In 1946, Lowell Kiesel founded Kiesel Electronics in Los Angeles, CA. In 1947, they had produced their first guitar amplifiers. Two years later, the Kiesel family settled in Covina, CA, and began the original catalog business of manufacturing and distributing lap steel guitars, small tube amps, and pickups. The Carvin trademark was derived from Kiesel's two oldest sons, Carson and Gavin. Guitars were originally offered in kit form, or by parts since 1949, and Carvin began building complete guitars in 1956. By 1978, the glued set-neck design replaced the bolt-on necks. The majority of the current guitar and bass models currently feature a neck-through design.
Carvin started out as a mail-order-only company, and they continue to offer players a wide range of options on their individual models through their catalog and website. However, Carvin now has five retail stores in California where products can be tested before purchase, but they do not sell to independent dealers.
The Carvin company also offers mixing boards, power amplifiers, power mixers, P.A. speakers, monitor speakers, guitar combo amps/heads/cabinets, and bass amps/cabinets. Lowell Kiesel passed away on December 28, 2009. For more information, visit Carvin's website or contact them directly.
Amplifiers, speaker cabinets, and various other accessories currently produced in San Diego, CA since 1946. Carvin instruments are sold through direct catalog sales, as well as through five factory stores in CA: Covina, Hollywood, Sacramento, San Diego, and Santa Ana.

CARVIN Guitar Amplifiers Models

CARVIN BX1500 HEAD Image

CARVIN BX1500 HEAD

- 750W per channel @ 2 ohm (450W per channel @ 4 ohm, 300W per channel @ 8 ohm), two-space rack-mount bass head-unit, hybrid chassis with 1 X 12AX7 preamp tube, single channel, front gray and black control panel, single input, 15 knobs (dri...

CARVIN G412B/G412T SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN G412B/G412T SPEAKER CABINET

- 280W, 4-12 in. Carvin British BR12 speakers, 4 ohm stereo or 8 ohm mono impedance, straight (G412B) or angled (G412T) front, closed back, recessed side handles, available in standard black covering with a black metal grille (other custom...

CARVIN BX1600 HEAD Image

CARVIN BX1600 HEAD

- 800W per channel @ 2 ohm (500W per channel @ 4 ohm, 325W per channel @ 8 ohm), two-space rack-mount bass head-unit, hybrid chassis with 1 X 12AX7 preamp tube, single channel, front red and black control panel, single input, 15 knobs (driv...

CARVIN BR12 COMBO Image

CARVIN BR12 COMBO

- 120W, 1-12 in. speaker, solid-state chassis, single channel, front gray control panel, single input, nine knobs (d, c, b, m, t, compression, freq., direct level, MV), five-band graphic EQ, active/passive switch, XLR direct out, HF control...

CARVIN BR15 COMBO Image

CARVIN BR15 COMBO

- 120W, 1-15 in. speaker, solid-state chassis, single channel, front gray control panel, single input, nine knobs (d, c, b, m, t, compression, freq., direct level, MV), five-band graphic EQ, active/passive switch, XLR direct out, HF control...

CARVIN BR610 COMBO Image

CARVIN BR610 COMBO

- 600W @ 2 ohm (400W @ 4 ohm, 225W @ 8 ohm), 2-10 in. speakers, solid-state chassis, single channel, front gray control panel, single input, 13 knobs (d, c, b, l/m, m, h/m, t, compression, three freq. knobs, direct level, MV), nine-band gra...

CARVIN BR615 COMBO Image

CARVIN BR615 COMBO

- 600W @ 2 ohm (400W @ 4 ohm, 225W @ 8 ohm), 1-15 in. speaker, solid-state chassis, single channel, front gray control panel, single input, 13 knobs (d, c, b, l/m, m, h/m, t, compression, three freq. knobs, direct level, MV), nine-band grap...

