Michael Kelly Hybrid

[therealting]

Firstly, happy new year all.

Secondly, I just spotted what appears to be a pretty cool guitar for the money, the Michael Kelly Hybrid (http://www.michaelkellyhybrid.com if you're curious). If it does what it's advertised to do, it sounds perfect for the gigs I do with the originals band I front (http://www.thejohanncollective.com if you're curious) - decent acoustic, electric and even blended sounds in one guitar.

It sounds a bit like an inexpensive Taylor T5 to me, but with the one critical feature which is mono/stereo output.

I did a search and no one has mentioned them, so I thought I'd see if anyone had tried one. Please let me know if you have!


Cheers,
Johann

 

[B Vance]

I recently demo'd one of these at the local GC not too long ago after a spur of the moment trip. I saw it when I walked in and thought it looked interesting so I decided to give it a go. You can tell from the video that the pickup is hot, and it is...really, really, really hot. I wasn't able to coax any sort of clean tone from it at all. I was hoping it would be a bit more like the T5 as it almost looks the part, however, there were no hollowbody clean jazz tones to be found. The acoustic function is much more usable. I will say this though, the guitar is very stunning in appearance and extremely comfortable to play. It was very inexpensive as well.

 

[therealting]

Thanks for the comments, B Vance. Can I ask how big the guitar is? Is it bigger than, say, a Strat? I'm guessing the hot pickup is to balance the piezo output.

In the band I will be playing it in, my music focuses primarily on acoustic rhythm parts, with creamy overdriven lead breaks. For our early gigs, I had a second guitar player, but recently he left to pursue his own project, so I am covering all guitar parts on my own... and usually having to choose electric to cover both rhythm and lead duties.

If you have a few minutes, I'd really appreciate if you could give one or two of my tunes a quick listen to see if it's something that would suit me... unfortunately here in London, England we don't have any GCs so the chances of me trying one out in person are slim to none.

The MySpace link is http://www.myspace.com/thejohanncollective, have a listen to either "When Will We Meet?", "Not Alone But Lonely" or "My Life" for an idea of what I'd be using it for.

Many, many, many thanks, you're helping me out greatly as I'd be buying blind otherwise.

 

[B Vance]

Thanks for the comments, B Vance. Can I ask how big the guitar is? Is it bigger than, say, a Strat? I'm guessing the hot pickup is to balance the piezo output.

In the band I will be playing it in, my music focuses primarily on acoustic rhythm parts, with creamy overdriven lead breaks. For our early gigs, I had a second guitar player, but recently he left to pursue his own project, so I am covering all guitar parts on my own... and usually having to choose electric to cover both rhythm and lead duties.

If you have a few minutes, I'd really appreciate if you could give one or two of my tunes a quick listen to see if it's something that would suit me... unfortunately here in London, England we don't have any GCs so the chances of me trying one out in person are slim to none.

The MySpace link is http://www.myspace.com/thejohanncollective, have a listen to either "When Will We Meet?", "Not Alone But Lonely" or "My Life" for an idea of what I'd be using it for.

Many, many, many thanks, you're helping me out greatly as I'd be buying blind otherwise.

I took a listen to your myspace site. I like what you guys are doing with your stuff. It reminds me of some of the classic mid 90's Tonic sort of thing...primarily driven by acoustic with appropriate electric leads.

It's very difficult for me to say whether or not you'd be able to get what you're after with this guitar because I'm not exactly sure what you're after. Assuming that you are happy with your tone on your myspace site and are looking for an "ease" instrument for both the acoustic and electric parts in one, personally I'd look elsewhere. It was very difficult for me to get anything other than full-out distortion with the electric pickup or on the blend setting. I was playing through a stock Fender Hot Rod DeVille, not a terrible amp.

Body - I wouldn't say the body is very strat-like. I'd equate it to more of a tele-size, perhaps a touch smaller. It was extremely comfortable as I said before. The guitar is lightweight and the neck was quite comfortable to me as well.

Suggestions...
It's unfortunate that you aren't able to demo one for yourself. I believe the price on it was around $500 I think. I do remember that the affordable price was one of the elements that attracted me to pick it up at first. I would think that an Epiphone Rivera, Sheraton or Casino would get you about what you are looking for and you can pick either up used for about that same price ($400-$500 used $550-$625 new). Any one of those three Epiphone model could give you a nice hollow rhythm and with the addition of an OD or Boost you could get those singing leads. If price isn't an issue for you, a Taylor T5 would do exactly what you're looking for. You can get into a used one between $1,500 and $2,200 depending on the model.

Hope

 

[B Vance]

I took a listen to your myspace site. I like what you guys are doing with your stuff. It reminds me of some of the classic mid 90's Tonic sort of thing...primarily driven by acoustic with appropriate electric leads.

It's very difficult for me to say whether or not you'd be able to get what you're after with this guitar because I'm not exactly sure what you're after. Assuming that you are happy with your tone on your myspace site and are looking for an "ease" instrument for both the acoustic and electric parts in one, personally I'd look elsewhere. It was very difficult for me to get anything other than full-out distortion with the electric pickup or on the blend setting. I was playing through a stock Fender Hot Rod DeVille, not a terrible amp.

Body - I wouldn't say the body is very strat-like. I'd equate it to more of a tele-size, perhaps a touch smaller. It was extremely comfortable as I said before. The guitar is lightweight and the neck was quite comfortable to me as well.

