I literally traded a Harley Benton Fusion T for an s style with the flamed demin top. The HB is not a bad guitar and I set it up to play just great but, something about this one just felt right even with the terrible setup the person had on it. Literally 2 minutes of adjusting and the thing is playing like my old Ibanez used to but, the sound and vibes are more classic.
I had a Michael Kelly 57 that i bought 2nd hand. It needed a pot. I contacted them to make sure I bought the correct 1, and they offered to se nd a replacement, no charge. They did. Wow!
I own 5 MK guitars including one custom shop guitar. I love them all! I also have an old limited-made mandolin from some years ago. Also high quality. the company was sold a few years back and repurchased by the original owner who is really a nice guy. You can't go wrong with this or any of the models.
The first electric that I ever bought was a patriot instinct bold custom collection. Awesome guitar that punches above its weight class for sure. I’ll never get rid of it
I've owned a Michael Kelly Patriot for a bunch of years now. Bought it for under $300. It came with with a set of Rockfield pickups, which sound like PAF's on steroids. Super pleased with the quality and craftsmanship of my guitar. At the time, it was better than what Gibson was producing and it still holds up.
Those Rockfields don't sound like paf, they are way too full of bass and miss range but mostly bass. The pickups in the guitar in the video here sound exactly like paf ! Learn that sound because that's what paf sounds like. Not the coil split tone though, that's more like a Telecaster on steroids 😜
Good lord man, that solo on the backing track in the beginning is beautiful !! So melodic ! If you did a full version of it I'd buy it. Awesome guitar playing and awesome channel brother . Rock on !
Got I Michael Kelly Hybid Special which has electric and piezo pickups. Gigged with it straight from the shop without a set up and change of strings and it performed flawlessly which is more then I can say for some well known brands. What really surprised me was the piezo sounded better then some acoustics with piezos. Can't say more good things about it.
Gotta say, I'm impressed by your community here. Seems like everyone is fairly knowledgeable about guitars and music in general. You obviously have the knowledge and appreciation to draw those people, and you're one of the first creators I've seen to go through the feel and aesthetics in detail. Subscribed.
Peter, totally agree with you. Getting to the content without all the petting the dog, stories how the work bench was build, or the time the buffer broke down is so refreshing. Especially when I only have limited time to watch
I really like the Ebony Fretboard and Push-Pull Split Coils on both pickups. Very Impressive! The grain in the wood in the top is great. Thank you for the great review. Keep up the great work!!
It's so cool being able to see someone who really knows how to play demo a guitar. Sweet sweeps man! Almost plays itself, ESP LTD level quality, double coil split, really nice tones - sound like a keeper - and a decent price / value. Your point about the articulation of individual notes when playing chords shows you have a true musician's ear.
Yes when you're trying to show what a Qatar is capable of you're not trying to play pleasing sounding songs and holding notes it's not about the melody it's about putting the guitar through its paces and showing what it can actually do in all ranges which many people who try to showcase the guitar never seem to grasp
Together that it's not about playing tight to showcase what a good tire can do relative to others necessarily all the time one example I could think of is that you could give instruction to someone who doesn't know how to play guitar and tell him to do a few things with it very particularly to showcase things that if someone who is a master at guitar is an intentionally manipulating the guitar in a way where they're trying to allow it to be compared to other instruments wouldn't be as effective
I recently found one of their higher end teles at my local Guitarcenter. It caught my eye and I had to try it out. Their "Modern C" neck profile might be the most ergonomic neck profile on the market save some custom shop stuff. It is almost impossibly comfortable. It sounded insanely good too, so I had to take it home. These things should cost over twice as much as what they do, they're just that good.
I have owned two Michael Kelley guys (one I still own) and my brother owns one as well. Thus far I’ve found them to be incredible guitars at a really good price. They tend to be well made and highly attractive, though I care more for their sound and flexibility. I always recommend Michael Kelley.
@@christo2690 I haven’t played enough Epiphones to know, but I can say the MK necks tend to be on the thin side. Not Wizard thin, but pretty fast. Nothing like the baseball bat Gibson necks.
Max, I love watching your honest guitar reviews. Also enjoy listening to you play. It's always best to have a great guitarist play and demo a guitar to get a real life practical review. I own a Michael Kelly Hybrid special. I love the sound, quality, and most of all the feel of the guitar in my hands. So easy on the hands to play. I was impressed at the quality to price. I am now a fan of Michael Kelly. I own a measly 10 guitars of various brands. I love budget friendly instruments that provide quality and make it enjoyable for less financially privileged persons to be able to play without sacrificing great sound. I think that is so important. Thanks for your reviews. they are informative and helpful. Smile on... Abe
I got a patriot instinct mod shop a few years ago swapping for a telecaster and it was a nice enough guitar that looked the part and sounded great! A friend fell in love with it so sold it on and bought a les paul
Just purchased this guitar in faded black and couldn't be happier with it. I play metalcore so the pickups had to be changed out to a much hotter set of DRAGONFIRE QUAD RAILS. The neck is just a tad bit thick for my liking tho if I had to choose a gripe. Frets are manicured flawlessly and the finish is awesome!!! I also installed a set of chrome push on barrel knobs to match the chrome hardware. The string action is good and the neck responds immediately to any adjustments made. That's a good thing!! Playability is phenomenal and the ebony fretboard is smooth and fast. This guitar is definitely a BEST BUY for anyone wanting a single cut LP style guitar and should be considered seriously!! Great review brother!!!
