Michael Kelly Triple 50 Gloss Black Electric Guitar

Classic-inspired styling. Three single-coil pickups. Expanded switching options. Modern playability designed for players who want more sounds from one electric guitar.

The Michael Kelly Triple 50 Gloss Black Electric Guitar takes a familiar solid-body guitar concept and expands its tonal possibilities with an innovative three-pickup configuration.

Instead of the traditional two-pickup arrangement commonly associated with this style of electric guitar, the Triple 50 adds a dedicated middle single-coil pickup.

A standard 3-way pickup selector controls the primary pickup choices, while an additional mini-toggle allows the middle pickup to be brought into the signal path.

That means players can access additional pickup combinations without replacing the familiar, straightforward control layout.

The Gloss Black model pairs its sleek finish with an alder body, bolt-on maple neck, maple fingerboard, Modern C neck profile, 25.5" scale length and compound-radius fingerboard.

Add three Rockfield pickups, a vintage-style ashtray bridge, chrome hardware and a simple master volume/master tone configuration, and the Triple 50 becomes a highly versatile electric guitar for players moving between clean rhythm work, country, rock, blues, pop, worship and more.

How Does the Michael Kelly Triple 50 Work?

The Triple 50 is a solid-body electric guitar.

When you pick a string, the vibrating string interacts with the guitar's magnetic pickups.

The pickups convert those vibrations into an electrical signal.

The basic signal path is:

Strings Vibrate → Pickups Capture the Signal → Guitar Controls Shape the Output → Amplifier Processes & Amplifies the Signal

From there, your guitar amplifier, pedals or other compatible equipment can further shape the sound.

What makes the Triple 50 particularly interesting is the way its three pickups are controlled.

Three Single-Coil Pickups

The Triple 50 features three Rockfield pickups:

Neck: Rockfield Chrome Covered Vintage-T

Middle: Rockfield Single-Coil

Bridge: Rockfield Classic-T

The addition of the middle pickup expands the tonal possibilities beyond what you would normally expect from a traditional two-pickup configuration.

Instead of forcing the player into a complicated control system, Michael Kelly uses an additional mini-toggle to control the middle pickup.

What Does the Mini-Toggle Switch Do?

This is one of the most important features of the Triple 50.

The guitar retains a familiar 3-way pickup selector, but adds a separate mini-toggle for the middle pickup.

That mini-toggle lets you bring the middle pickup into or out of the signal path.

This provides additional pickup combinations and gives players another way to change the guitar's tonal character without constantly adjusting an amplifier or pedalboard.

Want the familiar primary pickup sounds?

Use the traditional selector.

Want another tonal layer?

Bring in the middle pickup.

It's a straightforward modification with a substantial effect on versatility.

Expanded Pickup Combinations

The Triple 50's switching architecture allows players to explore a broader range of sounds than a conventional two-pickup setup.

Different pickup combinations emphasize different areas of the strings and therefore produce different tonal characteristics.

The bridge pickup can provide additional attack and definition.

The neck pickup can offer a smoother, fuller character.

The middle pickup introduces another voice and can be combined with other selections for additional textures.

That flexibility makes the Triple 50 particularly useful for guitarists who move between different sounds during the same performance.

Master Volume & Tone Controls

Despite the expanded pickup architecture, the Triple 50 keeps its primary controls straightforward.

You get:

1 x Master Volume

1 x Master Tone

1 x 3-Way Pickup Selector

1 x Middle-Pickup Mini-Toggle

This makes it easy to understand the guitar without sacrificing the expanded tonal options provided by the third pickup.

Alder Body

The Gloss Black Triple 50 features an alder body.

Alder is widely used in solid-body electric guitars and provides a familiar foundation for a broad range of electric-guitar applications.

The body also incorporates player-friendly contours designed to make the instrument comfortable during seated and standing performance.

Gloss Black Finish

The Gloss Black finish gives this version of the Triple 50 a clean, timeless appearance.

Paired with its chrome hardware and maple fingerboard, the finish creates a strong visual contrast that feels equally appropriate for traditional and contemporary playing environments.

Under stage lighting, the gloss treatment provides a polished presentation without requiring an elaborate graphic or highly figured finish.

Bolt-On Maple Neck

The Triple 50 uses a bolt-on maple neck.

Bolt-on construction is a familiar electric-guitar design that joins the neck securely to the body while maintaining the traditional architecture associated with this style of instrument.

Modern C Neck Profile

The neck uses Michael Kelly's Modern C profile.

A C-shaped neck provides a familiar contour for the fretting hand and is designed to accommodate a broad variety of playing styles.

