The Guitar Player's Resource
Critical Acclaim Doesn't Happen by Accident
Awards mean nothing if the guitar collecting them can't back up the hype with actual performance. This Patriot Instinct has been earning critical praise for over a decade not because of clever marketing, but because Michael Kelly understood something fundamental: archtop single cutaways need to deliver both visual elegance and sonic versatility without compromise.
The Mod Shop treatment elevates an already exceptional instrument into something genuinely special. Those Bare Knuckle Mule pickups aren't just premium upgrades - they're time machines disguised as magnetic transducers, delivering vintage PAF voice with modern reliability. The Bare Knuckle crew's no-compromises approach to tone reproduction means you're getting authentic vintage character without the maintenance headaches that plague actual '50s pickups.
But here's where this Patriot gets genuinely interesting: that Great 8 electronics modification doubles your sonic possibilities through intelligent engineering rather than complicated switching. Those push-pull volume knobs split each humbucker independently, giving you single-coil clarity alongside traditional humbucker power. Need crystalline neck pickup cleans for jazz chords? Pull that volume knob. Want snarling bridge humbucker aggression for rock leads? Push it back down. You control each pickup separately, maximizing tonal options without cluttering the control layout.
That deeply arched quilt maple top over mahogany body creates the perfect balance between acoustic resonance and electric sustain. The long-set neck construction provides superior sustain transfer while that 12-inch radius pau ferro fingerboard feels comfortable for both rhythm work and expressive bending. Those genuine pearl and abalone Instinct inlays aren't just decorative flourishes - they're navigational landmarks during complex passages.
The chrome hardware and string-through-body Tune-O-Matic bridge complete the package with mechanical reliability that won't let you down during crucial performance moments.
Top: Quilt Maple
Body: Mahogany
Binding: Cream
Construction: Long-Set
Neck: Mahogany
Binding: Cream
Fretboard: Pau Ferro
Fretboard Radius: 12 Inch / 30.48cm
Number of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Inlays: Instinct, Genuine Pearl with Abalone
Headstock: Traditional MK Electric
Scale Length: 24.75 in / 628.65 mm
Truss Rod Type: Dual Action
Neck Profile: Modern C
Nut Material: Synthetic Graphite
Nut Type: Standard
Nut Width: 43 mm
Strings: D'Addario EXL120 (.009-.042)
Electronics: Great 8 Full-Tap Mod
Neck Pickup: Bare Knuckle The Mule
Bridge Pickup: Bare Knuckle The Mule
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Tuning Keys: Grover Tuners
Bridge Type: Tune-O-Matic with String-Thru-Body
