Basses

The line that differentiated model years began to blur as the new decade kicked in.  Because Carvin published catalogs every 3 months versus once a year, new models and options could be added more frequently, so a model could be totally different between the first part of the year and the latter part of the year.  And in 2001, this was the case with the introduction of the "P" Series option. This was a package that could be added to any model (except the bolts, acoustics, and LB20) that consisted of the HB2 Alnico V & J99 pickups, Piezo bridge pickups, 18V active electronics, coil splitter for the HB2, and rounded body sides.

Carvin's Bolt B4 and B5 continued to go strong, and provided a high quality, USA-made, entry-level bass at a great price.  And like Carvin's top of the line basses, these were available in over 50 different combinations of colors and woods.  Quite unlike pretty much any other bass on the market, where 4 or 5 color/wood choices are the norm. Combined with the various electronic, hardware, fretless, headstock and other options, there are hundreds and hundreds of different combinations possible.

The B4 was priced at $499, and the B5 was priced at $629.

The catalog showed a B4 in clear sating finish on swamp ash, with HB pickup and active electronics.

The passive LB20 and active LB70, Carvin's mainstay four-stringers, remained the same in 20'01.  These also featured the many finish, wood, electronic and other options as the rest of the line, and the LB70 was also available with the "P" option, that included piezo pickups on the bridge saddles, rounded body sides, and 18V active electronics with an HB2 Alnico and J99 pickups.  

The LB20 was priced at $589, and the LB70 was priced at $659.  The LB70P was priced at $809.

The catalog showed the LB20Fwith fretlines, gloss black finish, rounded body sides and black hardware, and an LB70P with walnut body and neck and black hardware.

Like the other models from 2001, the LB75 (right) remained unchanged, and were available with the "P" option, as well as all the combinations of colors, woods, etc. 

The LB75 was priced at $719, or $869 with the P Series upgrade.

The catalog showed an LB75P in swamp ash with black hardware, and an LB75 in Pearl Blue with HB pickup and rounded body sides.

When 4 or 5 strings just wouldn't do, Carvin offered the LB76 (left).  The LB76 was unchanged from previous years.

The LB76 and LB76P were priced at $819 and $969.

The catalog showed and LB76F in tung-oiled koa with gold hardware and standard (non-rounded) body sides.  It also showed an LB76 in Sapphire Blue on swamp ash with HB pickup and rounded body sides.

Carvin's LB70, LB75 and LB76 continued to be available in the Claro Walnut Series.  The body is constructed from a walnut back, with a thin maple center, and California Claro walnut top, making for a "wood binding" type of effect.  Round body edges are standard, as is a 5-piece neck.  The Claro Walnut option could also be made for the long-scale XB series of basses, and the "P" option was available on all of them.

The catalog inset shows the Anniversary model.  This is similar to the Claro Walnut Series, but with an alder back, walnut center, and highly figured flamed maple top.  This model was available in all LB and XB series basses, and has the same features as the Claro Walnut Series.

The base price on the LB70W/A was $1139, and $1289 for the "P" option.  The LB75W/A was $1199, and $1359 for the "P" option, and the LB76W/A was $1299, or $1449 for the "P" option.

New for 2001 was a six-string model of the highly successful Bunny Brunel Series of basses called the BB76 - however, due to space limitations, it wasn't shown in the catalog.  The BB70 and BB75 remained unchanged.

The BB70 was $749, and $899 for the "P" option.  The BB75 was $819, and $969 for the "P" option.  The BB76 was $919, and $1069 for the "P" option.

The catalog showed a BB70F in black stain on quilted maple with fretlines and dot inlays, matching headstock, hipshot detuner and black hardware, and a BB75P in clear gloss on swamp ash with gold hardware. .  

You can also visit Bunny's personal website here.

Carvin continued it's tradition of being one of very, very few mainstream bass manufacturers to offer a high quality, USA-made acoustic bass.  Although most major bass manufacturers produce acoustic basses, these are generally imports, and lack the high quality and features of the AC40 and AC50, such as neck-through design, mahogany body and standard AAA Engleman spruce top. 

The AC40 was priced at $699, and the AC50 was priced at $769.

The catalog showed the AC40F in clear matte satin finish with traditional headstock, body binding and gold hardware, and the AC50 in Classic Sunburst on flamed maple with matching headstock, abalone inlays and black hardware.