Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Tobacco Sunburst Electric Guitar

Slim-body comfort. Rich Tobacco Sunburst styling. Dual Rockfield humbuckers with expanded coil-split switching. A versatile single-cut electric guitar built for players who want more sounds without more complexity.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Tobacco Sunburst is a slim-body solid-body electric guitar designed to combine classic single-cut character with modern comfort and expanded tonal versatility.

Its lightweight architecture pairs a mahogany body with a sungkai top, while the Tobacco Sunburst open-pore treatment allows the natural texture and character of the wood to remain an important part of the guitar's appearance.

Underneath that distinctive finish is one of the Patriot Decree SB's most useful features: Michael Kelly's Great 8 Mod.

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

Combined with the traditional 3-way pickup selector, the Great 8 system provides eight pickup configurations from one instrument.

Add a set-in mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Modern C neck profile, 22 medium-jumbo frets, contoured heel, Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-through-body construction and Grover tuning machines, and the Patriot Decree SB becomes a highly adaptable electric guitar for 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 a string:

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

The pickups convert string movement into an electrical signal.

That signal can then be sent to compatible:

• Guitar amplifiers

• Pedalboards

• Effects processors

• Amp modelers

• Audio interfaces

• Recording equipment

What makes the Patriot Decree SB particularly versatile is the way its two humbuckers can be configured.

Great 8 Mod – Eight Pickup Configurations

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

The system combines:

2 Rockfield Humbuckers

1 Traditional 3-Way Pickup Selector

2 Individual Coil-Split Mini-Toggle Switches

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

Instead of being limited to the standard neck, bridge and combined humbucker selections, players can introduce split-coil configurations for additional tonal variation.

That gives one guitar considerably more flexibility for different songs, playing styles and recording applications.

What Is Coil Splitting?

A humbucker contains two coils working together.

Coil splitting allows one of those coils to be removed from the active signal path.

In simple terms:

Full Humbucker → Both Coils Active

Split Configuration → One Coil Active

This changes the pickup's tonal response and provides an additional voice from the same guitar.

A split humbucker isn't necessarily identical to a purpose-built traditional single-coil pickup, but it gives players another useful tonal character without requiring a separate instrument.

Because each pickup on the Patriot Decree SB can be controlled independently, the Great 8 system provides multiple ways to configure the electronics.

Rockfield Select Wound Custom Humbuckers

The Patriot Decree SB features two Rockfield Select Wound Custom humbuckers.

These pickups provide a versatile foundation for everything from clean playing to driven rhythm and lead guitar.

Use the full humbuckers for:

• Rock

• Blues

• Alternative

• Pop

• Worship

• Driven rhythm

• Lead guitar

• Contemporary music

Then use the Great 8 switching system to explore additional split-coil textures.

Slim, Lightweight Body Design

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

Traditional single-cut guitars can sometimes become physically substantial instruments.

The Decree SB takes a different approach.

Its thinner body reduces unnecessary bulk while maintaining a full-size electric-guitar playing platform.

That can be especially valuable during:

• Long rehearsals

• Multi-set performances

• Recording sessions

• Worship services

• Theater productions

• Touring

• Extended practice sessions

For players who spend hours standing with an instrument, reduced body bulk can make a meaningful difference.

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 musical applications.

The slim architecture helps distinguish the SB from many traditional full-thickness single-cut guitars.

Exotic Sungkai Top

The mahogany body is paired with an exotic sungkai top.

The sungkai becomes particularly important visually because of the open-pore treatment.

Instead of completely hiding the wood underneath a heavy opaque finish, the design allows the natural grain and texture to remain part of the guitar's appearance.

Tobacco Sunburst Open-Pore Finish

The Tobacco Sunburst Open Pore finish combines classic sunburst-inspired styling with a more organic surface treatment.

The darker outer shading transitions toward the warmer center while allowing the underlying wood texture to remain visible.

The result gives this version of the Patriot Decree SB a different personality from a conventional high-gloss sunburst guitar.

It's traditional enough to feel familiar.

Modern enough to stand apart.

And the visible wood character complements the instrument's slim-body construction.

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

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

Set-In Mahogany Neck

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

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

The guitar also incorporates a contoured heel designed to improve access as the player's fretting hand moves toward the upper register.

Modern C Neck Profile

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

The familiar C-shaped contour creates a versatile playing platform for:

• Open chords

• Barre chords

• Rhythm guitar

• Lead playing

• Blues phrasing

• Rock

• Alternative styles

• Contemporary music

The design is intended to accommodate a broad range of playing techniques rather than specializing in only one style.

Ebony Fingerboard

The Patriot Decree SB features an ebony fingerboard.

Its dark appearance creates an elegant contrast with the warmer Tobacco Sunburst body while providing a smooth playing surface.

The combination of dark ebony, Tobacco Sunburst and visible wood texture gives this finish a particularly sophisticated appearance.

22 Medium-Jumbo Frets

The guitar features 22 medium-jumbo frets.

This provides a practical range for rhythm and lead playing while accommodating techniques including:

• String bending

• Vibrato

• Hammer-ons

• Pull-offs

• Slides

• Chord work

• Lead passages

The contoured heel also assists with access toward the upper portion of the fingerboard.

24.75" Scale Length

The Patriot Decree SB uses a:

24.75" / 628mm scale length

This scale length contributes to the guitar's overall playing feel and string response.

Compared with a longer-scale instrument using the same string gauge and tuning, players may notice a different tension characteristic, particularly during bends and expressive lead playing.

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 construction.

A qualified technician can adjust the bridge during 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.

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, this provides a simple and familiar setup.

Grover Tuning Machines

The Patriot Decree SB features Grover tuning machines.

