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Thread: NMD Kelley A5

  1. #1

    Default NMD Kelley A5

    Welp, Kelley A5 #79 arrived safe and sound yesterday! Thanks to Kevin at Mandomutt in NC for working with me, and especially answering my questions over the weekend. I'm not recommending you bother him on the weekend, but it was nice of him to respond when I did. Great customer service, highly recommend checking out his inventory when you're in the market. I believe he is the sole retailer of new Kelley mandos, so he's got that going for him!

    I'm sold on Skip's quality of work, attention to detail, and ability to dial in a winning combo of materials, hardware, and construction! The 100 year-old red spruce top sounds nice and played-in already, and I'm sure it'll only get better with time and miles. All the hardware is top notch. The Schaller GrandTune tuners are especially smooth and seem to hold pitch well. This is my first mando with EVO gold frets, and I like them so far. Can't go wrong with a James tailpiece. The finish is fantastic, and I'm soaking in that new mandolin smell!

    Overall, it plays like a dream and the tone is spot on what I was hoping for. Has that dry, woody bark when you lay into it, and yet has a full, rich tone at the same time. Chords punch and single notes sing, couldn't ask for a better bluegrass mando! I don't know how Mr. Kelley has not got a bigger reputation yet, but I can see why folks that have played one are singing his praise. And I say that only because I wasn't aware of his mandolins prior to my recent thread trying to find a builder that could do an A5 with a great bluegrass tone. Maybe it's just me who was out of the loop.

    Anyhoo, here's some pics of #79!
    Click image for larger version. 

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  3. #2
    Registered User Lucas's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Congratulations! I'm glad to hear you made the right choice.

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  5. #3
    Registered User
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    That is on nice looking mandolin. Enjoy!

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  7. #4
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Looks just fine! Glad you're loving it!

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  9. #5
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Looks good Brad! That should keep you pickin till the Apitius build is done.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  11. #6
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Heck of a luthier and heck of a nice guy.
    Chris Cravens

    Girouard A5
    Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
    Passernig Mandola
    Leo Posch D-18

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  13. #7

    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Looks good Brad! That should keep you pickin till the Apitius build is done.
    In theory, I'm on the wait list for Oliver's wait list. So, that could be a good long while. But this one will absolutely do the job in the mean time and then some! After a couple years of play time, this one will very likely give a fresh Apitius and good run for its money!

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  15. #8
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Neat-o! Congrats and happy picking

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  17. #9
    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Congrats! Skip and Kevin are both really great guys. Kevin let me stop by fairly late one evening when I bought #54.
    A couple of years later, Skip was very generous in his pricing and did a great job on putting EVO frets on it for me.

    Hope you enjoy it!
    Drew
    2020 Northfield 4th Gen F5
    2022 Northfield NFS-F5E
    2019 Northfield Flat Top Octave
    2021 Gold Tone Mando Cello
    https://www.instagram.com/pilotdrew85

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  19. #10

    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Looks nice

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  21. #11
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD Kelley A5

    Thank you everyone for your kind words; I really appreciate it!

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