On December 28, 2009, it was announced that the founder of Carvin Guitars/Kiesel Guitar, Lowell C. In the 1980s, they began to offer customized guitars and basses, based on available body shapes, woods, colors, electronics, and other features. Later on, Carvin switched to manufacturing through-neck guitars, attracting metal players such as Jason Becker and Marty Friedman.
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In the late 1970s, Carvin began the production of their own instrument parts and expanded their product lines to include professional audio gear, amps, recording equipment, lighting, and other stage and studio equipment. Starting in the 1970s, Carvin developed a niche in the musical instrument world by selling directly to the public via mail order. In the 1960s and early 1970s, they used Höfner necks on guitars they made. They were an authorized manufacturer and reseller for Fender and Martin guitars, DeArmond pickups, and Sonola accordions. įrom 1950 to 1970, Carvin manufactured and assembled several types of guitars and amplifiers. Manufacturing then shifted to producing entire steel guitars.īy 1947, operations briefly moved to Kiesel's home town of Gothenburg, Nebraska and back to Southern California in 1949, where Kiesel named the company Carvin, a portmanteau derived from the first names of his two eldest sons, Carson and Ga vin.
The company's first self-manufactured items were guitar pickups, which were wound using an old sewing machine.
Kiesel Company, in 1946 in San Diego, California.