How many times has that happened, out of the thousands of guitars they sell every year? That happens to other companies too, we just don’t see that online because we don’t even know who their owners are. He can be a tool sometimes for sure. But I like their guitar and they are priced fairly for an American made custom guitar. There are hundreds of artists and musicians who say the dumbest things online and attack their fans/ customers and people don’t seem to care that much
@@x3a3x3how many times has the vice president for a company gone live on social media to air out customer for having a fair complaint, a guy who, mind you, bought over 10 guitars from said brand? I can only think of one example top of my head…
@@x3a3x3 It doesn't matter. How many times has it happened with any other brand... oh wait. You can spend your money how you want, but it's also fair for people to want to support people that aren't, publicly anyways, acting like entitled children who can do no wrong.
Glad I’m not the only one who thought that kiesel offering a Strandberg esc body shape would be perfect. It was a thing I noticed messing around on the builder is that each guitar was rounded and the input jack was always in the way of having it sit nicely to get that 45 degree angle on your right leg. I have a Zeus and Vader which I adore so if they were to ever create an ergonomic body I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
@@andrefludd can’t argue with that. Hopefully by the time I finish uni they will offer a guitar that satisfies both our wants but till then I’m gonna keep enjoying and practicing with what I got. Can’t afford to get any more, especially with the cost of living in Australia right now haha. Cheers for the videos anyways, keep them up.
Making a headless guitar without ergonomic features such as a cutaway for leg rest kind of defeats the purpose. Most of the audience that is open to purchasing a headless also are the same guitar players interested in improved ergonomics. It’s mind boggling how so many guitar manufacturers do not understand this.
I think that there's a significant difference between an interest in ergonomics and letting them be an absolute deal breaker.......case in point, if Tim wanted all those features I'm sure he would have incorporated them (has he also played a Klein in the past?) so their value is obviously subjective.
This is a top-notch review, and I have to agree about the jack placement - they absolutely should contact you for advice. It'll be good practice for when you eventually take over as Gibson's CEO....
One thing I want Kiesel to do that they never will: 24in. scale. I know I can get a Leia or Zeus in 24.75in. But in order for me to pull the trigger, it would have to be a 24in. scale. 🙈 But I love the maple burl tops and fade finishes. So pretty.
I played a Kiesel bass for a year, but a few little issues and the price shook my confidence in taking it to a gig and feeling like it would perform the entire time. I feel like now that the issues are fixed, it will last a lifetime (and it’s a gorgeous instrument) but that little hesitation will never go away.
+1 to a Kiesel headless with an ergo body. Just ordered a Strandberg over a Kiesel for this reason alone. Having that leg cut out on the lower bout is key. Put the jack on top like a jazz bass and you’re in business. Andre, you could mod the M6 with a top loading jack and concentric volume/tone pot and let us know how it goes?!?
I agree that strap pin location is very important for balance and posture. I noticed many years ago that John Abercrombie was placing a strap pin on the back of his guitars rather than on the upper horn or bout. As you say ...agree 1000 percent! I also have a Carvin Fatboy which has the strap pin on the back... and 2 pins on the bottom of the guitar.
Yep, I canceled an order due to the flippant responses I got when specing what would have been a $5k K series. God forbid, I ask a question about a paint job.
It’s such a cool shape. That’s what sold me on the M6. The extra wood on the arm carve. I almost ordered a different guitar, but I’m glad I got a Tim Miller. Now I just need to practice more and play with other people. 😂 Nice review too! The fretboard is their standard ebony option.
Strandberg should make a straight 22 fret model for jazz players, because their jazz nx model isnt jazz enough. I just want ergonomic guitar with 22 frets
15 Kiesels and I won't buy anything else because They will do anything I could want and at the best quality and price in the custom shop market. I've played many other custom brands and the quality is on par with Kiesel so their higher prices dont make them necessarily better imo just more expensive. Jeffs been amazing to work with since i got my first one in 2019. Has went above and beyond for me and has helped me with the few issues ive had and made me super satisfied with every guitar so dont let the hate for him scare you away. Their customer service has always been amazing and great as long as youre not rude and dont expect to return a guitar with non returnable specs. Great honest review!
all the recent models are not available left handed :/ being able to get anything they make lefty for no upcharge was my favorite thing about them. i wish i could buy a tim miller guitar semi hollow headless is like my dream
I’ve had a good experiences with Kiesel’s customer service and their guitars are top notch. They have the most comfortable neck profiles in the business, at least to my hands. It’s unfortunate that not everybody else has had the same experience.
Another thoughtful commentary on a modern guitar. Gorgeous, lush tone and a well-thougt out guitar. I prefer ergonomic guitars, being old and not hopping around on stage, anymore, but otherwise and really nice guitar.
I recently modified my Strat to be more ergonomic, sort of like a Strandberg. I moved the "football" Jack to the back of guitar, close to where the bottom strap pin is located. It turned out to be my favorite part of the Mod.
