CARVIN

Carvin operates almost exclusively through mail-order sales. Founded in 1946 as Kiesel Electronics, it adopted its current name three years later. Originally it sold prckups and accessorres before branching out to amplifiers, guitars. basses, and other gear. In 1954, its first marl-order catalog was introduced. The same year it introduced its first original, the SGB solidbody with a distinctive body point. its designs came into their own in the 19805. with the introduction of radical shapes and exotic woods. Carvin guitars are built to order, and a huge list of options means that each is effectively custom-made, although it does now offer a small number of instruments from stock. In 1988, it switched to through-neck designs, which continue to dominate. It builds more than 1,000 guitars and basses every year at its factory in San Diego, California