Roots in Carvin Guitars
Lowell Kiesel founded Carvin in 1946, initially offering guitar parts before introducing complete instruments in 1949. The company remained family-owned and expanded its custom guitar program through the 1970s and 1980s, emphasizing neck-through construction and active electronics.
Transition to Kiesel Guitars
In 2015, Mark Kiesel separated the guitar division from Carvin Audio, renaming it Kiesel Guitars while retaining the original California factory and luthier staff. This allowed continued focus on direct-to-player custom orders without retail distribution.
Notable Artists and Signature Models
Jeff Loomis collaborated on the JL-series seven- and eight-string models featuring his preferred 27-inch scale and Seymour Duncan Blackouts. Additional artists such as Rusty Cooley and Tosin Abasi have commissioned one-off instruments that later influenced production options like fanned-fret layouts.