Those pickups, god damn. Super clear. I imagine the rest of the chain is super well dialled, but a couple of those positions sound bright (and full) without being at all harsh, freq wise or dynamically.
It sounds so silly but I agree 1000%. The way a Strandberg guitar feels on your lap, how it sits with no strap, how light it is etc - it just can't be beat. I have an 8 string Strandberg, but recently I wanted to grab a 7 string with an Evertune bridge - while the Evertune is amazing, having to sacrifice headless, multiscale, ergonomic design etc is a bummer. Abasi Concepts did it, Ormsby has it, a couple companies do have designs for more ergonomic playing. Would love for Kiesel to jump on the bandwagon with a new model so I can customize the heck out of it. Really wish Evertune would release a bridge for headless guitars that supports multiscale (big ask I know), and then more headless guitar companies would adopt some of the awesome aspects of Strandberg guitars (the parts that aren't patented at least). For me the thing I dislike most about Strandberg is the lack of options, and insane high prices for anything more fancy than their base models (they have $8k models lol).
A cooperation between the luthier and Andre would be interesting. He could finally gather all the details and technical solutions he looks for in other guitars in one instrument. He could choose the right pickups, appropriate electronics, frets, etc. etc. Some solutions are mutually exclusive, so it would be interesting to know what compromises he would have to make? Would he succeed the first time? What costs would you have to pay to have such a "perfect" guitar? Just establishing the criteria and parts for the future "perfect" instrument would be interesting. How much would the initial design differ from the finished guitar?
@@syfman6 by comparing the both, My kiesels may be the most stable guitars i own, The Carvin is not, it has great pick ups but it is climate fussy and that is bad where i live. You can always swap pick ups but stability is a different story.
@elevenAD I guess you don't understand my question. I own both too, and my Carvin is amazing, as well as my Kiesel. Do you think Allan Holdsworth would agree with you? 💚🎸
When I was first learning about electric-guitar design, more than a decade ago, I called Carvin: I said that I had some questions and was not in a position to order. The man who answered then said, "Oh, let me transfer you to someone who is not in sales." The man to whom I was transferred kindly talked with me for nearly half an hour, after being warned that I had some detailed questions and did not want to waste his time, after which he complimented my thoughtfulness and reiterated that I had not wasted his time.
I finally bought my first (used) Kiesel a few months back and I was worried about the OEM pickups. I have Seymour Duncan or Fishman in almost all of my guitars. I was and continue to be blown away by them however. They have the absolutely best split sound that I've ever heard from humbuckers.
Great videos. I've ditched my boat anchors and am only on light weight guitars now. My fave is Ormsby's Goliath. It's severely fanned, which may not be to your liking, but for heavier music it's perfect.
hey, i got a possible topic for a video, can you make a video of how to mantain a vibrato system, i used the 2b pencil method but, is it enough, i think you can clarify some of these doubts
The "really dark" ebony would be African Ebony, which is endangered and one of the most expensive woods out there to buy. Related to the famous Gibson raid of 2011, where it was suspected Gibson had acquired the wood from illegal sources.
That whole Madagascar thing in 2009-2011 was absolutely wild. CITES, the Rainforest Alliance, the Feds, smugglers, poachers, timber barons, China... It was a big old ball of insanity.
I have an aries with a Holdsworth pattern 4x2 headstock, I still havent held anything in my hands that holds a candle to it. Hardtail, dual humbuckers, all you need.
My OM7 with Beryllium pickups is a fantastic instrument that has become my main guitar. I also own a C66, SH675, C7X, SH7X and a VB6 bass. They are all stellar instruments. But I also have two outstanding support issues with the Kiesel company and therefore I am hesitant to casually recommend them to anyone.
I have a real problem with their "California Attitude." Me: I'd like the neck finish to match the body on a Thanos, so I want both to be Gloss. Is that possible? Rep: No. The neck pocket tolerances are so tight that all necks have to be tung-oiled. Me: Oh okay. I noticed if I get a Tung-Oiled body, the guitar can't be returned. Why is that? Rep: Guitars without a finish (satin/gloss) are more susceptible to damage. We don't want to take back a guitar that gets dinged up. Me: So I have to accept a guitar with a neck that can easily get dinged up, but you don't want to take one back that a customer doesn't like. Got it. Thanks but no thanks.
...you get major "guru" points regarding the upper strap connection on the back of the guitar (very Nostradamus/DaVinci-esque of you)! Out of context I would have considered that to be a ridiculous location for a strap pin. However, when not being played, that feature could be very annoying considering that guitar backs are normally very planar, and that pin will stick out like a sore thumb.👍
Love your content. Clear, no BS, genuine. If you wanted a broader followership you might want add the occasional drop of "spice" in the form of humor or silliness,
QA issues have always been their downside. I have multiple $3-5k models, and even on those, there are QA issues that are pathetic. Such as, my $4k Hyperdrive's jackplate has 3 of the four screwholes stripped upon arrival since the plate is flat and being affixed to a curve. It would cost pennies to manufacture a curved plate and nothing to relocate the jack area. I like Kiesel, but the sycophants that think they're infallible are ludicrous.
