Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan – Scorched Electric Guitar

Slim-body comfort. Premium woods. Eight pickup combinations. A striking Scorched finish built to stand out.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan in Scorched is a premium 6-string electric guitar designed for players who want powerful humbucker tones, expanded pickup versatility and a comfortable slim-body design.

Built around a mahogany body with a high-gloss AAA quilted maple top, this single-cutaway guitar combines classic-inspired construction with modern playability and an exceptionally flexible electronics package.

At its heart are two Seymour Duncan JB Model humbuckers paired with individual coil-split switches. Combined with the 3-way pickup selector, this gives players eight different pickup configurations from one guitar.

Move from full-bodied humbucker power to brighter split-coil textures without changing instruments.

Add a set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Modern C profile, Grover tuners and Tune-O-Matic/string-through bridge, and the Patriot Instinct becomes a versatile instrument for the stage, studio and everyday playing.

What Makes the Patriot Instinct SB Different?

The SB stands for Slim Body.

Michael Kelly reduces the mahogany body depth to approximately 1.25 inches, creating a thinner and lighter-feeling instrument while retaining the solid-body construction and tonal foundation of mahogany.

For guitarists who perform long sets, rehearse for hours or simply prefer an instrument that doesn't feel unnecessarily bulky, the slim-body architecture can make a meaningful difference.

The design also incorporates body contouring and upper-fret access intended to make the guitar comfortable throughout the fingerboard.

AAA Quilted Maple Top

The Scorched model features a premium AAA quilted maple top over its mahogany body.

The dramatic figuring beneath the high-gloss Scorched finish gives the guitar a rich, dimensional appearance that changes as light moves across the top.

Cream binding frames the body and complements the natural visual character of the maple.

Because figured wood naturally varies, individual instruments may show differences in grain and figuring—giving each guitar its own visual personality.

Dual Seymour Duncan JB Model Humbuckers

The Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan is equipped with two Seymour Duncan JB Model humbucking pickups.

These high-output pickups provide a strong foundation for everything from articulate clean tones to saturated rock leads.

Use the full humbuckers when you want greater body, output and punch.

Then engage the individual coil splits when you want a leaner, brighter pickup character.

That versatility makes the guitar useful across rock, blues, country, pop, alternative, worship, jazz-inspired playing and other styles.

Eight Pickup Combinations

This is where the Patriot Instinct SB becomes especially interesting.

The guitar combines a conventional 3-way pickup selector with two independent coil-split mini-toggle switches.

Because each humbucker can be switched independently between full and split operation, the system provides eight distinct pickup configurations.

That gives you considerably more tonal flexibility than a conventional dual-humbucker guitar with only a 3-way selector.

How Do the Coil Splits Work?

A humbucker normally uses two coils working together.

The Patriot Instinct SB's dedicated mini-toggle switches allow each pickup to be individually coil-split.

This lets you move between the fuller sound of a complete humbucker and a brighter, more open split-coil character.

And because the neck and bridge pickups have their own switches, you can combine different configurations.

For example, use a full bridge humbucker with a split neck pickup—or reverse the combination.

This is especially useful for guitarists who cover multiple styles during the same performance.

Mahogany Body

Beneath the figured maple top is a mahogany body.

Mahogany has long been used in electric-guitar construction for its strong midrange character, resonance and sustain.

Here, Michael Kelly combines that traditional material with the thinner SB profile to create an instrument designed around both tone and playing comfort.

Set Mahogany Neck

The Patriot Instinct uses set-neck construction, joining its mahogany neck permanently to the body rather than using a bolt-on design.

Combined with the mahogany body and string-through bridge architecture, the construction creates a solid, resonant platform for the instrument.

Modern C Neck Profile

The mahogany neck uses Michael Kelly's Modern C profile, designed to provide a comfortable playing surface for both rhythm and lead work.

Whether you're playing open chords, moving through barre chords or working farther up the neck, the profile is intended to remain comfortable without feeling unnecessarily bulky.

Contoured Upper-Fret Access

A single-cutaway guitar doesn't have to mean difficult upper-fret access.

The Patriot Instinct SB incorporates a contoured heel/cutaway area designed to give the fretting hand easier access farther up the neck.

For lead guitarists, that means less body material interfering with your hand when playing higher-register lines and solos.

Rosewood Fingerboard

The mahogany neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard featuring a 12" radius and 22 medium-jumbo frets.

Abalone and pearl inlays provide an additional premium visual detail that complements the figured top and cream binding.

24.75" Scale Length

The guitar uses a 24.75-inch scale length.

This scale provides a familiar playing feel for players who prefer shorter-scale, single-cutaway electric guitars and can contribute to comfortable bends and expressive lead playing.

Grover Tuning Machines

Michael Kelly equips the Patriot Instinct SB with Grover tuning machines.

Reliable tuning hardware is particularly important for working musicians, recording sessions and live performances where tuning stability and predictable adjustment matter.

Tune-O-Matic Bridge with String-Through Design

The hardware system combines a Tune-O-Matic bridge with string-through-body construction.

The Tune-O-Matic design provides individual intonation adjustment, while the string-through configuration anchors the strings through the body.

Together, they provide a familiar, solid platform for tuning, intonation and sustain.

Controls That Make Sense on Stage

Despite the guitar's expanded tonal capability, the controls remain straightforward.