Whether you're playing open chords, rhythm parts, melodic lines or moving farther up the fingerboard, the neck is designed with modern playability in mind.

Maple Fingerboard

The Gloss Black Triple 50 pairs its maple neck with a maple fingerboard.

This gives the instrument a clean visual contrast against the black body while maintaining the classic-inspired appearance of the guitar.

Compound-Radius Fingerboard

One of the more modern features of the Triple 50 is its 10.5" to 16" compound fingerboard radius.

Rather than maintaining exactly the same curvature across the entire fingerboard, the radius gradually becomes flatter as you move toward the higher frets.

This provides a versatile playing surface for different techniques.

The rounder lower area feels natural for chords and rhythm work.

As you move higher, the flatter radius accommodates lead playing and string bending.

That gives the Triple 50 a modern playing characteristic underneath its classic-inspired appearance.

22 Frets

The Triple 50 features 22 frets.

This provides plenty of range for:

• Rhythm guitar

• Lead playing

• Chord work

• Blues

• Country

• Rock

• Pop

• Worship

• Studio recording

The body's cutaway design also provides access to the upper portion of the neck.

25.5" Scale Length

The Triple 50 uses a:

25.5" / 647.7mm scale length

This familiar full-scale configuration provides the string tension and playing feel associated with many classic single-coil electric-guitar designs.

Synthetic Bone Nut

The guitar uses a synthetic bone nut with an approximately 42–43mm width depending on specification convention.

The nut supports the strings as they transition from the fingerboard toward the tuning machines and plays an important role in proper spacing and setup.

Dual-Action Truss Rod

A dual-action truss rod provides adjustment capability for neck relief.

This allows a qualified technician to make appropriate adjustments during professional setup and ongoing maintenance.

Vintage-Style Ashtray Bridge

The Triple 50 incorporates a vintage-style ashtray bridge with die-cast saddles.

This design reinforces the guitar's classic-inspired aesthetic while providing the string anchoring and intonation adjustment required for proper setup.

Chrome Hardware

The Gloss Black model uses chrome hardware.

The contrast between:

Gloss Black Body + Maple Fingerboard + Chrome Hardware

gives this particular Triple 50 a clean, recognizable appearance.

MK Die-Cast Tuning Machines

The Triple 50 features MK die-cast tuning machines.

The tuners allow individual string adjustment and work together with the bridge and nut as part of the guitar's overall tuning and setup system.

D'Addario EXL110 Strings

The Triple 50 is factory specified with D'Addario EXL110 .010–.046 strings.

This popular electric-guitar gauge provides a versatile starting point for rhythm and lead playing.

Players can later select alternative compatible gauges according to preference and setup requirements.

Great for Country

Single-coil pickups and articulate electric-guitar tones make the Triple 50 particularly interesting for country players.

The expanded pickup switching gives players additional options for rhythm parts, cleaner passages and lead work without requiring multiple guitars.

Great for Rock

The Triple 50 isn't limited to clean playing.

Connect it to an appropriate amplifier or gain setup and the guitar can move comfortably into rock territory.

Use the bridge pickup for definition.

Move toward the neck for a different character.

Engage the middle pickup to explore additional combinations.

Great for Blues

Blues guitar often relies heavily on dynamics and pickup selection.

The Triple 50's expanded switching architecture gives players several ways to alter the instrument's response without touching the amplifier.

That can be particularly useful when moving between rhythm and lead passages.

Great for Worship & Contemporary Music

Modern worship and contemporary guitarists frequently move through multiple tonal environments during a single performance.

Clean passages.

Ambient effects.

Rhythm guitar.

Driven sections.

Lead lines.

The Triple 50's expanded pickup combinations provide a flexible starting point for players building sounds around pedals and amplification.

Excellent for Recording

A versatile guitar can be particularly valuable in a recording environment.

Instead of immediately changing instruments, experiment with the Triple 50's different pickup configurations.

Use one setting for the primary rhythm track.

Change the pickup combination for a second layer.

Select another configuration for melodic parts.

That can help create separation between guitar tracks while keeping the playing feel consistent.

