Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

[Ascension]

Candy Red DC 135 jumbo stainless frets thin option neck profile and a floyd. Trade in at my local GC almost traded my 07 PRS Custom 24 on the spot for it. I have owned more guitars than I can count and have owned 20 or more Carvin guitars but that was the best neck I have ever had my hands on EVER!! Those stainless jumbos were SO smooth + the guitar sustained like nothing I have ever played ( and YES that does include a number of really good vintage Les Pauls ect!!!). That guitar and in particular that neck is just haunting me now and yep will build one SOON!!

 

[dave74]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

Is this the first one you've played with the thin-option neck?
These come in at about 19mm near the nut and 21mm up high,,,,,aka dead-on perfect! (IMO)

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

Is this the first one you've played with the thin-option neck?
These come in at about 19mm near the nut and 21mm up high,,,,,aka dead-on perfect! (IMO)

Yep was. I have a 1990 X220C and a 2002 DC400 + have owned maybe 25 Carvins over the years. Like that neck better than the 93- 94 Shreadder profile and also the 90-91 24.75 shreadder necks and that is saying some thing. The one I saw/played was perfection in very way and shockingly good!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

That's cool. I could never bond with a single Kiesel I've played. They certainly are pretty. And I love the headless models. Didn't like the feel of them, nor the sound.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

Sounds like a great catch!

I'm still wondering why they re branded-

I used to have multiple Carvin conversations a week, but literally have never had a client ask about a Kiesel.

Alan Holdsworth model still blows me away, but I wish they had a different distribution model because I have to get my hands on before I buy.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I'm still wondering why they re branded-

It's simple Kiesel is the family name that he company started under with Lowell Kiesel. In the late 1940's he renamed the company after his 2 sons Carson and Vincent took half of each name and made Carvin. When the grandson took over a few years ago he wanted to go back to the family name with the Guitars and split the company with Carvin being pro sound and amps and Kiesel being just the guitar line. The company is older than Fender and is still owned by the founding family.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

That's cool. I could never bond with a single Kiesel I've played. They certainly are pretty. And I love the headless models. Didn't like the feel of them, nor the sound.

Played Carvins for many years exclusively on the road. Had a falling out with the company over some changes and the way friends there got treated and sold off most of mine as a result ( had over 20 at one time so--) but am still in love with the guitars. Have war stories about Carvins and how rugged they are on the road. My Gibsons flat fell apart my Fenders and my Ibanzes required constant adjustments but I never touched my Carvins other than to tune them night after night!
Both my 2002 DC 400 and my 1990 X220C "Pinky" still are stone stock right down to the pickups and pots and I happen to love the unique voice both have.
To each their own but the one i played last week flat blew me away with the way it both played and sounded.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I went out to their San Diego store back in Dec of 2000
played the in-store selection,
the tele and strat style guitars felt and sounded like Fenders
the AE185 was unique

I ended up in love with the Belair amp and bought one of those

on the way out I remember asking the sales dudes why they stopped making the big jazz boxes
like they had on display from years ago.

about a year later they added Acoustics and Jazz boxes to the line up

I like them
Jeff comes off as unlike-able in the U-tube shorts

I called in one day to order something
Jeff was the only one there and picked up
he kinda wanted to brush me off a bit
then eventually took my order

he is alright I guess
without having met him

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I really want a Jason Becker model!!!! Ascension, do you know if the one you played had the standard neck shape , or is it an option?
Look forward to pics when you get it.... wink wink

I dont like to talk smack about anyone without first hand knowledge, but I have heard ALOT of negatives about Jeff (was that the right name?) being a bit lacking in people skills...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

Played Carvins for many years exclusively on the road. Had a falling out with the company over some changes and the way friends there got treated and sold off most of mine as a result ( had over 20 at one time so--) but am still in love with the guitars. Have war stories about Carvins and how rugged they are on the road. My Gibsons flat fell apart my Fenders and my Ibanzes required constant adjustments but I never touched my Carvins other than to tune them night after night!
Both my 2002 DC 400 and my 1990 X220C "Pinky" still are stone stock right down to the pickups and pots and I happen to love the unique voice both have.
To each their own but the one i played last week flat blew me away with the way it both played and sounded.

Oh I get it...lots of brands have diehard fans, but aren't my thing. I suppose if I played metal or hard rock I might feel differently. But lately, I've played a bunch of their headless models and their semi-hollows. I didn't get a distinctive sound from them (the semi hollows actually sounded closer to Les Pauls..and were heavy), and other companies seem to do those 2 things better, that's all.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

It's simple Kiesel is the family name that he company started under with Lowell Kiesel. In the late 1940's he renamed the company after his 2 sons Carson and Vincent took half of each name and made Carvin. When the grandson took over a few years ago he wanted to go back to the family name with the Guitars and split the company with Carvin being pro sound and amps and Kiesel being just the guitar line. The company is older than Fender and is still owned by the founding family.

