Guitars

1965 saw quite a few changes to Carvin's guitars and steel guitars.  Most obviously, some of Carvin's 6-string solidbody guitars and steel guitars were now finished in sunburst.  The Bigsby vibrato was now standard, and Carvin's experimental Guitar-Vibro was evidently no longer offered.  On steel guitars, a string changer was no longer offered, but a new line of pedal steel guitars debuted.

 

1965 Basses 1965 Guitar Amps 1965 Bass Amps

The Model #33-SGB (right) solid-body guitar replaced the model #32-SGB from 1964.  It had been changed somewhat significantly from it's 1964 counterpart, but continued to use the A-38 Höfner maple neck that had been introduced the previous year.  In 1964, Carvins were made from eastern hardrock maple; in 1965, it was called "genuine hardwood", but it may still have been maple, or possibly ash.    The #33-SGB also came standard in sunburst, which was a first for Carvin.  In addition to sunburst, however, the #33-SGB could be ordered in natural blonde finish at no extra charge.  Electronics consisted of a pair of Carvin AP-6 adjustable pickups with dual volume and tone controls and a 3-way selector switch.  Price on the #33-SGB was $119.90, which was the same as the '64 model.  It was also offered as the #43-SGB, which had non-adjustable A-1 pickups, and sold for $99.90.

The Model #64-SGB (left) replaced the #63-SGB, and got the same upgrades as the Model #33-SGB, but with a 3-pickup configuration.  Each pickup had an on/off switch, allowing for 7 different combinations.  A master volume and master tone control was standard.  The Model #64-SGB sold for $159.90, in sunburst of natural blonde finish.  The Guitar-Vibro that was available in '64 (and previous years) was dropped in favor of the famous Bigsby vibrato, which would be Carvin's only vibrato/tremolo until the late 1970's. The Bigsby option had been available in 1964, but it dropped in '65 to $29.90.

The Model #10-LSGB (right), was unchanged from 1964, and even though the #32-SGB was upgraded, the #10-LSGB evidently still used the design elements from 1964, or at the very least, retained the old catalog photo.  Price on this model was $139.90.

Carvin's entry-level guitar, the Model #11-SGB (left) was unchanged for 1965, which would be it's last year.  It was made from "genuine hardwood" (versus maple as on the other models) and had a single AP-6 pickup with one volume and one tone control.  Price on the Model #11-SGB was $79.90, or could be ordered as the #22-SGB, with a non-adjustable pickup, for $69.90.

The Model #4-BS doubleneck (left) 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.

The Model #1-MS doubleneck (right) was also unchanged from 1964.  It was a mandolin/guitar model, constructed from maple with maple necks and rosewood fingerboards.  Electronics consisted of 3 AP-series pickups with individual on/off switches, and a master volume/tone control.  Price on this model was $229.90, or $199.90 for the #2-MS, which had non-adjustable pickups.  The #1-MS shown in the 1966 catalog would be more like the #33-SGB & #64-SGB, so it probably was changed at some point during the '65 model year.

In addition to guitars, Carvin offered a solid-body mandolin in 1964, the Model #1-MB.  This was constructed with similar materials as the #11-SGB guitar, with a single AP-4 pickup with single volume and tone controls.  The #1-MB sold for $89.90.  It was also offered as the #2-MB, which had a non-adjustable pickup, and sold for $79.90.

In addition to their own line of  pickups, parts and accessories, Carvin also sold DeArmond acoustic transducer pickups for mandolin, ukulele, banjo and other stringed instruments.

The model #6606-D (click here for picture) and model #8806-D (left) steel guitars were also now finished in sunburst, and benefited from new catalog photography which showed the guitar with it's legs inserted.  Although these models had a new finish, they were otherwise essentially the same as the '64 models.  The 6-string #6606-D sold for $89.90, and was offered as the #6606E, which had non-adjustable A-1 pickups, which sold for $75.00.  The 8-string #8806-D sold for $119.90, or $99.90 for the A-1 equipped #8806-E. String changers were no longer offered on any of these models.

All new for 1965 was Carvin's new line of pedal steel guitars.  These guitars used the same 22 1/2" scale fingerboards as the #8806-D, and were offered in single- and doubleneck designs.  The body was maple with a black crackle aluminum frame.  The model #41, which was a single-neck model with 4 pedals, sold for $299.90.  The model #61, which was a single-neck model with 6 pedals (click here for picture) sold for $349.90.  The model #81 (left), which was a doubleneck 8-string model with 8 pedals sold for $499.90.

As shown on the back cover of the 24-page 1965 catalog, Carvin also offered Kent pickups in addition to the the DeArmond pickups shown above.