Michael Kelly Hybrid Special - workshop review
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- This now 6 year old ( I think) Michael Kelly Hybrid has come in for service, so I put it through its paces to explore how well this particular hybrid design performs.
This is the Korean model, but I know in recent years the production has moved to Indonesia. Would certainly welcome any comparisons viewers might make between the two as I haven't seen a newer Indonesian model.
www.tonyedwardsguitars.co.uk
www.clausenpickups.co.uk
tonyedwardsguitars
Just bought one based on your review. I have the version from Indonesia. First impression is good. A bit of glue residue on the f hole binding but for the rest it seems very clean job. So far I'm happy with my purchase !
This is the best review I've seen so far. I'm wondering how it's grounded given the wooden bridge.
Excellent pro review
I really like this guitar's concept and design, but that acoustic style bridge just seems like a HUGE glaring issue to me. You never know how your individual instrument will be set up or how it'll get to you if you order it, and just a little bit of an oversight in that regard can ruin the entire experience and just end up costing more money to send it to a luthier since I can't be bothered to mess with acoustic action problems by myself(that's more of a 'me' problem, I know).
I wish they'd make an alternative version with a stoptail. Would also look much better imo, especially in gold!
I have one of these, almost the same vintage and appearance. The piezo acoustic pickup has never performed very well. The 1st string is significantly lower volume than the other 5.
So playing many chords just does not give the ringing acoustic sound I would like.
Hi John.
Have you lifted the saddle and taken a look at the condition of the bottom of it. Sometimes if the saddle has an uneven lower side you can lose a bit of volume. Possibly a saddle replacement could be a place to go with it, and of course you should probably check that the slot is clean and flat where the piezo lies.
I hope the electric side of the instrument is at least giving some satisfaction, and I hope you can get the piezo issues cured.
@@TonyEdwardsGuitars I have taken the saddle out to examine the pickup and did not find anything wrong. The bottom of the saddle had a slight bow, which I sanded flat, but this did not help. If I push down hard on the saddle near the 1st string while plucking it, the volume gets louder, so I think it's poor contact between saddle and pickup. Someday I might try a small shim under the transducer, in the bridge slot, but I worry it will ruin the action, and maybe even make the sound worse on the other strings. Thank you for your advice.
Is it worth to change the pick ups for a more modern sound? I think these are classical humbucker from fishman am I right?
I think they're Micheal Kelly pickups, I don't remember what they're called. He didn't mention it in the review, but you can coil split them for a brighter sound.
I love this guitar but would love one that’s better built but has all the same features, can you suggest anything for me to look into?
There is a PRS SE with similar features. I had one in for service around the same time as I had this - it's significantly more expensive but I have to say I think it's go the balance right in terms of quality and cost.
@@TonyEdwardsGuitarsInterested to read your take on the PRS. How do you think the acoustic sounds of the two compare? Background of this question: I‘m a mainly acoustic player looking to add an electric/hybrid guitar to my set for a bit more color, and I do appreciate an acoustic sound that deserves the name. That said, my stage acoustic also only has a piezo, so without my pedalboard, it also wouldn‘t sound all that great. So maybe I could get a hybrid like this one to sound OK with some compression, EQ and maybe even an IR.
@@scottbecker3485 Hi Scott. I think it's pretty good. The two distinct outputs make it quick and easy to eq the outputs and amp them separately. The Piezo in both guitars is perfectly acceptable, but I prefer the magnetic pickups in the PRS which are a bit warmer. I think the PRS bridge is better, being an electric bridge it's easier to adjust and set up, easier to intonate for different strings etc. But honestly, I'd try before you buy - I'm not a big PRS fan, but I think if you're going to mix Piezo/Magnetic pickups, it's probably better done on the basis of an electric guitar plus, rather than an acoustic guitar plus.
@@TonyEdwardsGuitars Good review! - I have owned the Michael Kelly Hybrid in the past and looking into another. However, I also tried the PRS hybrid and found that the volume and tone difference between the acoustic setting and the electric setting made it unusable for live performances. Studio is fine b/c you can focus on one tone option at a time, then reset controls for your next sound. The Michael Kelly did not have this issue, and is a very good guitar imho. I've been playing for 40 yrs or so.