I am the proud owner of a Michael Kelly Forte Port Exotic Java Ebony for about two years. One great feature of this acoustic is that the sound-hole on the face isn’t’ centered so there is a larger soundboard and there is a sound hole at the top of the body so you actually hear (almost) the sounds and tones that emanate from the front. The quality and workmanship are excellent for an extremely affordable acoustic.
Subbed? With notifications on? And subbed to Michael Kelly? Yes, yes, and yes. Still didn’t see this for a month. Great algorithm you got here UA-cam. My first guitar was their T style and it’s good, I like it a lot. But their 60s Strat style Custom HSS? Out of this world. It made me sell my CV Strat, it’s that good. I play it way more than any of my other guitars, it just feels so good to play! I would love to see you review one of the Custom Collection 60s, and glad to see you review this one. I’d say this is a sale made for MK, cheers Max.
Hi Max, your channel is exeptionnal, really impress by the quality of your review/video. During several year I buyed and resale several guitar (fender, charvel, epiphone, jackson...) and I recently (3 month ago) buy my first Michael Kelly an CC 60 Custom. This guitar is by the way the best guitar I get, I'm really impress by the quality, nothing wrong and the neck is far the best I played. Now I just sold my Epiphone Muse and ordered an Patriot Decree in Coral Blue. So much liked the CC 60 than I give a try to a new one from him. My old most expensive was a stratocaster (paid 1300eur), pure bullshit... Here I paid 679 Eur for the MK CC60, it's incredible.
I have a 12yr old Patriot. It is very easy to play and versatile. Mine's gloss with a standard bridge. The original pups weren't great so i replaced them with bare knuckles. It was my standard gigging guitar. Looks like they have improved the electronics and i like the satin finish.
Great video. I have owned a Michael Kelly Burl 50 Ultra (tele) for about 18 months now and it has become my #1. It's simply a joy to play. Plus it's visually very impressive to my eyes. Punches WAY above its price point.
I've had a Michael Kelly hybrid for ten years or so. It works fine. It has a piezo pickup and a hum bucker, two volume knobs, and a three-way switch. It has stereo output, so the acoustic and the hum bucker can be sent to separate amplifiers. Way cool and very usable! Also, it is light and well balanced, and the neck is very true and nice to play.
I just bought this same guitar yesterday to add to my collection of 28 guitars. As I was looking for a demo I came across your channel and I am now a new fan. I will subscribe and check out your other videos too. I love this guitar!!! I am a Strat man myself, but also love the PRS guitars and Les Pauls. Good job and I look forward to more videos.
Much as I don't need another single cut solid body model and am tempted greatly by the Harley Benton SG Custom copy that you demoed before, Max, I'm not gonna deny what a killer demonstration of this model you've done here.
I HAD that HB custom, but without the tremolo. AND I have this MK Patriot Decree. The HB was gorgeous, but had a "wanky" neck wood. It's actually a guitar you HAVE to be careful with. Delicate. Not so with the MK. It's TOUGH and a workhorse. What is said to be a "Working Musicians" guitar. That Harley Benton is a great looker, but I wouldn't gig with it.
Michael Kelly guitars are amazing for their tonal capabilities, looks, materials, and unbelievable value. I own two, a Telecaster style (model 530P) and a Strat style (model 1965) and love them both! The only thing I’ve done to them is to swap the tuners on the 530P for lockable ones. The 1965 Strat style came with lockable tuners.
They are a Sweetwater in-house brand. Like Harley Benton is the in-house brand of Thomann Music. You can only get them from Sweetwater. (Unless you're looking for used ones)
As an entry level guitarist I've had my eyes on these at my local Sam Ash here in Vegas. I really dig your videos and this one convinced me to make the purchase. Thanks
I love it, sounds great and it's beautiful. I know that much of the sounds great is that you are a fantastic player, because you can make any guitar sound great. I've wondered about this brand so thank you for showing us one. Keep up the good work and rock on!
I bought the Patriot Instinct Custom for well under $500 used with hardcase in mint condition and its really good. The neck and fretwork are very well done - no sharp ends, easy to play, stays in tune. Finish looks great and love the tones. Super fun to play.
Great demo and sounds for that thing! Beautiful wood and finish although that black one is sweet too! My old Electra Pheonix with HSH has the separate coil splits and it is a great way to go for those looking for a guitar that can do many different sounds with good quality tones.
Max, I have a Michael Kelly Patriot Custom which I got five year ago, dual Humbucker with chrome covers. A lot like that one you have there. Mine has a rosewood fretboard if I remember correctly and I love it. I've always enjoyed the crispness of the pickups without sounding to jangly, A minor tone control touch and you can get good smooth bass from them as well. I have a Gibson Les Paul that won't create that same trick. I don't really remember the price without digging up the receipt.
