Michael Kelly Patriot Hot Rod

Michael Kelly Patriot Limited, Korean made for a company from Florida with a proud history of manufacturing quality acoustic guitars.

This slightly more bulbous Les Paul shaped guitar has a mahoganny body and neck with a smooth fixed joint, a spalted maple top with glossed finish, shaped with the string area highest, the body and matching 3+3 headstock are beautifully edged. The fretboard is ebony, with real abalone trapezoid inlays. The hardware consists of a TonePros bridge and Grover tuners. The action was already very good on delivery from USA and the 2 humbuckers (directly mounted into the body) are controlled by a 3-way switch and single tapped volume and tone controls. Very nicely made and extremely good looking.

OK, I've recently sold a Carvin TL60 with humbuckers, a Gibson Les Paul Studio and a customised SG with Seymour Duncans. This guitar covers all of those bases and then some, with a full, flexible set of tones. The Bridge humbucker is designed with similar output to the neck humbucker, so I have slightly lifted the bridge pick up pins for a little more bite, but I am very happy with the eveness of output because I switch pick-ups quite a lot when soloing, so its good to have both pushing out the melodies. The bridge has plenty of full bodied grunt whether playing Marshall or Boogie style amps and soloing is still nice right up to the 17th frets, whereas many guitars get very harsh in that region on the bridge. The neck pick-up is a delight with awesome sustain for soling and yet enough ping to handle riffing at the lower end of the neck too. The coil taps options both give good usable tones too, which again is something I've not found on many guitars. I honestly expected to upgrade the pick ups before this guitar arrived, but instead, I've sold the SG with Seymour Duncans and ordered another MK !! The direct mounting certainly adds to the tone quality and sustain. I also noticed that the guitar is silent until I play, not matter what amps setting, there is no feedback. Unlike a lot of guitars these days - PRS, Ibanez etc, this guitar has some character to its tone - several characters infact !!

Its easy to say so, but this guitar really is perfect for me. I've got short stubby fingers and have suffered finger cramps when playing a lot of guitars, but this neck is awesome and I've played endlessly since getting this guitar 2 months ago without a twinge. The action and string spacing is superb and easily the best I've had in 25 years of playing. The finish is superb, it really is. This guitar is stunning.

In 2 months, we've only done 1 gig and although I had a spare guitar, I didn't get to use it. This Patriot just glistened away all night - 130 minutes of sweat, bright lights on a summer's evening in sweaty bar, and it barely needed retuning all night. This is a very well made guitar and unbelievable quality for the price too.

I have a year's warranty which I'm happy with, I can't honestly see anything falling apart, this guitar is so well made. Michael Kelly even have a Patriot Owner's Club which I've applied to join !!

I've been playing 25 + years, my present band is writing its 3rd album and I've averaged 30-40 gigs per year. I've swapped guitars quite a bit in recent years, just not finding the perfect feel, tone and flexibility for the songs our bands plays - melodic rock, and that's what you need when there is a hall or bar full of people watching you. Our other guitarist is a real Van Halen fan and I have to compliment that sound and style onstage - that has taken at least 3 guitars to achieve in the past, but not anymore. This Patriot covered every base with flying colours. I'm so impressed that I have also ordered the Michael Kelly Valor Limited in a matching spalted maple finish. I've bought and sold so many guitars lately - 2 x Carvin, Gibson, Maison, Godin, PRS SE Soapbar etc, whilst looking for the guitar that sounds great doing all I need of it. This Patriot Limited does that and then some.

Les Paul style archtop single cutaway body, satin black finish on body/neck/headstock, 22 medium-jumbo frets, custom MOP flame design inlay on first 3 frets - MOP dot inlay on the rest of the neck, chrome Grover tuners, 2 chrome covered "PAF Plus" passive humbuckers w/ coil tap on tone knobs and 3-way switch, 2 volume/2 tone speedknob controls, string-through-body over custom chrome flame design Sonic Art bridge, full triple-bound mahogany body, set-mahogany neck (24 3/4" scale) w/ rosewood fretboard.

This guitar also came in optional dark red and black finishes with quilted maple tops. The black quilt top retained the same fretboard markings while the red quilt top replaced the custom flame and dot inlays with block abalone.

This model of the Patriot Series has been discontinued. So, you'll have to find one used from a private seller or new from a retailer who still has them in stock.

I play metal and doom/stoner rock with tons of crunchy distortion and pinch harmonics. This guitar can cover that and any other style you want to throw at it. I play through a Line 6 Spider 2 head and cab and the sounds that can be dialed in with this guitar are amazing - Both clean and distorted. If you can imagine it, this guitar can deliver it. The coil taps on each pick-up are a nice little bonus and sound great, although they don't get a whole lot of use from me. The dual "PAF Plus" humbuckers blow the EMG's on my other guitars out of the water.

The room I practice in has flourecent lights, fans, a computer, and all manner of electronics which could play havoc with PAF style pick-ups, but these stay dead silent. There was a slight problem with the signal from the ethernet cable of my Line 6 foot controller bleeding into the instrument cable because of their close proximity which caused a slight hum with the guitar's volume off and no finger contact with the strings/harware, but this was not an effect of the pick-up quality and was easily remedied by turning the volume off using the pedal of the Line 6 which cut the signal through the ethernet cable. The Sonic Art bridge, aside from looking stunning, really helps with sustain by increasing the bridge to body contact area. Long sustained chords with controlled feedback is a breeze on this guitar.

I have played $3,000 Les Pauls before and this easily sounds just as good as any of them and looks worlds better than anything Gibson offers.

I bought this guitar brand new from an authorized dealer and it was set up perfectly out of the box. The action was super low and fast and, even after tuning down to C#/Drop B with heavier gauge strings, there was no compromise to the action and zero fret buzz. Intonation is remarkably consistent and the die cast Grover tuners keep this guitar very much in tune - After 3-4 hour practices this guitar will, at most, be off by an eighth of a step on a couple of strings. The set neck and deep cutaway allows for easy access to all of the frets with ease. This guitar is a featherweight compared to most other solid body archtops and makes for an extremely comfortable guitar to play both live and during long practices. You'll almost forget you've got it strapped on.


This guitar was made in Korea and I had suspicions about fit and finish before I had this guitar shipped to me. I was very impressed overall, but the only complaints, albeit minor ones, I have about this guitar do come in this category. The pick-up selector was turned a little off center, which was easy enough to adjust to my own liking. The white plastic binding is slightly sloppy in some small spots and there was a tiny chip on the archtop which could have been caused by the dealer, who took the guitar out of the box to photograph it prior to selling it online, and not a manufacturing defect.

All told, this is a beautifully crafted guitar, although I wish they had incorporated some sort of additional design in the headsock between the logo and truss rod cover because it looks rather plain and doesn't do the rest of the guitar justice.

Please be aware: This guitar is Les Paul STYLE, not shape. You will not be able to find a cheaper alternative hardshell case, such as a Gator Case, for this guitar or any Patriot series because of its shape. Unless you purchase a Patriot series with a hardshell case included, you will have to shell out for either a case from the factory or, as I did, a Coffin Case. Either way, you're looking at spending an additional $125-150 on a case if one isn't included unless you can find a good deal elsewhere.

Although I would NEVER play live without a back-up, if I absolutely had to, I would feel confident in knowing that this guitar will stand up to whatever I can dish out. You cannot own this guitar and NOT play it live. It is a conversation piece in and of itself from the moment you pull it out of its case. Plan on spending a good 15-20 minutes talking about it with the guitarists in the other bands you're playing the show with. Seriously.

The finish has held up just fine and the hardware is solid with no evident tarnishing or oxidation. I immediately replaced the strap buttons with strap locks when I received this guitar, so I cannot speak for their quality.

I have never had to deal with Michael Kelly customer support. And, while I'm sure they're very nice people, this is a decidedly good thing.

I have been playing guitar for close to 20 years and have come across nothing like this guitar. I almost feel guilty for having paid as little as I did. Even though I only paid $325 and this and the other Patriot series guitars retail for upwards of about $100 more, I would have gladly paid full retail if I had to. It's still a fraction of the cost of the high priced makes like PRS and Gibson and is just as good, if not better, than any of them. Don't let the lack of name recognition fool you, as you will not find a better guitar for this price anywhere.

