Basses

All was quiet in the bass department in the early part of 2005.  Although the guitar department was making Carved Top models as fast as they could, and the Tony MacAlpine TMAC models began generating buzz of their own, bassists had nothing new to get excited about as the year began.  Still, there were more basses with more options offered at this time than at any point in Carvin's history.  However, by the end of the year, bassists had several new items to add to their wish lists, including the long-requested Cobalt bass, and the exotic Elite Series.

Click each picture for a larger version.

Carvin's bolt-neck basses, the B4 and the B5, were the same as the 2004 models.  Like the guitars, they increased in price by $50.00, but with the $50.00 off sale, they actually remained the same in price as 2004.

From left to right, the winter catalog showed a B4 in Umber Stain/Sunsetburst on flamed maple with matching headstock, abalone dot inlays, HB2 pickup and gold hardware; a B4F in Greenburst; a B5 in Jet Black with matching headstock and HB2 pickup; and a B5 in Ruby Red Stain on quilted maple with matching headstock and black chrome hardware.

On the right, the newly-redesigned summer catalog showed the same Umber Stain with Sunsetburst edgesB4 and the same black B5 as the winter edition; also shown was a B4 in clear gloss on swamp ash and a B5 in blueburst with a birdseye maple fingerboard.

The LB70 turned 20 in 2005, more-or-less, having  been produced in 1976 & 1977, and then again from 1988-2005.  However, it and other Carvins based on it, the LB20 and TBS4, were unchanged.  With the $50.00 off special, the prices were the same on all three models s in 2004.

The catalog showed an LB70P in walnut with 5-piece neck and black hardware; an LB70 in Pearl White with black chrome hardware and HB pickup; an LB20 in Classic Sunburst with matching headstock and black chrome hardware, and a TBS4 in Cherry Sunburst on flamed maple with matching headstock and gold hardware.

Although not widely publicized, a bass version of the CT headstock was made available in 2005.  It's shown on the right on an LB70AP.

The Bunny Brunel Signature Series basses were unchanged, as well.  The catalog showed a BB70 in Umber Stain on quilted maple with Birdseye maple fingerboard, Birdseye maple headstock, HB series bridge pickup and gold hardware; a BB70F in Sapphire Blue on flamed maple with matching headstock, Hipshot detuner, HB pickup and black hardware; a BB75F in Umber Stain on flamed maple with matching headstock, HB pickup and gold hardware; and a BB76PF in Jet Black.

As with other models, the BB series had a new design in the summer '05 catalog (right).  Shown were a BB70F in Sapphire Blue on flamed maple, a BB70P in Umber Stain with cherry sunburst edges on flame, a BB75F in Umber Stain on flame, and a BB76P in Ruby Red Stain on quilted maple.

The Claro Walnut and Anniversary Series basses had some new photography in the catalog, as well as some new models.  For the first time, XB model basses were official available as an Anniversary or Claro Walnut model.  In the past, an XB bass could be ordered with the features of an A or W series bass, but it wasn't an "official" model. 

The catalog showed an LB75AP in clear gloss on quilted maple, and an XB75WP in figured walnut.

Also, the reference to an XB70W was a misprint - there was no extended-scale 4-string model offered.

The AC40 and AC50 acoustic/electric basses were the same as the 2004 models.  From left to right, the catalog showed the AC50 in satin finished koa with matching headstock, body binding and gold hardware; an AC50F with flamed koa top and matching headstock with chrome hardware; an AC40 in Traditional Sunburst on flamed maple with matching headstock and body binding, and an AC40 in clear gloss on flamed maple with matching headstock and body binding.