I love my MK Patriot Limited in spalted maple. Great value and very well made. Mine is 14 years old and looks great. No fit/finish issue at all. It is my avatar in youtube.
Have 3 Michael Kelly's: Patriot Supreme , '57 Tele, and the Spalted Maple Hybrid. The Supreme is now discontinued, very high end at the time and worth it. Duncans in neck and bridge with triple shot rings - all kinds of tones. Ebony fretboard, 1/4" maple cap, grovers. Gibson LP players thought it at least equal, if not straight up better. I think the '57 is also discontinued or just different options: real eye candy- maple board, gorgeous veneer, ok Rockfield bucker neck and great Duncan little '59 in bridge- both coil splits. Hybrid is not as good as PRS piezo, but fraction of the price. If I were more ambitious might swap out Rockfield coil split buckers in neck and bridge, just not worried about it. I like to blend split neck with Fishman piezo. All 3 are quality guitars - tones, playability, looks; only downside is I don't think they hold resale value like other names on the headstock. But that'll be my widows problem, because don't intend to sell.
I have a 2009 MK Patriot Decree...simply, a great guitar. Very playable, pickups ring true, coil split gives options. Guitar Player magazine Editor's Pick for 2009 guitars under $500 was the 2009 MK Patriot Decree.
I have a Michael Kelly I bought used, it's a 1954 model with a handwound Buddha humbucker in the bridge. I was told it was basically the Bare Knuckle Warpig spec. Sounds awesome. I think I read that Michael Kelly was recently acquired by new ownership.
Yep, Sam Ash. Good move, I think. Kelly has been in the shadows for years...maybe Sam will market them well. I don't really like the Patriot model, but there are some interesting s-style and t-style Kelly guitars with lots of pickup choices and some "exotic" wood options.
@@texanfournow I thought they had always been a Sam Ash brand. That’s the only store I’ve ever been in that sell them new. I own a Michael Kelly mandolin and it is excellent for the price, and for it’s a big plus that it was made in Korea instead of China.
@@charlesbolton8471 Actually no. There is a store in Pittsburgh where i live that used to sell MK guitars new but once Sam Ash took them over, they were no longer able to be ordered and sold by other stores. Now only Sam Ash sells them new. It's been a few years since Sam Ash took them over. But if a store does have some new ones ...it's only unsold stock.
@@CS-ru4xd That explains it then. I’ve lived in my current area for 5 years and we have a Sam Ash in the major city near by, and that’s the only place I’ve seen them.
I’m not a huge fan of Michael Kelly electric guitars but I love the Michael Kelly acoustics! I’m primarily an acoustic player anyways so that plays a big role in this opinion.
I got a patriot way back in 2010 i guess. It was the patriot limited. Spalted maple top with Rockfield pick ups. .still have it. Still play it. Still surprised i got this guitar brand new for 300 and change- still one of my favs!
These guitars are all one level above their price points. I have 5 Patriots: a Custom, 2 Vintage (discontinued) & 2 Standards. I’ve got lots of other guitars, too, but I highly recommend Michael Kelly Patriots.
I just purchased a Patriot Custom Bold Instinct about a month ago through Sam Ash on reverb. It was a used/mint condition model but basically looked brand new....still had the plastic wrap cover over the pickups and back plates. Not a scratch on it for under $500! Plays like a dream if you ask me. The volume pots on it are definitely better than on my Yamaha PAC112V with a nice smooth volume increase across the board. And the Rockwell pickups sound nice......has a beautiful flamed maple top. The only think I would liked to have seen is a satin finish on the back of the neck......it is a high gloss finish. But other than that, it is a fantastic guitar.
I have a Patriot Decree Standard, second guitar a I ever bought, love it to death. On the standard I did end up changing out the tuners and bridge, but still a great guitar
I have owned a 55 Tele from them for almost two years now and it plays great. The only issue I had was the tuners which weren't terrible but I love locking on all my guitars so I slapped some Hipshot tuners on it.
I hate locking tuners !!!!🤬 They are a gimmick and seem to be for non experienced or millennials or something because they don't do anything but pinch and destroy your string, yeah it's "locked" but what would be better is if it locked the gears and not the string because you can get a very tight 3 wraps around the tuning post and you string stays in tact and you don't pinch anything or destroy your string and your tuning stability should be better than any "locking" tuners.
Love my patriot decree. It seems to be missed in many conversations about les Paul style guitars. Are guitar snobs worried about something which punches so high above its weight?
#1 Just bought a MK 1953 "T Style" - Very nice!! #2 - Dude, if I could play like you, I'd be somewhere right NOW watching girls flash me just like in my drumming days!! #3 - I've made a living with my voice since the mid 80's. You sir, have a rare "radio voice" that could really expand your horizons! Have you ever checked into that? Combine guitar & your voice = lucky bastard!!
I have their 1960's strat (HSS pickups). The hardware is first rate (t-bar and tuning machines), body and neck are solid and better than other brands that are
I have a 2009 Patriot Decree. Same pickup options as the OP models. Great guitar, finish is superb. Guitar Player magazine Editor's Pick for the 2009 Patriot Decree among guitars under $500.
