Carvin Corporation

Carvin Corporation
Private
Industry Amplifiers
Genre Music company
Founded 1946 (1946)
Founder Lowell Kiesel
Headquarters

San Diego, California
United States of America

32°59′17.38″N 117°04′10.47″W / 32.9881611°N 117.0695750°W / 32.9881611; -117.0695750
Area served
 Global
Products Amplifiers, Audio equipment
Website www.carvinaudio.com

Carvin Corporation is an American guitar amplifier and audio equipment manufacturer in San Diego, California. It is one of only a few remaining family-owned companies in the industry.[1]

History

Carvin's Legacy 3 amplifier and cabinets, used by Steve Vai

Lowell Kiesel founded Carvin in San Diego, California in 1946 as the L. C. Kiesel Company and started manufacturing a guitar part known as a pickup. Manufacturing then shifted to producing entire steel guitars by and operations had moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska by 1947. Approximately one year later, production returned to Southern California. Sometime in 1949, factories moved once again to Baldwin Park, California. Kiesel then named the company Carvin, a portmanteau name-meshing derived from the first names of his two eldest sons, Carson and Gavin. The company's current production facility occupies 82,000 square feet.[1]

From 1950 to 1970, Carvin manufactured & assembled several types of guitars and amplifiers. They were an authorized manufacturer and resellers for Fender and Martin guitars, DeArmond pickups, and Sonola accordions. The necks & bodies of their guitars were supplied by Höfner.

In the late 1970s, Carvin began to produce all their own instrument components, and expanded their product lines to include professional audio gear, recording equipment, lighting, and other stage and studio equipment. Later, Carvin switched to manufacturing through-neck guitars, attracting metal players such as Jason Becker and Marty Friedman.

Starting in the 1970s, Carvin developed a niche in the musical instrument world by only selling directly to the public via mail order, In the 1980s they began to offer guitars and basses built to a customer's specifications, based on available body shapes, woods, colors, electronics, and other features.

In 1991, the company opened showrooms in Southern California that resemble a full-fledged music store, only lacking effects devices, keyboards and drum gear. For a long time since the late 90s the Santa Ana location had a sign of "Forbidden Riffs" posted on the wall (i.e.; no Stairway To Heaven, Enter Sandman, Smoke On the Water etc.)The showrooms are stocked with an impressive selection of production models, many with popular custom options already built into the guitars.

In 2015, Carvin Corporation split off the guitar business to a new company, Kiesel Guitars, which continues to build electric and acoustic guitars, MIDI synth guitars, bass guitars and other instruments under the Carvin Guitars name as well as new, Kiesel-badged instruments. Carvin Corporation continues to operate the brands Carvin Amplifiers and Carvin Audio, which manufacture guitar and bass amplifiers and pro audio gear.[2][3]

Notable users

Current and past Carvin users include: Greg Howe, Jonathan Butler, Frank Zappa, Nicki Kin, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Steve Vai, Joey Tafolla, Brendon Small, Bunny Brunel, Craig Chaquico, Alex Lifeson, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Al Di Meola, Wolf Mail, Yngwie Malmsteen, Willie Nelson, Danny Elfman, Joe Walsh, Shawn Lane, Tony MacAlpine, Timothy B. Schmit, Candy Coburn, Doug Lindsey, Warren Cuccurullo,[4] Jaco Pastorius,[5] Neil Zaza, John McVie, and Earl Slick.

References

  1. 1 2 Moseley, Willie G. (June 2009). "The Carvin DN440T". Vintage Guitar. p. 64.
  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. ↑ http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/85-endorsers4.html
  5. ↑ http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/85-endorsers5.html
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