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Guitars
The 1991 catalog was again
re-vamped from the ground up, and all Carvin guitars and basses got
new studio photos, versus the "artsy" photos from
1990. This is a style that would continue to this day, although
in 1991, all guitars got their own page, versus sharing a page with a
counterpart as the basses were.
There were some changes for 1991.
The bolt-neck BC130 was retired after one year, as was the
DC300. There was a new model, the LS175. The DC120 and
DC127 finally
got a page of their own. DC200 and DC400 models continued using
the A500G active electronics, while the other models utilized
traditional passive electronics.
Click each picture for a larger
version.
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The DC125 (left) was unchanged
from 1990 - in fact, the model shown in '91 looks like the same one
that was shown the previous year. Like all Carvins in 1991, the
body was poplar, with rock maple neck-thru construction and ebony
fingerboard with MOP dot inlays. Base price on the DC127 was
$469, or $569 with Carvin Floyd Rose tremolo. The HC10 case was
$70.
The DC125 in the catalog was Ferrari
Red, with Carvin Floyd Rose tremolo and black hardware.
New for 1991, more or less, was the DC127
(right). For several years, the DC125 had been offered with an
additional pickup, and called the DC127, but this was the first year
one was actually shown. Electronics consisted of and M22T and
M22N pickup, with 3-way pickup selector and volume/tone
controls. The DC127 sold for $519, or $619 with tremolo.
The catalog showed a DC127 in Sapphire
Blue with black hardware. |
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The DC135 (left) was unchanged,
using the same electronics and construction of it's predecessor.
The base price of the DC135 was $569, or $669 with tremolo.
The catalog photo showed a DC135 with
tung-oiled koa body, tremolo, and gold hardware.
The DC145 (right) was also
unchanged, with the exception of the pickups - it now had an M22T, M22N
and H60N. The rounded horn body style was standard, but it could
be ordered with the more angular body style of the DC135. Base
price on the DC145 was $599, or $699 with tremolo.
The catalog showed the DC145 in Jet Black
with tung-oiled neck, tremolo and black hardware. |
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The DC200 (left) and DC400
(right) were essentially the same, but the DC200 got the M22T and M22N
pickups installed, and was made from solid koa (versus the DC200's
poplar body and maple neck). The DC400 continued using the standard M22
pickups. Base price on the DC200 was $669 ($769 with tremolo), and
the DC400 was $1199 ($1299 with tremolo).
The catalog showed the DC200 in
tung-oiled koa with maple neck and gold hardware, and the DC400 was
shown in flamed Sapphire Ble with Carvin Floyd Rose tremolo and black
hardware. |
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Although the DC120 had been
available for several years, it was never presented the same as other
models - usually, it was just a footnote on the DC200 pages. In
1991, it got the full treatment. Construction was the same as
other models, with poplar body sides and rock maple neck, ebony
fingerboard with MOP block inlays standard, and 6X6 traditional
headstock. The 12-inline headstock was optional. Base price
on the DC120 was $729, plus $70 for the HC10 hardshell case.
The catalog photo showed the DC120 in
Pearl Blue with gold hardware.
The DC150 reappeared in 1991,
after a one-year hiatus. Although the body shape and construction
was the same as before, it was no longer stereo wired, and was reduced
to single volume/tone controls, versus dual controls. M22N and M22T pickups
were standard. The A500G active electronics package was optional.
Base price on the DC150 was $499, or $599 with tremolo.
The DC150 was shown in Jet Black with
chrome hardware. |
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The Ultra V remained
unchanged, but was treated to a two-page spread in the catalog, with the X220
inset on the same page. On both models, the M22T pickup replaced the M22 that
was used in the neck position in 1991. M22SDs were still used in the
bridge position. Coil splitters were still optional, but the A500G
active electronics upgrade was not offered. All
other options were available. Base price on the Ultra V was unchanged at
$529, or
$629 with tremolo. The X220 was also priced the same, at $569, or $669
with tremolo. The HC19 hardshell case for either was $80.
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All new for 1991 was the LS175.
Presumably, like 1991's BC130, this new model was not well-received,
because it only lasted one year. Like the quick-to-exit BC130,
the LS175 gave guitarist something totally different than all of
Carvin's other models - in this case, a 25½" scale, 22-fret
fingerboard, similar to a Fender Stratocaster. Even the pickup
arrangement was similar to the strat, with the bridge pickup mounted
at an angle. Whatever the reason for the hasty exit, it was an
innovative gamble, whether it succeeded or not. Base price on
the LS175 was $569, or $649 with Carvin Floyd Rose tremolo. The
HC10 hardshell case was $70.
The catalog showed the LS175 in Classic
White with Carvin Floyd Rose tremolo and chrome hardware.
The DN612
(right) & DN640 (not shown) were unchanged from 1990. As in previous years, only
the DN612 was shown, not the DN640 or DN440. Unfortunately, the
price jumped significantly, to $1399 for any model, Plus $90 for the
HC15 case. |
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