switch. Direct price on the AB45 was $155.00.
Carvin's other bass model for 1970 was the SB40 solidbody model. Like the AB45, the SB-40 featured a "German made body", as well as a Hofner neck with Kluson tuners, rosewood fingerboard, pearl dot inlays and sunburst finish. Electronics also consisted of fully-adjustable APB-4 pickups with dual volume and tone controls and 3-way selector switch. Direct price on the SB40 was $150.00.