Carvin Bass models 1970 - 2006

The matrix below shows most of the standard and optional features of Carvin basses over the past 36 years, as well as construction style and materials, hardware, electronics and so on.  Because Carvin has offered so many options, and accommodated special requests for custom features, not every conceivable option or feature is represented.  Additionally, many features were offered as "hidden options" before they were introduced, or after the feature in question was officially retired.

Current Models 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
LB20 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
LB70 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
LB75 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
LB76 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
LB70A X X X X X X X X X X X
LB75A X X X X X X X X X X X
LB76A X X X X X X X X X X X
LB70W X X X X X X X X
LB75W X X X X X X X X
LB76W X X X X X X X X
BB70 X X X X X X X X X X X X
BB75 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
BB76 X X X X X X
XB75 X X X X X X
XB76 X X X X X X
TBS4 X X X X
AC40 X X X X X X X X X X X X
AC50 X X X X X X X X X X X X
B4 X X X X X X X X X
B5 X X X X X X X X X
IC4                 X
IC5                 X
IC6                 X
Discontinued Models 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
AB45 X X X X X X
SB40 X X X X X X
SB60     X X X X
SB61 X
SB125 X
SB120 X
CB100 X X
DBS98B     X X X X
DB620 X
DB630 X X
DN640 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
DN440 X X X X X X
V440 X X X
LB40 X X X X
LB50 X X X X X X X X
LB60 X X X
LB80 X X
LB85 X X
LB90 X X
LB95 X
Body Construction 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Bolt-on short scale Hofner neck, maple body X X X X X X X X X
Bolt-on long scale Hofner neck, maple body X X
Set maple neck, maple body X X X X X X X X X
Set koa neck, koa body X X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, maple sides X X
Maple neck thru, poplar sides X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, alder sides X X X X X X X X X X X
Alder neck thru (2 piece), alder sides X X X X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, ash sides X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, koa sides X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Koa neck thru  (2 piece), koa sides X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Flamed koa top             X X X X X X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, mahogany sides X X X X X X X X X X X X
Mahogany neck thru (2 piece), mahogany sides X X X X X X X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, walnut sides X X X X X X X X
Walnut neck thru, walnut sides X X X X X X X X
Maple neck thru, swamp ash sides X X X X X X X
Steel reinforced neck X X
Graphite reinforced neck X X X X X X X X X X
5-piece neck X X X X X X X X X X X
3-piece Anniversary body X X X X X X X X X X X
5-piece Elite body                   X X
Flamed maple top X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Quilted maple top X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Quilted maple back (Elite)                           X X
Rounded body sides X X X X X X X X X
Ebony fingerboard X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Maple fingerboard X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Birdseye maple fingerboard   X X X X X X
Rosewood fingerboard   X X X
Hardware 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Brass nut X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Graphite nut X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Chrome hardware (standard) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Gold hardware X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Black chrome hardware X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Kluson tuners X X X X X X
Schaller tuners X X X X X X X X X X X
Carvin tuners X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Sperzel tuners X X X
Hipshot detuner (optional) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aluminum bass bridge X X X X X X X X X
Kahler bass tremolo (optional) X X X X X X X
Schaller TB-8 bass bridge (4-string) X X X X X X X X X X X X  
Schaller TB-5 bass bridge (5-string) X X X X X X X X X X X X  
Wilkinson TW-4 bass bridge (4-string) X X X X X X X
Wilkinson TW-5 bass bridge (5-string) X X X X X X X
Wilkinson TW-6 bass bridge (6-string) X X X X X X
Hipshot SF-4 bass bridge (4-string) X X X X X X X X X
Hipshot SF-5 bass bridge (5-string) X X X X X X X X X
Hipshot SF-6 bass bridge (6-string) X X X X X X X X X
2-Tek bass bridge (optional) X X X X
Piezo bass bridge (optional) X X X X X X
Strings through body X X X X X X X X
