Carvin Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amplifiers |
| Genre | Music company |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Lowell Kiesel |
| Headquarters | United States of America |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Amplifiers,Audio equipment |
| Website | www |
Carvin Corporationis afamily-ownedSan Diego,California,manufacturer ofguitar amplifiersandaudio equipment.[1]The company is known for its early work using plastics in the 1940s, making electric guitars from Resinox.[2][3]
History
[edit]
Founded by Lowel C Kiesel as theL.C. Kiesel Company,in 1946 inSan Diego,California.[4]The company's first self-manufactured items wereguitarpickups,which were wound using an old sewing machine.[5]Manufacturing then shifted to producing entire steel guitars.
By 1947, operations briefly moved to Kiesel's home town ofGothenburg, Nebraskaand back to Southern California in 1949, where Kiesel named the companyCarvin,aportmanteauderived from the first names of his two eldest sons,Carson and Gavin.[1]
From 1950 to 1970, Carvin manufactured and assembled several types of guitars and amplifiers. They were an authorized manufacturer and reseller forFenderandMartinguitars,DeArmondpickups, and Sonola accordions. In the 1960s and early 1970s, they usedHöfnernecks on guitars they made.[6]
Starting in the 1970s, Carvin developed a niche in the musical instrument world by selling directly to the public via mail order.
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. Later on, Carvin switched to manufacturingthrough-neckguitars, attracting metal players such asJason BeckerandMarty Friedman.[7]
In the 1980s, they began to offer customized guitars and basses, based on available body shapes, woods, colors, electronics, and other features.[8]
On December 28, 2009, it was announced that the founder of Carvin Guitars/Kiesel Guitar, Lowell C. Kiesel, had died.[9]
In 2015, Carvin Corporation split off the guitar business to a new company,Kiesel Guitars,[10]which continues to build electric and acoustic guitars, MIDI synth guitars, bass guitars and other instruments under the Carvin Guitars brand as well as new, Kiesel branded instruments. Carvin Corporation continued to operate the brands Carvin Amplifiers and Carvin Audio, which manufactured guitar and bass amplifiers as well as other professional audio gear.[11][12]In October 2017, Carvin Audio announced that their California factory would be closing its doors after over 70 years.[13]
On January 23, 2018, Carvin Amps and Audio announced the relaunch of their website.[14]On June 14, 2018 Carvin announced the warehouse has been moved to a centralized USA location to offer customers faster shipping countrywide.[15]
References
[edit]- ^abMoseley, Willie G. (June 2009). "The Carvin DN440T".Vintage Guitar.p. 64.
- ^Wendle, Bruce (August 2, 1991).What Every Engineer Should Know about Developing Plastics Products.CRC Press.ISBN9780824784850.
- ^RESINOX - Trademark DetailsJustia.Retrieved March 22, 2021
- ^Hill, Matthew (May 28, 2015).Carvin Corporation.Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.a2282333.
- ^Guitars, Kiesel."Lowell C. Kiesel, Founder of Kiesel Guitars | KieselGuitars.com".www.kieselguitars.com.RetrievedAugust 16,2017.
- ^"What Model is that Carvin Guitar?".www.carvinmuseum.com.RetrievedAugust 16,2017.
- ^"Marty Friedman Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment".www.uberproaudio.com.RetrievedOctober 6,2020.
- ^Swearingen, Cynthia (November 19, 2018)."A Brief History Of Carvin Guitars - Taking A Look at Its Journey".Vintage Guitar Masters.RetrievedMay 22,2020.
- ^Guitars, Kiesel."Lowell C. Kiesel, Founder of Kiesel Guitars | KieselGuitars.com".www.kieselguitars.com.RetrievedDecember 13,2017.
- ^"San Diego Union Tribune, Carvin splits into two, 2015".January 21, 2015.
- ^Varga, George (January 20, 2015)."Carvin splits in two to launch Kiesel Guitars".RetrievedMarch 5,2016.
- ^"Carvin Announces the Launch of Kiesel Guitars".January 24, 2015.RetrievedMarch 5,2016.
- ^"Carvin Audio Closes Factory, Will Liquidate Assets".October 9, 2017.
- ^"Carvin Amps and Audio Announces the Relaunch of CarvinAudio.com".January 24, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 25,2018.
- ^"Carvin Amps Continues Family Legacy With New Leadership".Archived fromthe originalon March 25, 2019.(archived)
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Lowell Kiesel InterviewatNAMM Oral History Library(2003)
- Carson Kiesel Interviewat NAMM Oral History Library (2003)
- Carvin DN640K,review, Willie G. Moseley,Vintage Guitar,March 2005, accessed on line March 9, 2007.
- Carvin Cobalt C780 Jumbo Acoustic-Electric,review, proaudioreview.com, accessed on line March 9, 2007.
- 1946 establishments in California
- Audio amplifier manufacturers
- Electronics companies established in 1946
- Guitar amplifier manufacturers
- Loudspeaker manufacturers
- Manufacturing companies based in San Diego
- Music equipment manufacturers
- Privately held companies based in California
- Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States
- Family-owned companies of the United States