Yeah, I get the logic, but it takes a lot of work to rebrand and they lost some attention as a result... Good news is the guitars are great and thats probably enough in the end. Thanks for good info.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

Oh I get it...lots of brands have diehard fans, but aren't my thing. I suppose if I played metal or hard rock I might feel differently. But lately, I've played a bunch of their headless models and their semi-hollows. I didn't get a distinctive sound from them (the semi hollows actually sounded closer to Les Pauls..and were heavy), and other companies seem to do those 2 things better, that's all.

Never liked the headless and hollow guitar they have except the AE 185. I am really thiking about snagging that one at GC as it is almost dead on what i speced on a new one and will save me just under $500. This is the guitar.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/In-Store-Used/Used-KIESEL-DC127C-Red-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc
Not playing metal any more but have played these guitar so long they just feel right in my hands. This particular one is by far the best player I have ever picked up and sustains like nothing i have ever played that is saying some thing!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I see all these great Kiesel pics on Twitter and Instagram (if you don't follow them, please do...the pics are great). However, they sort of remind me of late 70s stereos that are all bling. They sure look great, but for some reason I don't bond with them (and I hear lots of people swap out their electronics, too). I hadn't tried the AE185s or many of the beveled models yet, though. Hard to find where I am, so if I go to NAMM I alsways stop by their booth.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I feel you. For many years the Carvin "family" was just that a close nit family like group. Every year a pretty good sized group of "Carvinites" would get together for a big Southeastern bash to pick and show off our collections at a Church just outside of Atlanta. Back around 10 years or so a whole bunch of us kinda got the ol left foot of fellowship when some folk changed at the corporate level ( and it was mostly because of our faith ) from some in the company. I owned 17 Carvin guitars at the time and 4 amps. Got so peeved at how it all went down sold almost everything I had and vowed to never play their stuff out again. Mellowed over the last few years and today put that Kiesel on lay away at GC. I guess played them for so long nothing else feels right.
This one is perfection looks like it was dipped in some kind of liquid glass and plays like nothing I have ever had in my hand. Only thing now is to pay it out and then figure out what goes in the bridge on a pickup between a Becker or a 59/Custom hybrid! Long time friend is a sales rep at GC and I got a good deal on her ( he saw me walk in knows that i love these guitars and as soon as I pulled it off he wall first time he went and got the case LOL!). Crazy thing is I have this exact spec guitar (with only a couple very minor changes ) built out from the on line site and printed out from keisel here at the house. Saved over $500 to buy her used in the end and it's absolutely flawless so---.
While no where near the visual stunner that my 2002 Carvin DC 400 in Ruby Red Quilt with Abalone block inlays is this one is a MUCH better player with those big Jumbo Stainless frets and that thin neck option. Bends are SO smooth and it sustains for freekin EVER even unpluged. Even with a Floyd no Les Paul I have ever played is even in the same universe sustain wise as this thing is. I was blown away in the shop at how percussive and big it was clean. Not wild about the White Pickups or that gold hardware as it looks amazing but will not hold up well. Have to admit that neck and middle AP11 sound REALLY good in this one but that M22SD in the bridge though will go SOON!

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

They sure look great, but for some reason I don't bond with them (and I hear lots of people swap out their electronics, too).

I had a similar view- I'm a form leads function guy. I was very suspicious of an instrument that I couldn't play in a guitar store that looked like it was more pretty than innovative (or strongly conventional for that matter.)

And then my buddy replaced his late 70s Les Paul with a HH Carvin and I was amazed- I don't even like low action, but it was the lowest I have ever played and felt wonderful- It completely out sustained his Les Paul, but most important was the sound. It had everything from clear and crisp to thick and fat-

Don't get me wrong, it had way too much sustain to replace a tele or a strat, but the way I imagined it at the time was a guitar sound that you could EQ to get practically any other tone.

That helped me stop looking and just playing- I still don't own one, but the Allen Holdsworth fat boy is on my long-term list.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

LOL!! Hey Ascension, I clicked on the GC link and it said page no longer avail... And even before I got to your post I was already going to type you a congrats ! haha Congrats!!!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I am curious about the M22SD
There was a guy I knew on Pensacola that had an AE185 with one of those in the bridge
It sounded great to me

What is it that you are unimpressed with?

 

[Ascension]

Re: Played a new Kiesel a couple days ago.

I am curious about the M22SD
There was a guy I knew on Pensacola that had an AE185 with one of those in the bridge
It sounded great to me

What is it that you are unimpressed with?

Have a M22SD in "pinky" my 1990 X220C and have used that pickup many times in the past in other guitars. I like it's unique voice and in that particular guitar the SD fit's it's personality perfectly. In this one however I'm looking for something different in a more open traditional and versatile tone than the SD will give me. I really like the SD for hard rock and classic metal through a high gain amp like a good Marshall cranked but it just doesn't fit with what I have in mind for this particular guitar.