Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Cherry Red Electric Guitar

Lightweight slim-body construction. Rich open-pore Cherry Red styling. Dual humbuckers with eight pickup configurations. A versatile single-cut electric guitar designed for comfort, tone and modern performance.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Cherry Red is a distinctive solid-body electric guitar that combines classic single-cut inspiration with a thinner, lightweight body, expanded pickup switching and a striking open-pore finish.

Its slim mahogany body is topped with exotic sungkai and finished in Cherry Red Open Pore, allowing the natural texture and grain character of the wood to remain an important part of the instrument's appearance.

Underneath that finish is one of the Patriot Decree SB's biggest advantages: Michael Kelly's Great 8 Mod.

Two Rockfield Select Wound Custom humbuckers provide the guitar's primary voices, while individual mini-toggle coil-split switches expand the electronics beyond a traditional dual-humbucker configuration.

Combined with the 3-way pickup selector, the system provides eight pickup configurations, giving players considerably more tonal flexibility from a single guitar.

A set-in mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Modern C neck profile, 22 medium-jumbo frets, contoured heel, Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-through-body design and Grover tuning machines complete a performance-focused instrument suited to rock, blues, alternative, pop, worship, recording and live performance.

How Does the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Work?

The Patriot Decree SB is a solid-body electric guitar.

When you pick or strum the strings:

Strings Vibrate → Magnetic Pickups Capture the Vibrations → Guitar Electronics Route the Signal → Amplifier Produces the Sound

The pickups convert the strings' movement into an electrical signal.

That signal can then be sent through compatible:

• Guitar amplifiers

• Pedalboards

• Effects processors

• Modeling systems

• Audio interfaces

• Recording equipment

What separates the Patriot Decree SB from a basic two-humbucker guitar is the way those pickups can be configured.

Great 8 Mod – Eight Pickup Configurations

The Patriot Decree SB features Michael Kelly's Great 8 Mod.

The system combines:

2 Rockfield Humbuckers

1 Traditional 3-Way Pickup Selector

2 Individual Coil-Split Mini-Toggles

Together, these controls provide access to eight different pickup configurations.

That gives players the ability to move between full humbucker operation and additional split-coil textures without changing guitars.

For musicians who regularly move between rhythm, lead, clean and driven sounds during the same performance, that flexibility can be extremely useful.

What Is Coil Splitting?

A humbucker contains two coils working together.

Coil splitting allows one of those coils to be switched out of the signal path.

In simple terms:

Full Humbucker → Both Coils Active

Split Configuration → One Coil Active

The split configuration creates a different tonal response from the full humbucker.

It should not be considered identical to every purpose-built traditional single-coil pickup, but it provides a useful additional voice from the same pickup.

Because the Patriot Decree SB allows each humbucker to be controlled independently, you can create multiple combinations.

Rockfield Select Wound Custom Humbuckers

The guitar features two Rockfield Select Wound Custom humbuckers.

The humbuckers provide a strong tonal foundation for applications ranging from clean playing to driven rhythm and lead work.

Use them for:

• Rock

• Blues

• Alternative

• Pop

• Worship

• Contemporary music

• Lead guitar

• Rhythm guitar

• Studio recording

Then use the Great 8 switching to access additional textures when the arrangement calls for something different.

Slim, Lightweight Body

One of the biggest practical advantages of the Patriot Decree SB is its slim-body architecture.

Traditional single-cut electric guitars can sometimes become relatively heavy during long performances.

The SB design reduces body thickness and unnecessary bulk while retaining a full-scale electric-guitar playing platform.

That can be particularly valuable during:

• Long rehearsals

• Multi-set performances

• Recording sessions

• Worship services

• Theater productions

• Touring

• Extended practice sessions

A lighter guitar can make a significant difference after several hours of playing.

Mahogany Body

The Patriot Decree SB uses a slim mahogany body.

Mahogany is widely used in electric-guitar construction and provides a familiar foundation for a broad range of playing styles.

The thinner architecture helps distinguish the SB from heavier, full-thickness single-cut designs.

Exotic Sungkai Top

The mahogany body is paired with an exotic sungkai top.

Because this model uses an open-pore finish, the wood itself becomes an important part of the visual presentation.

Instead of completely hiding the surface beneath an opaque gloss treatment, the finish allows the natural texture of the sungkai to remain visible.

Cherry Red Open-Pore Finish

The Cherry Red Open Pore finish gives this version of the Patriot Decree SB a completely different personality from the Faded Black model.

The rich red treatment emphasizes the texture of the wood rather than hiding it beneath a mirror-like finish.

The result is:

Bold without being overly glossy.

Colorful without covering the natural character of the wood.

Modern while retaining an organic, wood-focused appearance.

Because wood is a natural material, grain patterns and visual characteristics can vary between individual instruments.

Those variations are part of the character of an open-pore guitar.

Set-In Mahogany Neck

The Patriot Decree SB features a set-in mahogany neck.

