I just purchased my first Parker guitar, a Fly Classic, due in some part because of your videos. I’m loving it and having a great time with it. Thank you.
Ken Parker is an absolute genius. Met him in Belgium during a guitar makers conference. Never met a kinder and more open and helpful guitar maker. He kept no secrets, everything was explained.
What amazes me about guitarists is that for creative people, they are incredibly closed minded about new designs and are, for the most part, stuck in the past. I love my Fly Deluxe, it is the best playing guitar I’ve ever owned. I also have a Flaxwood guitar, another very innovative design and it’s awesome too.
You can never change someone's opinion on beauty, it's a real first impression thing in most cases. I am actually surprised how many people think it is ugly, and perhaps that had a major role in it's ultimate failure. I personally really like the style and always have. Thanks for all the information on this piece of guitar history, now I know it's more than just a pretty face. (subjectively, of course 😄)
Subjective is correct. Me personally it's so ugly it's not worth picking up and holding. That doesn't even have a chance to the older more purelist audience. It honestly may very well be the most comfortable best feeling / playing guitar that 7 or 8 out of ten people play. But it also has to be appealing enough that ten guitarists will want to touch it.😮
Ever since I first found out about parkers, I fell in love with the engineering behind them. I was lucky enough to get a classic fly years ago. I've been enjoying your other reviews, but have a new found respect seeing as you are one of the only youtubers to actually respect the fly for what it is!
I bought mine (which looks exactly like this video’s thumbnail) back in 2000 when I got a windfall bonus and decided to spend half on the best production guitar I could find. I played about 50-75 guitars over a several month period and after a close contest between the Fly and a lovely green sunburst PRS solid body I picked the Fly. The lightness and the piezo pickup were a nice bonus but I just loved the way the Fly felt when I played it. Your description of “naked yet fully protected” is a great one. Nice video as usual Andre.
Parker Fly goes down as one of the greatest guitars of all all. Absolute bucket list instrument. Crying shame that Parker didn't get the kudos at the time but great to see there is a real renaissance now.
VERY informative review - extremely well presented. I have been a fan of these since the first time I encountered one. I love vintage gear but the allure of the 1980s/1990s instruments has always held my attention (born in '69). Pointy stage machines were fabulous but the Parker was created from the absolute basics of physical functionality and they did it so well. Parker deserves far more credit than received.
Always wanted a Fly Mojo. The Seymour Duncan pickups and mahogany body were the real charm here. I've played one only once. I've played many Flys through the years, but that Mojo is the one for me. At least the model is. The odd thing is these can be made for $3000 these days. The hardware and electronics cover about $1000 with the piezo. The graphite back covers quite a bit less these days, plus Parker made this a final step which complicated the layup process. Call it another $500 with a thermal cure, and another $600 with an air cure. A knowledge of building surfboards comes in handy here. Then there's the CNC milling to sculpt the body. I cringe when I see luthiers using these things because they often use cast-off mills with little to no onboard memory. I'll grant you a good Makino for the job will cost north of $500k, but it can run at 400 inches a minute with a .0002 accuracy. The software is better these days for this sort of thing as well. The mill will cost more than anyone can comfortably pay once everything is settled. Bear in mind programmers for these things are pulling in $84-$280 an hour, and this precision instrument has next to no datums to fixture against. All that said, a Fly could be milled in two operations with a handful of cutters. I estimate 5 minutes of cycle time compared to the 20 minutes Parker was forced to endure. 20-15 guitars an hour instead of 3 or 4 an hour could make up for a lot of other expenses. After that it's assembly and finish.
Mojo is huge upgrade sound-wise. the Duncans just kill Dimarzio. Period. Ive still got a Mojo Singlecut and its amazing.I ended up selling my Fly Mojo in Butterscotch burst after it was just unplayable.. Tried several times to get it to set up decently but twisted neck made it impossible. That was the sign on the wall.. Unfortunate fact is, the Mojo came around the time Ken was leaving and quality taking a back seat.
I remember when these came out. Everyone talked about how amazing they were. They were top of the line. If you think all the things you are talking about now are High Tech in 2022, back in the day these build details were STUNNING and kind of overwhelming!!!. The advanced engineering imo was the reason the guitar never got huge around my area, St. Louis, because it was literally TOO advanced in design for most guitar players. That and the price tag really put you in rarefied air if you owned one. Incredible guitar.
Thank you for taking the time to do this review. This guitar deserves every accolade given to Mr Parker I own a '98 fly and the fn thing plays itself. %0 hype. Even a TH-cam video showing Steve Vai instant conversion. Only upgrade would be True Temperament, but I'm sure that he thought about doing it. OG Fly guitars are epic..Wish i could own a Vernon Troyer model 😢
I have Parkerfly deluxe! I bought it 1998. I played a lots of gigs and studio sessions with it until 2006, when I played more PRS and Fender... there was really no reason for this :) I liked it very much. Then I forgot Parker in its own bag in the studio. Then 2021 I brought it up (for a project in the theater) and yes it was still in TUNE (after 15 year)!!
I bought a Mojo with Seymour Duncan’s a couple years back and although it took me a while I totally fell in love with it. It’s so versatile that last gig I went from taking 5 guitars to only bringing the fly. Including replacing the acoustic.
As someone pretty foreign to this world, this was absolutely fantastic to go through and learn. I have seen these different varieties in various settings without knowing the subtle differences you explained and it was refreshing to understand it all. Also, the pricing model of the guitars was perhaps not the best business model for long term viability haha
The first time i saw this guitar was maybe when Joni Mitchell played one.I thought what the hell is that..who what and where and everything about it i had to find out more about it. I personally think Parker came out with a very unique design far ahead of its time and i have no qualms about the look what so ever. When the Fender Stratacaster came out i thought "COOL"..i was born in 1953.The first time i saw one was a county fair a local cover band , the lead guitarist had one..and they were very good .I give Ken Parker a hands down for rethinking the electric guitar.Too bad it went under and out of business. We can only wait for another 50 years before we see something new and revolutionary to come along.As far as your review you have done a superb job on all the talking points..keep up the good work. Bravo Ken Parker !!!!
Man! One of the biggest mistake I've made since I started playing was to waste the opportunity of buying a Parker Nite Fly guitar back at a local music store for dirt cheap. So, here's the story. This was back in 2012. I had been saving money for 3 months from my first job to buy my first real guitar (I had a cheapo Ibanez gio that my parents gave to me on Christmas when I was in high school). I didn't know much about guitars, but I knew that Ibanez was a solid brand, so I grab my savings (about 700 USD) and I go to the store, talk to the owner about how much I have on me and what music I play... So the owner goes to the back of the store and brings back a gorgeous Yellow Nite Fly. It was a little beat up, but it played amazing, however, because I haven't heard of Parker Guitars before, I thought the guy was trying to offload some crappy guitar on me, so I ended up buying and Ibanez RG 7421 and some Seymour Duncan pickups to replace the ibz pickups. Mind you I'm from Mexico and back then it was impossible to get anything other than a Gibson/epiphone, a Fender/Squire, Ibanez or schecter so that makes it every bit worse. 10 years later and I'm still regretting not buying that guitar. Keep it up, man! Awesome content as always.
