Michael Kelly Guitars Patriot Custom

SPECIFICATIONS

CONSTRUCTION: Set-neck
BODY: Mahogany
TOP: Flame maple cap
NECK: Mahogany
FRETBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 22 medium jumbo
SCALE: 24-3/4”
BINDING: 5-ply white & black
INLAY: Abalone block
BRIDGE: TonePros Locking Tuneamatic style
TUNERS: Grover
PICKUPS: Rockfield SWC - direct mounted
ELECTRONICS: 1 tone, 1 volume, 1 three-way toggle, coil tapped
STRINGS: D’ Addario
HARDWARE: Chrome

UTILIZATION

The Patriot Custom is a refreshing take on a Gibson-style instrument. This guitar offers many of the amenities that a Les Paul would have: Mahogany body and set in neck, 22 frets, 24 3/4" scale, 2 humbuckers, 3 on a side headstock, tuneamatic-style bridge, arched maple top with binding...the list goes on. The shape of the guitar is similar to a Les Paul, but still distinctive enough to be its own thing. The craftsmanship is good for the price point, and the guitar plays very well, with the fret work being very neatly done. The wood selection and binding are shockingly great for this price point, comparable to a PRS that is 6 or 7 times as much!

SOUNDS

The Rockfield pickups surprised me. I was expecting them to sound rather cheap, yet they yielded a tonal definition reminiscent of some of the more expensive pickup models from Seymour Duncan. The neck pickup was super buttery - smooth and with a nice vocal quality that would not sound out of place in a Slash guitar solo. The bridge pickup offered worlds of clarity, and it was on the aggressive side, yet not overpoweringly loud. Also, the coil taps allowed me to split the signal and get some neat Telecaster-ish tones, which is a definite plus.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a very solid guitar in its class that I would recommend to anyone that likes the Gibson vibe, yet wants to be a bit different. The Patriot Custom is also one of the most convincingly "budget boutique" axes I've yet seen. Kudos to the Michael Kelly company.

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In which country was it made? (USA, Japan, Mexico, France ...)
Korée, very good bill, it's serious, the price / quality ratio is excellent

How many frets, what kind of microphone and their configuration?

Rockfield humbuckers pickups, very well balanced, no other settings, the output level is not huge, but deliver enough fishing for satus, while keeping a good clean sound.

What type of bridge (Floyd, Wilkinson ...)?

les paul standard

What are the settings (volume, tone, selector micro ...)?

EVERY mics have volume and tone, each microphone is splitable, a sort of boost, which acts under the knob tones

What kind of stick?

sleeve type les paul, but thinner, varnish sticks.

[b]UTILIZATION[/b]

The handle is it nice?
the handle is very comfortable and easy to play, thinner than a Les Paul.
Access to acute (last string) Is it easy?
it runs all alone.
Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)?
very light, very well designed.
Do we get easily a good sound ...?
it sounds live, the microphones are splitable, but it does not really reacted.

[b]SOUNDS[/b]

Are they suitable for your style of music?
yes I play blues, stoner, metal
With what (s) amplifier (s) or effect (s) do you play?
Marshall JVM 410H
What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "fat ",....)?
the sound is very versatile, the clean lacks a bit of gloss anyway.
What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
I love all the sounds of this guitar, I used it in studio: [url]http://www.myspace.com/jumpingjackgroup[/url]

[b]OVERALL OPINION[/b]

For how long have you been using it?
I bought it in 2008, it is no longer distributed in France.

- What thing do you like most/least about it?
her look! its sound, weight, pleasant handle.

What is your opinion about the value for the price?
very honest, I got it at 600 euros, it was worth 750 I think.

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...
I was sold! but I do not regret having found my way