Instead of attaching the neck with a conventional bolt-on joint, the neck is permanently joined to the body.

The design is paired with a contoured heel, helping provide improved access as the fretting hand moves toward the upper register.

Modern C Neck Profile

The mahogany neck uses Michael Kelly's Modern C profile.

A C-shaped profile provides a familiar playing surface suited to a wide variety of techniques.

Use it for:

• Open chords

• Barre chords

• Rhythm playing

• Lead guitar

• Blues phrasing

• Rock

• Contemporary music

• Studio work

The goal is versatility rather than forcing the instrument into one specialized playing style.

Ebony Fingerboard

The Patriot Decree SB features an ebony fingerboard.

Its dark appearance creates an elegant contrast against the Cherry Red body while providing a smooth playing surface.

The ebony fingerboard also reinforces the guitar's upscale visual presentation.

22 Medium-Jumbo Frets

The guitar features 22 medium-jumbo frets.

This provides plenty of range for both rhythm and lead playing.

Medium-jumbo frets accommodate techniques including:

• String bending

• Vibrato

• Hammer-ons

• Pull-offs

• Slides

• Chord work

• Lead passages

Combined with the contoured neck heel, the design provides useful access to the upper portion of the fingerboard.

Tune-O-Matic Bridge

The Patriot Decree SB uses a Tune-O-Matic bridge.

This fixed bridge provides individual intonation adjustment and works with the guitar's string-through-body design.

A qualified technician can adjust the bridge as part of a professional setup to optimize action and intonation for the player's preferred string gauge and playing style.

String-Through-Body Construction

The strings anchor through the guitar's body rather than terminating at a conventional separate tailpiece.

The combination of:

Tune-O-Matic Bridge + String-Through-Body Construction

creates a straightforward fixed-bridge platform without the additional moving components of a tremolo system.

For players who don't need a vibrato bridge, that simplicity can be particularly appealing.

Grover Tuning Machines

The Patriot Decree SB features Grover tuning machines.

Reliable tuning hardware is an important part of a performance-ready electric guitar.

The tuners work with the nut and bridge to allow precise adjustment of each string.

Great for Rock

The dual-humbucker configuration gives the Patriot Decree SB a strong foundation for rock.

Use the full humbuckers for:

• Driven rhythm

• Power chords

• Lead guitar

• Higher-gain sounds

Then engage the split configurations when you want a different response.

That flexibility can reduce the need to change instruments during a performance.

Great for Blues

Blues players often use pickup selection, volume and playing dynamics to move between rhythm and lead sounds.

The Great 8 Mod gives the player additional pickup configurations directly from the guitar.

Use fuller humbucker settings for thicker passages.

Switch to a split configuration for another texture.

Experiment with different neck and bridge combinations to find the response that works with your amplifier and effects.

Great for Alternative & Contemporary Music

Modern guitar arrangements can move quickly between clean, ambient and heavily driven sections.

The Patriot Decree SB provides a flexible electronic foundation for players who use:

• Overdrive

• Delay

• Reverb

• Modulation

• Compression

• Amp modeling

• Multi-effects systems

Different pickup configurations can interact differently with effects, providing even more opportunities for sound design.

Great for Worship

Modern worship guitarists frequently need one instrument to cover several tonal roles during a single performance.

Clean rhythm.

Ambient textures.

Swells.

Driven sections.

Lead lines.

The Great 8 Mod provides multiple pickup configurations that can serve as different starting points for an effects-based rig.

Excellent for Recording

The expanded switching is particularly useful in a studio.

Instead of immediately changing guitars when recording another layer, change the pickup configuration.

Record the first rhythm track with full humbuckers.

Use a split configuration for another layer.

Select another combination for melodic parts.

Those tonal differences can help multiple guitar tracks occupy their own space within a mix.

Designed for Long Playing Sessions

The Patriot Decree SB's thinner construction isn't just an aesthetic choice.

Instrument weight can matter substantially for musicians playing:

• Multiple sets

• Long rehearsals

• Worship services

• Recording sessions

• Theater productions

• Tour dates

The slim-body architecture is designed to reduce unnecessary bulk while maintaining a full-size electric-guitar platform.

Key Features & Specifications

Product Type: Solid-Body Electric Guitar
Model: Patriot Decree SB Open Pore
Finish: Cherry Red
Finish Style: Open Pore
Body Style: Slim Single Cutaway
Body: Mahogany
Top: Exotic Sungkai
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Joint: Set-In
Neck Profile: Modern C
Fingerboard: Ebony
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Pickups: 2 x Rockfield Select Wound Custom Humbuckers
Pickup Selector: 3-Way
Additional Switching: 2 x Individual Coil-Split Mini-Toggles
Electronics Mod: Great 8 Mod
Pickup Configurations: 8
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic
String Anchoring: String-Through Body
Tuning Machines: Grover
Primary Applications: Rock, blues, alternative, pop, worship, live performance, rehearsal and recording

Who Is the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Cherry Red For?

