Kiesel Pre-Carvin 6-string Model 10 Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar, c. 1948, made in California, "imitation wood" finish, molded bakelite body, wooden core.
A very early instrument from the Carvin company, before that trade name had been coined. Carvin founder Lowell Kiesel moved his fledgling steel guitar operation from Nebraska to California around 1948, and by 1950 changed the name from Kiesel to Carvin, which combined his two sons' names. One of their very earliest products, this guitar's "woodgrained" Bakelite body is hollow and a wooden center core is mounted from the back. The single cream plastic "Kiesel"-branded Alnico V pickup is also mounted from underneath a handrest molded to the body.
This was the simplest of Kiesel's earliest three-instrument line, priced at $49.50 without case. From the same Southern California breeding grounds as the early Fender instruments�"Quality instruments plus moderate price" was Kiesel's advertising slogan! Some of these were actually sold by jobbers, predating Carvin's mail-order only policy.
This is an historically interesting instrument and a great-sounding steel.
Overall length is 29 in. (73.7 cm.), 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) deep. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.).
Virtually unused; 100% original.
The plastic plate on the back of the head has shrunk slightly. Still strung with vintage flatwound strings. Excellent + Condition.