Michael Kelly (not a person) does make some nice looking guitars. The few I have picked up just did not do it for me. I am open to being convinced. I am going to watch the rest, now. Thanks, MAX!
I owned 3 in the past 10yrs and I keep going back. 1 hourglass which is double cut less Paul style, 1 Patriot decree, and my current is Patriot instinct partial eclipse, which has 2 rockfeild humbuckers,. They sound hot and the finish is fade , dark on the bottom going lighter on top. Quilt Maple, coil split, Grover tuners and custom collection insignia on top side by 3way selector. For 799 it plays better than it's price. I wouldn't give mine up. They discontinued the hourglass model and if you can find one, buy it. You won't be sorry on any Michael Kelly guitars, I promise you! God bless!
I have a MIcheal Kelly Hex Deluxe from 2007 or 2008 with passive pick ups that sound just as good if not better than the emgs on my jackson soloist. I love this guitar neck feels like a les paul 24 medium jumbo frets
I got a MK Triple 50 black burl Telly about 6months ago and love it! Besides looking beautiful it is nice and twangy! Can really get nice string bend. Lots of pickup options, able to turn a middle pickup on or off. Especially like the necks lipstick pu, sounds great!
Love MK guitars. I own 3 and have my eye on one of the hybrids. My enlightened Tele had been gigged hard and never left me wanting a thing. Solid, priced well, and fun to play. Yes I have Gibby's & Fenders & Robins, and a Parker as well. The MK's get a lot of use though.
I have one. But the glossy, caramel burst with chrome humbuckers. It has been a great guitar without ANY modifications. A little on the heavy side. The neck has the volute and I use it mostly in B std. tuning, using Mammoth slinkys. It's almost too pretty for a stoner/doom guitar, but it CAN! These are "keepers".
I have one of the very early Patriot Q's from the early 2000's. I have asked them if mine could have been a proto or sales example. It has a very thick maple cap and the abalone inlays and other things are much cleaner than any other MK's I have ever played/looked at in person. Early on they were assembled in FL I believe after the parts were shipped over from Korea.
I've owned 3 Michael Kelly guitars. For the money, they're a really good deal, and they often come with some features and electronics setups that most other guitars in their price range can't even dream of. The fit and finish isn't "perfect," but it's a lot better than you'd expect for the money. None of mine made me disappointed with the quality.
Excellent review ! The Michael Kelly guitars seem to be in the sweet spot of price for a good player guitar and the look great. I love the fret inlays also. My issue is I prefer my guitars in the 7 pound range and these seem to average 10 lbs which is heavy to me.
I've picked up a Micheal Kelly guitar locally. The color was the fade from deep blue to a sand like color. They seem like a nice alterative to some out there on the market.. nice demo Max..
I bought a new Aqua Blue Michael Kelly Patriot Decree last year. I really like the playability of it and the looks are absolutely a beautiful finish on it.
I own 14 guitars. Bought the hss s style. This is my go to guitar. My #1. This brand punches way above its class. Highly recommend
Got the HSS myself. Beautiful hardware, top and tone as well. Love it.
I literally traded a Harley Benton Fusion T for an s style with the flamed demin top. The HB is not a bad guitar and I set it up to play just great but, something about this one just felt right even with the terrible setup the person had on it. Literally 2 minutes of adjusting and the thing is playing like my old Ibanez used to but, the sound and vibes are more classic.
I had a Michael Kelly 57 that i bought 2nd hand. It needed a pot. I contacted them to make sure I bought the correct 1, and they offered to se
nd a replacement, no charge. They did. Wow!
I've been playing guitar over 40 years and I learn something new here every time I watch this dude play....
Max you're so thorough with your reviews you don't miss anything and you have very clear speech,excellent work mate.
Thanks Greg!
Max is very articulate
I have own a Michael Kelly Patriot guitar for years now, I love it! 🎸 it's a great guitar!
Thanks for showing these guitars some love. They are great for the price and the pickups are outstanding.
I own 5 MK guitars including one custom shop guitar. I love them all! I also have an old limited-made mandolin from some years ago. Also high quality. the company was sold a few years back and repurchased by the original owner who is really a nice guy. You can't go wrong with this or any of the models.
The first electric that I ever bought was a patriot instinct bold custom collection. Awesome guitar that punches above its weight class for sure. I’ll never get rid of it
I've owned a Michael Kelly Patriot for a bunch of years now. Bought it for under $300. It came with with a set of Rockfield pickups, which sound like PAF's on steroids. Super pleased with the quality and craftsmanship of my guitar. At the time, it was better than what Gibson was producing and it still holds up.
Those Rockfields don't sound like paf, they are way too full of bass and miss range but mostly bass.
The pickups in the guitar in the video here sound exactly like paf !
Learn that sound because that's what paf sounds like.
Not the coil split tone though, that's more like a Telecaster on steroids 😜
Good lord man, that solo on the backing track in the beginning is beautiful !! So melodic ! If you did a full version of it I'd buy it. Awesome guitar playing and awesome channel brother . Rock on !
