Michael Kelly Sojourn 24.5" scale Acoustic Bass

[moonshinegtrs]

This may have already been posted... Has anybody seen this?



http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/a...-4-travel-bass

Wow... 24.5" scale, solid spruce top & B-Band p/u & electronics for around $350 street price.

I would love to check one out.

Moonshine

[SBassman]

Impressive specs at that price. Check out the YouTube video.

[SBassman]

Minus 20 points for the company. I wrote to them for more info, and haven't heard back. Yes, I know, I need to give them more time.

More important - something is not right about distribution of MK basses. A couple of years ago, they had a whole lot more dealers. I don't see Any of the big name online dealers carrying them anymore. There must be a story to that.

All of the dealers claiming stock on this bass are Mom and Pops.
I don't see a single big name stocking it.

[Orangeclawhamme]

/

[Darkstrike]

24.5" scale eh? Interesting. I done that with an old cheapie strat once, and loved it, bit I had to use heavy ass strings, BEAD tuned to standard. I wonder what's going on here...

[SBassman]

Anybody get their hands on one yet?

[macmanlou]

I ordered one at Washington Music Center (Chuck Levin's) today.

I'll come back with further info. So far, it looks good and the price is right. I do hope there's a hardshell case that it will fit in. Even a cheap solid top acoustic instrument ought to have a hard case.

I like my P Bass Jr. (28.59" scale). I tried out a U-Bass (21"), but it's just too short for me.

Best regards,
Lou

[SBassman]

Looking forward to your review.

[macmanlou]

I emailed them yesterday with a question about strings and Tim Keyes (Production Manager) got back to me within 12 hours (the bass comes with D'Addario EXL170's, but D'Addario is developing a specific set for it).

Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center does have the Sojourn 4 on its web store site. They are a family-run business, but they're a pretty darn big company. I live nearby, so I'm going to pick mine up at the store.

Best regards,
Lou

Originally Posted by SBassman

Minus 20 points for the company. I wrote to them for more info, and haven't heard back. Yes, I know, I need to give them more time.

More important - something is not right about distribution of MK basses. A couple of years ago, they had a whole lot more dealers. I don't see Any of the big name online dealers carrying them anymore. There must be a story to that.

All of the dealers claiming stock on this bass are Mom and Pops.
I don't see a single big name stocking it.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by macmanlou

I ordered one at Washington Music Center (Chuck Levin's) today.

I'll come back with further info. So far, it looks good and the price is right. I do hope there's a hardshell case that it will fit in. Even a cheap solid top acoustic instrument ought to have a hard case.

I like my P Bass Jr. (28.59" scale). I tried out a U-Bass (21"), but it's just too short for me.

Best regards,
Lou

Get it yet? What do you think?

[macmanlou]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Get it yet? What do you think?

I picked it up this afternoon. It's nicely constructed and finished, looking just like the photos. Overall length is about 36", and it's about 13" wide at the lower bout. Body depth is about 3 1/2" or so. 1 11/16" at the nut (maybe a bit wider, but not quite 1 3/4"). The strings measure up to .045, .065, .080 and .100", phosphor-bronze. The acoustic sound is nice, much nicer than the mahogany U-Bass I tried. Still, don't expect to do much more than entertain yourself without amplification. It's quite small.

The B-Band electronics work great! This thing sounds really, really good plugged in (warm, even, powerful). I think it's a much better sound than the U-Bass in that regard as well. All you get is a volume pot under the edge of the sound hole, so I'm betting the 9V battery will go flat pretty quick if I don't keep it turned all the way down when I'm not using it.

The gig bag is OK and fits well. I couldn't find a hard case to fit it at Chuck Levin's, so I'm hopeful that Hanser comes up with one before too long...

Best regards,
Lou

[cfsporn]

Am I the only one who thinks this would make an excellent acoustic piccolo bass?

[RadioactiveGuy4]

I wish MK would make some electric basses. I love their electric guitars. In fact if they made a bass that looks like this ( see pic) I would buy it in a heart beat!

[SBassman]

Ok - time for a follow up on this bass. How is it doing?
How is the intonation?

[macmanlou]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Ok - time for a follow up on this bass. How is it doing?
How is the intonation?

I'm really enjoying the little bass. No complaints at all. Intonation is a tad-bit sharp at the 12th fret (not unusual for an acoustic bass guitar - my Martin 34" scale bass was just as sharp), but to my ears it's acceptable.

Best regards,
Lou

[SBassman]

I'm starting to see stock flow on this bass. Anyone else pick one up? Wish I could hear it.

I'm kind of amazed when companies spend the time to introduce a new design, but don't spend any time
posting a demo. The only video MK has on this - is about a 20 second look at a NAMM show. With the person
not even picking the bass up. Amazing.

[brntrssll]

Originally Posted by cfsporn

Am I the only one who thinks this would make an excellent acoustic piccolo bass?

I also am wondering about one of these as a piccolo bass!

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by macmanlou

I'm really enjoying the little bass. No complaints at all. Intonation is a tad-bit sharp at the 12th fret (not unusual for an acoustic bass guitar - my Martin 34" scale bass was just as sharp), but to my ears it's acceptable.

Best regards,
Lou

Few questions, if you don't mind?

1. How is intonation at, say - the 7th fret. Is it close to perfect?

2. What do you observe about the stability of the strings at that tension? Does it stay in tune? Could you play an hour set without having to touch the tuning?

3. How does the E string sound? Muddy or relatively clear?

Thanks.

I still can't believe the MK company hasn't bothered to post a video of this bass. I wrote to them twice over the past few months, and I have had zero response.

[macmanlou]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Few questions, if you don't mind?

1. How is intonation at, say - the 7th fret. Is it close to perfect?

2. What do you observe about the stability of the strings at that tension? Does it stay in tune? Could you play an hour set without having to touch the tuning?

3. How does the E string sound? Muddy or relatively clear?

Thanks.

I still can't believe the MK company hasn't bothered to post a video of this bass. I wrote to them twice over the past few months, and I have had zero response.

1. Intonation is close to right at the 7th fret - maybe a couple of cents sharp. A compensated bridge saddle would help here.

2. It surprisingly stays in tune - almost as well as the flatwound Thomastiks on my 32" scale Squier.

3. The E is very clear when amplified - a bit muddy acoustic (but MUCH clearer than the U-Bass).

I think MK would sell a ton of them if they'd get the word out.

Best regards,
Lou

[lowfunk99]

I have called them 3 times with no return call. I want to play one before I order it.