I’m thinking about this story again and trying to figure out if it indeed was a nitefly? I guess it could have been a refined era nitefly because those are the only yellow ones I know of! Either way, there’s still plenty of time to get another :)
Bought one when they was fresh...never thought it was ugly, just the opposite. Sounds like People still driving their 55 chevy calling new cars ugly....
My first big Brand guitar after my mini squier strat was a Parker PDF 100, still have it, and still my favorite guitar. It’s nice to see Parker guitars getting recognition!
Great video! I have a pair of 93/94 Fly Deluxe guitars, and they're perfect for me and what I do. Ken made the best electric guitars ever made, I'm convinced of that.
Your comment about the "space between the lower horn and the neck" is really interesting. I don't have peculiarly large hands, but still, I get into the same issue as you describe with many guitars (335, etc...), and that's the reason why I also love my ESP LTD EC-1000 Amber Sunburst Deluxe (Seymour Duncan JB/59) so darn much : the cutaway of the lower horn is extremely "open" so the palm of my hand doesn't get "trapped", and the neck joint is superbly comfortable, not to mention the extremely comfortable neck shape and the Stainless Steel frets (great affordable cool looking guitar ... abalone inlays and bindings "for days" 😀).
The first time I saw a Parker fly in person was while I was stationed in Korea from 1996-97. A member of the U.S. Army band was playing solo chord melody Christmas songs in the dining facility during dinner. What struck me the most was the richness of the sound coming from such a thin guitar. I could never afford one at the time, but I admired the design. A few years later, I actually got to play one and was blown away by how easy it was to play. On another note, I am a Jersey City native currently living in Texas. I moved away from Jersey City as a teenager, but I recently lived there from 2020-21 on Clarke Ave and Wes Side Ave. As a child, I attended P.S. #2, St. Mary,s Grammar school, Our Lady of Victories, and P.S. #24.
@@andrefludd I have an original Kramer Nightswan Aztec 1989, it probably has one of the smallest necks, with a R1 nut. It's a pure shred machine lol. This Parker seems very similar!
I got a Parker Fly in the mid 1990s and I got it from a friend who was a Parker Fly dealer and he said the one he gave me was a special one out of all the ones he had ever played and it was my main squeeze for like 10 years. I always though if it was good enough for David Hinds from Steel Pulse, it was good enough for me...
When Parker started out they had a segment on Discovery channels Next Step or Beyond 2000, can't remember which one, they were botht he same kind of show, showcasing future tech. Parker was in his garage showing how he built these future guitars, this was before ANYONE knew about them. Then a couple years later, I started seeing them for sale and quickly realized I'd never own one. NOW, I deff won't own one cause they're worth their weight in gold. Love these things so much. Never even got to play one.
I had an opportunity to get one in the early 1990s and because it was so new I walked away to think it over and of course it was gone once I returned. I still regret missing out on the chance to play the Parker Fly for my primary interest and I have to wonder how much more I would have composed had I been more open to the design. At the time many misconceptions existed about the instrument including a perception by the salesman about it being a toy, nothing could be further from the truth. I played it in the store and I was very impressed by the feel and accuracy of the instrument in playing, especially the fretboard feel. The silly bias at the time was the traditional instrument fender Gibson made guitars were the only acceptable instrument choice according to the sales people and the press as well as the general public perception. I should have known better. The feel unmatched since. The one that got away. Remarkable design. Functionality beyond the scope of everything else in the moment. 😮
My 1990s Parker Fly Classic completely ruined me for other guitars. It's just such a perfect guitar and so easy to play with incredible nuance, when I play any other guitar it just feels like I've been driving a ferrari and am climbing into a work truck,
I've got a purple 95 Fly Deluxe. I basically stole it from Guitar Center about 9 years ago for $1100. It is absolutely my favorite guitar I've ever played. What a fantastic instrument
I've never been able to afford a Fly, but I've had a pair of P-38s, a P-36, and my current Parker, a P-42. I'm definitely a fan of unusual guitar designs, and Parker's guitars certainly fit that category. If I ever win Powerball, a Fly is on my bucket list.
Ok...I didn't know about the switch on the back to make it float or not. That is nuts. And...I actually think Parker guitars look awesome. I remember when they first came out and I picked one up. I was blown away by how light it was, and how fast and smooth that neck was. Great video!
And one of the things that the Parker has and most of other modern brands don't is the taste and sense for aesthetics. The design of the body and headstock is genious also from that perspective. The proportions, strenght and beauty of those lines, In very different styles, retrofuturistic and classical, the Strat and the Les Paul also got that,
Played one when i was maybe in high school. Always thought they were super cool looking and a few favorite players used them, but simply was never reasonable at that age. But it's no wonder they didn't catch on but the ideas did. Aesthetics ignored, it's a super well made guitar with almost zero capacity to be adjusted or modified that was also 3k. It has to be exactly what someone wants and is always going to want
Interesting review. I appreciate the amount of scholarship this too. Thanks, Andre. GG to you, and I will even reward you with a zero cost thumbs up in hopes that in two thousand years the youtube revenue from this will have you break even.
I enjoy the look of the Parker guitar. It’s totally unique and completely original. I am also a artist so it’s possible I see beauty in wild modern designs where other just don’t have the visual experience with modern art. The Parker is a piece of modern art in my opinion.
I remember the guy from Orgy playing one of these, I would love to add one to my collection. My favorite part is the lower horn it reminds me of a Warwick bass.
Very informative video! I remembered hating the headstock when it came out in the mid 90's, but here i am, an owner of an Indo made PDF100. Totally amazed by the quality of it. And those body carves.... wow... Can imagine the US made fly would be 10 times better will the slim body profiles! Will definitely be looking to get a Parker deluxe in the future!
20 years ago I had a hand injury that made playing difficult. My Parker fly was the solution. So easy to play that I convinced my doctor to release me months sooner as long as I stuck to the Parker. The jack is loose and the pickups have always sounded thin to me, so I rarely play it live. However, I pick it up nearly every week at home. It’s such a prized possession that I will never sell it.
I always thought the spring tension wheel was pure genius and I haven't seen that copied on any modern guitars, maybe it's still under patent protection. It allows you to get the bridge perfectly centered after changing strings or dropping tuning or whatever you do that may change tension on the strings, that's something I struggle with on any other floating bridge. And it's so easy... lock the bridge, tune the guitar, unlock the bridge then adjust the wheel until its back in tune and the bridge sits perfectly centered.
I did not like the tension wheel.Each time I let a friend try my Fly deluxe in the 90s, they would want to turn that wheel. I quickly learned to tell people not to turn that wheel.
I always loved the fly design. Glad Aristides exist to fill that Parker void. Also that spring system is insane! It will be cool to see companies explore that area of the guitar.
I love Parker! One feature that many over look is it's balance. This guitar does not move around on it's strap. You can lift your arms from the usual playing position and walk around without holding it. When you bring your hands back down onto the instrument, it is right where you left it! Show me another guitar that will do that! The down side is that I need some new piezos and a new battery box. Good luck with finding those. It is still my favorite guitar!
