Looking to make upgrades...

[ironlionzion]

Hello all,

I recently recieved my new MIchael Kelly Legacy Deluxe, due to it being a left handed model it has a flat fingure board. Any way i have been saving up for this mandolin for quite sometime now and being a broke college student i am happy i was actually able to do it...any way i again have some money and i was wondering what upgrades i am able to make to this mando and if these new upgrades (such as an allen tail piece) are left handed compatable...futhermore i was wondering where i could get this pieces and what shop in the New york New Jersey area would do this work for me...thank you all
Steve
"let their be songs to, fill the air"

[sonnyjammer]

The best upgrade would be, " To just play the heck out of it ". Learn some new tunes, and don't worry about spending more money. Those mandolins are just fine like they are. Enjoy http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[jiffyfeet]

Buy a Tone Gard - it's the best mando accessory ever! Seriously, try playing your mandolin with the back resting against your belly, which is the norm when standing. Now sit down and play it with it pulled away off your body. (You don't need to play anything fancy, just play a couple of notes.) You hear that difference? The Tone Gard will make it sound like that all the time. I love mine.

[Stillpicking]

I have a 2yr old MK added a solid tail piece Weber universal not sure if there is a difference left to right but send an email to the Weber folks they would be glad to answer that for you.
Also switched out the nut for a pearl nut and changed the bridge for an ebony got it from First Quality Music. Then I added a Siren ebony arm rest. The tuners on the early MKs were not the best the newer models like yours should be fine. I switched out the tuners for a set of Schallers. All of the aboved improved tone and sound projection, I really like my MK a LOT.
Good luck with yours and have fun with the upgrades.

[weathermandolin]

I have a four month old Legacy Deluxe. #About a month and a half ago, I added a MOP nut, Weber tail piece, and a Brekke bridge. #I had a respected luthier put all of these on and do a set up. #When I got it back, it was like a different instrument. #Rings like a bell and very easy on the fingers.

Thanks for your previous advice Stillpicking. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Greenmando]

I have a four month old Legacy Deluxe. #About a month and a half ago, I added a ,,,,... When I got it back, it was like a brand new instrument. #
So hard to believe a old instrument with 2 1/2 months play time could sound so new. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[JiminRussia]

If you have a hundred bucks or so to spare, the best upgrade to any mandolin would be a few lessons from someone that can really teach. Just my honest opinion, but too many of us, me included, spend too much on the hardware and too little on learning how to play it.

[Mandoman81]

I own an older MK, i got it when they first came out... i found that the finish was holding back a TON of volume... so, i took some sand paper to it... doing this made it ugly as sin... BUT 10 times louder and a greater pleasure to play.
Still, if i'm going for a mandolin, i pick up my flatiron... but if i'm going out, getting drunk, or pickin' in the woods with my buddies the kelly comes along and does just fine.
The other major change i did after 5 years of heavy playing is i had new LARGER frets put on... i just felt that the old ones were to low. Again, much improved.
Kellys are great starting mandos... i like them much more than the others out there... but, you might need to spend those extra bucks to get it up to full sound.
Thats just my opinion.
~ mandolin slim

[mmukav]

I had an Epiphone MM50 and I added an ebony bridge. Really made a difference, volume and tone. And wasn't too expensive.

[levin4now]

greenmando,

i think he meant 'new' as in 'different' or 'another new' mandolin http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[ironlionzion]

due to my lack of funds i think i am going to get a bridge first....anyone have any suggestions where i could get a quality one online...thanks all yyou guys are the best
~Steve

"keep on rocking in the free world"

[PCypert]

Sell it and get a Rigel. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[jom]

I think I've posted this before. I got a new bridge from Roger Siminoff for my kelly (do a google search)...they were the least expensive I could find online, and they have the "little" thumbwheels (which I was looking for). The top of my Kelly is really really arched...and it took a lot of sanding to get the bridge to fit...and it still doesn't fit perfectly (although upon inspection neither did the original bridge).

[mandoJeremy]

First Quality's Sullivan bridges are nice and not too expensive.