If this guitar were to be lost or stolen I would search the ends of the earth for another one as the Hot Rod line of the Patriot Series has been discontinued and I am in total love with mine. But, if I couldn't find another one, I would gladly purchase another Michael Kelly Patriot series guitar.

2004 made in Korea, 24 3/4 scale, split coil humbuckers, Grover tuners,maple quilt top, fancy flame bridge, a lot of guitar for the $$$

Stock pups sound much better than you would expect on a $500 guitar, no real need to switch out, using it with a Peavey 60w tube, nice full sound, not a major sound difference splitting the coils, still a nice variety of sound

This guitar is about as good looking as you will find, mine is the lava red. action was low and set up pretty good out of the box. I still took it in to get profesionally set up and new strings, made a nice difference. Can't seem to see any flaws or problems, quite surprised

Have no clue, owned it for a couple of months with no problems, just use it around the house to relax and play.

My emails to Michael Kelly Guitars were always answered fast. No need for any waranty work or problems

This guitar is a fantastic value, Great bang for the buck, plays nice and easy and looks like you spent a couple of grand. Pretty cool bridge with the flames, would be interested in trying other Michael Kelly guitars.

Les paul shape beutiful finish kindalookin dorky bridge
but it seems to look better the more I playit

Treble pikup crisp and clear ,bass pickup has weird roll off on lower strings coil taps are ok but there is a slight hum

great action and finish (black flame)
so smooth frets are great!!!!!!

I would put locking tuners and EMG"S on but that's my personal preference for all my working guitars( less hassle more tone)Body seems solid too pretty too mess up

Michael kelly is a great new company with a super staff They answer email promptly!

2005 Patriot Hot Road - Korean made.
Quilt Maple Top (on trans. Finished models)

? Flame-style SonicArt Bridge ? Grover Die Cast Tuners ? Custom Flame Inlay ? Chrome Hardware ? Chrome Covered PAF-vintage Pickups
? New Single Cutaway Body Design ? Coil-Tap For Bridge & Neck Pickup ? Rosewood Fingerboard ? Fully Bound Body ? Mahogany Body
? Mahogany Neck? Set-Neck Construction? 2 Year Warranty on materials
and craftsmanship

I play in a rock/hard rock cover band. This guitar has the same tone as a Les Paul at a fraction of the cost and half the weight. I'm using it with a Line6 PodXTLive, Mesa Boogie 50/50 tube amp and Avatar 2x12 speakers.
The best way to desktop the tone is balance. Smooth hight, tight low end without being boomy. Don't be scared by the low price of $390.00 This guitar isn't inexepensive, but not cheap.

Setup was good. My SonicArt bridge had a bubble in the chrome. I emailed MK and they immediately setup for a replacement guitar to be cross shipped. Everything was setup execellent. The only adjustments I had to make were related to putting on a heavier gauge string - readjustment of intonation and minor truss rod adjustment. Neck is great. The cutaway allow for full access of the fretboard.
This guitar is easier to solo on than my Ibanez RG550 with their famous wizard neck. I have to give them a 9, but only because the first guitar they sent me had a minor bubble in the chrome, otherwise it would have been a ten.

I use this guitar for live playing. It holds its tuning and can be cranked extremely loud with feedback issues. Due to the tone of this guitar, it is quickly becoming my main stage guitar, just as fast as I can reprogram my tones in my PODXTlive to match this guitar. Very solid guitar and lightweight. You can plays this for three hours without back problems, unlink a Gibson Les Paul

Support is the best. Before buying this guitar, I kept emailing them questions late at night. They always responded the next morning. When I found the defect in the chrome, they immediately offer a replacement and even cross shipped!

I've been playing 25 years. I currently own a '87 Ibanez RG550, 93 Ibaneze JS700 (Satriani limited), Michael Kelly Patiot lo-boy baritone, Exotica 6 string electric/accoustic.

This guitar has the most comfortable neck. Out of the five guitars I own, this is the easiest one to play for the faster solos. Tone is incredible. I'm not into guitars for how nice they look, the tone is much more important, but this guitar does have great looks with its custom inlays, quilt top, and the unique SonicArt bridge.

I choose this guitar, because I had previously bought the baritone version 5 months ago and knew I wanted the same tone for my standard 6 string.