Michael Kelly Forte Koa 10 Acoustic-Electric Guitar, 10-String
This guitar stands out with a 10-string setup, stunning koa wood, an offset soundhole for enhanced resonance, Fishman electronics, and a comfortable cutaway.
Overall User Ratings (based on 3 ratings)
Submitted January 9, 2021 by anthony kehoe in ocala, FL
"what a fun guitar to play"
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This is an amazingly fun guitar to play. I highly recommend it. For reference my main is a Martin D35 and I am a professional church musician. I have owned many 12 strings such as Taylor, Martin and Takamine, but the wide necks and string tension pushed me away from them after 30 years. While searching for narrow neck 12 string I came across this, watched some videos about Kelly guitars, and took a chance. So glad I did. Now on to the detailed review. Fit and feel: Its a grand auditorium size so it is by no means a big boomy 12 like a jumbo or dreadnought, but it definitely has a rich, smooth voice with pleasant overtones. But OH MY GOD the slim neck and single E and A strings....makes this so much easier to fingerpick and play bar chords on. It feels like a six string which is what I wanted. This is a guitar that is very comfortable to hangout with, sitting standing, lounging, etc. Appearance and construction: utterly beautiful and flawless construction. Tight seams and joints. Finish is like glass. Because of the side hole I could see inside, and the top is actually a beautiful piece of mahogany with koa laminate, not a cheap piece of plywood laminate. Sound: unplugged, it has a very warm sound with great sustain and reverberation. When strummed hard you get distorted overtones, but that is my experience with any grand auditorium sized guitar. Strummed moderately it has a sweet, balanced voice. Plugged in is where I show my bias. While the sound is very clean and warm, I have never been a fan of piezo-only systems, and so will add an internal mike. It does not "quack" which was a great relief, but it still sounds too "electric/magnetic" for my taste. My reference is the Fishman rare Earth Blend I have in my Martin which to me is unsurpassed in natural sound. I dinged a half a star in my review for the onboard sound. In the end this is just an enjoyable, comfortable guitar that I would recommend to anyone who has wanted a 12 string or tried one and found it hard to play and keep in tune. I truly wish I had found something like this a long time ago.
Musical Background:
professional church musician 40 years
Musical Style:
blues, contemporary christian, folk
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Submitted December 29, 2022 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Terrible"
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I own Michael Kelly guitars and whatever company took over is just bad. These used to feel like a high end instrument and now feel like cheap china garbage. Still have 1 more payment on it and it now has dead frets 13th fret and higher just stay away from Michael Kelly brand now. Came with a broken tuner and the company sends the wrong tuner to replace it just garbage....
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Submitted November 28, 2021 by Fuzzy Butkus in Durand, MI
"Just wondering"
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What the hell is a professional church musician?? No,Offense but who’s paying your salary?? Is it God,His agent,His booker,His producer,wait that’s impossible. I gotta know. Can I get a application??You gotta use your own equipment??. Last but not least was that you Cutting heads with the karate kid.It is isn’t it.I thought you were playing for god. Who are you playing for?? Could it be SATAN.LOL. I couldn’t help it sorry. Have a good one.
Musical Background:
Blues,Casual player but are taking seriously since retirement.
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