Michael Kelly Patriot Guitar Deep Dive Series
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
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There are no longer exceptions - guitar quality has gotten so good across the board that you can't really fault anyone for buying a sub-$1000 guitar and not think it's going to be gig-worthy. Michael Kelly, Vintage, the entire PRS SE line...it's just a good time to be a guitar player.
Take a 100$ guitar give it good setup, no mods, and it will be gig worthy.
These seem like great guitars and Phil, I love how you get banjo sounds out of your fret checks. 😂
Must be a new pedal. Lol
They are, at least the one I owned in 2009 was. It had a black satin finish and Rockfield pickups. It was made in Korea. It played better than an Epiphone. I'd have kept it, except at the time, I'd never owned a Gibson LP Standard and I really wanted one. So I sold it off to get some extra money.
@DavidHBurkart If you actually liked the banjo tune, look into "The Wailin' Jennys". They are a wonderful group of ladies that hail from Canada, and have put out several albums over the years. I believe the clip that Phil used may be from one of their songs.
I hate it when guys start power chording ala Metallica when demonstrating a guitar. Phil on the other hand does also give us some very subtle clean picking that gives us a better sampling.
Too bad it's ugly. Black is the only way that'd work for me. I don't get the love for flametops if they're cheap. It's just a photo.
I own 5 Michael Kelly guitars and love them all. Great bang for the buck.
I've owned a Michael Kelly Patriot Custom in the past. I loved it. It did not have Seymour Duncan's in it. It had some other brand of pickups in it that supplied Michael Kelly at the time. I believe they were Rockfield pickups. Also, I believe mine was made in Korea. I got mine in in about 2008 or so.
I am a fan of the Rockfield pickups 🤘
I have the MK Custom Valor from that same year. It's a double cutaway...it looks like they were trying to make something close to a PRS McCarty...from back in the 2000's though. I had a 2001 PRS McCarty Soapbar but I just couldn't get along with that neck. And they were using regular Seymour Duncan P90's anyway, so I just bought a few of the, then newer, SE PRS Soapbar guitars from Korea, an Se One and also a Korina SE One. I Put Lollar P90's and Lindy Fralin P90's in them. I loved those SE One Korina and I remember a vintage cherry singlecut with 2 Soapbars I had, and it might've been a short scale too. I put cream covers on them but kept the stock P90's cause they sounded so good.
I THINK MY POINT IS THAT I REALLY WISH THEY'D BRING THOSE SOAPBAR MODELS BACK! MAYBE IN A SATIN, LIKE THE NEW SE CE24 Standards...
Sorry Phil those Grover tuners have "Keystone" shaped tuning keys not "Imperial". The Imperials are much larger and art deco styled.
I just picked up a Patriot Standard. I've been a Les Paul guy most of my life, and I'm more than happy to have that Michael Kelly with a real maple cap. Great guitar, no complaints yet.
I'm so happy this isn't a Harley Benton review. I saw the title and I was worried. To me - they are completely garbage instruments. This MK looks pretty nice though!
I also own 4 of these guitars. They are fantastic. I could not be happier with them all. I only changed pickups in the CC50. I put Greg Koch signature Fishman pickups in it. It’s killer in it. The bang you get for the buck is unbelievable. I have a double Duncan 1950’s that just screams. The company doesn’t get much attention, which is a shame. I’m glad you are highlighting them. Also, each one of mine have been almost perfectly set up and the intonation has been almost perfect too. Frets are great too.
I have a Patriot Custom, 2 Patriot Standards, & 2 Patriot Vintage. Huge bang for buck & I love ‘em.
I'm excited to check these out. I like experiencing off-the-beaten-path brands. I have 19 different brands in my collection, I love this stuff!
Hi Phil, I have said it before but I absolutely love these extended deep dives. They are thorough and comprehensive. This sounds like a great guitar for the price. One positive, it looks great and is lightweight. Thanks and cheers ✌️🎸
I have to disagree... I bought an MK 1953 T style guitar, and it was terrible. It needed alot of work to get it gig ready. Frets were unlevel, neck was extremely loose in the pocket, neck was in need of a shim, nut was poorly cut and had to be replaced. Action was abnormally high, intonation? What intonation?! ... The maple neck wasn't properly sanded down and fret sprout was ridiculous!
