1999 GUITARS

The Bolt got a new catalog photo, but the guitar itself remained unchanged. The price rose slightly, to $489, and the Bolt-T, with Wilkinson tremolo, had a base price of $549. The Fall catalog photo showed a Bolt in Classic Sunburst, and chrome hardware, and a Bolt-T in clear gloss finish, Sperzel tuners, red tortoise pickguard, Wilkinson tremolo and chrome hardware. The inset photo showed a Bolt-T in Sapphire Blue with maple fingerboard, white pearloid pickguard, C22T humbucker and black chrome hardware.

The DC127 and DC135 were unchanged for 1999, and the DC127 was actually the same guitar as in earlier catalogs, but on a new background. The prices rose slightly on the DC127, starting at $559 while the DC135 remained at $569. The Fall catalog showed the DC127 in tung-oiled koa with matching headstock and rounded body sides, Wilkinson tremolo and gold hardware. The DC135 was shown in Blueburst with matching headstock and standard (non-rounded) body sides, and gold hardware.

The TL60 finally got a new photo, in part to show off the new Crowe Option Package (shown below), created for Brooks & Dunn guitarist Charlie Crowe, who had been a TL60 endorser. The option package's most noticeable feature was the new Harlequin Prismatique finish, which was a blue-grayish paint imbedded with holographic flakes that made the guitar appear to be different colors depending on the angle it was viewed at.. The Crowe package also had a matching reverse headstock, body binding, and DC127-style dual humbuckers. This package added $250 to the base price of the TL60, and other options such as tremolo and hardware finishes could be added. Base price rose slightly on the hardtail model to $559, and $619 with Wilkinson tremolo. The Fall catalog photo showed a TL60 in Classic White with matching headstock, maple fingerboard C22T pickup and black hardware, and in with the new Crowe Option Package with black hardware.

Carvin Charlie Crowe TL60 Guitar

The SC90 was unchanged, and the same catalog photo was used as in '98, although it was cut into the new page layout. Prices remained the same, at $579, while the SC90T with Wilkinson tremolo remained $629, and the SC90C, with Floyd Rose tremolo, remained $669. The catalog showed an SC90 with the Custom Flame Package (Ruby Red Stain), with gold hardware and cream pickups, and an SC90 in classic sunburst with alder neck and body, rounded body sides, cream/black pickups and chrome hardware.

The DC200 and DC400 were again unchanged. A similar catalog photo was used, showing the same DC120 12-string variant and a different DC400, but not the DC200. The price on the DC200 hardtail rose to $689, and rose to $749 with the Wilkinson, and $789 with the Floyd Rose. The DC120 12-string dropped to $749. The DC400 hardtail rose slightly to $909 for the base model, or $969 and $1009 with the Wilkinson or Floyd Rose tremolo, respectively. The inset photo showed the DC400A Anniversary model, which was a highly upgraded DC400, with 5-piece maple/koa neck, flamed maple top and matching headstock, and 3-piece alder/koa/flamed maple body. It was available as a $200 upgrade to the DC400, DC400T or DC400C. The catalog photo showed the DC120 in Jet Black with rounded body sides, and the DC400 in Ruby Red Stain on quilted maple with matching headstock, Wilkinson tremolo and gold hardware.

Another year, another innovation. This time, it was a pair of 7-string guitars, the DC727 and DC747 (shown below in Harlequin Prismatique). 7-string guitars had gained in popularity throughout the 1990s, and Carvin once again was ahead of the curve, offering a high quality, option-laden model at a great price. Both of these models were based on the DC200, with the same construction material, methods and options, with the addition of a low B string on a slightly wider, 25 1/2" scale neck. The DC727 was equipped with C26 humbuckers, single volume and tone controls, and 3-way pickup selector. DC200-style active/passive electronics were an available option. The DC747 had the pair of C26 humbuckers and an AP13 single coil with single volume and tone controls and 5-way switch. Sperzel tuners were standard on both models, as was the FT7 bridge. The Fall catalog photo showed the DC727 in Emerald Green with rounded body sides, matching headstock and chrome hardware, and the DC747 in Pearl Silver with matching headstock, rounded body sides and black hardware.