That may be my favorite intro you’ve ever done Max.
Got I Michael Kelly Hybid Special which has electric and piezo pickups. Gigged with it straight from the shop without a set up and change of strings and it performed flawlessly which is more then I can say for some well known brands. What really surprised me was the piezo sounded better then some acoustics with piezos. Can't say more good things about it.
Gotta say, I'm impressed by your community here. Seems like everyone is fairly knowledgeable about guitars and music in general. You obviously have the knowledge and appreciation to draw those people, and you're one of the first creators I've seen to go through the feel and aesthetics in detail. Subscribed.
Thanks!
Peter, totally agree with you. Getting to the content without all the petting the dog, stories how the work bench was build, or the time the buffer broke down is so refreshing. Especially when I only have limited time to watch
That's gorgeous. Thanks for featuring this guitar, now I want to check out the brand
I really like the Ebony Fretboard and Push-Pull Split Coils on both pickups. Very Impressive! The grain in the wood in the top is great. Thank you for the great review. Keep up the great work!!
I never played a Michael Kelly before a must have for me. Incredible guitar skills Max.
It's so cool being able to see someone who really knows how to play demo a guitar. Sweet sweeps man! Almost plays itself, ESP LTD level quality, double coil split, really nice tones - sound like a keeper - and a decent price / value. Your point about the articulation of individual notes when playing chords shows you have a true musician's ear.
Yes when you're trying to show what a Qatar is capable of you're not trying to play pleasing sounding songs and holding notes it's not about the melody it's about putting the guitar through its paces and showing what it can actually do in all ranges which many people who try to showcase the guitar never seem to grasp
Together that it's not about playing tight to showcase what a good tire can do relative to others necessarily all the time one example I could think of is that you could give instruction to someone who doesn't know how to play guitar and tell him to do a few things with it very particularly to showcase things that if someone who is a master at guitar is an intentionally manipulating the guitar in a way where they're trying to allow it to be compared to other instruments wouldn't be as effective
I recently found one of their higher end teles at my local Guitarcenter. It caught my eye and I had to try it out. Their "Modern C" neck profile might be the most ergonomic neck profile on the market save some custom shop stuff. It is almost impossibly comfortable. It sounded insanely good too, so I had to take it home. These things should cost over twice as much as what they do, they're just that good.
I have owned two Michael Kelley guys (one I still own) and my brother owns one as well. Thus far I’ve found them to be incredible guitars at a really good price. They tend to be well made and highly attractive, though I care more for their sound and flexibility. I always recommend Michael Kelley.
Im looking at a patriot custom now.. Are the necks at least epiphone les paul custom quality? I.e. do the necks play nice?
@@christo2690 I haven’t played enough Epiphones to know, but I can say the MK necks tend to be on the thin side. Not Wizard thin, but pretty fast. Nothing like the baseball bat Gibson necks.
Gotta say, man, your playing at the beginning of the video might be the most beautiful guitar solos I've ever heard!
1:22 was so sick! I couldn’t stop rewinding and slowing that kick down!
Thanks! It's a descending 5 note grouping, pentatonic lick!
You make any guitar sound good. You Rock, MAX!
I've owned a couple. Really nice guitars, a true bargain.
Max, I love watching your honest guitar reviews. Also enjoy listening to you play. It's always best to have a great guitarist play and demo a guitar to get a real life practical review. I own a Michael Kelly Hybrid special. I love the sound, quality, and most of all the feel of the guitar in my hands. So easy on the hands to play. I was impressed at the quality to price. I am now a fan of Michael Kelly. I own a measly 10 guitars of various brands. I love budget friendly instruments that provide quality and make it enjoyable for less financially privileged persons to be able to play without sacrificing great sound. I think that is so important. Thanks for your reviews. they are informative and helpful. Smile on... Abe
I got a patriot instinct mod shop a few years ago swapping for a telecaster and it was a nice enough guitar that looked the part and sounded great! A friend fell in love with it so sold it on and bought a les paul
Great sounding, beautiful guitar....I especially loved the tone of it at medium gain. Thanks for another thorough guitar review!!!
Just purchased this guitar in faded black and couldn't be happier with it. I play metalcore so the pickups had to be changed out to a much hotter set of DRAGONFIRE QUAD RAILS. The neck is just a tad bit thick for my liking tho if I had to choose a gripe. Frets are manicured flawlessly and the finish is awesome!!! I also installed a set of chrome push on barrel knobs to match the chrome hardware. The string action is good and the neck responds immediately to any adjustments made. That's a good thing!! Playability is phenomenal and the ebony fretboard is smooth and fast. This guitar is definitely a BEST BUY for anyone wanting a single cut LP style guitar and should be considered seriously!! Great review brother!!!
I am the proud owner of a Michael Kelly Forte Port Exotic Java Ebony for about two years. One great feature of this acoustic is that the sound-hole on the face isn’t’ centered so there is a larger soundboard and there is a sound hole at the top of the body so you actually hear (almost) the sounds and tones that emanate from the front. The quality and workmanship are excellent for an extremely affordable acoustic.
