Kiesel Guitars

Kiesel Guitars is an American manufacturer of custom electric guitars and electric bass guitars located in Southern California, with a heritage dating back to 1946. In 2015, Kiesel Guitars split from Carvin Corporation, taking the guitar and bass portions of Carvin.[2][3]

Kiesel Guitars
TypePrivate
IndustryMusical Instruments
Founded1946 (1946)
FounderLowell Kiesel
Headquarters
Escondido, California[1]
,
United States of America
Area served
Global
Key people
Mark Kiesel - President
Jeff Kiesel - Vice President
ProductsElectric guitars, electric bass guitars
Number of employees
50+
Websitewww.kieselguitars.com

History
Carvin Guitar's model V220, custom built for Craig Chaquico of Jefferson Starship

Lowell Kiesel founded the L. C. Kiesel Company in San Diego, California in 1946, to manufacture guitar pickups.[4] By 1947, the company manufactured steel guitars in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Around 1948, it returned to Southern California—and, in 1949, moved to Baldwin Park, California, where the company name changed to Carvin Corporation, after Kiesel's two eldest sons, Carson and Gavin.[5] Starting in the 1970s, Mark Kiesel took over the guitar department and started offering custom instruments made to order to allow customers to choose from a range of available body shapes, woods, colors, electronics, and other features. In 1995, Jeff Kiesel started working for the company, and in 2011 he began to help with design and instrument development.[4][6]

Carvin Guitar's JB200C Jason Becker Tribute Guitar, at the 2014 NAMM Show

In 2015, Carvin Corporation split its business units, and Kiesel Guitars was founded to take over the guitar and bass manufacturing, as a wholly separate company. The original Kiesel name and logo was chosen to honor founder Lowell Kiesel. The new company continues to build electric, acoustic electric, MIDI, synth, semi hollow, chambered, headless guitars and basses along with necks, bodies, kits and a full parts department under the Carvin Guitars name as well as new Kiesel name. Kiesel Guitars opened up sales globally following the name change. The company employed over 50 people and produced almost 4,000 custom made instruments per year. It is run by President Mark Kiesel (Lowell Kiesel's middle son) and Vice President Jeff Kiesel (Mark's son). Jeff Kiesel's two children also work for the company when not attending school full-time.[7]

Example of a Kiesel Guitar's 4x3 headstock design

In January 2015, Kiesel Guitars won Revolver's Best of Show award at the winter NAMM Show, for their headless guitar model, the Vader.[8] At the 2016 Winter NAMM, Super NAMM Awards were won from Guitar Aficionado for their 70th anniversary K-series model, and from Guitar World for their 24-fret bolt-on Aries model.[9][10]

Notable artists
Jason Becker kissing "Bluey," modeled off the DC200

Kiesel Guitars has, and continues, to work with some of the biggest names in the guitar industry. Here are just a few artists.

Jason Becker

Jason Becker has been a long time endorser of Carvin Guitars, and Kiesel offers three tribute models in his honor. The JB200C is based on the original DC200 models that Jason played, while the JB24 "Numbers" guitar is based on Jason's original Peavey custom model with the numbered fretboard markers.[11] The latest addition is the JBYY, also know as the Jason Becker Yin Yang. The model was inspired by Eric Clapton's "Blackie" guitar.

Allan Holdsworth

Allan Holdsworth was an endorser, and Kiesel has a model based on Holdsworth's designs. The HH2 got new features in replacing the JCustom bridge with a Hipshot™ bridge or optional Hipshot™/Kiesel Trem System, a new Kiesel headpiece, and a Graphtech nut. Additionally, the body changed to a conventional solid-body design, versus the original chambered body design, with chambering optional.

Devin Townsend

Devin Townsend joined the Kiesel Guitars artist line in early 2023. Townsend signed with Kiesel to play headless guitars exclusively and tours with the Holdsworth model. He is still a Framus artist, however.

Greg Howe

The Greg Howe signature line has seen many shake-ups since its debut. Starting with the GH24, Howe's current signature model lies in the Lyra, inspired by both the Theos and Aries. The design was made in conjunction with Howe and Kiesel.

Will Swan

The mastermind behind Dance Gavin Dance, Will Swan, has maintained a signature model from Kiesel Guitars since 2020. The guitar is based off of the CS and features exclusive specs such as the Swan inlay.

Other Artists

Frank Gambale's model is a semi-hollow carved top, available with MIDI synth. Neil Zaza's signature is based on the Aries, featuring his preferred control layout. Craig Chaquico has a signature thinline acoustic/electric model. Lee McKinney of Born of Osiris has a headless signature model, inspired by the Zeus and Osiris. Bassist Brian Bromberg has a series of basses based on a body of his design, while Roy Vogt has a signature 8-string model based on the Vanquish model. Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit has a headless multiscale signature series, with a "set through neck". Dan Jacobs of Atreyu has a signature model based off the Hyperdrive. Fallujah's Scott Carstairs and Veil of Maya's Marc Okubo both have a double-cut guitar based off of the Aries and DC respectively. McRocklin's signature model is based off of the headless Zeus while August Burns Red's Dustin Davidson signature bass is modeled off of the headless Thanos. Other signature artists include Aaron Patrick, Cole Rolland, Ice Nine Kills' Dan Sugarman, and Archspire's Dean Lamb.

References
  1. "Kiesel Guitars New Location in Escondido". Facebook. Kiesel Guitars.
  2. Varga, George (January 20, 2015). "Carvin splits in two to launch Kiesel Guitars". Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  3. "Carvin Announces the Launch of Kiesel Guitars". January 24, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  4. Mobley, Max (August 9, 2011). "Builder Profile: Carvin". Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  5. Moseley, Willie G. (June 2009). "The Carvin DN440T". Vintage Guitar. p. 64.
  6. "Carvin's New Company, Kiesel Guitars, to Handle Guitar and Bass Manufacturing". January 20, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  7. "Carvin Launches Kiesel Guitars". January 20, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  8. "Revolver Best of Show 2015 NAMM Winner". January 29, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  9. "Guitar Aficionado Announces the Super NAMM Award Winners". March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  10. "Guitar World Congratulates Super NAMM Award Winners". March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  11. Fanelli, Damian (March 5, 2015). "The Making of Carvin Guitars' Jason Becker JB24 Numbers Tribute Guitar — Video". Retrieved March 7, 2016.
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