I 100% agree with the cable input location, and even the abasi concepts guitars while having that right on most models, still does it wrong on some and I can't fathom why they would do that. Did you ever take a look at their space T model? The input jack is exactly on that right leg cut, making it unusable. Makes no sense to me lol
not everyone likes to play in classical position, and not everyone likes thier headless' looking like strandberg's puzzle pieces. tim miller isn't complaining...
Sure, but changing the jack location fixes that problem without causing a second problem. You can still play the guitar any position you want including the classical position.
Man, I want one of these soooo bad. My blocker is that I have too many guitars and I don't want to part with any of them. Life is too short to own them all. :) great review!
Nice! While i have absolutely no interest in Tim Miller's playing, his Kiesel does look like a nice guitar... though I'm partial to solid bodies, and haven't yet bought into the headless craze-- reminds me too much of a Nintendo controller for Guitar Hero LOL! Long-time Carvin/Kiesel fan however: my 1990s SC90 has been with me for 30-years and it's still going strong :D
I've owned Carvin instruments in the past (including custom shop models, as well as "off the peg") and was happy to take a risk on Option 50 choices being shipped to the UK. With Kiesel.......I don't feel comfortable taking that same risk. Clearly, by the same token, not everyone can afford that much for an instrument......I absolutely can't these days. Shame.
@@andrefludd It is frustratingly easy to name three to five guitar features which are not available together for any price. The combination of a 24.75" scale length, a 42mm nut width, dual humbuckers, a hardtail bridge, and a flat (like a Fender, due to the low bridge) neck pitch (i.e. angle) leaves only the Chapman Guitars Pegasus-a signature model announced at this year's Winter NAMM show. Adding "four knobs" to that list leaves only the discontinued Fender or Squier Toronado, and adding "semihollow body" to that list leaves nothing. There is absolutely no reason that combining said scale length and pickup configuration should be synonymous with "Tune-O-Matic or Floyd Rose bridge". One way to get to zero candidates with three features is to combine those bridge and neck pitch requirements with an ES-339 body (not that I know of any ES-335 candidates either). Pretty much the only recognition I have seen of this in the market is Schecter's catalog, which includes many models that could be described as "an Ibanez model, but with a 42mm nut".
Carvin, right? Was the name change just a marketing thing or a legal thing? Because I did like Carvin. They were top notch. And then they disappeared. And then I disappeared. Quit playing for many years. But I came back to it during covid, wondering where in the hell Carvin went!?!?
Kiesel needs to offer custom shop guitars instead of merely semi-customs, especially for their price point. They're overhyped for what they are; thick, dull, 80's innovation packed instruments. They need a better handshake on their bolt-ons, better upper fret access, variable multi-scale option offerings, personalized neck profile options, more wood offerings (wenge), custom body shape options, willingness to do any widely known guitar paint/finish technique, and the ability to provide other desired 3rd party hardware without the customer supplying it.
Jeff is starting to have his daughter take on the role of eventually inheriting the company when he steps down. I'm on the Kiesel discord and she's a lot easier to deal with than Jeff lol
@@14fluffies good for her but I’ll spend my money elsewhere. Plenty of good guitar companies out there with heads that aren’t, publicly at least, jerks to their customers.
Nice review 🤘 all the Jeff hate is BS and no one knows him personally or has actually talked to him. I consider Jeff a friend and after 30 custom orders, Kiesel Is The Future 🤘💯
The only problem with those guitars is that they are damn ugly! I have a Parker Fly with the strap button on the back and ever since, it’s the first mod I do to every guitar I own. It works perfectly on a Telecaster!
Most, real "electric guitar" players play standing up (just kidding) so most "ergonomic" nitpicking goes out the window. Ever play a guitar just because of how cool it looks?
I do feel like Andre isnt really that sort of guy....he's primarily a teacher and stuff, probably puts a bit more care in minute things other than sounds and what not. ergonomic is important though, discomfort really discourages you from playing for long time....of course depending on who you are, the level of tolerance is different, you might be able to tolerate shitty playability a bit more than others, but still...
for the love of god, please try an ormsby goliath. Ergonomic masterpiece, in my opinion. It will change your life. Way better than a strandberg. The extreme fan is something that when you get used to makes playing MORE ERGONOMIC if you start fanning your fingers in the same direction of the frets. No other fan fret guitar does this. Just commit to getting adapting to it, you'll never go back. They also have amazing stock pickups. Also just amazing guitars. Best import guitars PERIOD. Way better than any kiesel i've ever tried
@@andrefludd definitely not sending you mine 😂 just tryna put you on since you're really into ergonomics. You could just buy one used from guitar centers website. They have 45 day returns if you don't like it, and usually the shipping is dirt cheap. I would recommend either a custom shop or waiting on the newer gtr models, since those have the jack on the side. The current gtr (imports) have jacks on the back. That's the only negative. Doesn't bother most people but based on the way you sit it could bother you, bc it bothers me as well. They also hold their values ridiculously well.