I have had an MK for several years, and I love it.
Subbed? With notifications on? And subbed to Michael Kelly? Yes, yes, and yes. Still didn’t see this for a month. Great algorithm you got here UA-cam.
My first guitar was their T style and it’s good, I like it a lot. But their 60s Strat style Custom HSS? Out of this world. It made me sell my CV Strat, it’s that good. I play it way more than any of my other guitars, it just feels so good to play! I would love to see you review one of the Custom Collection 60s, and glad to see you review this one. I’d say this is a sale made for MK, cheers Max.
Hi Max, your channel is exeptionnal, really impress by the quality of your review/video. During several year I buyed and resale several guitar (fender, charvel, epiphone, jackson...) and I recently (3 month ago) buy my first Michael Kelly an CC 60 Custom. This guitar is by the way the best guitar I get, I'm really impress by the quality, nothing wrong and the neck is far the best I played. Now I just sold my Epiphone Muse and ordered an Patriot Decree in Coral Blue. So much liked the CC 60 than I give a try to a new one from him. My old most expensive was a stratocaster (paid 1300eur), pure bullshit... Here I paid 679 Eur for the MK CC60, it's incredible.
Super nice review, man. Thanks.
I have a 12yr old Patriot. It is very easy to play and versatile.
Mine's gloss with a standard bridge. The original pups weren't great so i replaced them with bare knuckles.
It was my standard gigging guitar.
Looks like they have improved the electronics and i like the satin finish.
I bought an MK Patriot Decree several months ago. At the time it was just over $400 WITH a HS Case! It looks, plays and sounds great!
I love Michael Kelly guitars. They do a fantastic job all around in my opinion.
Great video. I have owned a Michael Kelly Burl 50 Ultra (tele) for about 18 months now and it has become my #1. It's simply a joy to play. Plus it's visually very impressive to my eyes. Punches WAY above its price point.
I've had a Michael Kelly hybrid for ten years or so. It works fine. It has a piezo pickup and a hum bucker, two volume knobs, and a three-way switch. It has stereo output, so the acoustic and the hum bucker can be sent to separate amplifiers. Way cool and very usable! Also, it is light and well balanced, and the neck is very true and nice to play.
This young man can make any guitar sound good!
I just bought this same guitar yesterday to add to my collection of 28 guitars. As I was looking for a demo I came across your channel and I am now a new fan. I will subscribe and check out your other videos too. I love this guitar!!! I am a Strat man myself, but also love the PRS guitars and Les Pauls. Good job and I look forward to more videos.
Much as I don't need another single cut solid body model and am tempted greatly by the Harley Benton SG Custom copy that you demoed before, Max, I'm not gonna deny what a killer demonstration of this model you've done here.
I HAD that HB custom, but without the tremolo. AND I have this MK Patriot Decree. The HB was gorgeous, but had a "wanky" neck wood. It's actually a guitar you HAVE to be careful with. Delicate. Not so with the MK. It's TOUGH and a workhorse. What is said to be a "Working Musicians" guitar. That Harley Benton is a great looker, but I wouldn't gig with it.
I appreciate the reaction and advice,@@doombringer1505.
Meaning it isn't the sort of build that could be rectified just replacing the tuners or something,@@doombringer1505?
Great timing. I've been eyeballing this model for a few months now
Damn, that tone is fire!
I just ordered one. It's on backorder. I can't wait to get it in my hands! I've always wanted an MK.
Michael Kelly guitars are amazing for their tonal capabilities, looks, materials, and unbelievable value. I own two, a Telecaster style (model 530P) and a Strat style (model 1965) and love them both! The only thing I’ve done to them is to swap the tuners on the 530P for lockable ones. The 1965 Strat style came with lockable tuners.
Never heard of M Kelly guitars before. Man, what a revelation! Those are stunning guitars indeed!
They are a Sweetwater in-house brand. Like Harley Benton is the in-house brand of Thomann Music. You can only get them from Sweetwater. (Unless you're looking for used ones)
@@doombringer1505 Sam Ash in Houston has at least a dozen, walk in & try ‘em.
@@doombringer1505 I think you mean Sam Ash in-house brand. Sweetwater does not carry the Michael Kelly brand.
Unless its changed, you can order them direct from MK's website.
As an entry level guitarist I've had my eyes on these at my local Sam Ash here in Vegas. I really dig your videos and this one convinced me to make the purchase. Thanks
I love it, sounds great and it's beautiful. I know that much of the sounds great is that you are a fantastic player, because you can make any guitar sound great. I've wondered about this brand so thank you for showing us one. Keep up the good work and rock on!
I bought the Patriot Instinct Custom for well under $500 used with hardcase in mint condition and its really good. The neck and fretwork are very well done - no sharp ends, easy to play, stays in tune. Finish looks great and love the tones. Super fun to play.
That thing sounds amazing. It reminds me of those late 70s Ibanez lawsuit Les Pauls. Sweet tone. Very impressed.
Great demo and sounds for that thing! Beautiful wood and finish although that black one is sweet too!
My old Electra Pheonix with HSH has the separate coil splits and it is a great way to go for those looking for a guitar that can do many different sounds with good quality tones.