They sent me a free replacement, but it was pretty much the same. The frets were better, only 5 needed spot leveling, but the fret sprout was still an issue. Nut was better but 5 out of the 6 tuners were bad. Neck needed sanding on this one as well, truss rod hole opening needed to be drilled out larger so that the Allan key could actually be inserted into the truss rod, and the neck was loose in the pocket on this replacement as well...
Here in Canada, these are over 600$ after taxes. I expected better, much better. I know it's possible to get a bad one now and again, but 2? The QC on both of these was equally bad. Maybe their more expensive line is much better, but if the 2 I received are any indication, I'm not spending more money for this brand name😢 I mean come on, with the CNC tech available today, how do you mess up a tele this badly? It's the easiest guitar style to build lol!
Haha!!!! I was wondering if you’d see this video, J-MAN! I notice Phillip McKnight even found some issues with this LP-style model, much as he seemed to like it. I think a Telecaster is usually easier to build than an LP, at the very least because 1) Tele has a bolt-on vs LP set neck, and 2) The Tele has a flat slab body, while the LP is a carved arch-top design. The latter point, I should think, would add some additional complexity, even if it is a CNC process.
The only thing i don't like are the mini toggles. They always come across cheap or like a slapdash mod.
I'd buy one of these. Thanks for the review.
Thank you Phil, been looking at Michael Kelly’s for awhile. Really Appreciate the honest review’s you always give.
The first neck humbucker tone was amazing, super boomy yet clear as a whistle, i love it.
I have never played a Michael Kelly that I have actually liked. Not saying they can't be nice or even awesome. I just can't connect with them.
Hello Phil, great video, beautiful guitar. I would love to try one/ buy one, can't find a store in Canada. Guitar is very Beautiful great Tone too! The bigger question is, do you know where your wife keeps her nylon stockings? Hopefully she hides them so you don't use hers. Thats not something you here everyday? lol Cheers from Canada!
I've been watching your videos for a few years now. You have gotten WAY better at playing guitar. Nice review!
I've owned 5 MK's, now down to 3. Love 'em. On gigs and at home, a go -to guitar all the time. Thanks for the review.
Michael Kelly have been making nice guitars for quite a while.
This brand has come a long way in the last 8 yrs. With its new adminisration.
I had one of their older hybrid guitars but it would not stay in tune very well due to the neck and cheap tuners.
The newest version are better.
Great review once again Phil, good alternative to an Epi for sure. Cheers from Oz.
Glad you enjoyed it
Never heard of them but seems very nice,
Great review Phil! Interesting guitars, but they have almost zero resale value in my parts
I have an LTD Xtone PS-1000 with a similar neck joint. It feels great when playing but the “handshake” can be a little hard to hold because it’s so smooth. I think of your “handshake and hold it” every time I pick it up.
My MK Patriot Patriot Custom plays so nice. My only qualm is it's a little heavy for this old dude.
Great review Phil! When I pick one of these from you I always know that I will be informed. You have a great style of natural presentation. Thanks again!!!
I’ve always been interested in these, they look beautiful. Obviously cheaply built, but never seen one in person. Looking forward to this video.
Be Wary that they definitely set this up and went over it before they sent it out to him, you will not receive this extra QA and time if you are a customer
Great demo! Will consider adding one to my crew.
is, Why don't you do a review on the Agile 3200. That guitar is Awesome!!!
I had a white 2500 that blew me away!
I had two Michael kelly lp style guitars back in around 2008 or so. A patriot glory and a patriot limited bubinga top. They were exceptionally nice guitars and very inexpensive, even at the time. Significantly less than any epiphone or prs se. If I recall they were made in Korea by WMI and came with Rockfield pickups. I definitely regret not keeping them but it would likely cost more to find them used now than it did to buy them new then.
I own the Patriot model just below this one (rockfield pickups rather than Duncan) and push-pull coil split....same scorched quilted maple top but standard body thickness. Beautiful looking and sounding guitar. There are about 4 different models of the Patriot plus a couple of special custom models from $399 - $1200+. I think they all complete well within their price range against the higher end brands.
Don't care for the break angle for the bridge. (Non-adjustable).
Unless I got a good deal on one, I wouldn't buy one. Price is a little high and the resale value is a little too low.
Give them time...Sam Ash bought the company, and they have plans.
I know now what guitar I'm buying next. M. K. Tele style! Great review! Thanks!
I’ve owned the Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct Bold Custom in Partial Eclipse for almost a year and I love it. Not one complaint about it at all.
One thing I hate about most mid priced modern guitars at the 700-1000 dollar or pounds mark is the lack of bag or case . PRS are to be applauded in this regards. Fender MIM used to come with a bag , but I may be wrong , but I think they have stopped that . Ok on a 200-400 dollar instrument , but at those prices , I'd want at least a half decent gig bag .
I hear you. Just bought a limited edition MIM HSS Fender strat for $1300 CAD (around $950 USD) and no bag or case. Long and McQuade (Canada’s closest version of Guitar Center) wouldn’t give any discount nor include even a cheap gig bag. Sign of things to come, I suppose.
Michael Kelly makes awesome affordable tele’s .
I scored a Michael Kelly S type a few years ago..and it's awesome....at that time I believe they were made in the same factory as Schecters ..mine has a duncan humbucker in the bridge and 2 single coils with almost limitless sounds!!
I bought a Patriot Glory about 15 years ago. It’s by far, the best quality for the money that I have ever seen. Didn’t have to change a thing on the guitar. It’s unbelievable that they aren’t more well known
I have Two MKs I love them. A Patriot and a Mod Shop 55 Ebony Tele
I've got that same tele...Custom Collection 50 with the ebony top and the Seymour Duncan Split Rail humbuckers, It's a keeper.
What is that squatty T-style over your right shoulder?
I'm up to 5 Michael Kelly guitars (4 Patriots and a 53DB) and I absolutely love them. And this is coming from someone who has also purchased 7 new Gibsons and a new Heritage this year as well. I still reach for a Michael Kelly half the time. They are really that good. Because I like to tinker, I've upgraded the pickups in 4 of the 5, but I wouldn't necessarily have needed to. One of the Patriots came with SD P-Rails, so I left them alone. I put a SD JB/Jazz set in one, a Bare Knuckle Old Guard set in another, and Tonerider Alnico IV Classics in another. In my MK 53DB, I put a set of SD Psyclones. All of them play incredibly well and sound amazing. They definitely aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
This guy does a superb job on letting people know just what they're going to get. Wonderful job. Beats the others by miles. You can definitely trust him .
I few years ago I was looking at several Michael Kelly models, especially their Teles. I ended up getting a Sire instead (which I LOVE), but I’m sure I would have been happy with MK, as well. This Patriot looks great, but to be honest, if I was going to spend $800-$900 on a guitar, Michael Kelly just wouldn’t cross my mind, especially if I could get a PRS SE or a Schecter (or a Sire) for the same or less money. Looks like a nice guitar, though!
It is a shame that a guitar can be built well with good features, but then it looks goofy af because they had to copy a Les Paul without violating Gibson's copyright. In my opinion, a cheap Epiphone Les Paul Special-II is the best beginner's guitar, maintaining the original classic shape. instead of the tumor-looking Michael Kelly. When moving into mid-tier guitars, I can't see a better choice than a PRS SE Custom. In my opinion, the SE quality at the price point blows away the Epiphone or Fender equivalents. Also, the PRS Custom style is a good blend between Fender-type guitars (especially the $500 SE CE guitars), and Epiphone/ Gibson. Obviously, once you go the a high-end guitar, the Gibsons, American Fenders, PRS, etc are all going to be great instruments. Most of the Michael Kelly Patriot guitars cover the mid-range price point, and overall, I'd rather go for the original Epiphone/Gibson guitar than a copy. I put the PRS SE because it is not a copy of another company's guitar.
