Michael Kelly Hybrid Special Spalted Maple Burst Electric Guitar

Electric power. Acoustic-inspired versatility. One striking instrument.

The Michael Kelly Hybrid Special in Spalted Maple Burst is designed for guitarists who want more tonal flexibility from a single instrument.

Combining traditional magnetic pickups with a piezo-equipped bridge system, the Hybrid Special gives players access to electric guitar tones, acoustic-style sounds, and blended combinations of both without requiring a guitar change in the middle of a song or performance.

Add its distinctive spalted maple appearance, chambered construction and performance-oriented electronics, and the result is a versatile guitar built for working musicians, worship players, singer-songwriters, studio guitarists and performers who regularly move between acoustic and electric textures.

How Does the Michael Kelly Hybrid Special Work?

The secret to the Hybrid Special is its dual pickup system.

Traditional magnetic pickups capture the electric-guitar character players expect for clean tones, overdrive, effects and amplified performance.

A separate piezo system captures vibration at the bridge and provides a more acoustic-inspired tonal character.

You can use the magnetic pickups by themselves.

Use the piezo system by itself.

Or combine the two.

This makes it possible to move between electric and acoustic-style textures—or create layered hybrid sounds—from the same guitar.

For performers who would otherwise bring both an acoustic-electric and a conventional electric guitar to a gig, that flexibility can simplify the entire rig.

Electric & Acoustic-Style Sounds from One Guitar

A conventional electric guitar relies primarily on magnetic pickups.

The Hybrid Special adds another tonal dimension through its piezo system.

That opens the door to sounds suitable for:

• Clean electric rhythm

• Driven electric tones

• Acoustic-style rhythm

• Singer-songwriter accompaniment

• Worship music

• Pop

• Country

• Rock

• Studio layering

• Live performance

Instead of thinking of the Hybrid Special as a guitar with only one tonal personality, think of it as an instrument designed to cover multiple roles.

Rockfield Magnetic Pickups

The magnetic side of the Hybrid Special uses Rockfield humbucking pickups for full-bodied electric guitar tones.

Humbuckers are well suited for everything from warm cleans and smooth rhythm parts to driven lead tones and heavier amplification.

Combined with the Hybrid Special's switching and control system, the magnetic pickups provide a broad electric foundation before the piezo system is even introduced.

Piezo Bridge System

The piezo-equipped bridge is what gives the Hybrid Special its second voice.

Unlike conventional magnetic pickups, piezo elements respond to the physical vibration of the strings at the bridge.

The resulting signal has a different character from a magnetic electric-guitar pickup and can be used for acoustic-inspired sounds.

For live musicians, this can be extremely convenient.

Play an electric part during the verse.

Move into an acoustic-style texture for another section.

Blend the two for additional dimension.

And do it without putting one guitar down and picking up another.

Blend Electric & Piezo Tones

One of the most creative ways to use the Hybrid Special is to combine its magnetic and piezo sounds.

The magnetic system can provide the body, warmth and character of an electric guitar while the piezo adds articulation and an acoustic-style edge.

Blending the two can create tones that aren't easily achieved with a conventional electric or acoustic guitar alone.

This makes the Hybrid Special particularly interesting for studio players and musicians who build layered arrangements.

Dual-Output Flexibility

The Hybrid Special's output architecture provides additional possibilities for advanced live and studio rigs.

Depending on how the instrument is connected, its magnetic and piezo signals can be incorporated into different amplification or processing paths.

For example, a player can build a rig where the electric side feeds an electric guitar amplifier or pedalboard while the piezo signal is routed toward an appropriate acoustic amplification, PA or processing system.

This can create a dramatically more convincing hybrid setup than simply sending every sound through the same signal chain.

Chambered Body Design

The Hybrid Special uses chambered construction, contributing to the instrument's resonance and overall character.

The chambered design also complements the hybrid concept by creating an instrument intended to feel alive and responsive while still maintaining the practicality of an electric-guitar format.

Spalted Maple Burst Appearance

The Spalted Maple Burst finish gives this model a distinctive natural character.

Spalting creates irregular lines and figuring in the wood, meaning the visual pattern can naturally vary from instrument to instrument.

Rather than looking mass-produced and identical, the figuring can give each guitar its own visual personality.

The burst treatment highlights that natural grain while creating a premium appearance suitable for the stage, studio or collection.

Comfortable Performance-Oriented Neck

The Hybrid Special is designed for players who may need to move through several styles during the same performance.

Its neck and fingerboard provide the familiar playing experience expected from a modern electric guitar, making it easy to transition between rhythm work, chordal playing and lead lines.

That means you can access acoustic-inspired sounds without giving up the feel and playability of an electric guitar.

A Powerful Guitar for Live Performers

The Hybrid Special becomes particularly valuable on stage.

Imagine a set where one song requires electric guitar, another needs an acoustic-style texture, and a third moves between both sounds.

