NGD: My McPherson Sable arrived! Some quick thoughts and comparisons to Emerald and

[Kamurah]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Another difference I remember is that the McPherson carbon fiber guitars just seem more finished or polished than the Michael Kelly guitars did. It was a number of years ago, so I may not be remembering as clearly as I would like.

I do clearly remember thinking at the time that I was glad to have my Cargos, because I had no interest in the Michael Kelly guitars. There was something about them that I really just didn't care for.

Tony

Wait......

Kevin Michael

Kevin Michael Clark

Michael Kelly

What's next Kevin George Michael Kelly Clarkson?


My head is going to essssplode!

[Irishrep]

I had heard that Kevin Michael was the he name of the son of the owner. I am not positive But, I think I read it on a forum somewhere. Perhaps someone knows

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Kamurah

Wait......

Kevin Michael

Kevin Michael Clark

Michael Kelly

What's next Kevin George Michael Kelly Clarkson?


My head is going to essssplode!

The name is simply Kevin Michael. Forget the rest of it. Then, get your head together.

Tony

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

My own experience was that I didn't like the early Kevin Michael guitars, but now own a couple of McPherson carbon fiber instruments. Also, there was a poster in this sub-forum who said that McPherson would not put their name on a product until they were happy with the quality and that they made many changes to the Kevin Michael version before putting their name on it. That matches my own experience.

Tony

What about the sound difference in the low end?

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by DavidE

What about the sound difference in the low end?

They might've enhanced the low end from previous versions but I never played one. My Sable has a nice deep low end and a thick sound overall. Its very 'dreadnought like' just not quite as loud as my dreads. Pretty impressive considering the body size.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

They might've enhanced the low end from previous versions but I never played one. My Sable has a nice deep low end and a thick sound overall. Its very 'dreadnought like' just not quite as loud as my dreads. Pretty impressive considering the body size.

I was actually thinking that my new Sable has less low end than the KM Sable I tried years ago. I could be totally wrong.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by DavidE

What about the sound difference in the low end?

I don't remember enough to make a definitive statement. I just didn't like the Michael Kelly, so I didn't pay much attention details beyond deciding that. I don't know why, but I can pretty quickly determine if I like a given guitar or not. As I recall, I thought its overall sound was no match for the Cargos I already have.

Often, I can't really pinpoint exactly why, but the decision for me doesn't take very long. Once I have decided whether I like a particular instrument or not, the rest no longer matters. I wish I could tell you exactly why I didn't like the Kevin Michael beyond what I have already said, because I am sure it would be helpful to the conversation. Anyway, this is why I really advocate try before you buy.

Tony

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

I don't remember enough to make a definitive statement. I just didn't like the Michael Kelly, so I didn't pay much attention details beyond deciding that. I don't know why, but I can pretty quickly determine if I like a given guitar or not. As I recall, I thought its overall sound was no match for the Cargos I already have.

Often, I can't really pinpoint exactly why, but the decision for me doesn't take very long. Once I have decided whether I like a particular instrument or not, the rest no longer matters. I wish I could tell you exactly why I didn't like the Kevin Michael beyond what I have already said, because I am sure it would be helpful to the conversation. Anyway, this is why I really advocate try before you buy.

Tony

Did you try a full size Sable or the small Touring model?

[Irishrep]

Some of the early Kevin Michael travel guitars may not have been the best. The 2016 and 2017 KM Touring were on par with the current build. I played a 2017 and it was essentially the same as todays production. They changed the name as they did not want the McPherson brand diluted by having two lines out in the marketplace. They wanted to push the name to include a lower price point for brand recognition.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by Irishrep

Some of the early Kevin Michael travel guitars may not have been the best. The 2016 and 2017 KM Touring were on par with the current build. I played a 2017 and it was essentially the same as todays production. They changed the name as they did not want the McPherson brand diluted by having two lines out in the marketplace. They wanted to push the name to include a lower price point for brand recognition.

But this thread is about the full size Sable, not the small Touring model.

[kramster]

Originally Posted by Kamurah

Question:

Who is Kevin Michael?

One of McPherson's sons.

[kramster]

Originally Posted by Irishrep

I had heard that Kevin Michael was the he name of the son of the owner. I am not positive But, I think I read it on a forum somewhere. Perhaps someone knows

Yes you are correct ...nice!

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by DavidE

Did you try a full size Sable or the small Touring model?

I tried the small Touring-like model, which was similar in size and scale length to my Cargos. The Kevin Michael simply didn't impress me at all. The only Sables I have seen are those from McPherson, which are much, much later than the Kevin Michael.

Are you thinking of buying a Kevin Michael carbon fiber guitar?

As I recall I think (but could well be wrong) that Kramster might have a Kevin Michael. When this sort of discussion came up a while back, I seem to recall his was not a negative response to these guitars. So I suspect you will simply need to try before you buy.

If Kramster's reaction to these instruments is different from mine, it may be that I played some very early samples and that he played later ones. I would not be surprised if there were improvements made along the way. For me, the Kevin Michael guitars were just a blip along the way. I only saw a few on one occasion, tried them, didn't like them, and moved on. When I encountered the later McPherson models, I was interested. My reaction to those was very similar to when I first tried the Cargos, and as with the Cargos, I now own a couple of McPhersons. I am probably not the best person to quiz about the Kevin Michael guitars.

Tony

[kramster]

Originally Posted by byudzai

I found some interview where the McPherson guy said, very clearly, there was zero difference in build between the Kevin Michael and McPherson versions. That was a few years back though.

Still don't remember seeing a KM Sable even at NAMM when the KM now touring came out and Sable after that

[kramster]

KM at NAMM ...


Some guy from Ireland having at one...



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Ellis the designer on the left