Love that finish!
Max, I have a Michael Kelly Patriot Custom which I got five year ago, dual Humbucker with chrome covers. A lot like that one you have there. Mine has a rosewood fretboard if I remember correctly and I love it. I've always enjoyed the crispness of the pickups without sounding to jangly, A minor tone control touch and you can get good smooth bass from them as well. I have a Gibson Les Paul that won't create that same trick. I don't really remember the price without digging up the receipt.
The pickups sound good! Split also
Great pickups! Very clear and bell like on both humbucker and single coil split.
Nice guitar. I still think the tones are from you Max. You could make fishing line and a spork sound amazing.
Another great video Max
I love my MK Patriot Limited in spalted maple. Great value and very well made. Mine is 14 years old and looks great. No fit/finish issue at all. It is my avatar in youtube.
Have 3 Michael Kelly's: Patriot Supreme , '57 Tele, and the Spalted Maple Hybrid.
The Supreme is now discontinued, very high end at the time and worth it. Duncans in neck and bridge with triple shot rings - all kinds of tones. Ebony fretboard, 1/4" maple cap, grovers. Gibson LP players thought it at least equal, if not straight up better.
I think the '57 is also discontinued or just different options: real eye candy- maple board, gorgeous veneer, ok Rockfield bucker neck and great Duncan little '59 in bridge- both coil splits.
Hybrid is not as good as PRS piezo, but fraction of the price. If I were more ambitious might swap out Rockfield coil split buckers in neck and bridge, just not worried about it. I like to blend split neck with Fishman piezo.
All 3 are quality guitars - tones, playability, looks; only downside is I don't think they hold resale value like other names on the headstock. But that'll be my widows problem, because don't intend to sell.
I have a 2009 MK Patriot Decree...simply, a great guitar. Very playable, pickups ring true, coil split gives options. Guitar Player magazine Editor's Pick for 2009 guitars under $500 was the 2009 MK Patriot Decree.
That intro shred was EPIC
I have a Michael Kelly patriot custom and it's my go to guitar 90% of the time. It just plays itself
I absolutely love my Michael Kelly guitar. When I saw it I had to have it. Very well put together instrument.
I have a Michael Kelly I bought used, it's a 1954 model with a handwound Buddha humbucker in the bridge. I was told it was basically the Bare Knuckle Warpig spec. Sounds awesome. I think I read that Michael Kelly was recently acquired by new ownership.
Yep, Sam Ash. Good move, I think. Kelly has been in the shadows for years...maybe Sam will market them well.
I don't really like the Patriot model, but there are some interesting s-style and t-style Kelly guitars with lots of pickup choices and some "exotic" wood options.
@@texanfournow
I thought they had always been a Sam Ash brand. That’s the only store I’ve ever been in that sell them new.
I own a Michael Kelly mandolin and it is excellent for the price, and for it’s a big plus that it was made in Korea instead of China.
@@charlesbolton8471 Actually no. There is a store in Pittsburgh where i live that used to sell MK guitars new but once Sam Ash took them over, they were no longer able to be ordered and sold by other stores. Now only Sam Ash sells them new. It's been a few years since Sam Ash took them over. But if a store does have some new ones ...it's only unsold stock.
@@CS-ru4xd
That explains it then. I’ve lived in my current area for 5 years and we have a Sam Ash in the major city near by, and that’s the only place I’ve seen them.
I’m not a huge fan of Michael Kelly electric guitars but I love the Michael Kelly acoustics! I’m primarily an acoustic player anyways so that plays a big role in this opinion.
I got a patriot way back in 2010 i guess. It was the patriot limited. Spalted maple top with Rockfield pick ups. .still have it. Still play it. Still surprised i got this guitar brand new for 300 and change- still one of my favs!
Very solid guitars that are very affordable! I believe the tone holds up with some of the more expensive axes. One for the vault for sure!🎸
These guitars are all one level above their price points. I have 5 Patriots: a Custom, 2 Vintage (discontinued) & 2 Standards. I’ve got lots of other guitars, too, but I highly recommend Michael Kelly Patriots.
I just purchased a Patriot Custom Bold Instinct about a month ago through Sam Ash on reverb. It was a used/mint condition model but basically looked brand new....still had the plastic wrap cover over the pickups and back plates. Not a scratch on it for under $500! Plays like a dream if you ask me. The volume pots on it are definitely better than on my Yamaha PAC112V with a nice smooth volume increase across the board. And the Rockwell pickups sound nice......has a beautiful flamed maple top. The only think I would liked to have seen is a satin finish on the back of the neck......it is a high gloss finish. But other than that, it is a fantastic guitar.
I have a Patriot Decree Standard, second guitar a I ever bought, love it to death. On the standard I did end up changing out the tuners and bridge, but still a great guitar
I have a 53db and it is awesome. Its my main gigging guitar
This is the first guitar I've heard that really gets both tones from the pickups.
🎸🤟🍻
Thing is GORGEOUS…nice playing too dude
I have owned a 55 Tele from them for almost two years now and it plays great. The only issue I had was the tuners which weren't terrible but I love locking on all my guitars so I slapped some Hipshot tuners on it.
