1971 GUITARS

The AS-50 and AS-50B (shown in the catalog) were semi-acoustic electric guitars, similar to the Gibson ES-335. Like other Carvins of the era, it was made with a 22-fret Hofner neck, which had a rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, adjustable steel truss rod and Kluson tuners. The body was also imported from Germany, although the catalog didn't explicitly state that it was made by Hofner also. Regardless, it was high quality, constructed from a spruce top with maple back and sides, and gloss sunburst finish. Electronics consisted of two Carvin AP-6 pickups with volume and tone controls for each, and a 3-way pickup selector switch. Also available was the AS12-50, which was a 12-string version of the AS-50. It sold for $169.95. The AS-50 sold for $159.95, and the AS-50B (with Bigsby tailpiece) sold for $189.95. A left-handed version of either could be special ordered for an additional $10. The AC11 softshell case was $15.95.

The SS-70B (shown in the catalog) and SS-70 solidbody guitars were made with West German Hofner necks, and German-made bodies made from the very exotic-sounding "selected woods from the Black Forest" which were assembled in the US. Both were finished in glass sunburst. Electronics consisted of 3 Carvin AP-6 pickups with master volume and tone control, and on/off switches for each pickup. The SS-70 sold for $169.95, and the SS-70B (with Bigsby tailpiece) sold for $199.95. The SC15 hardshell case was an additional $29.95.

The SS-65B (shown in the catalog) and SS-65 was constructed with the same materials as the SS-70, in a 2-pickup design. The electronics consisted of 2 Carvin AP-6 pickups with volume and tone controls for each and a 3-way pickup selector switch. The SS-65 sold for $139.95, and the SS-65B (with Bigsby) sold for $169.95.

The doubleneck ABS95 was marketed as a "Thin Acoustic Doubleneck Bass and Spanish Guitar", and had an unusual natural 6-inline and black 2 X 2 headstock configuration. Both necks were made by Hofner (as on other Carvins of the era), and the bass was 30" scale, while the guitar was 25 1/4". The body was maple, and finished in sunburst. The guitar neck featured the same AP-6 pickups as the SS-70B guitar, while the bass neck used the APB-4 pickups, all of which had adjustable pole-pieces. Each pickup had it's own on/off switch, allowing any combination of pickups to be on simultaneously. A single volume and tone control rounded out the electronics. Direct price on the ABS95 was $249.95, and the Bigsby vibrato/tailpiece was an additional $29.95. The SC-61 hardshell case sold for $34.95.

Although Carvin didn't offer any standard mandolins in 1971, they did offer the AMS90 doubleneck 6-string guitar and mandolin (below). The guitar neck was made by Hofner; the manufacturer of the mandolin neck was not specified. This acoustic/electric was constructed with maple top, back and sides with sunburst finish. Electronics consisted of two AP-6 pickups on the guitar neck and one AP-4 pickup on the mandolin with a master volume and tone control and on/off switches for each pickup. The AMS90 sold for $229.95, and the optional Bigsby vibrato was an additional $29.95. The SC60 hardshell case was $34.95.

Carvin 1971 AMS90 Doubleneck Guitar & Mandolin

All Carvin guitars, basses and steel guitars used the same line of pickups - the AP series. These were the AP-4 (bass) AP-6 (guitars and steel guitars) and the AP-8 and AP-10 (steel guitars). These could also be purchased separately, and it was common for players to replace stock pickups on steel guitars with Carvin pickups.


1971 STEEL GUITARS

The Model #41B 8-string with 4 pedals, the Model #61B 8-string with 6 pedals (shown in the catalog) and Model #10B 10-string (also shown in the catalog) represented Carvin's line of single-neck pedal steel guitars. These cable-drive pedal steels had a black-crackle finish aluminum frame, chrome hardware, wood body and raised 23" scale fingerboard. The #41B sold for $319.90, the #61B sold for $359.90, and the #10B sold for $399.90.

Carvin also offered doubleneck pedal steel guitars in 1971, which had the same features as their single-neck counterparts. The #81B double-eight (sown in the catalog) sold for $499.90, and the #1010B double-ten sold for $599.90.

Carvin continued offering Hawaiian steel guitars, as they had for many years. Sometimes referred to as lap-steel guitars, these instruments were made from Eastern maple with chrome hardware and ivory tuning pegs. The single-neck model was only available in an 8-string configuration, the PRO-S8 (shown in the catalog). It sold for $79.95. The SC14 hardshell case was $27.95, and the L33 chrome-plated adjustable legs were $18.95.

There were two doubleneck Hawaiian steel guitars in 1971, the PRO-D8 and the PRO-D6. Their double-six and double-eight guitars had the same construction and features of the single-neck PRO-S8, with an elevated outside neck for easier playability. The PRO-D6 sold for $109.95, and the PRO-D8 sold for $129.95. The SC16 case was an additional $28.95. A set of 4 chrome-plated adjustable legs was available for $24.95.

In addition to offering pedal steel guitars, Carvin offered a variety of pedal steel accessories, including cable changers, which were the bridge/tailpiece assembly used on their pedal steel guitars. These roller systems connected to the pedals via a cable, which allowed a variety of sharp or flat pitch changing. The #8AB changer sold for $80.00, and was used on 8-string pedal steel guitars, and the #10AB, for 10-string pedal steel guitars, sold for $100.00.


1971 BASSES

The hollow-body AB-45 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 70's. The catalog referred to the body as "German made", but did not specifically mention if this was also made by Hofner. 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 AB-45 was $154.95 and the AC-21 softshell case was an additional $15.95.

Carvin's other bass model for 1971 was the SB-40. Like the AB-45, 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 SB-40 was $149.95, and the SC-21 hardshell case was $29.95.