Suggestions...
It's unfortunate that you aren't able to demo one for yourself. I believe the price on it was around $500 I think. I do remember that the affordable price was one of the elements that attracted me to pick it up at first. I would think that an Epiphone Rivera, Sheraton or Casino would get you about what you are looking for and you can pick either up used for about that same price ($400-$500 used $550-$625 new). Any one of those three Epiphone model could give you a nice hollow rhythm and with the addition of an OD or Boost you could get those singing leads. If price isn't an issue for you, a Taylor T5 would do exactly what you're looking for. You can get into a used one between $1,500 and $2,200 depending on the model.

Hope

...this helps

 

[tonedaddy]

Anyone know if the electric pickup can be replaced?

 

[B Vance]

Anyone know if the electric pickup can be replaced?

That's a wonderful question. It's not the same size as your run-of-the-mill humbucker. It was a bit larger. Plus, the wood surface of the pickup is one of the most attractive aspects of the guitar's face in my opinion. I'm not sure if the guitar would keep some of that same appeal if it were changed. That being said, if you were good enough with wood-filler and felt comfortable with your abilities in soldering and wiring, I'm sure it could be replaced. Personally I'd like to see one prior to doing it myself.

 

[therealting]

tonedaddy, I believe it can, although it's not recommended. There is a "pro review" being covered on the HC forums where it is mentioned as a possibility, although it is stated that the pickup is "optimised" for the guitar.

Thanks again for the detailed information, B Vance. Yes, I am fairly happy with my tone on the MySpace site. I'm willing to change the pickup, although I suppose at that point it is worth looking at modifying something else.

I wonder about those chambered "solidbody" acoustics, whether they'd be able to handle a pickup or two being put into them.

I already have an Ibanez 335-type guitar which I really like, I am also looking into putting a piezo pickup on that, and perhaps it will do a similar sort of job, but that could also get expensive... maybe an acoustic guitar simulator is something else I should consider.

 

[therealting]

Spotted another similar instrument, the Crafter SA (see http://www.crafterguitars.com/gallery_acoustic/sa_series_main.php for a closer look), which seems very similar to the T5 concept. Different in terms of the control layout, but apparently lacking the split mag/piezo output. Going to have to try the guitar somewhere in London if I can.

 

[therealting]

Beginning to sound like I'm obsessed with this pursuit, but that is pretty fair - I've been looking for a guitar that will do this for a while! Comparison of these two guitars follows.

Size and Appearance:

Both guitars have:

Gloss finish
Chambered solid mahogany body
Mahogany set neck
Indian Rosewood fretboard & bridge
Chrome Hardware

Crafter

• Larger, slim arch top body (tiger maple, bubinga, rosewood top options)
• 21 frets
• LR-F Lipstick/Acoustic Hybrid Preamp with

1. Kent Armstrong Lipstick Pick-up
2. L.R.Baggs Element Pick-up
3. Pickup blend fader

• 3-band EQ, mute, phase, rotary volume controls
• Mother of pearl Crafter position marks
• Acoustic-guitar-like heel
• Mono blend output only
• .011 - .049 strings

Michael Kelly

• Smaller, slim flat top body (flame maple top only)
• 22 frets
• Fishman blender preamp, with

1. Rockfield SWC humbucker
2. Fishman acoustic pickup
3. Three-way toggle switch

• Individual magnetic / piezo volume controls
• Dot markers
• Splittable mono/stereo magnetic / piezo outputs
• Electric-guitar-like upper fret access
• .009 - .042 strings (which I'd change to 10s)

It seems to me that the Hybrid is more of an electric guitar with acoustic abilities, and the Crafter is more of an acoustic guitar with electric abilities. I am after the former, so it looks like the Hybrid is better suited to my needs.

The search continues.

 

[B Vance]

I have never seen these Crafter guitar before. They look much more like the T5 like you said. I'd suggest giving one of these a try as I think you'd be much more happy with this concept as opposed to the Hybrid.

 

[Brooks]

i have 2 hamer duotones, sounds like it would fit the bill.

 

[wolf9309]

generally the whole piezo pickup through an electric guitar amp doesn't work so well, so I'd recommend the hybrid of those two. If you like your current guitar though, I wouldn't forget about the option to just have a piezo pickup put in. I do that with all of my guitars- one of them is a casino which is a fairly similar body type, and it sounds great acoustically. I also wired it up much like the hybrid- I have a stereo output, but instead of the 3-way swtich, I just put in an on/off miniswitch for the piezo pickups.

It is a decent amount of work to get done, but sounds great and is cheaper than a new guitar

 

[therealting]

What piezo pickup did you choose, wolf? Is it by any chance a Tune-O-Matic type? That's what I'd be putting in if I went down this route.

 

[therealting]

i have 2 hamer duotones, sounds like it would fit the bill.

Brooks, those guitars are stunning. How big would you say they are? Are they around the size of a Les Paul, or more like a 335? Thanks for that - I'll have to look into those.

 

[Brooks]

Brooks, those guitars are stunning. How big would you say they are? Are they around the size of a Les Paul, or more like a 335? Thanks for that - I'll have to look into those.

LP sized. the semihollow spruce top & wood bridge makes for great jazzy electric tones. i love 'em!! i esp recommend 'em w/ a phatcat in the neck and a rio grande in the bridge.

 

[therealting]

Damn, I'd be all over them if they were 335 sized! Les Pauls look really small on me... I assume you'd string them with electric strings and they play more like an electric.

 

[Brooks]

I assume you'd string them with electric strings and they play more like an electric.

yep, that's why i have 2; one strung for acoustic duo gigs, the other for my jazz/funk original project.

​

 

[Brooks]

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAMER-DUOTONE-U...ryZ33042QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[B Vance]

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAMER-DUOTONE-U...ryZ33042QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hop on that and don't look back!!! :AOK