One thing I want Kiesel to do that they never will: 24in. scale. I know I can get a Leia or Zeus in 24.75in. But in order for me to pull the trigger, it would have to be a 24in. scale. 🙈 But I love the maple burl tops and fade finishes. So pretty.
i'd just like to ask 1) what production guitars are you playing that have a 24 inch scale, and 2) what type of setup do you run that you can't use a 24.75 with 8s or 7s?
@@shubniggurath6464 & @andrefludd 24” production guitars include the Fender Mustang, Duo Sonic, Jaguar, and the Fender Japan Junior collection strat/tele/jazzmaster. My 24” scale production guitars are the Brian May Guitars Special and the Brian May Guitars Arielle. Could I play a 24.75” scale and drop a string gauge? Surely. But you must understand: I’ve played violin since I was 6 years old. I only started playing guitar at 29 years old. That’s 23 extra years of muscle memory and just being used to a 12.8in. scale length. I can play a 24.75in. scale length. Hell, I have a 25.5in. scale Acoustasonic Tele. But if I’m going to spend custom guitar money, I want a 24in. scale length. I know what you’re thinking: “Victoria, violin and guitar are two very different instruments.” Adjusting the right hand from a bow to picking is hard enough as it is. Let me have my short scale for my delicate violin hands. Life is too short! 😉
@andrefludd lmfao, a "music doctor" with a channel dedicated to guitar, can't name an extremely common iteration of guitar. How the hell your channel has any subs astounds me. Everything from your presentation to playing is bland and amateurish.
Almost perfect except when you have a problem and the owner calls you out on video even though he is in the wrong.
How many times has that happened, out of the thousands of guitars they sell every year? That happens to other companies too, we just don’t see that online because we don’t even know who their owners are.
He can be a tool sometimes for sure. But I like their guitar and they are priced fairly for an American made custom guitar.
There are hundreds of artists and musicians who say the dumbest things online and attack their fans/ customers and people don’t seem to care that much
dont ask for a roasted maple neck
@@x3a3x3how many times has the vice president for a company gone live on social media to air out customer for having a fair complaint, a guy who, mind you, bought over 10 guitars from said brand? I can only think of one example top of my head…
@@x3a3x3 It doesn't matter. How many times has it happened with any other brand... oh wait. You can spend your money how you want, but it's also fair for people to want to support people that aren't, publicly anyways, acting like entitled children who can do no wrong.
Yup Jeff is a douche. Only reason he walked it back was because it hit his wallet. Never again.@@FelDivan
Glad I’m not the only one who thought that kiesel offering a Strandberg esc body shape would be perfect. It was a thing I noticed messing around on the builder is that each guitar was rounded and the input jack was always in the way of having it sit nicely to get that 45 degree angle on your right leg. I have a Zeus and Vader which I adore so if they were to ever create an ergonomic body I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
I’d buy 1 hard tail and 1 tremolo
@@andrefludd can’t argue with that. Hopefully by the time I finish uni they will offer a guitar that satisfies both our wants but till then I’m gonna keep enjoying and practicing with what I got. Can’t afford to get any more, especially with the cost of living in Australia right now haha. Cheers for the videos anyways, keep them up.
I think the Devin Townsend guitar has a bit of that strandberg leg carve but otherwise it's a vaguely normal shape
I'd buy one too.
@@andrefludd hi andre. Video suggestion, Guitar Picks (Plectrums) thanks
Making a headless guitar without ergonomic features such as a cutaway for leg rest kind of defeats the purpose. Most of the audience that is open to purchasing a headless also are the same guitar players interested in improved ergonomics. It’s mind boggling how so many guitar manufacturers do not understand this.
But they do offer models like that 🤷🏻♂️
@@officialWWMI don’t see any on their site with a similar thigh cut as a strandberg or aristides headless
So many options exist in that style already? I always appreciate diverse options in guitars.
I think that there's a significant difference between an interest in ergonomics and letting them be an absolute deal breaker.......case in point, if Tim wanted all those features I'm sure he would have incorporated them (has he also played a Klein in the past?) so their value is obviously subjective.
Pretty sure they understand it dude
This is a top-notch review, and I have to agree about the jack placement - they absolutely should contact you for advice. It'll be good practice for when you eventually take over as Gibson's CEO....
😂😂😂 imagine me as a Gibson employee. I’d last 1 week.
@@andrefludd - maybe, but it'd be a great week!
One thing I want Kiesel to do that they never will: 24in. scale.
