Who designed, built and purchased a Kiesel?

[MusicIsLife]

I've had three Carvins over the years (two CT6s and a bolt), and still have one of them. All of them were fabulous, but a couple of them ended up on the losing end of funding my GAS, lol. I've not yet had a Kiesel, but Jeff's personality aside, I don't have any reason to think they'd be of lesser quality. I'm specing out n SH550 right now, but it'll probably be later this year before I pull the trigger.

Like others though, I'm going into it expecting I probably won't like the stock pups. I know I can send them my own, but I want to at least give the Kiesel's a fair shake first. At least there's rear control access to ease changes if desired.

 

[the rossness]

If only necks on EBMMs wouldn warp that frequently.

My #1 is an EBMM Axis and I can report no problems with the neck warping. I got mine new in 2012 and it's given me zero issues.

I've had 2 Carvin guitars. One was a DC135 I got off ebay for $500 and it was alright, but nothing special. The other was an Ultra-V I got from their in-stock guitars at $700. The quality on the V was very good. Ultimately, I sold it as I found the neck shape uncomfortable.

I play around with their builder a lot but ultimately know I'm not going to like the neck. That, plus their marketing and "family" atmosphere puts a bad taste in y mouth. As if Jeff can do no wrong and we've seen the wrong on a few different occasions. I guess I'd like to see different neck shapes and a more loving environment from the Kiesel brand.

 

[CrystalSky]

You used to be able to get many of the models as hardtails- used you can find Axis Sports, Alberts Lees, Silhouettes, etc. with a fixed bridge. New you're looking at the Morse or Valentine models, maybe one or two others. (Or get one with a trem and crank up the tension on the springs so the bridge says put.)

Thank you for advice!

 

[BDuncan]

I have 1 Kiesel and a few Carvins. If you want a basic-looking guitar, Kiesel probably isn't the best option for the price. There are plenty of guitars you can get for less that will do the job. If you wanna make something unique to your tastes then go for it. Just don't expect much resale value if you're gonna have a purple burst with a pink fretboard.

 

[cragginshred]

A buddy ordered a custom Kiesel 6 months ago. He gets notification of shipping 3 weeks ago and the wrong guitar arrives.... He loves the white guitar but ordered a purple one with several higher end features -7 piece neck or something like that and a few other custom features.

Long story short, they are being difficult about getting the white guitar back and there are other details he could explain better but he opted to get a refund for the purple one and is pretty sour about thee whole deal. Now the purple one he spec'd sits at a 400$ discount..... I told him get over it and take the savings.

 

[BDuncan]

A buddy ordered a custom Kiesel 6 months ago. He gets notification of shipping 3 weeks ago and the wrong guitar arrives.... He loves the white guitar but ordered a purple one with several higher end features -76 piece neck or something like that and a few other custom features.

Long story short, they are being difficult about getting the white guitar back and there are other details he could explain better but he opted to get a refund for the purple one and is pretty sour about thee whole deal. Now the purple one he spec'd sits at a 400$ discount..... I told him get over it and take the savings.

I only had one issue with them when they were Carvin in 2014. They forgot to put the trem bar in the case.

 

[jharpersj]

I did a headless build during covid and it came out killer, I love it. They did mess up the wiring but gave me a credit to fix it. I think they are making killer stuff, I do not like the 3 screw adjustment on the pickups, I changed the pickups out and it was a pickgaurd so it was a PIA, I modified my Tom Anderson pickups to make it work but they should either sell a 2 hole pickgaurd or just use the standard 2 acre, otherwise though for me A+.

 

[scottosan]

I've done 1 custom and 2 used. All looked and played phenomenally and all sounded as lifeless as one of bill Cosby's Tinder dates.

 

[mnemonic]

A friend of mine back in college got a Carvin dc747 with all the options and a fancy top, we drove down to the Sacramento carvin store to put in the order, back when that was a thing.

It was a great looking guitar, played very well, but didn’t sound very good. He did a lot of pickup swapping but I dont think he was ever fully happy with the sound of that guitar. The dragonburst finish was pretty wild for the time. It was expensive but pretty fairly priced for what it was.

I came close a couple times to ordering a stripped-down, no-options tung oiled guitar, but I couldn’t quite swing it, being a poor college student.

 

[Tone Junkie]

Pictures don’t do it justice. Unfinished walnut neck. Simply amazing.

 

[jinch0]

I got an scb for black friday and I got to pick my top. I have 2 guitar and they're awesome. Build quality is great. I don't like the pickups but they're usable. Here is my guitar getting stained.

 

[Bram576]

A buddy ordered a custom Kiesel 6 months ago. He gets notification of shipping 3 weeks ago and the wrong guitar arrives.... He loves the white guitar but ordered a purple one with several higher end features -76 piece neck or something like that and a few other custom features.

Long story short, they are being difficult about getting the white guitar back and there are other details he could explain better but he opted to get a refund for the purple one and is pretty sour about thee whole deal. Now the purple one he spec'd sits at a 400$ discount..... I told him get over it and take the savings.

I’ve wanted to order a Kiesel, because some builds look outstanding… but they just sound like such ass hats I can’t do it.

 

[rsm]

I decided against it. perfectly happy with my Ibanez and Jackson guitars, getting more.

 

[ClintN667]

I have been tempted in the past. Instead I went with Mayones, Chubtone, and Aviator. I have had 2 mayones and soon a second chubtone but I would like another aviator it's just they went up considerably this past year to where it makes more sense to go with Mayones based on the customer service I get with my dealer.

Kiesel has a lot of really cool looking guitars and some that look like a high school art project.

 

[jinch0]

A buddy ordered a custom Kiesel 6 months ago. He gets notification of shipping 3 weeks ago and the wrong guitar arrives.... He loves the white guitar but ordered a purple one with several higher end features -76 piece neck or something like that and a few other custom features.

Long story short, they are being difficult about getting the white guitar back and there are other details he could explain better but he opted to get a refund for the purple one and is pretty sour about thee whole deal. Now the purple one he spec'd sits at a 400$ discount..... I told him get over it and take the savings.

I had a similar problem but the took care of it. I got a new guitar in 7 weeks

 

[Detroit1973]

I've done 1 custom and 2 used. All looked and played phenomenally and all sounded as lifeless as one of bill Cosby's Tinder dates.

That's Extremely Lifeless. It's sad that a Custom Guitar isn't always as Tasty as a Jeffrey Dahmer Dinner Party is.