Ken handed me a guitar bag (at the not even open factory) and asked me what I thought was in there, I wasn’t even sure there was one guitar,there was two guitars! (I forgot if they were just body’s or complete) but yes pretty light!!😊
The Fly is an Amazing guitar. I was smitten by them in the 'Noughties' (& still am..). I'm fortunate to own a few. I also own a wide variety of other guitars but nothing comes close. I've yet to try a Strandberg... Dimarzio still make a variety of pickups to fit the Fly. They can be custom ordered direct from Dimarzio
I agree with everything! I bought my nitefly in 1998 and it will never leave me. Unfortunately the bridge is the ones that used little steel balls as saddles which have become loose.
I saw Parker guitars in Guitar World magazine when I was 16 years old. I used to dream of having one. In the 90's Parker guitars were twice the price of a Les Paul. When you're a teenager it might as well been on the moon.
I've had a Blue Parker Fly Deluxe for more than 25 years along with another 28 different guitars and I do reckon that it was one of the best guitars I have ever had ...one of my go to along with a PRS SC245 of 2001. The only problem with that guitar ? The battery slot ....too narrow for today's batteries so that it was a little battle everytime I had to replace it...till I adopted a....ribbon just to pull it out effortlessly :-) I really miss this guitar....I hope one day this might come out again.
The realities of upkeep in light of the death of the company make this a gamble. Man, I would buy one if there was someone who was still producing parts.
Dr. Fludd, your content is awesome, i am also in love with my Parker, it is not as yours but it’s a P-40, I’ve upgraded it with 2 Seymour Duncan APH-1 and Schaller Locking Tuners and a push-pull option to be able to play with single coils, I think Parker Guitars are otherworldly good, I mainly play strats and this axe goes far beyond and it can do literally everything I was thinking about a possible video of you showcasing how famous artist used Parkers, I loved Dave Navarro in My Friends and Gustavo Cerati in MTV Unplugged with Soda Stereo to name a few
People think it's ugly because of it's relatively brash lines. People thought the same thing about Gibson's Vs, Explorers, and Firebirds in the 60's. Even the Stratocaster was a radical departure visually from other instruments at the time. Those models are now considered classics. I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the future Parkers become revered collectors classics where originals go for $$$$$. I've seen a pretty wide array of players using them too, not just rock players. Joni Mitchell plays one. We got a used one at the shop I worked at. One of my more metal co-workers downtuned it and put it thru an Orange Rockverb 100. He sludged n chugged at pretty high volume and the Parker was right in it's element being played that way as well. They are indeed very versatile. Cheers Andre!
Love my Fly, it’s my desert island guitar. Especially as I’ve had it signed on the back by Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Petrucci, Brian May, Marty Friedman and Gus G. Would love a Ken Parker sig to top them all!
I have a 97 Parker Fly Deluxe in black that I purchased used around the early 2000's. It was/is my dream guitar. Just minutes ago I woke it up from it's decade old hibernation in the closet and it's still in perfect tune. The strings are Elixirs that are well over a decade old and still clean and shiny. I'd just like to say I agree with everything Andre said, but he forgot a few things. First, the custom made DiMarzios are coil-tapped between the 2 humbuckers (at least the Fly Deluxe model). I didn't care for the sound so I disabled it by unsoldering a wire, which turned it into a standard HH configuration (totally reversible). Also, the pickups are active so you need a good 9v in it. Which then leads me to my only complaint....the battery compartment. It is so f@cking tight and hard to get a battery in or out. You did show us but glossed over how beautifully sculpted the back of the body is. Even more so than the front. Besides that the only thing that bothers me is all the proprietary parts. If the circuit boards inside take a dumps then good luck finding that part. I'll admit this guitar isn't for everyone and I wouldn't use it as my main ax. The neck is thin for my tastes but silky smooth. Honestly I'm not worthy of playing such a beautiful piece of musical art, so it sits in its case 99.99% of the time. The guitar world lost a diamond in the rough when Ken sold the company and it eventually evaporated.
Thanks for sharing, Jim! And yea, the battery can absolutely be a pain to get out. I actually just went through that before the review, I should have mentioned it but so many details! Don’t think you aren’t worthy of a guitar! As long as you are playing what is true to you, you can do it on ANY instrument. Im a firm believer in that.
My .010 spring snapped a couple of years ago and I'm basically up the creek. I mean, I still have the .009 and other springs that came with the guitar so I can still play but finding a replacement has been difficult.
I have a '98 blue(7:20 Holy crap, that's the same color blue!) Fly that's got a Roland GK3 built into it(apparently a custom thing according to the original owner) and it's...they are the best guitar, no qualifiers needed. I'd wanted one since I heard of them in the early 90's because of my back. It's always fun to hand it to other guitarists and watch the reaction to the weight. The GK connector/cable is acting up, so I'm just using the magnetic pickups at the moment. The bridge sounds ok(to be fair, I usually don't like the midrange peak of most pickups) the neck sounds good, and the middle position sounds incredible. No acoustic output on 1/4", you have to use the synth. Broke the vibrato spring back in December, stuck a chunk of wood in it's place, and I was able to dial in intonation within minutes. It was an 9 spring, but I use 10s, so I'll have to get one when I have an extra $150 laying around. The original owner's customization included not having a hard stop for the vibrato, so that's why the wood. I also have a P-38 that I got 20 years ago, and then proceeded to play it into the ground. At the moment it is literally a neck without tuners or an nut and the body, no bridge, and no electronics. I'd really like to get it back into shape, but I have a million other things to spend money on first. I did buy a PM20, and it suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked. Pawned it, then didn't bother to go back and get it. Heavy as hell, an attempt to make a "different" Les Paul. No. Great video. I'm digging your viewpoint on guitars.
Man I really appreciate the stuff you do on Parker. So few of us have ever had the chance to even play one. You’re doing for guitar what doug demuro does for cars, and that kicks ass. Also if you want to sell one of your niteflys please let me know.
long long time ago, i saw on beyond 2000 a segment on the fly, very interesting, the twisted neck and carbon fibre, balsa core body, very interesting. the segment, of course, was grand, up to the point where they had a guitarist try it, the example instrument a 6 string, right hand model, tried by a left handed bassist.
I can appreciate the avant-garde looks, electronics and tremolo system. No doubt the Parker Fly is an engineering marvel. I wouldn't have a problem about the looks, though the feel and sounds may be something to adapt for some players. Myself I'm still a strat and tele fan for many years, it's just the sounds, playability, durability and easy maintenance that in my opinion makes most Fender great. Let's remember at the time when the Telecaster, Stratocaster and also the Jazzmaster came out, weren't very welcomed at first also because of the looks being too radical, until some open minded guitar players started to play in ways never heard before or simply liked these guitars for functionality and innovation. I see the Parker Fly as the evolution of the superstrat. Thanks for the video and your channel.