I know I can get a Leia or Zeus in 24.75in. But in order for me to pull the trigger, it would have to be a 24in. scale. 🙈
But I love the maple burl tops and fade finishes. So pretty.
You can get a Warmoth 7/8 S or T body and mate it to one of their Mustang necks.
I played a Kiesel bass for a year, but a few little issues and the price shook my confidence in taking it to a gig and feeling like it would perform the entire time. I feel like now that the issues are fixed, it will last a lifetime (and it’s a gorgeous instrument) but that little hesitation will never go away.
+1 to a Kiesel headless with an ergo body. Just ordered a Strandberg over a Kiesel for this reason alone. Having that leg cut out on the lower bout is key. Put the jack on top like a jazz bass and you’re in business. Andre, you could mod the M6 with a top loading jack and concentric volume/tone pot and let us know how it goes?!?
I would love to but I’m already over budget on my purchases for this year 😂. But you did pretty much get my exact build
I agree that strap pin location is very important for balance and posture. I noticed many years ago that John Abercrombie was placing a strap pin on the back of his guitars rather than on the upper horn or bout. As you say ...agree 1000 percent! I also have a Carvin Fatboy which has the strap pin on the back... and 2 pins on the bottom of the guitar.
Almost bought a Kiesel but talked to them over the phone and they were dicks
That’s how they roll.
Yep, I canceled an order due to the flippant responses I got when specing what would have been a $5k K series. God forbid, I ask a question about a paint job.
I have heard this way too many times. Makes me extremely sketched out to even bother calling them about a custom shop guitar
I love my M6. I ordered mine to have the exact same specs as the one Tim plays in his M6 add on CZcams. It’s a gorgeous guitar.
0:52 it looks like you took a shot after every fret
Yea im not much of a handy man 😂 I did it with a metal file and sand paper
😂
It’s such a cool shape. That’s what sold me on the M6. The extra wood on the arm carve. I almost ordered a different guitar, but I’m glad I got a Tim Miller. Now I just need to practice more and play with other people. 😂
Nice review too! The fretboard is their standard ebony option.
Strandberg should make a straight 22 fret model for jazz players, because their jazz nx model isnt jazz enough. I just want ergonomic guitar with 22 frets
15 Kiesels and I won't buy anything else because They will do anything I could want and at the best quality and price in the custom shop market. I've played many other custom brands and the quality is on par with Kiesel so their higher prices dont make them necessarily better imo just more expensive.
Jeffs been amazing to work with since i got my first one in 2019. Has went above and beyond for me and has helped me with the few issues ive had and made me super satisfied with every guitar so dont let the hate for him scare you away. Their customer service has always been amazing and great as long as youre not rude and dont expect to return a guitar with non returnable specs.
Great honest review!
all the recent models are not available left handed :/ being able to get anything they make lefty for no upcharge was my favorite thing about them. i wish i could buy a tim miller guitar semi hollow headless is like my dream
I thought I heard Jeff Kiesel say they could do M6 lefties for full cost down and no returns. Might be worth a call to the shop.
@@danjocastro ooo I might hop on that
I’ve had a good experiences with Kiesel’s customer service and their guitars are top notch. They have the most comfortable neck profiles in the business, at least to my hands. It’s unfortunate that not everybody else has had the same experience.
i love my Kiesel guitar and i play it every day, but theres something about jeff that makes me feel like he'd call me a slur if i met him in person 😂
It's really strange, I think the best thing they could do as a brand is het Jeff away from social media forever.
Another thoughtful commentary on a modern guitar. Gorgeous, lush tone and a well-thougt out guitar. I prefer ergonomic guitars, being old and not hopping around on stage, anymore, but otherwise and really nice guitar.
I recently modified my Strat to be more ergonomic, sort of like a Strandberg. I moved the "football" Jack to the back of guitar, close to where the bottom strap pin is located. It turned out to be my favorite part of the Mod.
Those pickups, god damn. Super clear. I imagine the rest of the chain is super well dialled, but a couple of those positions sound bright (and full) without being at all harsh, freq wise or dynamically.
It sounds so silly but I agree 1000%. The way a Strandberg guitar feels on your lap, how it sits with no strap, how light it is etc - it just can't be beat. I have an 8 string Strandberg, but recently I wanted to grab a 7 string with an Evertune bridge - while the Evertune is amazing, having to sacrifice headless, multiscale, ergonomic design etc is a bummer.
Abasi Concepts did it, Ormsby has it, a couple companies do have designs for more ergonomic playing. Would love for Kiesel to jump on the bandwagon with a new model so I can customize the heck out of it.
Really wish Evertune would release a bridge for headless guitars that supports multiscale (big ask I know), and then more headless guitar companies would adopt some of the awesome aspects of Strandberg guitars (the parts that aren't patented at least). For me the thing I dislike most about Strandberg is the lack of options, and insane high prices for anything more fancy than their base models (they have $8k models lol).