Strap button on front of horn       X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Strap button on underside of horn X X X X X X X X X  
Headstocks 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Square decal logo X X X X X X
Curved inlaid logo X X X X X X X X X X X X
Block logo (white/black) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Block logo (gold)                                 X X X
"Wide-top" traditional (2X2) headstock X X X X X X X X X
P-Bass style (LB70 & doublenecks)     X X X X X X X
Traditional (2X2) headstock - standard X X X X X X X X X
Traditional (2X2) headstock - optional X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Arrow headstock X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
"Jackson style" headstock X X
Sharp angled headstock X X
Sharp straight headstock X X X X
Rounded straight headstock X X X X X X X X X X X
Reissue "pointy" headstock (same as 90/91)                 X X X
California 2X2 headstock                   X X
Headstock matching color/wood of body X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
3 screws in truss rod cover X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X              
1 screw in truss rod cover                   X X X X X X X X
Matching truss rod cover (Elite Series)                               X X
Pickups 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Dual APH4 humbuckers X X X X X X
Dual APH4N humbuckers w/ phase switch X
Dual APH4, chrome covers w/ phase switch and coil splitters X
Dual M22B humbuckers
w/ phase switch and coil splitters		 X X X X X X X X X
Single M22B humbucker
w/ coil splitter		 X X X X
Dual H11B stacked humbuckers w/ phase switch X
Dual H11B stacked humbuckers X
Dual H13B stacked humbuckers w/ coil splitters and phase switch X X
Dual H13B stacked humbuckers X X
Dual H50B stacked humbuckers w/ bright/deep and phase switch X
Dual H50B stacked humbuckers X X
Dual H50N stacked humbuckers (standard) X X X X* X X X
F40 acoustic transducer pickup X X X X X X X X X X X
Dual J99 single coil (standard) X X X X X X X X
Dual H50N stacked humbuckers (optional) X X X X X X X X
Dual H50S stacked humbuckers (optional)             X X
J99 or H50N & HB2** humbucker w/ coil splitter X X X X X X X X
J99 or H50S & HB2** humbucker w/ coil splitter             X X
J99 or H50N & HB2 humbucker w/ coil splitter & piezo bridge X X X X X X
J99 or H50S & HB2 humbucker w/ coil splitter & piezo bridge         X X
Dual HB2 humbuckers (with or without piezo bridge & coil splitter) X X X X X
SPN & SPB Soapbar Pickups         X
Finishes 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Clear Gloss (maple, alder, ash, koa, walnut, spruce) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Clear Gloss on sunburst X X X X X X                                                  
Matte Satin (maple, alder, ash, koa, walnut, spruce)                                               X X X X X X X X
Tung Oil X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Black, White, Red#                         X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hot Pearl Pink X
Platinum Pearl Pink   X
Pearl Pink   X
Pearl Candy Apple Red X X
Pearl Red   X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Deep Pearl Blue X X X X X
Pearl Blue   X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Pearl White X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Pearl Purple, Pearl Green, Light Pearl Blue, Pearl Yellow X X
Trans Blue, Trans Yellow, Trans Green X
Trans Yellow/Red (sunburst) X
Trans Sapphire Blue, Trans Vintage Yellow, Trans Emerald Green, Trans Cherry Sunburst X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Tobacco Sunburst X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Electric Green X
Trans Deep Purple   X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Classic Sunburst   X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Crimson Red X X X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Blueburst, Trans Greenburst X X X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Ruby Red Stain, Trans Black X X X X X X X X X X
Trans Antique Brown Stain X X X X X X X X
Pearl Silver X X X X X X X X
Harlequin Prismatique X X X X X
Trans Sunsetburst   X X X X
Trans Burnt Umber Stain, Trans Whitewash X X X X
Baby Blue X
Seafoam Green X X X X
Umber Stain/Sunsetburst X X X X
Triple-step Deep Blue, Deep Red, Deep Green, Sunsetburst, Tiger-Eye stain X X X
Dragonburst (unofficial)   X X


Not all finishes are represented.
* optional midrange control added in 1995
** "HB2" is the designation for the series of Alnico pickups: HB4, HB5 and HB6 (for 4, 5 & 6 string basses)
# includes variants: Classic White, Ferrari Red, Gloss Back, Jet Black