Michael Kelly Basses?

[Nephilymbass]

So, I was reading a thread the other day and came across the Michael Kelly basses. In my limited research it appears that 2017 is the first year that Michael Kelly has made a bass. I was initially searching for a 5 string p-bass but after another thread I started (Why So Few 5 String P-Basses) it appears to me that the overall consensus is that a p-bass should remain a 4 string configuration.

Anyway, after seeing the Michael Kelly bass selection I keep going back to their website and looking at those basses. To me they are incredibly good looking guitars for what looks like a really good price and specs. I watched a few YouTube videos on them and haven't really seen much on them. I saw @phillybass101 seems to be very happy with his. Anyone else have any experience or even seen one in person? I'm tempted to order one sight unseen, but I usually end up regretting ordering stuff without having at least seen or held one in person.

Yeah they’ve been selling acoustic basses like the dragonfly for years

and came out with some fender clones a couple years ago. I think their basses look great and the dragonfly acoustic actually sounds pretty good for the money. But I’ve yet to even see someone else play the solidbody basses much less get to try one. But I do think they look great for basses that cost $600 new

As for anyone who says p basses shouldn’t be made in 5 string I say that’s nonsense. Heck probably the best bass ESP makes is a 5 string p bass.

Think people generally feel that way because Fender doesn’t make one in the Mexican line. If you want a 5 string fender p you have to either go Squier or Mia. And the mia ones are expensive for what they are. I mean it’s about as simple as it gets. It shouldn’t be so expensive

 

[phillipkregg]

My experience after playing several of these Michael Kelly basses is this:

• They look awesome! Really does look like a much more expensive bass.
• They feel solidly built.
• They are about as heavy as a Sire 5 string. But most inexpensive basses are going to be heavy.
• They don't really sound great (especially compared to something like Sire). Upgrading the pickups and pre would probably make this a great bass.

 

[phillipkregg]

Yeah they’ve been selling acoustic basses like the dragonfly for years
View attachment 2911899
and came out with some fender clones a couple years ago. I think their basses look great and the dragonfly acoustic actually sounds pretty good for the money. But I’ve yet to even see someone else play the solidbody basses much less get to try one. But I do think they look great for basses that cost $600 new
View attachment 2911901 View attachment 2911900

As for anyone who says p basses shouldn’t be made in 5 string I say that’s nonsense. Heck probably the best bass ESP makes is a 5 string p bass. View attachment 2911892
Think people generally feel that way because Fender doesn’t make one in the Mexican line. If you want a 5 string fender p you have to either go Squier or Mia. And the mia ones are expensive for what they are. I mean it’s about as simple as it gets. It shouldn’t be so expensive

That ESP LTD 5 string p bass is very underrated.

It probably plays and sounds better than some basses that cost 2 - 3 times as much.

 

[Beej]

They do like pretty nice - I wonder where they are made?

 

[Quitter]

They do like pretty nice - I wonder where they are made?

MIK

 

[B-Mac]

Picked up this Quilt Maple Dragon Fly from Bass Club Chicago for $350 with the OHSC about 6 months ago or so! It was a demo they had in the store. Still had protective plastic covering the back and front. Gorgeous bass in quilt maple. My Taka GB72CE Jumbo sounds just a wee-bit better, but doesn't look quite as nice.

 

[wesonbass]

I have the exact same quilted maple dragonfly. Got it 10 yrs ago. Mine is fretless. Beautiful abalone inlay all the way up the fingerboard. It has a under the saddle pick up and Fishman pre-amp. Sounds great plugged in. Not so great for playing along with a guitarist unplugged tho. I love mine. Never had a problem. Nice weight and balance. Great price too. A Christmas gift from my brother! Man was I surprised. When I got home from the Christmas party. A box Santa had left by FedEx was on my porch. The Fishman solo amp. I had ordered it to use with my acoustic guitar. Opened as fast as possible and kept the neighbors up half the night playing the new Michael Kelly. Can't wait to try a solid body.