A cooperation between the luthier and Andre would be interesting. He could finally gather all the details and technical solutions he looks for in other guitars in one instrument. He could choose the right pickups, appropriate electronics, frets, etc. etc. Some solutions are mutually exclusive, so it would be interesting to know what compromises he would have to make? Would he succeed the first time? What costs would you have to pay to have such a "perfect" guitar? Just establishing the criteria and parts for the future "perfect" instrument would be interesting. How much would the initial design differ from the finished guitar?
Back when Kiesel was still with Carvin they had a great reputation. And then they became independent from Carvin.
Todays Kiesels are better built than the old Carvins and that is a fact, i dont have to speculate because i own both.
@@elevenADHow can you make a blanket, stereotypical comment like that? 😮
@@syfman6 by comparing the both, My kiesels may be the most stable guitars i own, The Carvin is not, it has great pick ups but it is climate fussy and that is bad where i live. You can always swap pick ups but stability is a different story.
@elevenAD I guess you don't understand my question. I own both too, and my Carvin is amazing, as well as my Kiesel. Do you think Allan Holdsworth would agree with you? 💚🎸
Carvin was better. They listened and were not arrogant.
When I was first learning about electric-guitar design, more than a decade ago, I called Carvin: I said that I had some questions and was not in a position to order. The man who answered then said, "Oh, let me transfer you to someone who is not in sales." The man to whom I was transferred kindly talked with me for nearly half an hour, after being warned that I had some detailed questions and did not want to waste his time, after which he complimented my thoughtfulness and reiterated that I had not wasted his time.
Yeah I don't care how good the product is, i'm not dealing with Jeff Kiesel and his army of douchebag reps
I finally bought my first (used) Kiesel a few months back and I was worried about the OEM pickups. I have Seymour Duncan or Fishman in almost all of my guitars. I was and continue to be blown away by them however. They have the absolutely best split sound that I've ever heard from humbuckers.
Great videos. I've ditched my boat anchors and am only on light weight guitars now. My fave is Ormsby's Goliath. It's severely fanned, which may not be to your liking, but for heavier music it's perfect.
hey, i got a possible topic for a video, can you make a video of how to mantain a vibrato system, i used the 2b pencil method but, is it enough, i think you can clarify some of these doubts
Great video man. I also managed to get a vader for a good price like 10 years ago. Beautiful guitar.
If you get the chance check out some of the used Carvin models. The necks are comfortable and the pickups are very nice if not 100% Fender or Gibson.
I have a video on this already! They are great!
The "really dark" ebony would be African Ebony, which is endangered and one of the most expensive woods out there to buy. Related to the famous Gibson raid of 2011, where it was suspected Gibson had acquired the wood from illegal sources.
Thanks for sharing
That whole Madagascar thing in 2009-2011 was absolutely wild. CITES, the Rainforest Alliance, the Feds, smugglers, poachers, timber barons, China... It was a big old ball of insanity.
I have an aries with a Holdsworth pattern 4x2 headstock, I still havent held anything in my hands that holds a candle to it. Hardtail, dual humbuckers, all you need.
My first real nice guitar was a Carvin HF2. Thanks for the video reminder. Been thinking heavily about getting another soon
My OM7 with Beryllium pickups is a fantastic instrument that has become my main guitar. I also own a C66, SH675, C7X, SH7X and a VB6 bass. They are all stellar instruments. But I also have two outstanding support issues with the Kiesel company and therefore I am hesitant to casually recommend them to anyone.
Great video! Love my Kiesels. How does the neck compare to your abasi? Cheers
Didn't realize this had 22 frets. It is now on my radar!
I have a real problem with their "California Attitude."
Me: I'd like the neck finish to match the body on a Thanos, so I want both to be Gloss. Is that possible?
Rep: No. The neck pocket tolerances are so tight that all necks have to be tung-oiled.
Me: Oh okay. I noticed if I get a Tung-Oiled body, the guitar can't be returned. Why is that?
Rep: Guitars without a finish (satin/gloss) are more susceptible to damage. We don't want to take back a guitar that gets dinged up.
Me: So I have to accept a guitar with a neck that can easily get dinged up, but you don't want to take one back that a customer doesn't like. Got it.
Thanks but no thanks.
When you wonder why people vote one way or another I always say they still buy guitars from this guy? I just have no clue why.
One would expect them to know the capitalist maxim "Cause a problem; sell the solution.", but they refuse to sell the solution.
...you get major "guru" points regarding the upper strap connection on the back of the guitar (very Nostradamus/DaVinci-esque of you)! Out of context I would have considered that to be a ridiculous location for a strap pin. However, when not being played, that feature could be very annoying considering that guitar backs are normally very planar, and that pin will stick out like a sore thumb.👍
Love your content. Clear, no BS, genuine. If you wanted a broader followership you might want add the occasional drop of "spice" in the form of humor or silliness,
QA issues have always been their downside. I have multiple $3-5k models, and even on those, there are QA issues that are pathetic. Such as, my $4k Hyperdrive's jackplate has 3 of the four screwholes stripped upon arrival since the plate is flat and being affixed to a curve. It would cost pennies to manufacture a curved plate and nothing to relocate the jack area. I like Kiesel, but the sycophants that think they're infallible are ludicrous.
Ive never known an infallible company or person. I’ve just had great experiences with them thus far.
I 100% agree with the cable input location, and even the abasi concepts guitars while having that right on most models, still does it wrong on some and I can't fathom why they would do that. Did you ever take a look at their space T model? The input jack is exactly on that right leg cut, making it unusable. Makes no sense to me lol
not everyone likes to play in classical position, and not everyone likes thier headless' looking like strandberg's puzzle pieces. tim miller isn't complaining...
Sure, but changing the jack location fixes that problem without causing a second problem. You can still play the guitar any position you want including the classical position.
Man, I want one of these soooo bad. My blocker is that I have too many guitars and I don't want to part with any of them. Life is too short to own them all. :) great review!
As I'm getting older (and wiser) about where to spend money, paying attention to the ergonomics is becoming closer to the top of importance.
100% agreed the thing Kiesel is missing is an ergonomic body. I can't believe they don't have one yet.
What were the stock pickups that came with your kiesels/carvins, Holdsworth neck/bridge combo?
Nice! While i have absolutely no interest in Tim Miller's playing, his Kiesel does look like a nice guitar... though I'm partial to solid bodies, and haven't yet bought into the headless craze-- reminds me too much of a Nintendo controller for Guitar Hero LOL! Long-time Carvin/Kiesel fan however: my 1990s SC90 has been with me for 30-years and it's still going strong :D
He has beautiful music. I did a clip of the more crazy stuff, but he doesn’t always play like that.
were those personal mods you did on your white holdsworth? (f hole, etc.)
I bought it used so I’m not sure. But the knobs are 100% mods the last owner did
I've owned Carvin instruments in the past (including custom shop models, as well as "off the peg") and was happy to take a risk on Option 50 choices being shipped to the UK. With Kiesel.......I don't feel comfortable taking that same risk. Clearly, by the same token, not everyone can afford that much for an instrument......I absolutely can't these days.
Shame.
Hi Doc how is the neck thickness on this?
I've had a Carvin for over 20 years, it always stays in tune. I bought the Kiesel version of the same guitar and it doesn't stay in tune.
How would you compare this to a Vader in terms of comfort? Which to prefer for practice in front of a TV while sitting on a couch?
Pretty much the same.
Personally headless is not my thing. But there still gorgeous
But will it chug?
turn down treble for muddier neck humbucker sound, No make guitar 22 fret. interesting ...
LOL so this video could have been titled, why Kiesel should make me a signature model... and it's compelling, they should😂
I don’t deserve a signature model, but the id love to help design guitars!
@@andrefludd It is frustratingly easy to name three to five guitar features which are not available together for any price. The combination of a 24.75" scale length, a 42mm nut width, dual humbuckers, a hardtail bridge, and a flat (like a Fender, due to the low bridge) neck pitch (i.e. angle) leaves only the Chapman Guitars Pegasus-a signature model announced at this year's Winter NAMM show. Adding "four knobs" to that list leaves only the discontinued Fender or Squier Toronado, and adding "semihollow body" to that list leaves nothing. There is absolutely no reason that combining said scale length and pickup configuration should be synonymous with "Tune-O-Matic or Floyd Rose bridge". One way to get to zero candidates with three features is to combine those bridge and neck pitch requirements with an ES-339 body (not that I know of any ES-335 candidates either). Pretty much the only recognition I have seen of this in the market is Schecter's catalog, which includes many models that could be described as "an Ibanez model, but with a 42mm nut".
I wonder if theres a bass guitar youtuber equivalent?
But...Jeff sucks.
Kiesel needs to offer different NUT sizes.
There all pretty awesome
Carvin, right? Was the name change just a marketing thing or a legal thing? Because I did like Carvin. They were top notch. And then they disappeared. And then I disappeared. Quit playing for many years. But I came back to it during covid, wondering where in the hell Carvin went!?!?
Why is the fretboard so greasy
I played it a lot.
but Jeff lol
kiesel be biesel la leisel ba diesel
Could be the best guitar in the world, I'd never buy a gutar with that guy's name on the headsto... Uhm.. body.
Kiesel needs to offer custom shop guitars instead of merely semi-customs, especially for their price point. They're overhyped for what they are; thick, dull, 80's innovation packed instruments. They need a better handshake on their bolt-ons, better upper fret access, variable multi-scale option offerings, personalized neck profile options, more wood offerings (wenge), custom body shape options, willingness to do any widely known guitar paint/finish technique, and the ability to provide other desired 3rd party hardware without the customer supplying it.