Grovers…can’t beat em
I hate locking tuners !!!!🤬
They are a gimmick and seem to be for non experienced or millennials or something because they don't do anything but pinch and destroy your string, yeah it's "locked" but what would be better is if it locked the gears and not the string because you can get a very tight 3 wraps around the tuning post and you string stays in tact and you don't pinch anything or destroy your string and your tuning stability should be better than any "locking" tuners.
Looks as good as it sounds !
Love my patriot decree. It seems to be missed in many conversations about les Paul style guitars. Are guitar snobs worried about something which punches so high above its weight?
I have a 63OP - it’s a super good looking and sweet sounding guitar. I love it…
The split To single sound good and option of split every pick-up individual is great
absolutely beautiful!!!
Dude this was a kick ass review. Great work!
That intro was...SWEET!
#1 Just bought a MK 1953 "T Style" - Very nice!! #2 - Dude, if I could play like you, I'd be somewhere right NOW watching girls flash me just like in my drumming days!! #3 - I've made a living with my voice since the mid 80's. You sir, have a rare "radio voice" that could really expand your horizons! Have you ever checked into that? Combine guitar & your voice = lucky bastard!!
The hourglass shape was cool
I have their 1960's strat (HSS pickups). The hardware is first rate (t-bar and tuning machines), body and neck are solid and better than other brands that are
I have a 2009 Patriot Decree. Same pickup options as the OP models. Great guitar, finish is superb. Guitar Player magazine Editor's Pick for the 2009 Patriot Decree among guitars under $500.
Great guitars! I have 4 of them! Inexpensive relatively, but fantastic. I love my 54OP and the 53DB is not far behind.
Michael Kelly (not a person) does make some nice looking guitars. The few I have picked up just did not do it for me. I am open to being convinced. I am going to watch the rest, now. Thanks, MAX!
I totally agree.
Michael and Kelly are the two children of the company's founder, though I believed they sold it to Sam Ash.
Have had three . One had a twisted neck but the pickups are great!
I could tell you enjoyed this guitar. Especially sustaining that one note.
I owned 3 in the past 10yrs and I keep going back. 1 hourglass which is double cut less Paul style, 1 Patriot decree, and my current is Patriot instinct partial eclipse, which has 2 rockfeild humbuckers,. They sound hot and the finish is fade , dark on the bottom going lighter on top. Quilt Maple, coil split, Grover tuners and custom collection insignia on top side by 3way selector. For 799 it plays better than it's price. I wouldn't give mine up. They discontinued the hourglass model and if you can find one, buy it. You won't be sorry on any Michael Kelly guitars, I promise you! God bless!
I have a MIcheal Kelly Hex Deluxe from 2007 or 2008 with passive pick ups that sound just as good if not better than the emgs on my jackson soloist. I love this guitar neck feels like a les paul 24 medium jumbo frets
Have the 53DB and like it very much. I just prefer the shorter scale of Gibson style guitars over Fender style guitars.
I got a MK Triple 50 black burl Telly about 6months ago and love it! Besides looking beautiful it is nice and twangy! Can really get nice string bend. Lots of pickup options, able to turn a middle pickup on or off. Especially like the necks lipstick pu, sounds great!
I own an MK53DB, & I love it.. great instruments for the cost...
Love MK guitars. I own 3 and have my eye on one of the hybrids. My enlightened Tele had been gigged hard and never left me wanting a thing. Solid, priced well, and fun to play. Yes I have Gibby's & Fenders & Robins, and a Parker as well. The MK's get a lot of use though.
I have one. But the glossy, caramel burst with chrome humbuckers. It has been a great guitar without ANY modifications. A little on the heavy side. The neck has the volute and I use it mostly in B std. tuning, using Mammoth slinkys. It's almost too pretty for a stoner/doom guitar, but it CAN! These are "keepers".
I have one of the very early Patriot Q's from the early 2000's. I have asked them if mine could have been a proto or sales example. It has a very thick maple cap and the abalone inlays and other things are much cleaner than any other MK's I have ever played/looked at in person. Early on they were assembled in FL I believe after the parts were shipped over from Korea.
I've owned 3 Michael Kelly guitars. For the money, they're a really good deal, and they often come with some features and electronics setups that most other guitars in their price range can't even dream of. The fit and finish isn't "perfect," but it's a lot better than you'd expect for the money. None of mine made me disappointed with the quality.
Excellent review ! The Michael Kelly guitars seem to be in the sweet spot of price for a good player guitar and the look great. I love the fret inlays also. My issue is I prefer my guitars in the 7 pound range and these seem to average 10 lbs which is heavy to me.
I own 5 Michael Kelly guitars. Very well made and great players and got great prices on all 5.
I've picked up a Micheal Kelly guitar locally. The color was the fade from deep blue to a sand like color. They seem like a nice alterative to some out there on the market.. nice demo Max..
I bought a new Aqua Blue Michael Kelly Patriot Decree last year. I really like the playability of it and the looks are absolutely a beautiful finish on it.