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Basses
1965 had
some significant happenings in the bass department. The Model #72-BG was
retired, and a totally new model was introduced, which was the first
Carvin bass to be finished in anything other than natural.
Although there was a new 4-string model, the #4-BS doubleneck was
unchanged, but would be redesigned in 1966.
Another interesting change
in 1965 was the introduction of low-cost imported guitars. These
were the very basic type of Japanese instruments, with no-name pickups
and hardware, and no cases.
Click
each picture for a larger version. |
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On the left is the Model #73-BG, which was
new for 1965. The body was maple, and the neck was maple, with
rosewood fingerboard and adjustable truss rod. Electronics consisted
of two AP-4 pickups, with dual volume and tone controls, and a 3-way
pickup selector switch. A bone nut, nickel tuners and plastic
pickguard rounded out the package. Price
on the #73-BG was $125.00, and was also available as the #83-BG,
which had non-adjustable pole pieces. Not pictured in the catalog
was the Model #71LH, which was a left-handed version of the #73-BG.
It sold for $145.00. Two
cases were available, the #21-SGC for $23.90, or the #22-SGC for $19.90.
The Model #4-BS
doubleneck (right) was unchanged from 1964. It had a clear
finish on maple, and had bolt-on maple necks with adjustable truss
rods, bone nuts, and rosewood fingerboards. Electronics
consisted of one AP-4 and two AP-6 pickups, with on/off switch for
each, and master volume and tone controls. The #4-BS sold for
$229.90, and was also offered as the #5-BS, which had non-adjustable
pickups, and sold for $199.90. |
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The imported I-901 bass
was a standard long scale instrument. It features a mahogany body
and rosewood fretboard and sold direct from Carvin for $119.90.
This instrument was un-badged, but was most likely made by Teisco, a
Japanese instrument maker that sold guitars and instruments under such
names as Silvertone and Kay. For more information, see the
1966 bass page. |
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 The
1960's were an interesting time in the world of guitars & basses.
Gibson & Fender dominated the US market, but import guitars
from Japan, Germany and Italy began to flood the American music
scene.
 Most of these instruments were made by just a handful
of companies, who licensed the guitars to be sold under a variety of
names in different overseas markets, just like Samick does today. The Japanese company
Teisco was the king of these companies, selling guitars under such
names as Teisco Del Ray, Beltone, Kingston, Silvertone, and Kimberly
in the US, and Arbiter, Audition & Kay in Europe. Carvin was a part of this,
as well, selling a bass that was most likely distributed by Beltone,
and was in turn made my Teisco (like the
#I-902 guitar).
Except for the red finish, the
#I-901 was identical to this no-named Teisco bass.
Carvin didn't put their name on the headstock; they were simply a
reseller like many other companies. Notice the pickup, finger
rest, control layout, pickguard and headstock are the same as the
model sold by Carvin.
For more
information, see the
Bass Identification Guide. |
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