The Carvin / Kiesel thread

[spudmunkey]

Maybe it's just because I have no real connection/nostalgia for "strats", so variations don't look "wrong" to me. Just different. I don't mind it. Could potentially give it a shot over a Delos.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Maybe it's just because I have no real connection/nostalgia for "strats", so variations don't look "wrong" to me. Just different. I don't mind it. Could potentially give it a shot over a Delos.

I'm not a traditionalist by any means, I just feel this is the least developed (in terms of design) headless model yet.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Pretty sure these passed few years has just been Jeff looking at random guitars in their lineup and being like

 

[r3tr0sp3ct1v3]

Lol so much innovation

 

[lurè]

I want to hate it so much but I can't.

Honestly, with solid finish and without translucent or burled tops is not horrible.

 

[mbardu]

I want to hate it so much

If you had stopped there you would have had a pretty good summary of sso's feelings towards Kiesel

 

[spudmunkey]

I want to hate it so much but I can't.

Honestly, with solid finish and without translucent or burled tops is not horrible.

Same. I love the solid colors the best, that blue flame next. I'll never like "california burst", no matter the wood (burled or not).

 

[DEUCE SLUICE]

Honestly, with solid finish and without translucent or burled tops is not horrible.

I dig it.

Keep it real simple, solid color, roasted maple neck / board... I could mess with that for sure.

 

[mbardu]

Same. I love the solid colors the best, that blue flame next. I'll never like "california burst", no matter the wood (burled or not).

Glad to hear I'm not alone.
I've only seen one caliburst I liked, it was an odd type of Teal but other than that....meeeeeh

 

[Albake21]

So is it just me or does it look like Kiesel is really trying to turn into a headless only shop. I mean shit most of their social media are headless guitars and most of their models are now headless. Nothing wrong with that, just something I'm noticing. Wish I liked headless guitars.

 

[spudmunkey]

The more headless guitars they sell, the more it makes sense to make. Keep in mind that 3 of their 8 headless models are artist signature models...and of the other 5, 2 of them are just "single cut/double cut" variations of each other, and one of those signature models is just the combination of those two. So really, they have 6 headless models (HD, Type X, Vader, CL7, Holdsworth, and then the Oziris/Zeus/Lee McKinney family) out of their 35 guitar models.

8 out of 35 is about 22.9% of their models. Is it crazy to think that the Zeus, Vader, etc make up 22% of their sales?

 

[technomancer]

It just looks... stunted (and I actually do like the Vader, Zeus, and Osiris shapes)

 

[MSS]

Love the Vader shape. Not so much this one. Personal preference I guess.

 

[mbardu]

So is it just me or does it look like Kiesel is really trying to turn into a headless only shop. I mean shit most of their social media are headless guitars and most of their models are now headless. Nothing wrong with that, just something I'm noticing. Wish I liked headless guitars.

Their other models are still very good, from the DCs to the carved tops, but the demand there is not as hot and there is soo much competition and options for traditional guitars!

Now take made in USA, semi custom headless, including ERGs... that's a pretty sweet growing niche, still with the novelty effect.

For better or for worse, Jeff is way more reactive than past generations (and other brands for that matter) and right now, headless is the trend. They are selling like hot cakes, way more volume than their traditional models, so why not bank on that trend!

Won't necessarily last forever though. I mean what's left to cut the head from? A couple of basses, a crescent and a V

 

[spudmunkey]

Won't necessarily last forever though. I mean what's left to cut the head from? A couple of basses, a crescent and a V

Carved top. Oh, and gotta give tuner access..

 

[DEUCE SLUICE]

The more headless guitars they sell, the more it makes sense to make. Keep in mind that 3 of their 8 headless models are artist signature models...and of the other 5, 2 of them are just "single cut/double cut" variations of each other, and one of those signature models is just the combination of those two. So really, they have 6 headless models (HD, Type X, Vader, CL7, Holdsworth, and then the Oziris/Zeus/Lee McKinney family) out of their 35 guitar models.

Plus, it doesn't cost them anything more than their CNC guys' time to come up with these variations. They've already figured out the hardware and they don't have to maintain substantial levels of stock.

 

[mbardu]

Plus, it doesn't cost them anything more than their CNC guys' time to come up with these variations. They've already figured out the hardware and they don't have to maintain substantial levels of stock.

Well in theory yeah, but in practice, even if it's just one more program in the cnc, it doesn't stop them from trying to keep the lineup "somehow" under control with things like the recent wave of discontinued models for instance.

 

[Samark]

Looks great I think

 

[Seabeast2000]

They look as good or bad as any other headless. I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating McDonald's

 

[Pingu]

It just looks... stunted (and I actually do like the Vader, Zeus, and Osiris shapes)

That's what I was thinking! It looks like a really slick early 2000s travel guitar.