Are they awful? A deal? Solid mid?

MonkeyZero

MonkeyZero

Mexican Mayonnaise Weiner Sandwich
In my ridiculous search for new guitars I have come across a few, unknown to me, companies. Anyone know anything about them?
Michael Kelly
Sire Larry Carlton
Chris Mitchell Guitars aka CMG
Are they just Squier/Epiphone level offerings? Worse? Better? (I like their price points)

Side note, my father just met Chris Mitchell at his shop in Statesboro. Said he was a cool dude and his guitars played and sounded great. Apparently he had some custom amps in the shop too but I don't see them on their website.
 
I have a Michael Kelly LP clone I bought from PK years ago. Quality seems fine for it's price point, I've never had a similar guitar to compare it to. It just doesn't seem to speak to me like my strat or tele but I'm afraid to get rid of it also. Maybe I'll change the pickups one day and see if that changes.

I've heard good things about Sires; they seem to be competitive in the budget market and are a "good bang for buck" type company. No experience with them, though.
 
There was a Michael Kelly Tele-ish thing at the local Mom and Pop. I had seen pics of it on the internet but, I was so excited when I found out local store had them. The pics I had seen, the guitar was drool worthy. Actual guitar for sale? NO!

This was 10 years ago, don't know if quality has changed- I'd say Squire, 10 years ago, would be a good equivalent to MK 10 years ago. Definitely not Classic Vibe quality.

I think Sire is well thought of. They seem to love them on Talk Bass.
 
Michael Kelly-solid mid. Good QC and decent construction, but overly blinged out and have the intangible lack of soul. Never owned one but a Mom and Pop I frequented in the late 90s and early 00s had a bunch of them. The mandolins were. kinda the same, solid, flashy, sound meh.
Sire-was looking at their basses online but wound up with a slightly used Vintera Jazz instead. No Sires in the local shops.
Mitchell-no experience other than acoustics in local music stores in the 90s. I was never impressed enough to swap my old $150 Alvarez for one but they seemed an ok entry level guitar. Grade-Low Mid
 
I usually see Michael Kelly guitars at Sam Ash. I know a few other dealers sell them. I think Zzounds does. Well made guitars.

Sire guitars started with Marcus Miller designed basses. They recently branched out to guitars designed with Larry Carlton. I had one of the 335 type guitars for a bit. Nice chunky necks, but the pickups aren't great. I also like the ebony fretboard. It seem they are priced better at Thomann than any of the US dealers even with shipping. I'd have no hesitancy buying another Sire if the price is right. They are really well made guitars and basses.

Chris Mitchell of CMG guitars has been around for a few years. His Ashlee series is a LP copy. I tried one, but I didn't like the way it was cut. The edges where your arm rests tend to be sharp and not so comfy. His stock pickups are made by the same people who make PRS SE pickups.
 
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