1946 Kiesel Bakelite Lap Steel
September 20, 2017 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
Lowell C. Kiesel is a steel guitarist and builder. In 1946 he founded the L.C. Kiesel Company and sold hand-wound guitar pickups and lap steel guitars.
In 1949 Kiesel changed the name of his company to Carvin. He then pioneered the concept of "mail order" by selling directly to the customer and eliminating the middle man.
Kiesel sold his electro-magnetic pickups to guitar builder Semie Moseley, who used them exclusively in his early Mosrite guitars.
Today Carvin sells guitars, amps, and audio gear, and in 2015 was renamed Kiesel/Carvin in honor of its founder.
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2026 Festivals and Workshops
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna LaniNovember 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
2027 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘iJanuary 30, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei
Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 13, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST
Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
April 3, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 2, 2027 - 10:30 AM - 2:45 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 12, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 4-10, 2027
July 5, 6, 8, 2027 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
2nd Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest
July 7, 2027 – 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA 2027 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 9, 2027 – 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
August 14, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 16, 2027 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 11-14, 2027 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island (tentative)
Other Events
2026 Events
Steel Guitar FridaysEvery Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
2027 Events
AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #July 22-24, 2027
Winchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana
Austin Steeel Guitar Fest #
September 30-October 2, 2027
Austin Marriott South, Austin, Texas
* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required
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NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals
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