2011 GUITARS

New for 2011 was the TLB60 bolt-neck guitar (below) combined the construction of the popular Bolt guitar with the design of the equally popular neck-through TL60. Three S60A vintage single coil pickups were standard, and could be upgraded to AP11 single coils, and a C22B bridge humbucker could also be added. Like the Bolt, it has an alder body and maple neck with a 25 1/2" scale, 22-fret fingerboard. Also new was Carvin's Vintage tremolo, which was a basic, hardtail-on-body style fulcrum trem. Carvin's other bolt-neck models, the Bolt, BoltPlus and C66 were unchanged, but could also be ordered with the Vintage tremolo, as well as the SB-style headstock (later renamed the Classic headstock) that was standard on the TLB60. As in previous years, the BoltPlus wasn't mentioned in the catalog, but it was still available.

Carvin TLB60

Late in the 2011 model year, Carvin added the SH550CE (below) and SH575CE. These were the same as their SH550/SH575 counterparts, but with a solid cedal carved top standard, versus flamed maple. All other amenities and options were the same as the SH550/SH575. Eventually, these models would be dropped (in 2016), and a cedar top option would be added to the SH guitars. The SH550 and SH575 themselves, as well as the SH675, SH645, SH475 and SH445, were unchanged for 2011.

Carvin SH550CE

The new Frank Gambale Signature FG1 (below) was based on the SH645 that debuted in 2010, but with a neck profile and heel more suited to Frank's liking. Also new for this model was the FG22N neck pickup, which was paired with a C22B bridge pickup. Vintage-sized fretwire was standard. Like the SH645, a mahogany set-in neck and mahogany body with a flamed maple top was standard, as was natural body binding. Initially, the FG1 had the same F-holes as found on other Carvin semi-hollow carved top models, but even tually, the f-holes would be optional. The SH645 (and SH445, SH475 and SH675) would be discontinued in 2016, leaving the FG1 and the only semi-hollow carved top doublecut model.

Carvin Frank Gambale Signature FG1

Also bowing in 2011 was the DC700 7-string guitar (below), which pointed the direction Carvin would be moving in later in the 2010s. This neck-through model had an alder body and maple neck, with a 25.5" scale, 24-fret, 20" radius fingerboard, and Carvin's M-bridge standard, with Floyd Rose tremolo optional. New active alnico A70 pickups were standard, and in a radical (and welcome) change, the pickup routes were industry-standard size, so other popular pickups could be swapped out. A new headstock was also standard, a pointed 4 X 3 version that could also be reversed. This headstock shape would also be developed in a 6-string, 3 X 3 version. Carvin's other 7-string models, the DC727 and DC747 were unchanged for 2011.

Carvin DC700

Carvin's other DC guitars, the DC127, DC135, DC145, and DC400A/DC400W, as well as the DC-based ST300, were unchanged from the 2010 model year.

Nothing in the California Carved Top lineup changed - this included the 22 and 24 fret CT6, CT4 and CT3; the CS6, CS4 and CS3; and the DC6 (below). However, because of all the new models in 2011, the CT and CS models no longer had a 2-page spread; each had a single page, and the DC6 was included on the SH645 page. No mention was made of the DC4 or DC3, but they were still available online.

Carvin DC6

The Allan Holdsworth Signature models - the H2, HF2 and HF2S were unchanged for 2011.

There were other models available that weren't shown in the catalog, due to limited space. Like the BoltPlus mentioned above, the Ultra V, V220, TL60 and SC90 were not shown, but could still be ordered online or over the phone.


2011 ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITARS

Nothing significant changed with Carvin's acoustic-electric guitars in 2011. The NS1, CL450, SH60, SH65 and CC275 were all represented throughout the year, as well as the AE185 and AC175 in a single issue, but there was no space for the SH250, SH275, AC275 or AC375. Nonetheless, nothing changed among any of these models.


2011 BASSES

The new Brian Bromberg B24 and B25 were a radical departure for Carvin. They had an exotic new body shape, developed with Brian, although the bones of the instrument were the same as other Carvin neck-through basses: alder body, maple neck, and 24-fret ebony fingerboard. A 4A flamed maple top with matching headstock was standard, and other exotic top, body, neck and fingerboard woods were available. In a first for Carvin, the B2 Series had a Signature inlay on the 12th fret, using Brian's long-time logo. Single coil RAD-J radiused top alnico pickups with 18v active electronics were standard. The B2 Standard Series had similar features, but without the flamed maple top and matching headstock (suitable for solid and translucent finishes), and with the 12th fret inlay in mother-of=pearl.

The SB Series basses had teo new additions, the SB4001 and SB5001. These were the same as the unchanged SB4000 and SB5000, but with a standard flamed maple top and chambered body.

The B40 and B50 basses were basically the same as they had been since their 2009 introduction, but the control layout was modified slightly, to be more of a curve that the straight-inline layout used on the early models.

All other bass models - the Icon IC4, IC5 and IC6, LB Series LB70, LB75 and LB76 (plus the A and W models and XB extended-scale models), and the Bunny Brunel BB70, BB75, and BB76 - were unchanged from 2010. Additionally, the acoustic-electric AC40 and AC50 remained the same.