
Carvin Audio Closes It's Doors After 71 Years Of B.What Gibson actually produces doesn't change the fact that when people refer to "Gibson scale" they mean 24 3/4".Gibson Memphis Guitar Factory Is Up For Sale.Click on the links in the text for further information. Those who own Carvin products swear by them.Ĭlick on the links below the pictures for sources.

Kiesel still offers gorgeous guitars and basses, as well as guitar and bass pickups, bodies, kits, necks, and parts.Ĭarvin guitars and amplifiers have always been under the radar when compared to Fender, Gibson, and Vox. The website is offering remaining stock, but most stock has already been sold. Unfortunately Carvin equipment will no longer be available. These were rated from 250 watts to 2000 watts RMS.
#Are carvin guitars still made in usa series#
The late Alan Holdsworth played his Carvin signature model.Ĭarvin Vintage series tube guitar amplifiers were comparable to better known brands, at a much lower price.Ĭarvin bass amplifiers, sold as the BX series and as well as their cabinets were great values. Recently they added digital mixing boards, microphones, wireless systems, in-ear monitors, and power conditioners.Ĭarvin guitar amplifiers were legendary.
#Are carvin guitars still made in usa professional#
Carvin also manufactured stage monitors, and professional speaker systems. Initial offerings were from 4 channels to 16 channels with 8 outputs. Their equipment was of professional quality. Audio equipment remained under the name Carvin Audio.Īs best as I can tell, Carvin began offering first class audio mixing consoles, and power amplifiers in 1979. Their new guitars were re-branded under the brand name Kiesel. In 2015, Carvin split into two divisions. Bodies were made in the USA, the necks were made in Germany by Hòfner. This same year, Carvin guitars came with all the bells and whistles, that included pickup phasing switches, coil tap, and stereo controls. They had black and white photographs of the products.īy 1976 Carvin began offering color catalogs. Their early catalogs were crudely done as mimeographed flyers, with descriptions of the guitars and amps. These three locations were in Southern California, and include their Escondido factory. Their only stores were their own retail outlets, that were not opened until 1991. This was a niche that other manufactures never pursued, but it was the key to Carvin's success. The amplifiers were every bit as good as comparable Fender amplifiers, but were sold direct to the public at half the price as Fender amps.Ĭarvin’s sales were always direct to the public. The appearance of their early amplifiers were similar to Fender or Gibson amplifiers. The Carvin company began building guitar amplifiers as early as the 1950’s. Carvin continued to manufacture their own pickups. Later in the decade they expanded into recording equipment, stage lighting, and other studio equipment.Ĭarvin offered guitar kits as early as the 1960’s. They also offered a complete line of steel and pedal steel guitars.īy the mid 1970’s the quality of Carvin guitars had greatly improved, and in addition to their own line of amplifiers, they were offering professional audio equipment. In addition to their own guitars, Carvin also offered Martin guitars, Fender guitars, and Sonola accordions. They utilized necks made by Höfner, and pickups manufactured by DeArmond. The companies earliest guitars, and basses were very basic, but functional. Carvin was an amalgamation of the names of Lowell’s sons Carson and Gavin. By 1949 he set up a larger facility in Baldwin Park, California This same year Lowell changed the companies name from Kiesel Guitars, to Carvin Guitars. Within a year Kiesel moved his location and began manufacturing steel guitars. Kiesel was an accomplished steel guitar player. This was at a time when the steel guitar was very popular, especially for Country and Western bands that were spring up in Southern California. Kiesel had created a stringed instrument pickup.

Kiesel in San Diego California back in 1946. On October the 11th, the owners of Carvin Audio announced that after 71 years of being in business they are closing.Ĭarvin guitars and amplifiers is a company started by Lowell C.
