Michael Kelly

[sirmando]

This is fo all the people who have an MK.
What did you do to upgrade your MK to give it a better sound? Also how would yu think your MK rates with other higher priced mandolins? I am just thinking about upgrading my MK I just put Sam Bush strings on mine and it did improve th sound, and before that I had it set up by a pro.

[Dfyngravity]

there are some ways you can get better tone and volume. First of all is it a rosewood bridge on it? If so, a new ebony bridge will make a big difference. But the two things that I have add along with a bunch of people on this message board is a TONE GAURD and an ARM REST. Just those two will greatly improve the overall tone and volume. You will be very surprised...if you don't already have those two items.

[sandcastlefaith]

I have a ToneGard on my MK Firefly. Also, I've noticed that the strings and picks that I use change the tone a lot. Depending on what sound you're looking for . . . I use Thomastik-Infeld medium strings with Dawg and Golden Gate picks, and that seems to be the perfect blend for the jazz that I like. I can't say for all upper end mandolins, but I own a Gibson F-9, and I think although they are very different in styles and sounds, they both have about the same great tone. Also, I have played numerous Gilchrists and more expensive Gibsons that don't match up to the sound of my MK. For the price, I think they are the best choice on the market.

Dfyngravity - Where can you get these "armrests" and what do they do for you. I've heard that Chris Thile uses them, and that's reason enough for me to give them a shot.

Nate

[Stillpicking]

I purchased an MK "butterfly" when the MKs were selling on the web only, so it is about 2 yrs old now. Here are the upgrades on it ;
Schaller tuners, pearl nut, ebony bridge, Weber solid tail piece, Siren arm rest, Have been using TI heavies for strings for the last year or so.

I might add a fossil bridge sometime this year.

I am not going to get into comparing it with "high end" mandos there has been a ton of that over the last 2 years, but let me say that I been playing mandolins since 1976 and have owned a Gibson 1918 'A" among other mandos and have played a number of other pickers Gibsons including a "Monroe".
My MK is NOT a Gibson but I would be hard pressed to name another "F" under $1000 that sounds as good as an MK. By the way I have been told by Gibson owners that they really liked my MK and these guys don't give out compliments often.

Put some money into upgrades, you won't be let down by the results and it is a cheap way to feed your MAS.

[SteveW]

I had an ebony Sullivan bridge installed on my Firefly Flame. It made a huge difference in the quality of the sound up and down the fretboard. I use D'Addario Flattop strings and a Tortis pick. I may get a better nut somewhre down the road.

I've played plenty of mandolins that sound better than my MK, but they all cost three or four times what I paid for mine -- way out of my budget for the foreseeable future. For me, this MK is an outstanding instrument for the money.

[steve in tampa]

I have Dragonfly that I ordered w/ the Allen tailpiece and Fishman pickup. I might upgrade the top part of the bridge, but this thing came with most all of the hot rod stuff on it.
I have a dean BGF that I just put an Allen tailpeice and Grover tuners on, (same as on the MK), and it was a great move for that instrument.

[Dfyngravity]

I have a Siren Arm Rest...in fact I think it is the same that Chris Thile usues. What it does is it gets your arm off the mandolin. Any time you rest your arm on the mandolin it doesn't allow the top to vibrate as much. Just the same reason you use a tone guard on the back. When you rest your arm on it or you rest it against your body you are decreasing the total volume output and the tone of your mandolin is changed. And another thing it does atleast for me is that I don't rest my palm on the bridge any more because it elevate your arm, which again gives you better volume and tone. I got mine and janet davis music but I think you can get them at Siren Mandolins and Arm Rests (http://www.sirenstringworks.com).

[mcarufe]

get the weber tailpice armrest combo. Great looks great fuction and ask verne tho bull nose the radius. It makes if much more comfortable. Don't forget the wood nymph and you will have upgraded your instrument to a new level. Get it directly from sound to earth as they helped me experiment with mine until they got it correct.Makes me look foward to practice when my right arm is not digging into a tailpice. Looks are killer. Verne Brekke has made some great but subtle evolutions to the mando and they will work with you until you are happy. Added benefit is the W inlay upsidedown turns into an M sort of goes well with th MK on the pighead. Still wish the mando had two W's if you get my drift. Overall very respecful AFTER set up and upgrade.
Still have original bridge but notice a big difference after having it fitted properly. Is a new bridge going to bring that much difference and has anyone used the Brekke bridge?
Mike Carufe
Naples Fl

[Christine W]

Allen tailpiece
sullivan bridge-from First quality
tomastick strings -heavies
siren- arm rest
I must say it's a hoss (in someone elses hands that is)

Ps the cheapest I found the arm rest and strings is at First quality music supply and if you join Bluegrass anonymous www.bluegrass-anonymous.org you get 10% off. (no financial interest just looking out for my fellow pickers)

[Danny]

MK upgrade's. This is question to Steve in Tampa. I'm in the process of possibly getting a Dragonfly with the fishman pickup, and the Allen tailpiece.I have to sell one of my custom acoustics first, and that's not as easy as it sounds! #First question: How do you like the Fishman, and what have you played it through? How does the straight acoustic tone sound? Last question.It's more of an aesthetic inquiry. I was wondering about the EQ set-up, and the area around the end-pin section.It seems like there's some plastic on the bottom next to the end-pin, and I can't figure why it's there? I haven't seen or played a Michael Kelly, but I zoomed in on some photo's at Muscian's Friend. I've read some comments that said all the on board electronic's make the mandolin feel heavy.Any comments on that aspect? I found a store about 150 miles down the road that will special order one for me, and they have some regular MK Legacy's I could try. Anyway get back to me when you can. Thanks.
Danny L.