The Vigier in the video was the best guitar in the video.
Holdsworthism has sadly become a genre. There are few innovators, many, many replicants.
Please allow me to respond instantly without having watched the video and LAUGH VERY HARD about the video title.
Of course. But then please also watch the video 😁
@@andrefludd I watched it by now.
Great choices regarding the comfort but hell is it ugly 😅
I just can't support Jeff.
Same. Dude's a dink. And thats the absolute nicest way I can put it.
Jeff is starting to have his daughter take on the role of eventually inheriting the company when he steps down. I'm on the Kiesel discord and she's a lot easier to deal with than Jeff lol
@@14fluffies good for her but I’ll spend my money elsewhere. Plenty of good guitar companies out there with heads that aren’t, publicly at least, jerks to their customers.
Why what’s wrong with Jeff?
@@zz-.- Google is your friend
Nice review 🤘 all the Jeff hate is BS and no one knows him personally or has actually talked to him. I consider Jeff a friend and after 30 custom orders, Kiesel Is The Future 🤘💯
You can enjoy being a fanboy without calling other people liars.
The only problem with those guitars is that they are damn ugly!
I have a Parker Fly with the strap button on the back and ever since, it’s the first mod I do to every guitar I own. It works perfectly on a Telecaster!
Jeff Kiesel is gonna berate you if you don’t say it’s the best. Mr affliction has the best of the best roasted maple 🍁
Find a 1980s Steinberger in good shape and game over. These are just wannabes designs.
Most, real "electric guitar" players play standing up (just kidding) so most "ergonomic" nitpicking goes out the window. Ever play a guitar just because of how cool it looks?
I do feel like Andre isnt really that sort of guy....he's primarily a teacher and stuff, probably puts a bit more care in minute things other than sounds and what not. ergonomic is important though, discomfort really discourages you from playing for long time....of course depending on who you are, the level of tolerance is different, you might be able to tolerate shitty playability a bit more than others, but still...
@@TheZooropaBaby I have spastic cerebral palsy, and I approve this message.
@@TheZooropaBaby I was being facetious, i know Andre knows what he's talking about.
for the love of god, please try an ormsby goliath. Ergonomic masterpiece, in my opinion. It will change your life. Way better than a strandberg. The extreme fan is something that when you get used to makes playing MORE ERGONOMIC if you start fanning your fingers in the same direction of the frets. No other fan fret guitar does this. Just commit to getting adapting to it, you'll never go back. They also have amazing stock pickups. Also just amazing guitars. Best import guitars PERIOD. Way better than any kiesel i've ever tried
If you want so send me it I’ll review it, but I don’t have one so I can’t really talk about it 🤷🏾
@@andrefludd definitely not sending you mine 😂 just tryna put you on since you're really into ergonomics. You could just buy one used from guitar centers website. They have 45 day returns if you don't like it, and usually the shipping is dirt cheap. I would recommend either a custom shop or waiting on the newer gtr models, since those have the jack on the side. The current gtr (imports) have jacks on the back. That's the only negative. Doesn't bother most people but based on the way you sit it could bother you, bc it bothers me as well. They also hold their values ridiculously well.
One thing I want Kiesel to do that they never will: 24in. scale.
I know I can get a Leia or Zeus in 24.75in. But in order for me to pull the trigger, it would have to be a 24in. scale. 🙈
But I love the maple burl tops and fade finishes. So pretty.
i'd just like to ask 1) what production guitars are you playing that have a 24 inch scale, and 2) what type of setup do you run that you can't use a 24.75 with 8s or 7s?
That’s a really interesting choice. Idk of any 24inch production guitars
@@shubniggurath6464 & @andrefludd
24” production guitars include the Fender Mustang, Duo Sonic, Jaguar, and the Fender Japan Junior collection strat/tele/jazzmaster.
My 24” scale production guitars are the Brian May Guitars Special and the Brian May Guitars Arielle.
Could I play a 24.75” scale and drop a string gauge? Surely.
But you must understand: I’ve played violin since I was 6 years old. I only started playing guitar at 29 years old. That’s 23 extra years of muscle memory and just being used to a 12.8in. scale length.
I can play a 24.75in. scale length. Hell, I have a 25.5in. scale Acoustasonic Tele.
But if I’m going to spend custom guitar money, I want a 24in. scale length.
I know what you’re thinking: “Victoria, violin and guitar are two very different instruments.”
Adjusting the right hand from a bow to picking is hard enough as it is. Let me have my short scale for my delicate violin hands. Life is too short! 😉
@andrefludd lmfao, a "music doctor" with a channel dedicated to guitar, can't name an extremely common iteration of guitar. How the hell your channel has any subs astounds me. Everything from your presentation to playing is bland and amateurish.
@@ItsVictoriaG interesting, thanks. It makes sense, esp considering that Jacob Collier gets a 5 string sig for the one weird tuning that he gels with.