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

The tuners work together with the nut and bridge to provide precise adjustment of each individual string.

Great for Rock

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

Use full humbuckers for:

• Driven rhythm

• Power chords

• Lead guitar

• Higher-gain sounds

Then use the split configurations when you want a different tonal response.

That versatility can make it easier to cover multiple roles without changing guitars.

Great for Blues

Blues guitarists frequently use pickup selection and playing dynamics to move between rhythm and lead sounds.

The Great 8 Mod gives the player additional tonal choices directly from the instrument.

Use a full humbucker for thicker passages.

Split a pickup for another texture.

Experiment with neck, bridge and combined configurations to find the response that complements your amplifier and playing style.

Great for Alternative & Contemporary Music

Modern guitar rigs often incorporate:

• Overdrive

• Delay

• Reverb

• Modulation

• Compression

• Amp modeling

• Multi-effects processors

Different pickup configurations can interact differently with those effects.

The Great 8 system gives players multiple tonal starting points before the signal even reaches the pedalboard or amplifier.

Great for Worship

Contemporary worship guitarists often move through several tonal environments during one performance.

Clean rhythm.

Ambient textures.

Swells.

Driven sections.

Lead passages.

The Patriot Decree SB's expanded pickup switching provides a flexible foundation for building those different sounds.

Excellent for Recording

The Great 8 Mod can be particularly useful in a recording environment.

Record one rhythm layer using full humbuckers.

Use a split configuration for another track.

Select a different pickup combination for melodic passages.

This can help create tonal separation between guitar layers while allowing the musician to remain on the same instrument.

Designed for Long Playing Sessions

The slim-body design isn't merely aesthetic.

Instrument weight and bulk matter when you're playing:

• Multiple sets

• Long rehearsals

• Recording sessions

• Worship services

• Theater productions

• Tour dates

The Decree SB's thinner architecture is designed to reduce unnecessary bulk while retaining the feel and playing range of a full-size electric guitar.

Key Features & Specifications

Product Type: Solid-Body Electric Guitar
Model: Patriot Decree SB Open Pore
Series: Patriot
Orientation: Right-Handed
Finish: Tobacco Sunburst
Finish Type: Open Pore
Body Style: Slim Single Cutaway
Top: Sungkai
Body: Mahogany
Construction: Set Neck
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Modern C
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Radius: 12" / 305mm
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75" / 628mm
Nut Width: 43mm
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Neck Pickup: Rockfield SWC Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Rockfield SWC Humbucker
Controls: 2 x Volume, 1 x Tone
Pickup Selector: 3-Way Toggle
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, rehearsal, live performance and recording

Who Is the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Tobacco Sunburst For?

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

Blues Players — Great 8 switching provides multiple tonal configurations for expressive rhythm and lead playing.

Gigging Musicians — The slim-body architecture can make longer performances more comfortable.

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

Alternative & Contemporary Players — Expanded switching pairs well with pedalboards, modelers and effects-heavy setups.

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 design provides a straightforward platform without a tremolo system.

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

Players Who Love Sunburst Finishes — The Tobacco Sunburst combines traditional visual character with the more organic appearance of an open-pore treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Tobacco Sunburst?
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 designation refers to the model's Slim Body architecture.

What is a Tobacco Sunburst finish?
Tobacco Sunburst uses darker shading around the outer areas of the body that transitions toward a warmer center, creating a classic sunburst-inspired appearance.

What does open pore mean on a guitar?
An open-pore finish allows more of the natural wood texture to remain visible and tactile rather than completely filling the grain beneath a thick gloss treatment.

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

How many pickups does the Patriot Decree SB have?
It has two Rockfield SWC humbuckers.

Can both pickups be coil split?
Yes. Each humbucker has an individual coil-split mini-toggle.

What does coil splitting do?
Coil splitting removes one coil of a humbucker from the active signal path, providing an additional tonal response.

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 sound and output can differ from a purpose-built single-coil pickup.

How many pickup configurations does the Great 8 system provide?
Eight.

What is the body made from?
The Patriot Decree SB 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.

What is the scale length?
24.75 inches / 628mm.

What is the fingerboard radius?
12 inches / 305mm.

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

Does the Patriot Decree SB have a tremolo?
No. It uses a fixed bridge.

What tuning machines does it use?
Grover tuning machines.

Is the Patriot Decree SB good for recording?
Yes. The eight pickup configurations provide several tonal options that can be useful for layering guitar tracks.

Is it suitable for live performance?
Yes. Its slim-body construction, dual humbuckers and expanded switching make it a versatile option for live performance.

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

Classic Sunburst Character. Modern Slim-Body Versatility.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB Open Pore Tobacco Sunburst combines the warmth of a classic-inspired finish with a decidedly modern electric-guitar platform.

The slim mahogany body reduces unnecessary bulk.

The sungkai top adds natural visual texture.

Tobacco Sunburst gives the guitar timeless character.

The open-pore treatment keeps the natural wood an important part of the design.

Two Rockfield humbuckers provide the foundation.

The Great 8 Mod expands the guitar to eight pickup configurations.

And a set-in mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-through-body construction and Grover tuners complete the performance-focused platform.

Play rock.

Explore blues.

Build an effects-heavy contemporary rig.

Take it onto the stage.

Layer it in the studio.

Or simply enjoy the combination of a classic sunburst aesthetic with modern electronics and lightweight construction.

For musicians looking for a Tobacco Sunburst electric guitar with dual humbuckers, coil splitting, lightweight construction and expanded tonal versatility, the Michael Kelly Patriot Decree SB delivers a distinctive combination of traditional visual character and modern performance features.

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.