Key Features & Specifications

Product Type: Solid-Body Electric Guitar
Model: Triple 50
Series: 1950s Series
Finish: Gloss Black
Orientation: Right-Handed
Body: Alder
Construction: Bolt-On
Neck: Maple
Neck Profile: Modern C
Fingerboard: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: Compound 10.5"–16"
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 25.5" / 647.7mm
Nut: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: Approx. 42–43mm / 1 11/16"
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Inlays: Dots
Headstock: MK In-Line 6 with Birdseye Maple
Neck Pickup: Rockfield Chrome Covered Vintage-T
Middle Pickup: Rockfield Single-Coil
Bridge Pickup: Rockfield Classic-T
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Selector: 3-Way
Additional Switching: Middle-Pickup Mini-Toggle
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Tuning Machines: MK Diecast
Bridge: Vintage Ashtray with Die-Cast Saddles
Factory Strings: D'Addario EXL110 .010–.046
Manufacturer Model: MKT5SGBMRO
UPC: 809164023203
Primary Applications: Rock, country, blues, pop, worship, live performance, rehearsal and recording

Who Is the Michael Kelly Triple 50 For?

Players Who Want More Tonal Options — Three pickups and the additional middle-pickup switch provide more flexibility than a traditional two-pickup arrangement.

Country Guitarists — Single-coil articulation and expanded switching make the Triple 50 an interesting platform for clean rhythm and lead work.

Rock Players — Pair the guitar with appropriate amplification and effects for rhythm, overdrive and lead tones.

Blues Guitarists — Move between pickup combinations to create different tonal textures throughout a performance.

Worship Musicians — The expanded pickup configuration provides a flexible foundation for clean, ambient and driven sounds.

Studio Musicians — Create contrasting guitar layers without necessarily changing instruments between every track.

Gigging Guitarists — Access multiple tonal personalities from one straightforward control layout.

Players Who Like Classic Styling with Modern Features — The traditional-inspired body architecture is paired with a compound-radius fingerboard and expanded electronics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Michael Kelly Triple 50?
The Triple 50 is a solid-body electric guitar featuring three Rockfield single-coil pickups and an additional switching system that allows the middle pickup to be brought into the signal path.

Why is it called the Triple 50?
One of the defining characteristics of the model is its three-pickup architecture within Michael Kelly's classic-inspired 1950s Series.

How many pickups does the Triple 50 have?
Three.

What pickups are installed?
It features a Rockfield Chrome Covered Vintage-T neck pickup, Rockfield middle single-coil and Rockfield Classic-T bridge pickup.

What does the mini-toggle switch do?
The mini-toggle controls the middle pickup, allowing it to be brought into or removed from the pickup combination.

Does it still have a normal pickup selector?
Yes. The guitar uses a standard 3-way selector in addition to the middle-pickup mini-toggle.

What is the body made from?
The Gloss Black model uses an alder body.

What is the neck made from?
Maple.

What is the fingerboard made from?
The Gloss Black version uses a maple fingerboard.

What is a compound-radius fingerboard?
Instead of having one consistent curvature, the Triple 50's fingerboard transitions from approximately 10.5" to 16", becoming flatter toward the higher frets.

How many frets does it have?
22.

What is the scale length?
25.5 inches / 647.7mm.

What strings come installed?
Michael Kelly specifies D'Addario EXL110 .010–.046 strings.

Is the Triple 50 good for country?
Yes. Its single-coil pickup configuration and expanded switching make it particularly well suited to articulate country rhythm and lead applications.

Can it play rock?
Yes. When paired with appropriate amplification and effects, the Triple 50 can cover a broad range of rock sounds.

Is it suitable for recording?
Yes. The multiple pickup combinations make it useful for creating contrasting guitar tracks and textures in a recording environment.

Does it require an amplifier?
As a solid-body electric guitar, it is normally connected to a compatible guitar amplifier, audio interface, modeling system or other appropriate equipment to produce an amplified performance sound.

Is a case included?
A case is not included with the standard configuration unless the specific vendor package explicitly states otherwise.

Three Pickups. Expanded Switching. More Ways to Find Your Sound.

The Michael Kelly Triple 50 takes a familiar electric-guitar platform and asks a simple question:

What happens when you give the player another pickup?

You get more possibilities.

The neck pickup provides one character.

The bridge provides another.

The middle pickup introduces an additional voice.

And the mini-toggle lets you bring that middle pickup into the equation when you want even more tonal variation.

Underneath it all is an alder body, maple neck, maple compound-radius fingerboard, 25.5" scale and classic-inspired hardware.

Use it for country.

Push it into rock.

Explore blues.

Build an effects-heavy contemporary rig.

Layer it in the studio.

Or simply enjoy having more tonal choices available without turning the guitar into a complicated control panel.

For players looking for a versatile solid-body electric guitar that combines classic-inspired design with expanded pickup flexibility and modern playability, the Michael Kelly Triple 50 offers a distinctive approach.

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

Michael Kelly, Triple 50, Rockfield, D'Addario 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 and included components may vary by production run and are subject to change; verify current manufacturer specifications before purchase.