All user reviews for the Michael Kelly Guitars Patriot Lo Boy

U.S. guitar design but made in Asia (as 70% of world production from the rest ...).
This is the baritone version of the model Patriot ie the pitch is 27 "to allow for lower tunings without the need to opt for a titanic drawing.
Fixed bridge decorated with a beautiful plate like chrome tribal. This is supposed to increase sustain by manufacturer ... I have a doubt. In any case gives ca iune unique touch. 2 volume knobs and 2 tone and a 3 position switch. The type of guitars used LP will not be disoriented. Type 2 humbuckers pickups very close to the P90 in terms of sound so heavy and greasy. Matter of taste. I have replaced (preferably in my opinion) by an EMG 81 and EMG 85. Moving from a A320 to a Mirage 2000 ...
Body and mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Grover, as the standard.
The finish is almost flawless (the knobs are a bit cheap) and the black matte finish is both sober and class. This guitar was out of the mouth.
Given the prices (approx € 500 + € 200 for microphones), it is a value / price ratio.
rating: 7 with micro base 9 with the EMGs. Everything can be improved in this world ...

UTILIZATION

The handle is round without being quite as much as a LP or a ESP EC. The weight is average for the category and despite an extendable handle the guitar is well balanced (the handle does not dive). Access to acute is not that of an Ibanez shredder or another of Jackson, here we did in the log. Access to the boxes on the other side (head side so) is also problematic at first. The boxes are large - because of the pitch - and we must make an effort to get used to a finger spread a little more important. The touch is nice, and the key binding, however, are not equal to that of a ESP EC400 or 1000 for example.
His side, I have very little tested with the original pickups. I knew they would not suit me. After testing the taste of EMG active, it is difficult to settle for less incisive microphones (question of taste and musical style again).
The original humbuckers are hot but drooling so unsuited to the rock / hard rock today. Increase in EMG, the guitar turns into ballistic missile. It's accurate, powerful, powerchords are square and returned with it. All sounds, everything passes. For me, the ideal config.
I researched a guitar sound that could easily granted B or lower (more for reasons of tone vocal pieces by artistic choice). I had a turn in recent months ESP Viper 30th anniversary and a Schecter Damien -7. The first sounded good (though less pleasant than EC) but did not tuning in B correctly even with a pulling rate (70-13). Even set at the bridge and the neck, it sounds good vacuum box and 12th and after a half hour, it is again true with hair of a semitone. When you double the guitars to the recording is blatant and unacceptable.
The Schecter 7 string was interesting because of its standard tuning in Yes, but the EMG-Hz core team were disappointing. Replace the pickups were possible but it is difficult to get anything other than the EMG 707 (equivalent of 81 in 7-string) and have the same microphone to handle easel seemed restrictive side sonic palette.
So I searched a baritone guitar bill correct. Market, the models are rare (few Schecter and ESP surcôtées most of the time).
Rating: 8. It takes some getting used to the boxes apart (we get something for nothing) and because there is no cutting on the body of the guitar tends to transform the floating ribs in sauce after 2 hours of play seated.

SOUNDS

I play mostly rock / hard rock today (Sevendust, Alter Bridge, etc.), the guitar is perfectly suited.
Tested on simulations (POD, Guitar Rig ...), Hughes & Kettner Switchblade on and on Marshall JCM, in any case, it took off the wallpaper.
Clearly distortion as it sounds. This obviously depends on a lot of the exit point (amp, effects ...). The 85 is more comfortable in his clear and distortion crunch that (which tends to bavouiller) and 81 is as incisive a trencher in distortion. No need to add these two microphones that are now references (although I can easily understand that there is more to play vintage rock and funk).
His side - for the genre - it's almost flawless.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two months. That's enough to have an opinion and to compare with my previous shovels.
Almost everything is perfect in this guitar. While the binding and the key could be better, certainly cutting the body lacks a bit of ergonomics but overall it is one of the best guitars I had. Once familiar with the specifics of a baritone guitar, it's happiness bars.
Brand to be reckoned with ... at least for this model LoBoy
I would, almost certainly the same guitar with hindsight. Unless in the meantime, ESP had the good sense to get out in a standard EC400 Baritone ... we can always dream!

Edit 24/04: still in love with this guitar against repeat it in the ordeal. The lack of cutting up the body and the edges "sharp" to file this one squarely me a bruise after 2 hours of play! I am seriously considering the sand beast!

Reed of 06/07: the lack of marks on the handle can be a bit confusing. Involved standing when managing voice, effects and agreements and many times we loupe one box. Big bread provided. The addition of markers (type nacre) amounting to a prohibitive price, I consider an alternative ... Tippex put aside the case of No.

Note that the mark M Kelly is not distributed in France. A good place though: www.euroguitar.com. Shop online and on land located in Lille and very competent.