Good job with the video. BTW, I like genuine Gibson Les Paul guitars the best with Kalamazoo Heritage guitars a close second.
I have 2003 Patriot Q. The binding has aged and yellowed beautifully. The action and neck is great. I have replaced the original pickups with a Gibson 498 and 500t. Also have a bone nut now. This is the one guitar I will not part with ever.
Michael Kelly Guitars is owned by Sam Ash. I just learned that fun fact today while speaking to a tech at the Sam Ash in Ontario, California about an MK Patriot Mod Shop guitar I just purchased. Don't know if you mentioned that in your video.
I am up to three Michael Kelly guitars. I have two of the Patriots. One is the Insinct with the Rockfields. One is a Patriot Decree OP with their PAFs. Which are really great. The last is a Tele style 53 Quad Mod. All three are absolutely fantastic. Out my collection, they are my absolute favorites.
I've been 👁 new guitar's and this was one I liked. Looking at investment for my son later though, I have almost settled on a Gibson Les or SG. I love the body contours and feel of a Strat, twang of a Tele, sound of humbuckers, 24 ¾ scale and modern C thinner necks. Any suggestions welcome.
Epiphone has never been an option for me. Neither has Gibson because money but I’d rather just go with LTD. Epiphones have always looked just alittle doofy with the headstock. Even with the new one.
Michael Kelly needs to hire a better aesthetic designer because they usually look OK, but they only get about 80% over the finish line in their look. Usually, they err on the side of garish bling and that is too bad. It is not an uncommon mistake and majors are equally guilty. I am looking at you, my beloved Ibanez! Ibanez has lost the plot on so many occasions that they have really blown a lot of the heritage legacy that made me buy four of their guitars. All of them are from the "golden era". I do not own a guitar younger than 1983. The Super Strat RG era really made them go oof the rails. And that is the same problem that I see with just about all Michael Kelly guitars and basses. They always get about 75-90% of the way there, but they have never made tastefully appointed designs with the correct accouterments that make me want to open my wallet... like never. And that is just a shame because the craftsmanship has been so admirable for over 20 years now. Poorly appointed looks guitars never stand the test of time. They never gain or hold value after the impulse of, "Wow, this plays so well for the price" wears off. Design counts!
Very nice, will check these out!
I am a big fan of MK guitars, especially their take on a T style instrument with their modern touches like belly cuts and comfort carves. The quality of the Korean made models is right up there imho but I am on the lookout for one of the Indonesian made MK63 models, as I feel the need to fill a HSS Strat hole in my life. Maybe I also need to think about a Patriot too but in truth, my single cut needs are more than fully met by my Agiles, which are similarly great instruments. Thanks for the great content as always Phil.
I bought my Michael Kelly porte 10 koa from Sam Ash in 2020 after waiting months for it to actually be in stock. There were 5 reviews all 5 star and all by people who put in the review they received the guitar as part of a promotion. The set up was horrible out of the box but the guitar is beautiful and once set up fun to play with my smaller hands. I tried to post a review and it was never put up. At that time I thought MK was owned by Sam Ash as in Harley Benton to Thomann's. Makes me suspect about this guitar being set up and frets polished. But, they make some interesting guitars and I wish I hadnt been soured on them with my first experience.
The first 'nice' guitar I bought when getting back into guitars, was an LTD Phoenix made in Indonesia that blew me away with the quality. Modern machining is incredible.
I’m visiting Thailand right now and you’re right, Indonesian guitars are very well-made and popular here.
Are you going to be reviewing the new PRS SE CE standard satin at the price point of $499?
Beautiful and high quality guitars, but I only play/purchase electrics with a Floyd Rose bridge. Did not see any for sale on their website available with a FR bridge. Great video, thanks for sharing!