They were on sale for $100 in 1994 and I would not touch it because I wanted a Les Paul. In 2012 I bought a 1994 fly for $5000! Best guitars ever- this and the Vigier
@@andrefludd I’d buy a new fly everyday but the truth is keep em well and they last forever & it’s the only guitar you’ll ever need. If you want a stable hugging guitar get the Vigier (cause they’re still in production) and if you want a traditional guitar buy a Patrick James Eggle or a Knaggs ;-)
"crazy low action that no one would play with" honestly i love my action like that, have both my rg's set up at roughly 1mm at the 24th for the high E, it does make bends a bit harder but it feels so good for pretty much everything else, still sounds great distorted and clean, that is a testament to parkers fret work though, thus far tthose 2 rg's are the only guitars ive been able to achieve that on in near 20 yrs of playing, unfortunately ive only seen/played one parker out in the wild, they def seem ahead of the curve love your reviews, everything explained very thoroughly from a players perspective, i dont feel like im having something sold to me or overhyped
A Parker with Evertune wouldbe the ultimate guitar for the rest of life and all your childrens children to enjoy. Too bad I cant get down with the looks.:D
I own one of the original Parker PM-20 guitars with the Mappa Burl cap and original style headstock. Dual humbuckers with push/ pull pots for coil splitting, string thru Mahogany body, set neck with the access curve much like your Parker Fly. I love it... it was a deal at $700 and it has been stable and versatile enough to replace all of my guitars (except acoustic). The Fly is an extreme guitar that should have been built in smaller numbers with some more traditional designed refined by Mr. Parker, like my PM-20. Maybe that would have kept the company solvent, as opposed to trying to revolutionize a crowd of traditional fetishists.
First time I ever saw and heard a Fly was about 1994 when I was in Thoroughbred Music. Elliott was there with this amazing guitar player and they were showing off this awesome looking guitar, and making it sound like an acoustic, then a jazzer, then a hard rocker, then a classical. I just stood there with my mouth wide open in amazement ! I was somewhat new to guitars at the time, so I asked my buddy George what that was, because George had played all is life. He shrugged and said Feck if I know ! I thought if only Leo Fender could see this beautiful "NEW" tool, he would flip over it !
Ken Parker was so far ahead of his time. I've wanted a Fly from the first time I ever saw one (yes I'm old) - definitely one of the first things I'd buy if I ever won the lottery. I love that he is still building though, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge and design with his archtop guitars.
The Guitar player from The Testeagles let me play his Parker back in 2000. It was one of the best guitars I've ever played, and I don't care if people say it's ugly in my opinion it's beautiful
I had the blue one but the top horn would dig into the chest when sitting and playing so I ended up selling it off. But it is a nice guitar and has a style of its own and I remember them selling for $1600.00 at GC
The Parker Fly was my dream guitar. I was heartbroken it shut down before I could afford one. I am now afraid to purchase one because I don't know if I can maintain it over time.
@@andrefludd My favorite local live performer played on one. I may have to do it. My primary guitar is an inherited ‘69 ES-330TD that weighs nothing. I really like the light weight of the Parkers as a result.
This really explains why of the people I know with Parker Fly guitars it's literally the last one they would sell. I've even seen some people sell *all* their guitars *except* that one (divorce sucks but he managed to hang onto the Parker).
I used to think of the Fly as the Steinberger of the ‘90s. While I still dig a Steinberger XL bass, the Fly has aged better. I’d love to get my hands on a Bronze Fly piezo-only guitar like Joni Mitchell just played for her surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival
I tried endlessly for 4 or 5 years to transform the acoustic tones on a spruce Parker Fly into those of real high-end acoustic steel string guitars. I had the idea about 10 years before the fender acoustisonic telecaster cameout. I used tools like the D-tar Mama Bear acoustic simulator with fair results but not good enough to take out of the studio. I would have used the Fishman Aura had I known about it. I also found tricks to control cleans with the Helix. But, acoustic simulation technology isn't there yet it seems. And nobody seems to be working on it.
Yea, the acoustic sounds are good enough for a live gig. But you’d never use it for recording imo. I wouldn’t even use a piezo from an acoustic guitar on a recording. Not high beats micing a real guitar there!
Love that youre doing this, Andre! Keep that Parker flag waiving! Ive still got a 10th anniversary Fly thats just amazing. Hardtail with trans black paint over mahogany body, gold hardware. Also have a Single Cut Fly Mojo. Great fly qualities with Seymour Duncan pickups and Les Paul style. No Piezo on that one, but another great guitar! Got rid of a couple other Flys over the years, and gave my mint Nitefly M to Step son for Graduation a few years ago. Im really not too great of a player (and getting worse), but its still true.. Nothing Plays Like a Parker.
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I just purchased my first Parker guitar, a Fly Classic, due in some part because of your videos. I’m loving it and having a great time with it. Thank you.
Beautiful! I’m glad you are liking it!
Of course, everyone has their preferences, tastes, but for me, the Parker Fly looks are fantastic! I LOVE the headstock and horn.
So do I! I gotta get the Adrian model to review for you ;)
Agreed, not my personal choice of style ... but definitely not 'ugly' at all, it looks cool.
I’ve had a Parker Fly since the beginning. I love it and it is one of the best of all my guitars.
Ken Parker is an absolute genius. Met him in Belgium during a guitar makers conference. Never met a kinder and more open and helpful guitar maker. He kept no secrets, everything was explained.
He's amazing!
I met him in the 90s at an A.S.I.A. Symposium. He really is such a nice person. Just like he is in his videos. We talked for almost an hour!
He lives in my city, it is crazy
What amazes me about guitarists is that for creative people, they are incredibly closed minded about new designs and are, for the most part, stuck in the past. I love my Fly Deluxe, it is the best playing guitar I’ve ever owned. I also have a Flaxwood guitar, another very innovative design and it’s awesome too.
I’d love to try a flax wood.
@@andrefludd I’d be happy for you to try mine but I’m in Australia :)
Agreed. Another guitar that never should have failed was the Steinberger GL2.
@@darwinsaye yes, they are cool too!
EXCELLENT review and assessment! Thank you for taking the time to record and post this.
Wonderful demo and information! It's all science!!! You are so loved for this video!
Thank you :)
Haven’t gassed for a guitar in a good minute. Lusting for a Parker Fly now. Thanks doc.
Very well-done. I rarely sit thru an entire 20-minute video. Thank you!
You can never change someone's opinion on beauty, it's a real first impression thing in most cases. I am actually surprised how many people think it is ugly, and perhaps that had a major role in it's ultimate failure. I personally really like the style and always have. Thanks for all the information on this piece of guitar history, now I know it's more than just a pretty face. (subjectively, of course 😄)
Def more than a pretty face! Thanks for the support.
Subjective is correct. Me personally it's so ugly it's not worth picking up and holding. That doesn't even have a chance to the older more purelist audience. It honestly may very well be the most comfortable best feeling / playing guitar that 7 or 8 out of ten people play. But it also has to be appealing enough that ten guitarists will want to touch it.😮
Ever since I first found out about parkers, I fell in love with the engineering behind them. I was lucky enough to get a classic fly years ago. I've been enjoying your other reviews, but have a new found respect seeing as you are one of the only youtubers to actually respect the fly for what it is!
This is a guitar I can never get tired of based by looks, its just so nice!
agreed!
I bought mine (which looks exactly like this video’s thumbnail) back in 2000 when I got a windfall bonus and decided to spend half on the best production guitar I could find. I played about 50-75 guitars over a several month period and after a close contest between the Fly and a lovely green sunburst PRS solid body I picked the Fly. The lightness and the piezo pickup were a nice bonus but I just loved the way the Fly felt when I played it. Your description of “naked yet fully protected” is a great one. Nice video as usual Andre.
Thank you!
Parker Fly goes down as one of the greatest guitars of all all. Absolute bucket list instrument. Crying shame that Parker didn't get the kudos at the time but great to see there is a real renaissance now.
Agreed!
VERY informative review - extremely well presented. I have been a fan of these since the first time I encountered one. I love vintage gear but the allure of the 1980s/1990s instruments has always held my attention (born in '69). Pointy stage machines were fabulous but the Parker was created from the absolute basics of physical functionality and they did it so well. Parker deserves far more credit than received.
Hello from England. I have the Fly Classic from the nineties I beautiful condition. I love it. It is my favourite guitar.
Very cool!
NGL I got worried when he put the exact measurements for action I use on my guitars and then said "no one plays with this".
I used to think they are ugly but these days they've grown on me. Great review and retrospective, Andre!
Thank you!
Always wanted a Fly Mojo. The Seymour Duncan pickups and mahogany body were the real charm here. I've played one only once. I've played many Flys through the years, but that Mojo is the one for me. At least the model is.
The odd thing is these can be made for $3000 these days. The hardware and electronics cover about $1000 with the piezo. The graphite back covers quite a bit less these days, plus Parker made this a final step which complicated the layup process. Call it another $500 with a thermal cure, and another $600 with an air cure. A knowledge of building surfboards comes in handy here. Then there's the CNC milling to sculpt the body. I cringe when I see luthiers using these things because they often use cast-off mills with little to no onboard memory. I'll grant you a good Makino for the job will cost north of $500k, but it can run at 400 inches a minute with a .0002 accuracy. The software is better these days for this sort of thing as well. The mill will cost more than anyone can comfortably pay once everything is settled. Bear in mind programmers for these things are pulling in $84-$280 an hour, and this precision instrument has next to no datums to fixture against. All that said, a Fly could be milled in two operations with a handful of cutters. I estimate 5 minutes of cycle time compared to the 20 minutes Parker was forced to endure. 20-15 guitars an hour instead of 3 or 4 an hour could make up for a lot of other expenses. After that it's assembly and finish.
I have to take your word for it haha. It would be amazing to see.
Mojo is huge upgrade sound-wise. the Duncans just kill Dimarzio. Period. Ive still got a Mojo Singlecut and its amazing.I ended up selling my Fly Mojo in Butterscotch burst after it was just unplayable.. Tried several times to get it to set up decently but twisted neck made it impossible. That was the sign on the wall..
Unfortunate fact is, the Mojo came around the time Ken was leaving and quality taking a back seat.
I remember when these came out. Everyone talked about how amazing they were. They were top of the line. If you think all the things you are talking about now are High Tech in 2022, back in the day these build details were STUNNING and kind of overwhelming!!!. The advanced engineering imo was the reason the guitar never got huge around my area, St. Louis, because it was literally TOO advanced in design for most guitar players. That and the price tag really put you in rarefied air if you owned one. Incredible guitar.
It was too ahead of it’s time. I feel like if this came out in 2022 it would be a HUGE deal.
Thank you for taking the time to do this review.
This guitar deserves every accolade given to Mr Parker
I own a '98 fly and the fn thing plays itself.
%0 hype.
Even a TH-cam video showing Steve Vai instant conversion.
Only upgrade would be True Temperament, but I'm sure that he thought about doing it.
OG Fly guitars are epic..Wish i could own a Vernon Troyer model 😢
Fantastic video, wished they would remake this today.
I have Parkerfly deluxe! I bought it 1998. I played a lots of gigs and studio sessions with it until 2006, when I played more PRS and Fender... there was really no reason for this :) I liked it very much. Then I forgot Parker in its own bag in the studio. Then 2021 I brought it up (for a project in the theater) and yes it was still in TUNE (after 15 year)!!
Awesome- I learned so much. Thank you!
I bought a Mojo with Seymour Duncan’s a couple years back and although it took me a while I totally fell in love with it. It’s so versatile that last gig I went from taking 5 guitars to only bringing the fly. Including replacing the acoustic.
Versatility is unmatched!
Absolutely brilliant guitars.
Such a pleasure to play.
As someone pretty foreign to this world, this was absolutely fantastic to go through and learn. I have seen these different varieties in various settings without knowing the subtle differences you explained and it was refreshing to understand it all. Also, the pricing model of the guitars was perhaps not the best business model for long term viability haha
I got my Parker Hornet PM10 still play it all the time a fun guitar to play for sure
The first time i saw this guitar was maybe when Joni Mitchell played one.I thought what the hell is that..who what and where and everything about it i had to find out more about it. I personally think Parker came out with a very unique design far ahead of its time and i have no qualms about the look what so ever. When the Fender Stratacaster came out i thought "COOL"..i was born in 1953.The first time i saw one was a county fair a local cover band , the lead guitarist had one..and they were very good .I give Ken Parker a hands down for rethinking the electric guitar.Too bad it went under and out of business. We can only wait for another 50 years before we see something new and revolutionary to come along.As far as your review you have done a superb job on all the talking points..keep up the good work. Bravo Ken Parker !!!!
Man! One of the biggest mistake I've made since I started playing was to waste the opportunity of buying a Parker Nite Fly guitar back at a local music store for dirt cheap.
So, here's the story. This was back in 2012. I had been saving money for 3 months from my first job to buy my first real guitar (I had a cheapo Ibanez gio that my parents gave to me on Christmas when I was in high school). I didn't know much about guitars, but I knew that Ibanez was a solid brand, so I grab my savings (about 700 USD) and I go to the store, talk to the owner about how much I have on me and what music I play... So the owner goes to the back of the store and brings back a gorgeous Yellow Nite Fly. It was a little beat up, but it played amazing, however, because I haven't heard of Parker Guitars before, I thought the guy was trying to offload some crappy guitar on me, so I ended up buying and Ibanez RG 7421 and some Seymour Duncan pickups to replace the ibz pickups.
Mind you I'm from Mexico and back then it was impossible to get anything other than a Gibson/epiphone, a Fender/Squire, Ibanez or schecter so that makes it every bit worse. 10 years later and I'm still regretting not buying that guitar.
Keep it up, man! Awesome content as always.
Thank you!
I’m thinking about this story again and trying to figure out if it indeed was a nitefly? I guess it could have been a refined era nitefly because those are the only yellow ones I know of! Either way, there’s still plenty of time to get another :)
2012? no mames güey, you have no excuse!
I also love the shape of the neck it's so damn unique it is definitely a breath of fresh air
Agreed!
Parker Fly’s are NOT ugly. I’ve always wanted one!
Bought one when they was fresh...never thought it was ugly, just the opposite. Sounds like People still driving their 55 chevy calling new cars ugly....
My first big Brand guitar after my mini squier strat was a Parker PDF 100, still have it, and still my favorite guitar. It’s nice to see Parker guitars getting recognition!
Very cool!
Still want one as much as the day I first saw them in Highschool in the 90s
Great video! I have a pair of 93/94 Fly Deluxe guitars, and they're perfect for me and what I do. Ken made the best electric guitars ever made, I'm convinced of that.
Thanks for sharing!
For me, it is a beautiful futuristic awesome design done way ahead of it time !!!
It really is!
The snapped Gibson headstock photo always gives me a chuckle
Yea me too haha
Your comment about the "space between the lower horn and the neck" is really interesting. I don't have peculiarly large hands, but still, I get into the same issue as you describe with many guitars (335, etc...), and that's the reason why I also love my ESP LTD EC-1000 Amber Sunburst Deluxe (Seymour Duncan JB/59) so darn much : the cutaway of the lower horn is extremely "open" so the palm of my hand doesn't get "trapped", and the neck joint is superbly comfortable, not to mention the extremely comfortable neck shape and the Stainless Steel frets (great affordable cool looking guitar ... abalone inlays and bindings "for days" 😀).
The first time I saw a Parker fly in person was while I was stationed in Korea from 1996-97. A member of the U.S. Army band was playing solo chord melody Christmas songs in the dining facility during dinner. What struck me the most was the richness of the sound coming from such a thin guitar. I could never afford one at the time, but I admired the design. A few years later, I actually got to play one and was blown away by how easy it was to play.
On another note, I am a Jersey City native currently living in Texas. I moved away from Jersey City as a teenager, but I recently lived there from 2020-21 on Clarke Ave and Wes Side Ave. As a child, I attended P.S. #2, St. Mary,s Grammar school, Our Lady of Victories, and P.S. #24.
I also went to ps 24! Very small world. I live pretty close to West Side.
You sold me, now I really want one lol. I've been playing for 30 years, never had the opportunity to try one. Great eye opener!
Def try one if you can b4 buying. They def feel different than any other guitar!
@@andrefludd I have an original Kramer Nightswan Aztec 1989, it probably has one of the smallest necks, with a R1 nut. It's a pure shred machine lol. This Parker seems very similar!
I got a Parker Fly in the mid 1990s and I got it from a friend who was a Parker Fly dealer and he said the one he gave me was a special one out of all the ones he had ever played and it was my main squeeze for like 10 years. I always though if it was good enough for David Hinds from Steel Pulse, it was good enough for me...
Agreed!
Awesome vid mate. Thanks from Melbourne, Australia
Thank you!
When Parker started out they had a segment on Discovery channels Next Step or Beyond 2000, can't remember which one, they were botht he same kind of show, showcasing future tech.
Parker was in his garage showing how he built these future guitars, this was before ANYONE knew about them. Then a couple years later, I started seeing them for sale and quickly realized I'd never own one.
NOW, I deff won't own one cause they're worth their weight in gold. Love these things so much. Never even got to play one.
The bridge is pretty interesting. I like the headstock aswell.
Me too
I had an opportunity to get one in the early 1990s and because it was so new I walked away to think it over and of course it was gone once I returned. I still regret missing out on the chance to play the Parker Fly for my primary interest and I have to wonder how much more I would have composed had I been more open to the design. At the time many misconceptions existed about the instrument including a perception by the salesman about it being a toy, nothing could be further from the truth. I played it in the store and I was very impressed by the feel and accuracy of the instrument in playing, especially the fretboard feel. The silly bias at the time was the traditional instrument fender Gibson made guitars were the only acceptable instrument choice according to the sales people and the press as well as the general public perception. I should have known better. The feel unmatched since. The one that got away. Remarkable design. Functionality beyond the scope of everything else in the moment. 😮
My 1990s Parker Fly Classic completely ruined me for other guitars. It's just such a perfect guitar and so easy to play with incredible nuance, when I play any other guitar it just feels like I've been driving a ferrari and am climbing into a work truck,
Couldn't agree more!
I've got a purple 95 Fly Deluxe. I basically stole it from Guitar Center about 9 years ago for $1100. It is absolutely my favorite guitar I've ever played. What a fantastic instrument
That is a steal for sure. The purple color is probably my fav
I've never been able to afford a Fly, but I've had a pair of P-38s, a P-36, and my current Parker, a P-42. I'm definitely a fan of unusual guitar designs, and Parker's guitars certainly fit that category. If I ever win Powerball, a Fly is on my bucket list.
I have my fingers crossed for you!
I love my P-38! Mine was a SSH model. I converted it to HH (I make pickups). It’s a great guitar made by Cort.
well, now you've done it: you convinced me to get a nitefly. i have an NFV-SA en route.
Ok...I didn't know about the switch on the back to make it float or not. That is nuts. And...I actually think Parker guitars look awesome. I remember when they first came out and I picked one up. I was blown away by how light it was, and how fast and smooth that neck was. Great video!
Thank you!
And one of the things that the Parker has and most of other modern brands don't is the taste and sense for aesthetics. The design of the body and headstock is genious also from that perspective. The proportions, strenght and beauty of those lines,
In very different styles, retrofuturistic and classical, the Strat and the Les Paul also got that,
Played one when i was maybe in high school. Always thought they were super cool looking and a few favorite players used them, but simply was never reasonable at that age. But it's no wonder they didn't catch on but the ideas did. Aesthetics ignored, it's a super well made guitar with almost zero capacity to be adjusted or modified that was also 3k. It has to be exactly what someone wants and is always going to want
Totally agree! Not for everyone and honestly, not even for me. But I respect it so much.
Interesting review. I appreciate the amount of scholarship this too. Thanks, Andre. GG to you, and I will even reward you with a zero cost thumbs up in hopes that in two thousand years the youtube revenue from this will have you break even.
THank you! Hell, you can even leave a super thanks to increase the odds of me breaking even :)
I enjoy the look of the Parker guitar. It’s totally unique and completely original. I am also a artist so it’s possible I see beauty in wild modern designs where other just don’t have the visual experience with modern art. The Parker is a piece of modern art in my opinion.
Agreed 100%
I remember the guy from Orgy playing one of these, I would love to add one to my collection. My favorite part is the lower horn it reminds me of a Warwick bass.
Wise choice on his part haha
Very informative video! I remembered hating the headstock when it came out in the mid 90's, but here i am, an owner of an Indo made PDF100. Totally amazed by the quality of it. And those body carves.... wow... Can imagine the US made fly would be 10 times better will the slim body profiles! Will definitely be looking to get a Parker deluxe in the future!
Yes the original Fly is a different animal for sure!
20 years ago I had a hand injury that made playing difficult. My Parker fly was the solution. So easy to play that I convinced my doctor to release me months sooner as long as I stuck to the Parker. The jack is loose and the pickups have always sounded thin to me, so I rarely play it live. However, I pick it up nearly every week at home. It’s such a prized possession that I will never sell it.
I totally understand. It feels so special to own a fly.
I always thought the spring tension wheel was pure genius and I haven't seen that copied on any modern guitars, maybe it's still under patent protection. It allows you to get the bridge perfectly centered after changing strings or dropping tuning or whatever you do that may change tension on the strings, that's something I struggle with on any other floating bridge. And it's so easy... lock the bridge, tune the guitar, unlock the bridge then adjust the wheel until its back in tune and the bridge sits perfectly centered.
I did not like the tension wheel.Each time I let a friend try my Fly deluxe in the 90s, they would want to turn that wheel.
I quickly learned to tell people not to turn that wheel.
@@PedroBrando I think in later models they made it so the wheel is only exposed on the back. That might have fixed the problems with your friends.
I always loved the fly design. Glad Aristides exist to fill that Parker void. Also that spring system is insane! It will be cool to see companies explore that area of the guitar.
I agree!
I love Parker! One feature that many over look is it's balance. This guitar does not move around on it's strap. You can lift your arms from the usual playing position and walk around without holding it. When you bring your hands back down onto the instrument, it is right where you left it! Show me another guitar that will do that!
The down side is that I need some new piezos and a new battery box. Good luck with finding those. It is still my favorite guitar!
Ken handed me a guitar bag (at the not even open factory) and asked me what I thought was in there, I wasn’t even sure there was one guitar,there was two guitars! (I forgot if they were just body’s or complete) but yes pretty light!!😊
Always loved the look and the concept. Really really hate the neck profile… but that’s always a very personal thing.
Agreed. I don’t love the neck profile either.
The Fly is an Amazing guitar. I was smitten by them in the 'Noughties' (& still am..). I'm fortunate to own a few. I also own a wide variety of other guitars but nothing comes close. I've yet to try a Strandberg...
Dimarzio still make a variety of pickups to fit the Fly. They can be custom ordered direct from Dimarzio
Thanks for sharing!!
I agree with everything! I bought my nitefly in 1998 and it will never leave me. Unfortunately the bridge is the ones that used little steel balls as saddles which have become loose.
I love my niteflys!
I saw Parker guitars in Guitar World magazine when I was 16 years old. I used to dream of having one. In the 90's Parker guitars were twice the price of a Les Paul. When you're a teenager it might as well been on the moon.
Yep!
I had a fly classic for 20 years. I literally wore the frets out. I miss it tremendously. Very expensive to replace these days.
I've had a Blue Parker Fly Deluxe for more than 25 years along with another 28 different guitars and I do reckon that it was one of the best guitars I have ever had ...one of my go to along with a PRS SC245 of 2001. The only problem with that guitar ? The battery slot ....too narrow for today's batteries so that it was a little battle everytime I had to replace it...till I adopted a....ribbon just to pull it out effortlessly :-) I really miss this guitar....I hope one day this might come out again.
I've always loved the styling of the nite fly. These are the Lamborghini of guitars.
Me too!
The realities of upkeep in light of the death of the company make this a gamble. Man, I would buy one if there was someone who was still producing parts.
Dr. Fludd, your content is awesome, i am also in love with my Parker, it is not as yours but it’s a P-40, I’ve upgraded it with 2 Seymour Duncan APH-1 and Schaller Locking Tuners and a push-pull option to be able to play with single coils, I think Parker Guitars are otherworldly good, I mainly play strats and this axe goes far beyond and it can do literally everything
I was thinking about a possible video of you showcasing how famous artist used Parkers, I loved Dave Navarro in My Friends and Gustavo Cerati in MTV Unplugged with Soda Stereo to name a few
Thanks for the idea Santiago. It’s something I’ll def consider!
People think it's ugly because of it's relatively brash lines. People thought the same thing about Gibson's Vs, Explorers, and Firebirds in the 60's. Even the Stratocaster was a radical departure visually from other instruments at the time. Those models are now considered classics. I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the future Parkers become revered collectors classics where originals go for $$$$$. I've seen a pretty wide array of players using them too, not just rock players. Joni Mitchell plays one.
We got a used one at the shop I worked at. One of my more metal co-workers downtuned it and put it thru an Orange Rockverb 100. He sludged n chugged at pretty high volume and the Parker was right in it's element being played that way as well. They are indeed very versatile.
Cheers Andre!
Thanks for sharing!
Love my Fly, it’s my desert island guitar. Especially as I’ve had it signed on the back by Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Petrucci, Brian May, Marty Friedman and Gus G. Would love a Ken Parker sig to top them all!
Phil Keaggy did an instrumental album, “On The Fly” (1997?) that largely (exclusively?) featured the Parker Fly guitar.
As I said on another video, I wish I had been able to buy a few of these Parker guitars.
A lot of us are in that boat haha
I have a 97 Parker Fly Deluxe in black that I purchased used around the early 2000's. It was/is my dream guitar. Just minutes ago I woke it up from it's decade old hibernation in the closet and it's still in perfect tune. The strings are Elixirs that are well over a decade old and still clean and shiny. I'd just like to say I agree with everything Andre said, but he forgot a few things. First, the custom made DiMarzios are coil-tapped between the 2 humbuckers (at least the Fly Deluxe model). I didn't care for the sound so I disabled it by unsoldering a wire, which turned it into a standard HH configuration (totally reversible). Also, the pickups are active so you need a good 9v in it. Which then leads me to my only complaint....the battery compartment. It is so f@cking tight and hard to get a battery in or out. You did show us but glossed over how beautifully sculpted the back of the body is. Even more so than the front. Besides that the only thing that bothers me is all the proprietary parts. If the circuit boards inside take a dumps then good luck finding that part. I'll admit this guitar isn't for everyone and I wouldn't use it as my main ax. The neck is thin for my tastes but silky smooth. Honestly I'm not worthy of playing such a beautiful piece of musical art, so it sits in its case 99.99% of the time. The guitar world lost a diamond in the rough when Ken sold the company and it eventually evaporated.
Thanks for sharing, Jim! And yea, the battery can absolutely be a pain to get out. I actually just went through that before the review, I should have mentioned it but so many details! Don’t think you aren’t worthy of a guitar! As long as you are playing what is true to you, you can do it on ANY instrument. Im a firm believer in that.
My .010 spring snapped a couple of years ago and I'm basically up the creek. I mean, I still have the .009 and other springs that came with the guitar so I can still play but finding a replacement has been difficult.
I do see the 10 springs go up for sale pretty often but very expensive like you noted.
Best guitars in the world and they are going up and up every single day.
I have a '98 blue(7:20 Holy crap, that's the same color blue!) Fly that's got a Roland GK3 built into it(apparently a custom thing according to the original owner) and it's...they are the best guitar, no qualifiers needed. I'd wanted one since I heard of them in the early 90's because of my back. It's always fun to hand it to other guitarists and watch the reaction to the weight.
The GK connector/cable is acting up, so I'm just using the magnetic pickups at the moment. The bridge sounds ok(to be fair, I usually don't like the midrange peak of most pickups) the neck sounds good, and the middle position sounds incredible. No acoustic output on 1/4", you have to use the synth.
Broke the vibrato spring back in December, stuck a chunk of wood in it's place, and I was able to dial in intonation within minutes. It was an 9 spring, but I use 10s, so I'll have to get one when I have an extra $150 laying around. The original owner's customization included not having a hard stop for the vibrato, so that's why the wood.
I also have a P-38 that I got 20 years ago, and then proceeded to play it into the ground. At the moment it is literally a neck without tuners or an nut and the body, no bridge, and no electronics. I'd really like to get it back into shape, but I have a million other things to spend money on first. I did buy a PM20, and it suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked. Pawned it, then didn't bother to go back and get it. Heavy as hell, an attempt to make a "different" Les Paul. No.