[steve in tampa]

Danny,

Overall, I really like the Dragonfly. I will be getting a set up done on it, but it plays well out of the box.

The unplugged tone is excellent for a "green"instrument. Very nice bottom end, and a good woody chop. I expect it will sound much better in years to come as it opens up. The onboard electronics and their respective cout outs do not deaden it. Has a great sustain.

I have played through a few different amps, and the Fishman sounds best,and very natural, through a Fender Acoustosonic Jr. The signal is strong coming out, but needs a little processing to get the natural type sound I am looking for. I am still experimenting with that. Have not had all the gear out and plugged in, just some so far. Busy summer.

With other amps, I have had to back off on the bass and treble sliders to get a more natural sound.

I think that the overall sound of the instrument will improve with age.

It is nice having the onboard controls. I have been using an Ovation MM68 on stage, and would love to put the OP24 system in the MK, but it is a little larger.

The Fishman fits into the instrument nicely, and the jack is not through the endpin, but below. The plastic thing on the bottom is the battery holder. Active pickup.

The instrument does not feel heavy at all. Has some very nice flame on the back. The radiused fingerboard is a joy to play. I am very happy with it, and look forward to getting on stage with it.

[Danny]

Steve in Tampa,
# # # Thanks for the positve feedback. You answered all my insecurities. I'm looking forward to using it in a band context as well. I want to thank Scott for having this great site, so I can find resources like this to really help my musical adventures.
Danny L.

[Ancient]

I work at a music store and sell Michael Kelly mandos. We have found that the Fishman pickup system in the MKs is not very good. The only controls you have are bass,treble,and volume. There is no midrange control or slider. The complaint we have had about the pickup is that you can not get enough volume out of it. On stage even through a mix board the volume is just not there. We tried using a Fishman preamp to boost the volume and it has no effect. It is great for just sitting around the house and playing through an amp,but if you want to use it on stage it just does not work well. What we found that works really well is a Shadow SH2000 stick on pickup. It is all self contained and has an tone and volume control. You can stick this pickup on your mandolin anywhere you want to get the best sound. There is plenty of volume and it sounds great through an amp or sound system. I think that Michael Kelly will come up with a better pickup sometime soon.

[Stillpicking]

I got a Shadow pickup about a year ago for my MK and it works great, only draw back is when you don't want it #stuck on the top and take it off the sticky putty has to be wiped off with a little polish but it does come off fairly easy. This pick sound great for the money .

[Danny]

MK dilema!! Wow!! Now I'm totally confused about this Dragonfly purchase. I have Dean Markley Pickup for my Fender FM63, and it basically does the #job, when I need to be amplified. I was looking for something to just plug & go, but now whith the comments on the low output I'm back to square one. I've run into that problem before when I tried to use my Martin D-28 ( with a Thin line, under saddle P.U.) through Pro tools, and I just couldn't boost the volume at all. I wanted to upgrade my mandolin journey, and stick to the pacific rim approach, from Korea, but perhaps there all basically about the same #after all.I can pick up around 2K for one of my custom dreadnaughts, if I sell it, but that's not enough for a good domestic model. Next#option might be a Korg triton, and just upgrade my home studio scene!! I'll just dream about that high end Gibson down the road. Thanks for the info.
Danny L. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Greenmando]

I upgraded by taking it out of the case and replacing it with a Flatiron F http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Ancient]

if you are looking for a mando to play plugged in there are two mandos out there that you might take a look at. One is the Godin and the other is a Tacoma. The tacoma has a super pickup in it and with a preamp it works very well. You can get some nice warm and clean acoustic sounds. The Godin is more along the lines of a solid body. It has tone chambers built into the body. There is a built in volume and treble,mid,and bass sliders. You can also get some good sounds out of this mando. It sounds awsome through a sound system. I does not have a lot of sound unplugged like the Tacoma would. For playing in a place where noise is a problem either one works well. I play in a German restaurant three nights a week and I play the Godin on stage most of the time. There is a 9 volt battery in the Godin but after playing it for two years,the battery is still good. As long as you unplug it between sets it lasts a long time. The Tacoma does not have a battery.

[steve in tampa]

Danny,

If you want a hot pickup in a mandolin, try an Ovation MM68.

I hope you have the opportunity to actually try out several different instruments and set ups before you buy. It can be confusing if you are not sure exactly what you are after.

That is why some folks simply have several instruments for different applications.