Carvin DC747 7-String Guitar

The Holdsworth was unchanged for 1999, and the prices remained the same. Base price on the H1 was $749, or $799 with Wilkinson tremolo, and the H2 was $799, or $849 with Wilkinson tremolo. There were two new cousins to the Holdsworths - the HF1 Fatboy, and the HF2 Fatboy. These were basically the same as their counterparts, but with a thicker body (2 3/8" versus 1 3/4") and a set-in maple neck, instead of alder. The HF1 sold for $849, and the HF2 sold for $899. The catalog showed the HF1 in Antique Brown Stain on flamed maple with matching headstock and chrome hardware, and the H2 in Emerald Green on flamed maple with matching headstock and chrome hardware.


1999 ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITARS

The AE185 and AE185-12 were unchanged for 1999. The base price of the AE185 remained $799, and the base price of the AE185-12 was $849. The Fall catalog showed a AE185 in flamed koa with matching headstock, body binding, coil splitters and phase switches and black hardware, and an AE185 in Tobacco Sunburst on quilted maple with matching headstock and coil splitters and phase switches and black hardware. The inset photo showed an AE185-12 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, body binding and gold hardware.

The AC175 and AC275 remained the same. Base price on the AC175 dropped to $649, and base price on the AC275 dropped to $699. The AC275-12 dropped to $749. The Fall catalog showed an AC175 with natural spruce top, gold hardware, and inline headstock. The AC275 was shown in Classic Sunburst on flamed maple with body binding and chrome hardware. The inset photo showed the AC275-12 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock, body binding and black hardware.

The acoustic/electric series expanded in 1999 with the addition of the AC375 (below). This was a true acoustic that could also be plugged in. Unlike its siblings, the AC375 used the Fishman Prefix Pro acoustic transducer, and a 21-fret, 25 1/2" scale fingerboard. It also featured a mahogany set neck, mahogany back and body sides and braced AAA Engleman spruce top, and multi-layer tortoise body binding. Base price on the AC375 was $829, plus $110 for the HC16 hardshell case. The Fall catalog showed the AC375 in clear matte satin finish with koa headstock overlay and gold hardware. Unfortunately, the AC375 was discontinued in 2021.

Carvin AC375 Acoustic Guitar


1999 BASSES

One word described Carvin's 1999 basses: tone. Two significant options were added, that would dramatically change the tonal characteristics of Carvin basses. The first was the HB2 bridge pickup with coil splitter. This humbucking Alnico pickup, combined with the new J99 single coil pickup and the previous year's 501B active/passive electronic created an entirely new sound. Added to that was an option to feed the strings through the body with the Hipshot bridge which provided increased sustain and improved clarity and punch. As an introductory special, the strings-thru option was offered free on any Custom Shop bass.

The B4 and B5 bolt-neck basses remained unchanged (other than the above new options). The prices increased slightly, to $479, and $619. The HC17 ABS case for either model was $80, and the HC18 vintage tweed hardshell case for either model was $110. However, the HC17 case was offered for free with any order.

The LB20 and LB70 continued their role as the mainstay basses of the Carvin line, and the new HB2 option was prominently featured on the LB70 (below). Prices for these two models remained the same, at $579 and $649. As on all basses for '99, the strings-thru option, matching headstock and HC17 ABS case were offered for free on any Custom Shop order.

Carvin LB70 Bass with HB2 Humbucker

The LB75 also showed off the new HB2/J99 pickup configuration, but was otherwise unchanged. The same "free options" special was offered on this model, and it had the same base price of $719 as it had in '98.

The LB76 remained unchanged, and was available with the HB2 option, although the catalog didn't show a model with this option installed. These two basses were actually the same as the '98 catalog, digitally placed onto a new background. The price remained the same at $819, and the freebies Carvin offered were also available on this model.

Early in the model year, the LB76A Anniversary Model had a page to itself, but by the end of 1999, the new LB76W (along with a four and five string version) was now the featured item. The model sported all the standard options as the LB76A, but with a highly figured Claro Walnut top, 3-piece walnut/maple/Claro Walnut body, and 5-piece Maple and walnut laminated neck. The W series was priced the same as the A series, at $1129, $1199, and $1299 for the 4, 5 and 6 string versions.

The BB70 and BB75 were unchanged, and could also be ordered with strings-thru body, and the HB2/J99 pickup configuration. Prices on these models remained the same, at $749 and $819.

The AC40 and AC50 acoustic-electric basses had no changes for 1999, and the same catalog photo was used (although on a different background). The prices and case options on these models were unchanged from the previous year, and like the LB and BB basses, the strings-thru, matching headstock, and HC18W case (not the HC17 as on the others) were offered for free with any Custom Shop purchase.