CARVIN BRX112 COMBO Image

CARVIN BRX112 COMBO

- 800W at 2 ohms (500W at 4 ohms, 300W at 8 ohms), 1-12 in. Neo speaker combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, front black control panel, single input, eight chrome knobs (sub b, b, l/m, m, h/m, t, drive, MV), effects loop, line out wi...

CARVIN BRX212 COMBO Image

CARVIN BRX212 COMBO

- 800W at 2 ohms (500W at 4 ohms, 300W at 8 ohms), 2-12 in. Neo speaker combo, 1 in. Titanium horn, solid-state chassis, single channel, front black control panel, single input, eight chrome knobs (sub b, b, l/m, m, h/m, t, drive, MV), effe...

CARVIN BR115 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR115 SPEAKER CABINET

- 600W, 1-15 in. heavy duty woofer, 1-1 in. driver, 4 ohm impedance, black covering, black metal grille, retractable handles, 56 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-08, reintroduced-present.

CARVIN BR115N-4/BR115N-8 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR115N-4/BR115N-8 SPEAKER CABINET

- 600W, 1-15 in. Neodymium driver, 1-1 in. titanium HF horn, 4 ohm (BR115N-4) or 8 ohm (BR115N-8) impedance, Speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, black covering, black metal grille, recessed handles, 23.5 in. wide, 25.5 in. tall, 18.25 in. deep, 52...

CARVIN BR118N-4/BR118N-8 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR118N-4/BR118N-8 SPEAKER CABINET

- 800W, 1-18 in. Neodymium driver, 4 ohm (BR118N-4) or 8 ohm (BR118N-8) impedance, Speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, black covering, black metal grille, recessed handles, 23.5 in. wide, 25.5 in. tall, 18.25 in. deep, 59 lbs., mfg. 2009-disc.

CARVIN BR210 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR210 SPEAKER CABINET

- 400W, 2-10 in. heavy duty woofers, 1-1 in. driver, 4 ohm impedance, precision crossover with five-position HF knob, black covering, black metal grille, retractable handles, 43 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-present.

CARVIN BR210N-4/BR210N-8 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR210N-4/BR210N-8 SPEAKER CABINET

- 600W, 2-10 in. Neodymium drivers, 1-1 in. titanium HF horn, 4 ohm (BR210N-4) or 8 ohm (BR210N-8) impedance, Speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, black covering, black metal grille, recessed handles, 23.5 in. wide, 17.5 in. tall, 18.25 in. deep, 43...

CARVIN BR410 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR410 SPEAKER CABINET

- 800W, 4-10 in. heavy duty woofers, 1-1 in. driver, 8 ohm impedance, precision crossover with five-position HF knob, black covering, black metal grille, retractable handles, 68 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-present.

CARVIN BR410N-4/BR410N-8 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR410N-4/BR410N-8 SPEAKER CABINET

- 1200W, 4-10 in. Neodymium drivers, 1-1 in. titanium HF horn, 4 ohm (BR410N-4) or 8 ohm (BR410N-8) impedance, Speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, black covering, black metal grille, recessed handles, 23.5 in. wide, 25.5 in. tall, 18.25 in. deep, 6...

CARVIN BR810 SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BR810 SPEAKER CABINET

- 1200W, 8-10 in. heavy duty woofers, 1-1 in. driver, 4 ohm impedance, precision crossover with five-position HF knob, black covering, black metal grille, retractable handles, 118 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-disc.

CARVIN BRX10.2NEO SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BRX10.2NEO SPEAKER CABINET

- 600W, 2-10 in. 300W Neodymium woofers, 1-1 in. horn, 4 ohm impedance, six-position horn knob, DuraTex scratch resistant finish, black metal grille, built-in handles, 46 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-present.

CARVIN BRX10.4NEO SPEAKER CABINET Image

CARVIN BRX10.4NEO SPEAKER CABINET

- 1200W, 4-10 in. 300W Neodymium woofers, 1-1 in. horn, 4 ohm impedance, six-position horn knob, DuraTex scratch resistant finish, black metal grille, built-in handles, 76 lbs., mfg. summer 2006-present.