Michael kelly mandolins...

**Chad Thorne** · Mar-23-2007, 4:04am

...are built in China, right? What do those of you who own/have owned one think of them?

**Keith Erickson** · Mar-23-2007, 9:07am

I know for a fact that mine is made in South Korea. I have an MK A+ that is a keeper. It's loud with a nice chop.

I will never get rid of it!!!!!

**bradeinhorn** · Mar-23-2007, 9:16am

yeah...korea...though that is not that easy to find on their website....

**Chad Thorne** · Mar-23-2007, 3:20pm

That's good to know. Thanks!

**JEStanek** · Mar-23-2007, 4:41pm

Michael Kelly Guitar Company a division of Hanser Music Group from here.
Michael Kelly myspace page identifies "him" as a male from Florida.
Hanser Music Group webpage

Folk of the Wood and other sites say they are Korean made and MK now has their own factory but another website I've seen (retailer) said MKs and MMs were made in the same Korean factory earlier on.

Korean. Some folks really love their MKs others have moved on to other brands.
edit: They don't make it clear that they are an import FWIW.
Jamie

**Super400** · Mar-23-2007, 5:00pm

Isn't it the law that any imported instruments must indicate where they originated with a sticker or some imprint? I recall Washburn faced some stiff fines a few years ago when some of the instruments had their stickers removed. The FTC came down quite hard on them.

**Chad Thorne** · Mar-23-2007, 6:04pm

Originally Posted by (Super400 @ Mar. 23 2007, 18:00)

Isn't it the law that any imported instruments must indicate where they originated with a sticker or some imprint? #I recall Washburn faced some stiff fines a few years ago when some of the instruments had their stickers removed. #The FTC came down quite hard on them.

MK mandos may well come through with the sticker indicating country of origin, they just don't trumpet it on the website.

I'm interested in them because I want to pick up a lefty "F" at a price I can afford but still have some quality to it. Many folks here will say "Eastman", and I know they're good; I just can't, for reasons of personal politics, buy that big-ticket an item from China. Knowing that MKs come from South Korea makes them a more attractive Asian import to me, also for the aforesaid reasons of personal politics. About which I will say no more!

**Tim2723** · Mar-24-2007, 8:06pm

I've been playing an MK Legacy FS-E for a little over a year now. #Three shows a week and no problems at all. #I think they're a lot of mando for the money. It was clearly labeled Korea, and I didn't expect it to come from anywhere else frankly, given the price tag. Goof materials and workmanship, great looks, solid sound. Eats batteries, but that's Fishman's issue.

**jim_n_virginia** · Mar-24-2007, 9:19pm

On an impulse I bough a Michael Kelly Legacy O and while it was pretty and had that familiar characteristic tubby oval hole sound it was a very quiet mandolin (I believe it was due to the thick lacquer) and I eventually sold it and bought an old Gibson oval hole that had the sound I wanted.

I think they are pretty good for the price you pay. The fit and finish is OK too, not great but OK. Not top of the food chain but not at the bottom either. With a good setup I have heard a few that sounded pretty good, the F holed style that is.

**dr.jazz** · Mar-30-2007, 5:24pm

I had two MK's break at the nut in transit. And when you see how much meat is carved out for the truss rod, you understand. Mind you I also had a number survive. Howevever, it is something to be aware of.

**mickey66** · Nov-01-2007, 3:20am

Originally Posted by (jim_n_virginia @ Mar. 24 2007, 22:19)

On an impulse I bough a Michael Kelly Legacy O and while it was pretty and had that familiar characteristic tubby oval hole sound it was a very quiet mandolin (I believe it was due to the thick lacquer) and I eventually sold it and bought an old Gibson oval hole that had the sound I wanted.

I think they are pretty good for the price you pay. The fit and finish is OK too, not great but OK. Not top of the food chain but not at the bottom either. With a good setup I have heard a few that sounded pretty good, the F holed style that is.

Well,I must respond to this one...I bought the MK L-O and mine is totaly different....Finish is a beauty....really loud and a nice full tone...finish is thick and seems to be that way on most pac-rim mandos....for the money it was a good buy....now you can flame me

**Soupy1957** · Nov-01-2007, 5:32am

My experience with MK is with the Legacy Edition, and I didn't like the radius'd neck. Otherwise, it was fine, .....for a Pacrim.

-Soupy1957

**DryBones** · Nov-01-2007, 6:10am

get a JBovier if you want a Korean built mandolin that actually sounds good and plays well. Just my 2 cents and as always YMMV

**newfs** · Nov-01-2007, 6:30am

I have a MK Legacy Dragonfly that I bought from Musicians friend last year and the fit and finish has been first class. The pins on the tail piece broke and MK replaced it after a phone call in less than a week. For the price I could not quibble.

Ron

**sirmando** · Nov-01-2007, 7:51am

I have a MK Dragon Fly II and I love it. #It looks good and out plays a find of mines F9. #I don't know if I just got lucky or what. #The only time I will get rid of it is if I need to sell it for a custom built mandolin.

