MIchael Kelly guitars
 

Don't know when I visited their page, but now there are cookies in my computer and the adds keep popping up. He has some good looking guitars, anyone know if they are any good??? I have never seen one in person....

When they debuted a few years ago and one of my dealers had them I was pretty impressed. That dealer went out of business later so I have no idea if they kept up the quality.

Bob

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I own a Michael Kelly Hourglass, basically a version after the PRS Santana double-cutaway models. I bought it on looks, especially the textured maple top (or veneer). My jamming buddies all think it's cool, and it is something quite different from their Strats. I catch them staring, getting lost in the large square abalone inlays on the neck. This guitar is flashier than my playing, that's for sure.

Recently I loosened the Tone Lock Bridge to see how low the action could get, and I had it about a heavy pick high along the whole neck, without a hint off fret buzz. With two coil-tapped pickups, it's capable of a wider range of tones than I fully understand, including Strat squeals and dark jazzy mumbles. Too bad they don't offer this model anymore.

I can't see any good reason to buy anything better, given my skill level and limited dedication to amplification. I'm in it for $250, and it's been one of my better guitar buys.

I've got a dealer not far from me, hoping to get there to try a 1950 (T-style) with Fralin Steel Pole pickups and another model with Duncan Quarter Pounders. The buzz on other forums is that they are very good guitars for the pricing. And if you e-mail the company, you'll get a very nice response from the company president (usually) within 24 - 48 hours.