You get:

2 Volume Controls — Individual level control.

1 Tone Control — Overall tonal shaping.

3-Way Pickup Selector — Select the neck pickup, both pickups or bridge pickup.

2 Coil-Split Mini Toggles — Independently change the operating configuration of each humbucker.

This makes it possible to access a large number of sounds without navigating complicated electronics in the middle of a performance.

Built for Multiple Styles

The combination of JB humbuckers and independent coil splitting makes the Patriot Instinct SB particularly useful for musicians who don't stay in one musical lane.

Rock

Use the full JB humbuckers for high-output rhythm and lead tones.

Blues

Move between warm neck-pickup sounds and more articulate split configurations.

Country & Pop

Use the coil-split options when a brighter, cleaner character better fits the arrangement.

Worship

Move between ambient clean passages, brighter rhythm textures and powerful driven sections without changing guitars.

Studio Recording

Use the eight pickup configurations to create contrasting layers from the same instrument.

Key Features & Specifications

Instrument Type: 6-string solid-body electric guitar
Series: Patriot
Model: Patriot Instinct Slim Body Mod Shop Duncan
Finish: Scorched
Body Style: Archtop single cutaway
Body: Mahogany
Body Depth: Approx. 1.25" / 31.75mm slim-body design
Top: AAA quilted maple
Binding: Cream
Construction: Set neck
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Modern C
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12" / 305mm
Frets: 22 medium jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75" / 628mm
Nut: Synthetic graphite
Nut Width: 43mm
Inlays: Abalone and pearl
Truss Rod: Dual action
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB Model humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB Model humbucker
Pickup Configuration: HH with independent coil splitting
Pickup Options: 8 configurations
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Pickup Selector: 3-way toggle
Coil Splitting: 2 independent mini-toggle switches
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Tuning Machines: Grover
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic / string-through-body
Factory Strings: D'Addario EXL120 .009–.042
Orientation: Right-handed
Manufacturer Model: MKPSMSCPSA

Natural quilted maple figuring and appearance can vary from instrument to instrument.

Who Is the Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan For?

Rock Guitarists — Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers provide the output and punch needed for driven rhythm and lead work.

Working Musicians — Eight pickup combinations allow one guitar to cover a much broader range of material during a performance.

Studio Guitarists — Switch pickup configurations to create contrasting guitar layers without continually changing instruments.

Cover & Event Players — Move between full humbucker and brighter split-coil textures as the set moves across genres.

Worship Guitarists — Access clean, ambient, rhythm and higher-output tones from one instrument.

Players Who Prefer Lighter Guitars — The 1.25" slim-body architecture reduces unnecessary body bulk for more comfortable extended playing.

Players Who Want Something Visually Different — The high-gloss Scorched finish and AAA quilted maple top create a distinctive stage-ready appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does SB mean on the Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct?
SB refers to the guitar's Slim Body design. The mahogany body is approximately 1.25" thick, helping reduce bulk and weight compared with a thicker traditional body.

What pickups are in the Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan?
This version uses two Seymour Duncan JB Model humbuckers—one in the neck position and one at the bridge.

Does it have coil splitting?
Yes. Each humbucker has its own dedicated coil-split mini-toggle switch.

How many pickup combinations does it have?
The 3-way selector and independent coil splits provide eight different pickup configurations.

What does coil splitting do?
Coil splitting changes a humbucker from using both of its coils to using a reduced coil configuration, producing a brighter and leaner tonal character compared with the full humbucker.

Is it good for rock?
Yes. The Seymour Duncan JB Model is a high-output humbucker well suited to driven guitar sounds, while the coil-split options expand the guitar into cleaner and brighter territory.

Is this a set-neck guitar?
Yes. The mahogany neck uses set-neck construction.

What is the scale length?
The Patriot Instinct SB uses a 24.75" / 628mm scale length.

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

Does it have Grover tuners?
Yes. Grover tuning machines are standard equipment on this model.

What is the Scorched finish?
Scorched is the visual finish applied over the guitar's figured AAA quilted maple top, creating a dramatic high-gloss appearance.

Will every Scorched guitar look exactly the same?
No. Because quilted maple is a natural wood material, the exact grain and figuring can vary between individual instruments.

Slimmer Body. Bigger Tonal Possibilities.

The Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan combines a 1.25" slim mahogany body, AAA quilted maple top, dual Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers, independent coil splits, set mahogany neck and premium hardware in one exceptionally versatile electric guitar.

Go from full humbucker power to brighter split-coil textures.

Move through eight pickup configurations.

Play longer with a slimmer body.

And take the stage with a guitar that looks every bit as distinctive as it sounds.

For guitarists who want one instrument capable of covering considerably more tonal ground without sacrificing premium materials or visual impact, the Patriot Instinct SB Mod Shop Duncan delivers a compelling combination of performance and versatility.

Need help completing your guitar rig?
Backline Music Gear can help identify compatible amplifiers, pedals, cases, straps, cables, wireless systems and other guitar accessories based on your playing style and performance setup.

Michael Kelly Guitars, Patriot, Seymour Duncan, JB Model, Grover, D'Addario and related names are trademarks or property of their respective owners. Product and trademark names are used solely for accurate product identification. Natural wood figuring varies between instruments. Specifications and included components are subject to manufacturer changes; verify the specific instrument configuration at time of purchase.