Normally, that could mean multiple guitars, multiple stands and instrument changes between songs.

The Hybrid Special can cover those different tonal roles from one instrument.

For touring musicians, event performers, worship guitarists and working professionals, fewer instrument changes can mean a simpler and more efficient stage setup.

Excellent Studio Versatility

The same flexibility is valuable in recording.

Use the magnetic pickups for a traditional electric part.

Use the piezo system for a contrasting acoustic-style layer.

Blend the two signals to create a hybrid texture.

Or process the signals differently to build a wider arrangement from a single performance.

For producers and session guitarists, one instrument capable of creating several distinct tonal colors can become an extremely useful studio tool.

Key Features & Specifications

Instrument Type: Hybrid electric guitar
Series: Hybrid Special
Finish: Spalted Maple Burst
Body Construction: Chambered
Top: Spalted maple
Neck: Performance-oriented electric guitar neck
Scale Length: 25.5"
Frets: 22
Magnetic Pickups: Rockfield humbuckers
Piezo System: Bridge-mounted piezo pickup system
Pickup Configurations: Magnetic electric tones + piezo acoustic-style tones
Hybrid Capability: Magnetic and piezo signals can be used for expanded tonal options
Controls: Dedicated controls for managing the instrument's electric and piezo capabilities
Output Configuration: Designed to support versatile hybrid signal-routing applications
Primary Applications: Live performance, studio recording, worship, pop, rock, country, singer-songwriter and multi-genre performance

Natural wood figuring and appearance may vary from instrument to instrument.

Who Is the Michael Kelly Hybrid Special For?

Working & Touring Guitarists — Cover electric and acoustic-style parts while reducing the number of guitars required on stage.

Worship Guitarists — Move between ambient electric textures, rhythm parts and acoustic-style sounds within the same performance.

Singer-Songwriters — Accompany vocals with acoustic-inspired tones while retaining access to a full electric-guitar sound.

Studio Musicians — Create multiple tonal layers from a single instrument and experiment with hybrid signal processing.

Cover & Event Bands — Move through songs requiring dramatically different guitar sounds without constant instrument changes.

Multi-Genre Players — Use one guitar across pop, rock, country, worship and other styles.

Guitarists Who Love Unique Woods — The Spalted Maple Burst appearance gives the instrument a distinctive visual identity in addition to its tonal flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hybrid electric guitar?
A hybrid guitar combines more than one approach to sound generation. The Michael Kelly Hybrid Special uses conventional magnetic electric-guitar pickups along with a piezo bridge system for acoustic-style tonal possibilities.

Can the Hybrid Special sound like an electric guitar?
Yes. Its Rockfield magnetic pickups provide conventional amplified electric-guitar tones for clean, overdriven and effects-based playing.

Can it produce acoustic-style sounds?
Yes. The piezo bridge system provides a more acoustic-inspired tonal character than traditional magnetic electric-guitar pickups.

Can I combine the electric and piezo sounds?
Yes. Combining the two systems is one of the Hybrid Special's biggest creative advantages and allows players to develop layered tones between conventional electric and acoustic-style sounds.

Does this replace an acoustic guitar completely?
The piezo system is designed to provide acoustic-style amplified tones, but the Hybrid Special remains its own type of instrument. Players specifically seeking the natural unplugged projection and physical response of a traditional acoustic guitar may still prefer a dedicated acoustic instrument.

Why would I choose a hybrid guitar?
A hybrid guitar can be especially useful when you need multiple tonal characters during the same performance or recording session but don't want to continually switch instruments.

Is the Hybrid Special good for live performances?
Yes. Live versatility is one of its strongest applications because a player can access electric, piezo and blended tonal options from one guitar.

Is it good for recording?
Yes. The different pickup systems provide multiple tonal options for tracking and layering guitar parts in a studio.

Will every Spalted Maple Burst guitar look exactly the same?
No. Natural wood grain and spalting can vary, so individual instruments may have differences in figuring, pattern and appearance.

One Guitar. More Ways to Perform.

The Michael Kelly Hybrid Special Spalted Maple Burst brings together Rockfield magnetic pickups, piezo technology, chambered construction and striking natural wood character in one versatile instrument.

Play electric.

Switch to an acoustic-inspired texture.

Blend the two.

Build a more flexible live rig.

Create new layers in the studio.

For musicians who regularly need more than one guitar sound, the Hybrid Special provides a creative way to cover more musical territory without constantly changing instruments.

Need help completing your guitar setup?
Backline Music Gear can help identify compatible amplifiers, acoustic amplification, effects, DI solutions, pedalboards, cases, straps, cables and other accessories based on how you plan to use your Hybrid Special.

Michael Kelly Guitars, Hybrid Special, Rockfield and related names are trademarks of their respective owners. Product and trademark names are used solely for accurate product identification. Natural wood appearance varies. Specifications, hardware, electronics and included accessories are subject to manufacturer changes; verify the specific instrument configuration at time of purchase.