Great video. I'm digging your viewpoint on guitars.
Man I really appreciate the stuff you do on Parker. So few of us have ever had the chance to even play one. You’re doing for guitar what doug demuro does for cars, and that kicks ass. Also if you want to sell one of your niteflys please let me know.
Thank you sir! Let’s hope
Everyone else feels
The same as you in 2023 :).
long long time ago, i saw on beyond 2000 a segment on the fly, very interesting, the twisted neck and carbon fibre, balsa core body, very interesting. the segment, of course, was grand, up to the point where they had a guitarist try it, the example instrument a 6 string, right hand model, tried by a left handed bassist.
I can appreciate the avant-garde looks, electronics and tremolo system. No doubt the Parker Fly is an engineering marvel.
I wouldn't have a problem about the looks, though the feel and sounds may be something to adapt for some players. Myself I'm still a strat and tele fan for many years, it's just the sounds, playability, durability and easy maintenance that in my opinion makes most Fender great. Let's remember at the time when the Telecaster, Stratocaster and also the Jazzmaster came out, weren't very welcomed at first also because of the looks being too radical, until some open minded guitar players started to play in ways never heard before or simply liked these guitars for functionality and innovation.
I see the Parker Fly as the evolution of the superstrat. Thanks for the video and your channel.
Thanks for the support :)
They were on sale for $100 in 1994 and I would not touch it because I wanted a Les Paul. In 2012 I bought a 1994 fly for $5000!
Best guitars ever- this and the Vigier
Wow…I’m glad it was worth it for you!
@@andrefludd I’d buy a new fly everyday but the truth is keep em well and they last forever & it’s the only guitar you’ll ever need.
If you want a stable hugging guitar get the Vigier (cause they’re still in production) and if you want a traditional guitar buy a Patrick James Eggle or a Knaggs ;-)
"crazy low action that no one would play with" honestly i love my action like that, have both my rg's set up at roughly 1mm at the 24th for the high E, it does make bends a bit harder but it feels so good for pretty much everything else, still sounds great distorted and clean, that is a testament to parkers fret work though, thus far tthose 2 rg's are the only guitars ive been able to achieve that on in near 20 yrs of playing, unfortunately ive only seen/played one parker out in the wild, they def seem ahead of the curve
love your reviews, everything explained very thoroughly from a players perspective, i dont feel like im having something sold to me or overhyped
Thank you!
New sub, great work, happy to support you man.
Thank you!
Great video, great information, thanks…
Thanks :)!
A Parker with Evertune wouldbe the ultimate guitar for the rest of life and all your childrens children to enjoy.
Too bad I cant get down with the looks.:D
Imagine that haha.
The original in emerald green is The One. The synth ready “ Joni Mitchell “ & Adrian Belew models are Ferrari’s.
I own one of the original Parker PM-20 guitars with the Mappa Burl cap and original style headstock.
Dual humbuckers with push/ pull pots for coil splitting, string thru Mahogany body, set neck with the access curve much like your Parker Fly.
I love it... it was a deal at $700 and it has been stable and versatile enough to replace all of my guitars (except acoustic).
The Fly is an extreme guitar that should have been built in smaller numbers with some more traditional designed refined by Mr. Parker, like my PM-20.
Maybe that would have kept the company solvent, as opposed to trying to revolutionize a crowd of traditional fetishists.
I have a pm20 video as well!
@@andrefludd I found it not long after watching this video!
I like this channel just subbed. Thank you.
Awesome, thank you!
First time I ever saw and heard a Fly was about 1994 when I was in Thoroughbred Music. Elliott was there with this amazing guitar player and they were showing off this awesome looking guitar, and making it sound like an acoustic, then a jazzer, then a hard rocker, then a classical. I just stood there with my mouth wide open in amazement ! I was somewhat new to guitars at the time, so I asked my buddy George what that was, because George had played all is life. He shrugged and said Feck if I know ! I thought if only Leo Fender could see this beautiful "NEW" tool, he would flip over it !
Thanks for sharing!
I loved the idea of the fly.. I even owned the original release of the nite fly. Just couldn’t deal with the upper horn poking me in the chest..
I totally understand!
Ken Parker was so far ahead of his time.
I've wanted a Fly from the first time I ever saw one (yes I'm old) - definitely one of the first things I'd buy if I ever won the lottery.
I love that he is still building though, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge and design with his archtop guitars.
I need an archtop...Idk how i'll ever fund that though.
The Guitar player from The Testeagles let me play his Parker back in 2000. It was one of the best guitars I've ever played, and I don't care if people say it's ugly in my opinion it's beautiful
Agreed!
I had the blue one but the top horn would dig into the chest when sitting and playing so I ended up selling it off. But it is a nice guitar and has a style of its own and I remember them selling for $1600.00 at GC
Damn...it could have gotten double that today...
@@andrefludd Actually that is what they sold for NEW from what I remember. Mine sold for $2100.00 about 3 years ago.
The Parker Fly was my dream guitar. I was heartbroken it shut down before I could afford one. I am now afraid to purchase one because I don't know if I can maintain it over time.
Life’s too short! Go for it!
@@andrefludd My favorite local live performer played on one. I may have to do it. My primary guitar is an inherited ‘69 ES-330TD that weighs nothing. I really like the light weight of the Parkers as a result.
This really explains why of the people I know with Parker Fly guitars it's literally the last one they would sell. I've even seen some people sell *all* their guitars *except* that one (divorce sucks but he managed to hang onto the Parker).
Yep. It’s special
I used to think of the Fly as the Steinberger of the ‘90s. While I still dig a Steinberger XL bass, the Fly has aged better. I’d love to get my hands on a Bronze Fly piezo-only guitar like Joni Mitchell just played for her surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival
Yep!
Terrific jazz tones.
Agreed!
It’s funny you mention BAM. I saw his brothers band in 2003 and the lead singer played a fly
Oh those were the days
I tried endlessly for 4 or 5 years to transform the acoustic tones on a spruce Parker Fly into those of real high-end acoustic steel string guitars. I had the idea about 10 years before the fender acoustisonic telecaster cameout. I used tools like the D-tar Mama Bear acoustic simulator with fair results but not good enough to take out of the studio. I would have used the Fishman Aura had I known about it. I also found tricks to control cleans with the Helix. But, acoustic simulation technology isn't there yet it seems. And nobody seems to be working on it.
Yea, the acoustic sounds are good enough for a live gig. But you’d never use it for recording imo. I wouldn’t even use a piezo from an acoustic guitar on a recording. Not high beats micing a real guitar there!
Love that youre doing this, Andre! Keep that Parker flag waiving!
Ive still got a 10th anniversary Fly thats just amazing. Hardtail with trans black paint over mahogany body, gold hardware.
Also have a Single Cut Fly Mojo. Great fly qualities with Seymour Duncan pickups and Les Paul style. No Piezo on that one, but another great guitar!
Got rid of a couple other Flys over the years, and gave my mint Nitefly M to Step son for Graduation a few years ago.
Im really not too great of a player (and getting worse), but its still true.. Nothing Plays Like a Parker.