Kiesel Guitars
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Lowell Kiesel |
| Headquarters | Southern California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Mark Kiesel (President), Jeff Kiesel (Vice President) |
| Products | Custom electric guitars, electric bass guitars, acoustic-electric guitars, MIDI and synth guitars, guitar parts and kits |
Number of employees | 50+ |
| Parent | None |
Kiesel Guitars is a United States-based producer specializing in custom electric guitars and electric bass guitars, headquartered in Southern California. The company's roots trace back to 1946. In 2015, Kiesel Guitars branched off from Carvin Corporation, assuming control of the guitar and bass segments.
History
The L. C. Kiesel Company was established in 1946 in San Diego, California by Lowell Kiesel, initially focusing on manufacturing guitar pickups. By 1947, the firm was producing steel guitars in Nebraska before moving operations back to Southern California in 1948. The following year, it relocated to Baldwin Park and adopted the name Carvin Corporation, a tribute to Kiesel's sons, Carson and Gavin. During the 1970s, Mark Kiesel took leadership of the guitar division, pioneering custom instruments with a variety of customizable features including body shapes, tonewoods, finishes, and electronic configurations. Jeff Kiesel joined the company in 1995 and began playing a significant role in design and product development starting in 2011.
In 2015, Carvin Corporation divided its operations, resulting in the formation of Kiesel Guitars as an independent company dedicated to guitar and bass production. This move reinstated the original Kiesel brand name as a homage to founder Lowell Kiesel. The product lineup includes electric guitars, acoustic-electric models, MIDI and synth guitars, semi-hollow and chambered instruments, headless designs, as well as necks, bodies, kits, and components offered under both Carvin and Kiesel labels. Following the rebranding, Kiesel Guitars expanded its international market presence. The company employs more than 50 individuals and produces close to 4,000 bespoke instruments each year. Leadership roles are held by President Mark Kiesel (Lowell's middle son) and Vice President Jeff Kiesel (Mark’s son), with participation from Jeff’s children on a part-time basis.
At the 2015 Winter NAMM Show, Kiesel Guitars earned Revolver magazine's Best of Show award for their headless Vader model. The subsequent year at Winter NAMM 2016, they received Super NAMM Awards from Guitar Aficionado for their 70th anniversary K-series guitars and from Guitar World for their Aries model featuring a 24-fret bolt-on neck.
Notable artists
Jason Becker has been a longtime supporter of Carvin Guitars; Kiesel produces tribute editions such as the JB200C—modeled after Becker's original DC200—and the JB24 "Numbers," inspired by his custom Peavey instrument.
Allan Holdsworth endorsed the brand during his career, with Kiesel offering models based on his designs that include headless versions and MIDI synth guitars. Frank Gambale has a signature semi-hollow carved top instrument available with MIDI synth capabilities. Greg Howe provides signature 24-fret bolt-on guitars. Neil Zaza’s signature model derives from the Carved Top series and incorporates his preferred control layout. Craig Chaquico endorses a thinline acoustic-electric signature guitar. Lee McKinney of Born of Osiris plays six- and seven-string models inspired by the DC600 line. Bassist Brian Bromberg has signature basses shaped around his preferences, while Roy Vogt offers a six-string signature model based on the Vanquish design. Chris Letchford from Scale the Summit supports a headless multiscale series featuring set-through neck construction. Other endorsers include Anna Sentina, Johnny Hiland, and Mark Okubo of Veil of Maya. Since 2015, Blue Öyster Cult frontman Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser has been using Kiesel instruments, notably performing with a Vader 6 headless guitar.