Rock Guitarists — Dual humbuckers provide a versatile foundation for driven rhythm and lead sounds.

Blues Players — Expanded switching gives players additional tonal options without changing instruments.

Gigging Musicians — The slim-body construction can make the guitar more comfortable during longer performances.

Worship Guitarists — Multiple pickup configurations provide useful starting points for clean, ambient and driven effects rigs.

Alternative & Contemporary Players — The Great 8 Mod pairs particularly well with players who use pedals and effects to create multiple sounds.

Studio Musicians — Eight pickup configurations provide several ways to create contrasting guitar layers.

Players Who Prefer Fixed Bridges — The Tune-O-Matic and string-through-body architecture avoids the complexity of a tremolo system.

Players Who Want Humbuckers & Split-Coil Options — Independent coil splitting expands the tonal range available from the two humbuckers.

Players Who Love Natural Wood Texture — The Cherry Red Open Pore treatment lets the underlying wood character remain an important part of the guitar's appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Cherry Red?
It is a slim-body solid-body electric guitar featuring a mahogany body, sungkai top, set-in mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and dual Rockfield humbuckers with Michael Kelly's Great 8 switching system.

What does SB mean on the Patriot Decree?
The SB version uses a slimmer, lightweight body architecture designed to reduce unnecessary bulk.

What is an open-pore finish?
An open-pore finish allows more of the natural texture and grain character of the wood to remain visible and tactile rather than completely filling the surface beneath a heavy gloss treatment.

Is Cherry Red a gloss finish?
This particular model is identified as an Open Pore Cherry Red finish rather than a conventional high-gloss Cherry Red treatment.

What is the Great 8 Mod?
The Great 8 Mod combines two humbuckers, a 3-way pickup selector and individual coil-split switches to provide eight pickup configurations.

How many pickups does the guitar have?
Two Rockfield Select Wound Custom humbuckers.

Can both pickups be coil split?
Yes. Each humbucker has its own coil-split mini-toggle.

What does coil splitting do?
It deactivates one coil of a humbucker, providing an additional tonal option that differs from the full humbucker configuration.

Does a split humbucker sound exactly like a traditional single-coil pickup?
Not necessarily. A split humbucker uses one coil from the existing humbucker, so its response can differ from a purpose-built traditional single-coil pickup.

How many pickup configurations are available?
Michael Kelly's Great 8 system provides eight configurations.

What is the body made from?
The guitar uses a slim mahogany body with a sungkai top.

What is the neck made from?
Mahogany.

What is the fingerboard made from?
Ebony.

How many frets does it have?
22 medium-jumbo frets.

Is the neck bolt-on?
No. It uses a set-in neck joint.

What bridge does it use?
A Tune-O-Matic bridge with string-through-body construction.

Does it have a tremolo?
No. This model uses a fixed bridge.

What tuning machines does it use?
Grover tuning machines.

Is the Patriot Decree SB suitable for recording?
Yes. Its multiple pickup configurations can be especially useful when creating contrasting guitar layers in a recording.

Is it good for live performance?
Yes. The combination of a slim body, dual humbuckers and expanded pickup switching makes it a versatile option for live use.

Is a case included?
A case should not be assumed included unless your exact vendor package explicitly states that one is provided.

Lightweight Feel. Eight Pickup Configurations. Bold Cherry Red Character.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Cherry Red combines a lightweight single-cut design with an unusually flexible electronics package.

A slim mahogany body reduces unnecessary bulk.

The sungkai top provides natural visual texture.

Cherry Red Open Pore finishing lets that texture remain visible.

Two Rockfield humbuckers provide the foundation.

The Great 8 Mod expands those pickups into eight available configurations.

A set-in mahogany neck and contoured heel support comfortable upper-register playing.

And a Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-through-body architecture and Grover tuners complete the performance-focused design.

Use it for rock.

Explore blues.

Build an ambient effects rig.

Take it onto the stage.

Layer it in the studio.

Or simply enjoy having multiple pickup personalities available from one guitar.

For players looking for a lightweight dual-humbucker electric guitar with coil splitting, fixed-bridge simplicity and distinctive Cherry Red open-pore styling, the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB provides a compelling combination of versatility, comfort and visual character.

Need help completing your electric guitar setup?
Backline Music Gear can help identify compatible cases, gig bags, amplifiers, pedals, instrument cables, straps, stands, replacement strings and other accessories based on your playing style and performance setup.

Michael Kelly, Patriot, Patriot Decree, Great 8, Rockfield, Grover and related names and marks are trademarks or property of their respective owners. Product and trademark names are used solely for accurate product identification and compatibility information. Backline Music Gear is an independent retailer and does not claim ownership of third-party marks. Specifications, finishes and included components may vary by production run and are subject to change; verify current manufacturer specifications before purchase.