 

[B-Mac]

I have the exact same quilted maple dragonfly. Got it 10 yrs ago. Mine is fretless. Beautiful abalone inlay all the way up the fingerboard. It has a under the saddle pick up and Fishman pre-amp. Sounds great plugged in. Not so great for playing along with a guitarist unplugged tho. I love mine. Never had a problem. Nice weight and balance. Great price too. A Christmas gift from my brother! Man was I surprised. When I got home from the Christmas party. A box Santa had left by FedEx was on my porch. The Fishman solo amp. I had ordered it to use with my acoustic guitar. Opened as fast as possible and kept the neighbors up half the night playing the new Michael Kelly. Can't wait to try a solid body.

They are so gorgeous sometimes I just look at it on the stand for a while before I play it.

 

[wesonbass]

I've gotten more oohs and ahhs from people about this bass than all my others combined. Looks like it should cost a fortune. It's the least expensive that I have, by far. Haven't played it in a while. Think I will now. .

 

[Bass Club Mark]

Picked up this Quilt Maple Dragon Fly from Bass Club Chicago for $350 with the OHSC about 6 months ago or so! It was a demo they had in the store. Still had protective plastic covering the back and front. Gorgeous bass in quilt maple. My Taka GB72CE Jumbo sounds just a wee-bit better, but doesn't look quite as nice. View attachment 3088017 View attachment 3088016

I remember that one! Beautiful bass, and at a great price!

 

[bearfoot]

While the ply maple-topped MK ABG's don't resonate anything like spruce , there is a reason for it: the same reason Epiphone made ply-maple-top acoustic guitars - feedback resistance. (they gave 2 or 3 of them to the Beatles for onstage use)
MK also has a cedar-top ABG. Cedar is generally superior to spruce , tonewise, when the instrument is new. Spruce reaches its best tone after around 30 years of playing, and it only happens if the instrument is played. (or purposely resonated in a chamber designed for such "seasoning")
TMIF? Never, this is talkbass.

The solidbody MK's look great.

 

[BlacktotheBlind]

I had been looking for a budget Jazz bass lately. I went into my local Sam Ash with Squier on my mind, and ended walking out with a new Michael Kelly. They had it on sale and it was only $100 more than a Squier. I've been jamming on it since I brought it home today and I'm pretty happy with my purchase so far!

 

[txdahaley]

Necrothread resurection! Now, my next bass is gonna be an orange-ish-esque G&L, but since I heard Sam Ash in Dallas (nextdoor to Chicken Express, the best guilt/hate food ever) carries MK basses, I think I'll have to buy two basses next time. I've heard so many good things about them here and elsewhere that I'm with y'all on the whole sight unseen thing. I must go to Sam Ash soon and try one out. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

 

[Chad Hancock]

So, I was reading a thread the other day and came across the Michael Kelly basses. In my limited research it appears that 2017 is the first year that Michael Kelly has made a bass. I was initially searching for a 5 string p-bass but after another thread I started (Why So Few 5 String P-Basses) it appears to me that the overall consensus is that a p-bass should remain a 4 string configuration.

Anyway, after seeing the Michael Kelly bass selection I keep going back to their website and looking at those basses. To me they are incredibly good looking guitars for what looks like a really good price and specs. I watched a few YouTube videos on them and haven't really seen much on them. I saw @phillybass101 seems to be very happy with his. Anyone else have any experience or even seen one in person? I'm tempted to order one sight unseen, but I usually end up regretting ordering stuff without having at least seen or held one in person.

I have one on my bench right now - it's crap.

 

[Jv-d]

Dont tbink they're crap, sorry
Bought a Dragonfly 4 string in 2004...
Put many miles on it... Its held up well, plays great... quilted maple top looks better... You can see it in my avatar....
Would have changed position of controls, looks like they did that...
Not a Martin, but definitely not crap!

 

[Jarneskeg]

I am looking at both MK and Sire right now. Was about to pull the trigger on a new Lakland 55-02 Deluxe, but began to think that I might get a bass that plays just as well for half the price.
The 55-02 probably has better electronics, but my main concern is playability. I play with a medium light touch and like to put the action down low. So the neck and fretwork are my main concern, then hardware, and finally electronics/PUPs.
From what people have said, both MKelly and Sire have good necks, and both field models that have acceptable PUPs for my current needs. I can always upgrade them if I start gigging again.