They sounded gorgeous. Can’t remember anything from the last 6 months of you playing that sounded this badass
Sorry Phil, I owned a MK Patriot and I just didn't like it. I got an Epiphone Les Paul and it was 10 times better.
Curious on what pedal you used to get the banjo sound when checking for dead frets 🤪😜😁 . Just goofing, killer deep dive as usual Phil
After checking these out and the Sire guitars i actually ended up going with the unfortunatelly very forgotten Ibanez AR. That guitar is SO good but it seems like no one remember they exist...its a shame, might just be the best axe ive ever had...
When you were checking for string buzz, a voice told me to squeal like a pig. Not sure what that's about.
almost perfect. I'd want two tone knobs and one volume. Probably could rewire it myself.
It’s a very nice looking guitar and sounds great but I already own a Gibson LPGT so I don’t think I would need another LP style instrument.
Am I reminded of the pri
ce point and quality of GODIN guitars?
I have a Chinese made Patriot Decree, and it is a very nice guitar, especially since I got it for $50 at Goodwill!
I love these reviews but I know that manufacturers are going to do a big set up job before they send a guitar out for review. We, the unwashed masses, are not going to get anything like the same action, frets etc. To this extent I'm not sure what is achieved and buyers must know that what they get will be nothing like this out of the box. I know from experience!!!!
I like how the socks are in a the nano box like it’s some serious tool about to come out. And for those of you with sensitive hands around the bridge, get to work! Build some calluses lol. Just kidding keep playing that’s all that matters
Gibson definitely would be well served to consult with Michael Kelly about how to do a proper coil splitting system not one producer from the Gibson / Epiphone line has had a satisfactory coil split. It always sounds as though, when you activate the splitter, at the same time one of the coils is silenced, the other is choked.
Michael Kelly Hybrid SpecialS Look Sweet! Gots ta git me one!
And I agre 20:09 e with the cat who said Phil's playing has improved a lot. He's developed a very nice touch,
a sign of lots of playing in the bedroom late at night
I agree. But also, the TONE of Phil’s setup is the best of any of the many guitar channels I subscribe to. He really has it dialed in beautifully!
What did the relief and nut action measure? I mean to say, "it has relief" and "nut slot is perfect!" is a bit vague. These are easily measured. Nut action in particular is time and labor cost in the factory.
Are they sam ashs house brand?
That's what I've always thought
They started in Clearwater, Fla. in 1999 as a solo company, but sold the brand to Sam Ash in the 2010s
Another quality review of a great guitar. Love MK products
My only thing about this is a personal thing - I'm not big on the inlay strip cutting across the middle of the body - I dunno, I think it would look better without it.
I had a hybrid special for a bit. It came set up well I felt it was too idk muddy but it did a good clean tone. I was unsure if the top was a photo or wood. The neck had a good carve but a thick finish. I sold it to a country girl and hope it serves her well
I may have missed it, but did Phil mention whether or not there was any neck dive due to the thinner and lighter body coupled with the larger headstock?
Not a big fan of the quilted top. I prefer the curly maple in a honeyburst.
The ones i saw looked realy nice but sucked to play and sounded like crap. I don't about all these good reports.
Never should've got rid of mine...beautiful Korean one.
Have you tried any SBS guitars? I'd like to hear your views on them. M
Ive wanted Kelly Tele with a rosewood fretboard for about a year now. How do I go about getting it?
Excellent review! Thank you Phillip.
Man id love talk about guitars all day instead i have to go break my back painting LOL
Is that a Stu Hamm urge bas clipping off the left of the video?
Visually their Shape arent really for me, even tho i love singlecuts, other than that they seem like great pieces
If you don't mind my asking, what tuner are you using for intonation?
Man, get you an Agile.
Sam ash house brand. Always felt rough and plastic to me
For the craftsmanship on these guitars their price is very very reasonable
Buy an older used one that was made in Korea for half the price of the new one.
Great guitars great review as always
Nik Huber, he makes nice guitars too :)
Can the string thru be converted to a stop tailpiece?