Michael Kelly Elegante question (hold the boo's)

**MandoJam** · Jun-18-2011, 2:41am

Hey guys---I know Michael Kelly doesn't have the best reputation around here, but I bought an MK Legacy Elegante from Elderley about 5 years ago and I love the thing. It plays loud and the chop is perfect. It sounds great recorded and I've had alot of fun with it.
My question is has anybody played one with a lower action? I've been playing with the Elderley standard middle action with medium strings but I need to give my hands a break. I want to lower the action and start using light strings and I would like to be able to play with an easier touch. If there are any players who have had experience playing higher end MK's with low action, let me know how it works.

**trevor** · Jun-18-2011, 5:12am

It only takes a few minutes to lower the action. Why not find out how it works for you on your mandolin?

**KristinEliza** · Jun-18-2011, 6:37am

I changed to light gauge Thomastik strings on my MK dragonfly...love it. I'll get it properly set up this next week as the action is a bit too low on the G strings.

**Paul Busman** · Jun-18-2011, 8:08am

What's the problem with MKs? The few I've played at a local shop seem pretty nice.

**adizz** · Jun-18-2011, 8:54am

It all will depend on your set up. If your frets are are level you should have no problem. A lot of the old MK's develop a hump at the body joint.

**mandobassman** · Jun-18-2011, 9:42am

I would imagine that if you lower the action and use lighter strings you will lose much of the volume and tone you describe, but it's not that difficult to try. You can always go back to the original set up. As far as MK quality is concerned, I had two MKs. One was a Legacy Custom from 1999. MK customer service said it was the first mandolin model they made. I also had a 2003 Legacy Evolution. They were two of the worst mandolins I ever played. Lousy tone, not much volume, and the Evolution had a very compressed sound with no dynamics at all. It had nothing to do with set up. I sold it and bought the Breedlove I have now. The Breedlove was only about $300 more than the Evolution but it has 20 time the tone, volume and playing ease. I have heard some people talk about their great sounding MKs. I have heard 4 of them and they were all mediocre at best.

**KristinEliza** · Jun-18-2011, 10:23am

so much for holding the boos.

**mandobassman** · Jun-18-2011, 11:04am

You're right. Sorry about that! The person playing the mandolin is the only one who has to like it. As long as you're happy with it that's all that matters.