Michael Kelly Guitars Jumbo FT

(Originally written by ledzep2007/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

Made in Korea
Original Bigsby gold bridge
Michael Kelly designed pickups
21 frets
Lubricated Grover Imperial machine heads
Gibson-style neck

UTILIZATION

Conceived in the USA by Michael Kelly. Very comfortable and fast neck. Well-profiled frets, wonderfully slim fingerboard, same abalone inlays as on an Epiphone Sheraton II. (same Korean manufacture?) The handling reminds me of a Gretsh or an ES335. But the instrument is a bit heavier than a 335. The Bigsby tremolo works very well. Almost no detuning for a tremolo that is as far as you can get from a Floyd. Very good finish, well balanced guitar both in sitting and standing positions. Reference-class Grover Imp�rial machine heads. Awesome sound... see below, it's the most important thing.

SOUNDS

There's nothing this guitar can't do. Jazz, blues, rock, heavy rock, rockabilly (Setzer and Stray Cats). The first time I played it unplugged I was impressed by the sound projection, it crunches even unplugged!!
As if I were playing with a small overdrive pedal... but unplugged. It was amazing. It probably comes from the hollowbody shaping and size which captures the vibration. Try it out and you'll understand. Inside the body there is a wooden block from the neck to the bridge pickup (the end of the one-piece neck perhaps?). The rest of the body is hollow like an Epiphone Casino, but heavier. You can hear the weight and the sustain of the wooden block. The clean sound blew me away with a Peavey Classic 50. It's round, powerful and ideal for jazz and bossa. With a slight overdriven amp, you get a very good crunch sound. Blues, rock, rockabilly, it sounds great! The best is to add a TS9, TS808 or OD9 pedal. With this setup the pickups really show you what they can. I also tested the guitar with a small solid-state amp (Champion 110) and it was a success. Each of the three pickup combinations delivers a clearly distinctive sound. It shows that the instrument has been well-designed. The sound of most guitars is almost always the same in the neck and the neck+bridge combinations... But here, you've got two distinctive tones.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been playing it for about 6 months. This guitar has its own sound character and it looks great. It looks like a Gretsh with the Bigsby and its large head crowned with Grover Imperial machine heads. The maple flamed top is wonderful. I give it a 9 only because perfection doesn't belong to this world. But this MK Jumbo nearly reaches perfection. Fabulous value for money! But its availability is a problem... I'm used to Fender guitars but I wanted a king-size guitar with Bigsby and I would buy it again. The sound is incredible, just plug it in and you'll know what I mean. Best-known for its Patriot Series (type LP), Michael Kelly is brand that is gaining recognition due to its high-quality instruments. Nonetheless I think I will sell it. I'm not at all disappointed by this beauty but I currently like Fender-style guitars. But I'm not sure because it's a very appealing guitar. All Bigsby lovers and versatility fans (the main advantage of this MK) ought to try it!

Manufactures in Korea
Gold Bigsby Bridge ORIGINAL
Michael Kelly designed microphones
21 frets
Mcaniques Grover Imperial (oil bath)
Channel typ Gibson

USE

Design USA by luthier Michael Kelly. Handle very comfortable and fast. The frets are very well profiles and beautifully finished touches and abalone inlays similar to Epiphone Sheraton II home. (Even plants Core?). Hand it is a very similar Gretsh, or ES335. A little heavier than a 335 all the same. The Bigsby makes the job royally, minimal dsaccordage for a very distant conception of a vibrato Floyd. The violin is extremely well finished, the guitar and well balanced "massive" used as sitting upright with a strap. The mcaniques are Grover Imprial, they have not LSin on accessories that reference number (Grover, Bigsby, ...). The sound is gnial, I come because that's the whole point.

SONORITS

This guitar can do anything. Jazz sounds clear, Blues, Rock, WHOLESALE Rock, Rockabilly (Setzer and Stray Cats). But it would reducer to assimilate the Rockabilly even if it lends itself brilliantly. What bloeuff me the first time I have grip, unplugged is that it designs and unusual experience as she unplugged crunch !!
the impression of having a small OD when we are not pure acoustic branch. Absolutely bloeuffant. Certainly the format of the rather large box that takes good vibration. We must try to understand. On the inside of the body, there is a central but partial beam that extends as far as the bridge pickup (could this be the handle of a single pice that extends? I have the impression) .dropoff window The rest of the body is hollow, like an Epiphone Casino, but less lightweight. We keep the weight and sustain the well and truly presents beam. Plays in a Peavey Classic 50, clear sound is the slap. His well rounded, powerful and ideal for Jazz, Bossa. Pushing a little amp is turned to a slightly crunchy register. Blues, Rock, Rockabilly, gnial! The must is when it happens in a TS9, TS808 or OD9. The pickups give their full potential. I pushed the test through a small transistor amp Champion 110, even concluants.Les 3 trials microphones give each a distinct sound. Channel / 1 + 1 / bridge are distinct and has 3 distinct possibilities. What dnote microphones and configuration much thought. Often there is little difference between the POS Channel and Channel + the bridge ... it's the best.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I played for 6 months environ.C'est a guitar that has character and which imposes visual question. The Bigsby bonus, a dgaine Gretsch and a big head adorns Grover Imperial, the table of a beautiful maple flam is a total russite.Je only takes 9 because Perfection is not of this world. This MK Jumbo is yet in approach. The price quality ratio is fabulous! (400eu at Euroguitar), but they are beginning to be less available the day of the notice that I dpose to AF. More accustomed to Fender, I repeat that choice in a large registry Guitar Bigsby. It sounds terrible, simply plug it to be convinced. Best known for the series Patriot (type LP), Michael Kelly is a brand that wins be known for its quality instrument. However, I believe in me Sparer. Not in the least by this beautiful, but ax now on Fender formats. Nothing done, because this is a super endearing guitar and is designed to accomplish to last. Bigsby Lovers and followers of versatility (which remains the highlight of the MK thanks to high-quality microphones well conus) Welcome!