PunkKitty Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 I just got an email saying that Carvin Audio is liquidating. They are offering 25% off of remaining stock. Kiesel Guitars is not part of this. https://carvinaudio.com/collections/save-20-off-sale?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fall Sall Save 25%&utm_content=banner
t0aj15 Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 4 minutes ago, notbillgelder said: Wow, I did not see that coming. I did, quite some time ago. They just started dropping one model after another in both the PA amps as well as speakers. if you look at their website now it's a mere skeleton of what it used to be, guitar amps included.
Yooper Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 No more Carvin guitars. No more Carvin Amps. Probably no more resale value either. No regrets on my amps and guitars. Great walnut LB70 bass and nice hog CT3.
TalismanRich Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 The guitars moved to Keisel some time back but they don't include the amps. I've got Carvin PA speakers and looked at the Nomad and Belair amps before I bought the Classic 30 years ago. I wonder what Steve Vai will do. He has his signature line with Carvin. I guess he can go the EVH route and have his own brand.
TalismanRich Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 From their Facebook page: To all our amazing Carvin Audio fans and friends, It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the Carvin Audio factory will be closing its doors after over 70 years. We are thankful for the many years we've had in this business and the support you all have given us. We'd like to thank all of you for your devotion to our gear and championing us live, in the studio, and on social media. We hope to see our gear live on in your musical lives for many years to come! Shortly, we will be making an announcement about our liquidation sale. Thank you all! The Carvin Audio Team
PunkKitty Posted October 10, 2017 Author Posted October 10, 2017 That is sad. I like their bass amps. I also have a Vintage Tube 50 watt guitar head that I like.
Millennium Maestro Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 The Carvin Audio factory will be closing our doors, and we are liquidating our stock. Save 25% on most items
CJTopes Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 Thats too bad. Carvin was a good bang for the buck amp. (and made in the USA) Guess I'll hang on to my Nomad combo.
Gitfiddler Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 Sad news. I've been a Carvin fan for many years. Still have a '97 RC210 bass amp w/15" sub that is darn near indestructible.
t0aj15 Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 Very sad to see this happen as I've been using Carvin gear for about 20 years now including 7-8 guitars, 3 guitar amps, 5 PA amps, 4 PA speaker cabs, and various other stands, accessories, etc. Only had one PA amp fail and that was after 15-16 years of 24/7 'always on' operation. Can't say I didn't see it coming though because they've been seriously cutting back on products for a couple years now. At first I thought it was to make way for new models, but that obviously was not the case. October 9th a sad day indeed.
t0aj15 Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 At the very last minute I took one more Carvin shot............all the amps are gone, so I started to look into the VLD1.......and long story short I bought one. When it arrives I will have three pedal type pre-amps, two tube and one SS, but all analog and I'm planning to build a pre-amp only pedal-board, using a Pedaltrain base, and depending on the size of this newest pedal the configuration is still up in the air.
DetroitBlues Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 This is a classic example of what happens when you build a business based upon word of mouth.
tbonesullivan Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 It's more complicated than that. The majority of Carvin's business was Live Sound. Guitar and bass amplifiers were just the part we're most familiar with. The huge amount of live sound equipment flooding in from outside the USA is just something that could no longer be competed with. Look at how many amplifiers companies have all or part of their lines now made outside of their home country: Marshall, Ampeg, Peavey, Fender, etc etc etc. I noticed that they take great care to not say that carvin is closing.. .just that their factory is closing.
t0aj15 Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 23 minutes ago, tbonesullivan said: I noticed that they take great care to not say that carvin is closing.. .just that their factory is closing. Stick a fork in em' and turn them over they're done period. Sad but true.
PunkKitty Posted October 11, 2017 Author Posted October 11, 2017 I listened to Jeff Kiesel's FB webcast this morning. His uncle, who ran the audio side, wants to retire. No one else in the family wants to take the business on. Jeff wants Kiesel to concentrate on guitars. He does not want to run an audio business too. Several of the Carvin employees are going to Kiesel Guitars.
tbonesullivan Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 If that's true, which I don't doubt, I would guess this was decided years ago when Kiesel guitars spun off. They wanted to get known separately from the audio side, so that when Carvin audio closed, it wouldn't affect them at all. Still, it's kinda sad that no one wanted to keep it going. Though, running a business, especially in this climate, and trying to keep it USA made is VERY tough.
CJTopes Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 1 hour ago, tbonesullivan said: If that's true, which I don't doubt, I would guess this was decided years ago when Kiesel guitars spun off. They wanted to get known separately from the audio side, so that when Carvin audio closed, it wouldn't affect them at all. Still, it's kinda sad that no one wanted to keep it going. Though, running a business, especially in this climate, and trying to keep it USA made is VERY tough. I think the Amp market is saturated. Seems like there's new brands and models coming out all the time.
tbonesullivan Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 There are, and very few of them are made domestically. Many of those companies are smaller, more nimble, and use a completely different sales strategy. Direct to customer really is hard to do in many ways.
tbonesullivan Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 And I just bought an amp. Just the little 250 watt bass head. It'll give me something to leave places or bring with me when gigging.
TalismanRich Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 Something that I find strange is that they just a had a "grand opening" of the new factory and showrooom this past spring. Why go through the hassle of moving a factory, only to shut it down a few months later.
Millennium Maestro Posted October 11, 2017 Posted October 11, 2017 That VLD1 looks like a cool product, I have been waiting for a deal for this direct to mixer capable preamp for recording, I have used their in ears for years and a lot of other electronics... Hard to believe with soooooo many people I know using their products that they can't capitalize on their own niche.
t0aj15 Posted October 12, 2017 Posted October 12, 2017 15 hours ago, Millennium Maestro said: That VLD1 looks like a cool product, I have been waiting for a deal for this direct to mixer capable preamp for recording, I've got one on the way, should arrive Saturday.
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