Kiesel Guitars is a family-owned American manufacturer of custom electric guitars and basses based in Escondido, California. The company was founded in 1946 by Lowell Kiesel as the L.C. Kiesel Company, initially producing guitar pickups. In 1949, the company was renamed Carvin — a portmanteau of Lowell's sons' names, Carson and Gavin — and spent decades building a reputation for high-quality, American-made instruments sold direct to consumers. In 2015, the guitar and bass division split from Carvin Corporation and reclaimed the original Kiesel name, honoring the founder's legacy. The company is led by President Mark Kiesel (Lowell's son) and Vice President Jeff Kiesel (Mark's son).

Kiesel is known for its made-to-order, USA-built guitars and basses at competitive price points, maintaining the direct-to-consumer model that Carvin pioneered. Popular model lines include the Aries (a bolt-on design that has spawned multiple variants), the Vader (a headless guitar that has become one of the best-selling headless designs on the market), the Zeus (a single-cut headless model), and the long-running DC series that dates back to the Carvin era. The company also produces the Delos, Type-X, and Osiris models, along with a range of bass guitars.

Kiesel has built a strong following in the progressive metal and technical guitar community. Notable artists associated with the brand include Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Lee McKinney of Born of Osiris, Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit, Stef Carpenter of Deftones, Mark Okubo of Veil of Maya, Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult, and Eric Gales.

Kiesel has 156 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Extended Range Guitars. Their gear is featured by 103 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Metal, and Jazz. Notable users include Steve Terryberry, Dan Sugarman, and Brandon Ewing. Most Kiesel products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.