I Got My First 'Carvin USA' ! | 2010 Ultra V

📚Description: I've never had a Carvin before this episode, nor did I even want one - but this guitar was thrown in on top of a trade to "sweeten the deal" / even things out. While the Ultra V shape isn't my favorite, the neck through construction, USA-build location and great use of color and flamed maple made this pretty cool in my eyes. Having a hardshell case was a nice surprise too!

0:00 - Carvin 2010 Ultra V
0:38 - Carvin/Kiesel History
1:25 - First Impressions
2:20 - Why Did I Get This Guitar?
4:31 - Inside Look / Specs
12:13 - Clean Tones
15:00 - Dirty Tones
16:41 - Final Thoughts
18:00 - Watch Next

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⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
Camera:

[randall]

I used to get Carvin catalogs in the mail and write down all my dream builds

[chrisquick]

You should TOTALLY customize your own Kiesel and review it on the channel.

[jeffzella]

Visited the Carvin factory shop near San Diego many years ago and played everything they had that day. I came home with the sweetest bolt on T of all time…it was a custom order someone rejected…sunburst, gold hardware, reverse headstock, tweed case with a chime that to this day out sparkles all of the Strats in my collection (and I have some good ones). On gig days, I do not leave home without it. $900 all in. I’ve seen mixed reviews of Carvins over the years, but this one is truly a gem. The stars were definitely aligned the day it was built.

[dblum]

Man I feel old remembering getting the catalogs in the mail and Trogly has barely heard of them. 😆

[Zundfolge]

Carvin used to sell their necks and pickups, I built an awesome super strat with one of their neck-through-body necks back in the early 90s. I also used some of their pickups on a couple other guitars. Great quality stuff at real good prices back in the day. Now days they're not as bargain priced, but apparently still decent stuff.

[DeWittPotts]

From what I remember of Carvin, they did not really do production runs like Gibson or Fender. Carvin's were mostly custom ordered from a web site. You would log in and pick the model, the color, and the features that you wanted. The guitar was then built and shipped to you.

[JimDewdGuitars]

The good thing is they learned over the years and many of the critiques you have about the Carvin guitar Kiesel has since fixed in recent years. They now come standard with an oaks grigsby switch and better electronics. They also now come standard with stainless steel frets, luminlay side dots, carbon fiber rods in the neck, and quarter sawn necks. I have about 15 Custom Kiesels and love them. Became a fan through my dad, who played Carvin basses and amps. Great brand all around! Really enjoyed this deep dive into one!

[aaronwoltz]

Carvin was where Holdsworth had landed. Great instruments

[jsquire]

I used to live about 10 minutes from Carvin's factory in San Diego, I've owned two of em. Great guitars

[nealhathaway]

My girlfriend gave me a catalogue in 76. It taught me so much. The 22 pole pickups were a huge innovation.

[GraphiteandCigars]

I had Carvin build my DC127 in 1996. All koa, neck through. To this day, still my favorite and best playing guitar.

[DLF]

Hell yeah! Trogls reviewing non Gibson or Fender guitars are the coolest episodes.

[Kahuna]

I’ve owned Carvin guitars since the 80s, they were made by Kiesel guitars and are great quality! All made in the USA, I’ve owned the AE185 that was a thin line semi hollow with dual hum buckets and a piezo pickup with 2 cord jacks, one for electric and the other for the piezo that can be played through 2 amps. I also own an AE185 12 string that plays like a 6 string. The other one was a DC135t which is their version of a Stratocaster and again, it plays great with no problems ever!

[james-hexv]

my band in the 80s had a carvin endorsement, they were made in my hometown of San Diego, really underrated guitars and basses.

[virtualscouser]

I have a Carvin C66 that I had built for me when I graduated from college in '06, absolutely superb guitar and my favorite to this day. Since they've morphed into Keisel, I've heard some nightmare stories about Jeff Kiesel (there are YouTube videos) and his treatment of customers regarding what they received but those were years ago and the build quality is still exceptional.

[bobbeattie]

I own three Carvins. Being a left handed player they were/are the place to go. Back in the 80's there were no other options that I knew about.
Just bought (Reverb) a 1964 Carvin Left handed SGB, very rare in almost mint condition. Looks unplayed. Love them.

[gsbguitarsgsb]

I’ve been a Carvin fan and patriot for a number of years. I would look forward to the small but packed catalog they would send out periodically. I specked out numerous guitars with all the options they had available but never pulled the trigger. I did buy one of their guitar amps before they shut down that part of the factory. I even visited the show room back in the late 80s when I was stationed at Norton AFB in San Bernardino Ca. Through the years and different bands we used Carvin PA gear speakers amps microphones all good quality stuff and they generally cut out the middle man so hence the catalogs. Order direct through them save no money because shipping usually added up to what was supposed to be saved. Even with that said I was bummed when they shut it down. I always loved having that option available. And they backed everything they manufactured up with replacement or repair without hassle. In my experience anyway… You rock as always, glad you got to explore that avenue. There are some real nice gems out there that Carvin made. Take care…

[martinmurcek]

Zappa had Carvin pickups in one of his Les Paul Customs and he used Carvin amps some too.

[AmosAllen-vs]

I remember seeing Craig Chaquico from Jefferson Starship playing a Carvin and Joe Walsh

[lrblouie]

Having currently 4 Gibsons, including an R0, two LPCs and a Standard, my 2008 Carving SH575 and 2023 Kiesel CT6, the Carvin/Kiesel are a work of art! No QC issues, absolutely gorgeous. Yes, I'll say it - better than Gibson.