**pickinpete** · Nov-01-2007, 9:12am

I was one of the first ones on this list to get a michael kelly like 2000 and still my only mandolin and it still kills alot of the mando's I play in stores..BUT, when I first got it I replaced the nut to bone, I have replaced the tuners, I have installed an allen solid tailpiece, I installed a randy wood bridge, added a tone guard (which I believe helped it open over the years) got a finish bubble on the back of the neck bad enuff I removed the finish on the neck, added an internal mcintyre feather with a 1/4 endpin jack (dont use anymore) and last year a crack developed at the bottom of BOTH f-holes and this year the scroll broke off the headstock and I had to glue it back on and did surgery to reattach with a dowelrod. oh and years ago I scooped the fingerboard extention. The intonation has never really been right but I've never found a mandolin that sounded better without going into the 2k to 3k price range..Including the gibson f9's and a9's...so still I wait. Original investment..$450.00..added $360 Plus some good old fashion sweat and elbow grease.But it has done very well for the last 7 years or so on stage just about every weekend and daily play and festivals and I still get alot of compliments on how good it sounds. Someday I hoped to achieve a weber or similar mando. But I dont regret my purchase of the michael kelly, Great first mandolin.

My thing over there says I joined 2004 but I think I rejoined under this name or something cuz I started playing in june 2000

**Steve Ostrander** · Nov-01-2007, 10:58am

I have a '07 MK Dragonfly and an Eastman md615. The Eastman is slightly woodier and bassier. The MK has more sustain and better treble. Also, the MK stays in tune better/longer. I find the fit and finish on the MK to be on the same par as the Eastman. I like them both, but If I could only have one, I'd have an Eastman, but I'd get a md815.

I played an MK Elegente at Elderly that I thought sounded really good for just under $1k. If you can't justify the Eastman, I'd get an Elegente, or a Kentucky km1000.

**Mandolusional** · Nov-01-2007, 10:58am

Yes, Korean they are, the general rule about MKs is that you are better off if you can play before buying because the quality varies considerably (though the newer ones I've seen and heard seem significantly more consistent).

I have a lefty '06 Dragonfly that I bought through Jeff and Mandolins & More, and in addition to my own enjoyment of the tone, others have commented that it sounds quite nice. #I haven't had any problems or complaints as far as workmanship or build quality. #A pro setup is a must. #For my particular mandolin I'd like more volume when I get in a room full of hand made American models (or a resonator banjo!), but that could be due to strings, bridge, setup, attack, or how mine was made because I have heard louder MKs but I've heard quieter mandos as well. #I've been fortunate to have a pleasing experience with mine and IF yours is similar, you can't go wrong.

**ALog** · Nov-01-2007, 11:19am

Just weighing in...but definately play one before you buy if at all possible...I have a MK Dragonfly II and an Elegante, and I played Eastmans AND Weber's that didn't sound as good. A pin on tailpiece broke and was fixed within 2 weeks. Both have been good mandolins and I have had no complaints whatsoever, but I would definately play one before you get. Get one that talks to you.

**johnwalser** · Nov-01-2007, 2:22pm

I have a Firefly Flame I bought on the internet site before they went thru dealers It has become a wonderful mandolin and worth many times what I paid for it. A few months ago I bought an MK Cream Special Edition and just hoped it would be decent. It has astounded me and is already probably 90% of my Firefly Flame.
I have been real lucky! I have played many MKs at festivals I wouldn't take if you gave them to me.
When the new Cream arrived it did need a rather extensive fitting of the bridge to correct sound. It also got much louder after I corrected bridge fit. I am a real believer that set-up is need to help any mandolin. Regardless if you develop the skills to do it yourself or have a real pro do his magic, make sure instrument gets a proper set-up.
John

**Skanderbeg** · Nov-01-2007, 3:11pm

I bought MK octave mandolin by mail order. It was a pretty instrument, but the sound was poor and the intonation was off so badly that nobody could fix it for less than an arm and leg. I would be hesitant to buy an MK unless you played it and were satisfied with the sound, finish and intonation.

**twist_of_nate** · Nov-01-2007, 3:44pm

There's a sticker on the inside of my MK that says it was 'carefully crafted in Korea', but 'designed and inspected in USA'. It's the only mandolin I've ever had so I don't know any better, but it sure seems to play good to me.

**FredB** · Nov-01-2007, 3:46pm

I bought a 2yr old Dragonfly Flame several years ago from the Classifieds. I took it in for new strings and a pro setup. And love it. Later I had to replace some frets and have a few in upper register reglued. But it sounds real nice, has good chop and volume. And is a pleasure to play.
Fred

**mickey66** · Nov-01-2007, 4:29pm

Originally Posted by (bradeinhorn @ Mar. 23 2007, 10:16)

yeah...korea...though that is not that easy to find on their website....

Hey! I like your myspace page....sounds good!

**mickey66** · Nov-01-2007, 5:43pm

I don't know if this is true or not but some dealers that I have talked too have said they believe MK's will be made in China very soon...your guess and mine is as good as anybody's? It would make sense cost wise.If you buy one online other than say from "The Mandolin Store" or another good dealer with a good "Rep"you are taking a big risk IMHO. Best of luck with your search.