Michael Kelly Guitars

[McVeyMac]

Guys, I recently purchased a Epiphone LP Standard, but after I received mine, I came accross the Michael Kelly Patriot LP type guitars. Everthing I read on these was very good. Does anyone have any experience with these? If so could you share it here?

[needlespauls]

They are an under-appreciated value guitar line, thats for sure. Great quality, great sounding guitar. Very solid build, and good QC. The Patriot Premium is a GREAT guitar. Ebony fretboard, actual solid maple cap with veneer, EMG 81/85, tonepros bridge, real pearl inlays etc. Here's the full specs.
Patriot Premium
All this for about $650! Great axe!! I love the Patriot Black as well. Matte or gloss black finish, black hardware, hot hot direct-mounted Rockfield passive pickups

[strat les sg]

I got a Patriot & a Valor Custom,its a well kept secret about these ,I also have Gibson & Epi. Les Pauls to compare it to ,they are well past Epiphone (I got the Custom)on par with Gibson ,they also have coil splitting ,everything on them is very good stuff ,the bridge ,Pups, tuners ,ebony board,inlays etc.,Id like to see a comparo with the upper Agiles,another imp. note on these is the heel where the neck meets the body ,its contoured for your hand ,no 1 else thought about doin this ,how come?

[McVeyMac]

Originally Posted by needlespauls

They are an under-appreciated value guitar line, thats for sure. Great quality, great sounding guitar. Very solid build, and good QC. The Patriot Premium is a GREAT guitar. Ebony fretboard, actual solid maple cap with veneer, EMG 81/85, tonepros bridge, real pearl inlays etc. Here's the full specs.
Patriot Premium
All this for about $650! Great axe!! I love the Patriot Black as well. Matte or gloss black finish, black hardware, hot hot direct-mounted Rockfield passive pickups

Thanks needlespauls, I'll have to look carefully at these when considering my next axe. How would you compare this quality to the Epiphone Elitist Standard or Custom as far as quality, playability etc. are concerned?

[needlespauls]

Originally Posted by McVeyMac

Thanks needlespauls, I'll have to look carefully at these when considering my next axe. How would you compare this quality to the Epiphone Elitist Standard or Custom as far as quality, playability etc. are concerned?

No prob man! There's a couple of things to consider. The Elitist is made Japan, and with that comes an EXCELLENT reputation for QC. The Michael Kelly line is made in Korea, which is good and better than made in China, not quite as good as made in Japan usually. Overall quality is pretty much as good, but perhaps more consistant on the Elitist. Still very easy to find a great Michael Kelly guitar. The wood is a little bit better in the Elitist line where in is African Mahogany used for the back (2 piece) and one piece quarter sawn neck with long tenon. The Michael Kelly line most likely uses a species of mahogany from the Phillipines (not really considered the real deal) just like the standard Epi line (standard Epi line often contains a mix of Phillipine mahogany and Alder!). Both the Elitist and Michael Kelly lines have a solid maple cap underneath their flame veneers. Hardware and electronics really are a deadlock between the Elitist and the Michael Kelly Premium.

Overall, I'd say the Elitist is a bit better out of these mentioned guitars, really because of the wood used. And hey, it is an officially licensed LP! With the quality of construction and overall pretty good wood of the Michael Kelly premium, the tone and playability isn't too far off from the Elitist, and $500 less new. The Michael Kelly Premium or Custom is a bit of an upgrade of a guitar in substance and in quality than the Epi LP standard or Custom, but it is not an LP. It is a singlecut style guitar, but does feel a little bit different. That is what is most important to you, as a player. If you absolutely love the feel of a real Les Paul, and have the budget for the Elitist, I'd go that direction. If you want a bit of an upgrade from what you're playing now, but don't want to spend a ton and don't mind a bit of a different style guitar, the Michael Kelly line is excellent, and insanely overlooked!

[McVeyMac]

Originally Posted by needlespauls

No prob man! There's a couple of things to consider. The Elitist is made Japan, and with that comes an EXCELLENT reputation for QC. The Michael Kelly line is made in Korea, which is good and better than made in China, not quite as good as made in Japan usually. Overall quality is pretty much as good, but perhaps more consistant on the Elitist. Still very easy to find a great Michael Kelly guitar. The wood is a little bit better in the Elitist line where in is African Mahogany used for the back (2 piece) and one piece quarter sawn neck with long tenon. The Michael Kelly line most likely uses a species of mahogany from the Phillipines (not really considered the real deal) just like the standard Epi line (standard Epi line often contains a mix of Phillipine mahogany and Alder!). Both the Elitist and Michael Kelly lines have a solid maple cap underneath their flame veneers. Hardware and electronics really are a deadlock between the Elitist and the Michael Kelly Premium.

Overall, I'd say the Elitist is a bit better out of these mentioned guitars, really because of the wood used. And hey, it is an officially licensed LP! With the quality of construction and overall pretty good wood of the Michael Kelly premium, the tone and playability isn't too far off from the Elitist, and $500 less new. The Michael Kelly Premium or Custom is a bit of an upgrade of a guitar in substance and in quality than the Epi LP standard or Custom, but it is not an LP. It is a singlecut style guitar, but does feel a little bit different. That is what is most important to you, as a player. If you absolutely love the feel of a real Les Paul, and have the budget for the Elitist, I'd go that direction. If you want a bit of an upgrade from what you're playing now, but don't want to spend a ton and don't mind a bit of a different style guitar, the Michael Kelly line is excellent, and insanely overlooked!

Thank you very much for this thorough and objective comparison. I will definitely take a closer look at the Michael Kelly line in about a year when I will be looking for something better than what I currently have. I heard a rumer that my local shop has lost their Gibson dealership. They still have Gibbys and Epis on the wall, but I'm not sure where they will be when I'm ready. Thank you again for your considerate reply.

[singlecut]

musicians friend just added kellys to their catalog

[McVeyMac]

Originally Posted by singlecut

musicians friend just added kellys to their catalog

Yes, I saw that.