Morgan Monroe vs. Michael Kelly

[mandonewbie]

I'm wanting to step up to an F for bluegrass.

Interested in opinions and pros and cons of each of these. Thinking of the MMS2 or the FS.

[2 strings]

Go with the MMS-3 and you will not go wrong. Had both. The M.K. is pretty but the M.M. is a lot better mando. Please stay away from the Kentucky 675s. They are junk !. Good Luck.

[steve in tampa]

Just got an MK Dragonfly, and am very pleased with it. I am not super girly picky about the minor finish flaws.

The sound is excellent, and it is very player friendly with the radiused fret board and larger fretwire.

The Legacy Deluxe and higher models in the line have the radiused fretboard, and flamed back and sides. The FS model does not.

[sirmando]

I agree with steve in tampa I too have a MK dragonfly and I am very happy with it. I tried a bunch of the others in that price range (morgan monroe, kentucky, washburn) and the MK was the best but that is what I think. Try all the ones you can in your price range and go with the one that sounds better to your ears. Plus have some one else play it for you after you play it so you know what everyone else is hearing.

[grant_eversoll]

I have a MMS-3 and I love it, Never played a Michael Kelly so I can not help you there

[mandonewbie]

Thanks for the input guys..

[ShaneJ]

In my opinion, you're better off playing several of the mandos you're interested in and picking the one you like best after playing them. You can get some really good imported mandos of all brands as well as some ###### ones.

[mandonewbie]

SJ,
Yes, I understand the importance of playing a lot of them and finding the "right" one, but in my area, there's pretty slim pickins....Probably gonna have to order one when the decision is made...I can find one MK to play right now, but no Morgan Monroes....As long as I order from someone who has an approval period I should be ok...Shipping tends to get a little expensive going this route though....might have to do some traveling to find one.....I think there is a guitar show coming up in Charlotte, NC in the near future that is also an option....about an hour or so away from me.

[Larroman]

Out of the two I would go with the MMS-3.
I like the playability and the tones not bad for the bucks.I like GHS silk & bronze strings on mine. But the most important thing to remember is to buy the one that you like the best! The rest of us are a little biased..
cant help it ..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif