Revisiting the Parker Fly

[DavidE]

I have a beat up older one in rootbeer and recently picked up one in some kind of frost blue burst that's on the bench. Also have an older USA Nitefly. I know many people who play them and this year was a good year for me to have one sine I had a pinched nerve in my neck that caused all kinds of problems for almost the entire year

[Highway_61]

Dated, yes, but I always found this fascinating.

[CoolerKing]

The Nitefly always reminded me of the Donald Fagen song "I'm Lester the Night Fly, Hello Baton Rouge..."

[srick]

Glad you jogged my memory with this post, JR! Back about eight years ago, I had just started to play guitar, when I encountered one in the Las Vegas music store of "Ed Roman -World's LARGEST guitar store." I didn't know what I was doing at the time, but the guitar impressed me greatly. Hmmm, think I'll put this back on the "someday" list.

Best,

Rick

[srick]

Just looking on ebay... There are several Parkers in the $400 range and the rest over $1000. Can anyone school me in the differences? I assume the lower price instruments were made in Asia, but how do they compare as far s buld quality and materials? TIA

[J.R. Rogers]

Originally Posted by srick

Just looking on ebay... There are several Parkers in the $400 range and the rest over $1000. Can anyone school me in the differences? I assume the lower price instruments were made in Asia, but how do they compare as far s buld quality and materials? TIA

The original instrument is a carbon-fiber wrapped neck-thru design and they are the more expensive USA-built guitars. I think all other Fly guitars mimic the original in look only, but are built much more traditional as a cost savings - bolt on necks, lack of carbon fiber exoskeleton, heavier, different electronics, import versions, etc.

[Doubleneck]

What was the price range when they first came out? Looking at their current website on the acoustic side they are now using Graph Tech Ghost system.

"With its fully loaded system that includes our Graph Tech™ ghost® piezo saddles and Acousti-phonic Modular Pre-amp, this guitar delivers the quality that can only be attained by Parker guitars."

[guitararmy]

I have an early Fly Deluxe, before they had trems. Mine has the fishman pickup system, and a redwood/poplar neck/body composition I think.
I think mine was around $1100 new...

[Doubleneck]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

I have an early Fly Deluxe, before they had trems. Mine has the fishman pickup system, and a redwood/cedar body/neck composition I think.
I think mine was around $1100 new...

Curious did the Fishman system have a battery preamp?

[guitararmy]

Mine takes a 9v in a very tight compartment. I've read that the piezo elements or the wires to them tend to fail. I play mine so rarely that I think they're still working. I have the original DiMarzio pu's that they initially used.

[RustyZombie]

Originally Posted by J.R. Rogers

The original instrument is a carbon-fiber wrapped neck-thru design and they are the more expensive USA-built guitars. I think all other Fly guitars mimic the original in look only, but are built much more traditional as a cost savings - bolt on necks, lack of carbon fiber exoskeleton, heavier, different electronics, import versions, etc.

That is pretty much it. The budget ones are essentially conventional guitars with Parker aesthetics. Although the electronics are impressive for the price range. A number of them have piezo bridges in addition to the magnetic pickups. And the quality control was pretty good on the handful that I've seen in person.

[ceciltguitar]

My favorite guitar (in my small otherwise unremarkable collection) is my 1999 Parker Spanish Fly, with custom installed RMC pickups. It plays like a dream and has 24 easily reachable stainless steel frets.

[Doubleneck]

Never knew they made a nylon version, made me search Utube, that is very cool. These seem to be a little rarer?

Double;

The Parker nylon fly is the best nylon electric I've ever played. It has an exquisite neck, a beautiful body, and a great sound. The only negative I've ever heard regarding the fly was its incredible lightness--some people wanted more weight.

The only reason that one is not in my stable is that I decided to stick to acoustic/electric instruments. One of the reasons that I am such an Emerald fan is that Alistair used Parker necks in his early guitars and then designed his own necks with Parker qualities in mind. As I've said before, my X10N neck is the closest I've ever come to an acoustic guitar that plays like an electric.

The Parker was (is) not cheap, but I think that it is reasonably priced for its qualities. If you can find one around your area I recommend that you give it a play--you'll be amazed.

[blue]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

Mine takes a 9v in a very tight compartment. I've read that the piezo elements or the wires to them tend to fail. I play mine so rarely that I think they're still working. I have the original DiMarzio pu's that they initially used.

I have an all original so called "pre-refin" Fly Deluxe, which is the old Basswood/Poplar wood combo.

It's not that the the electronic system fails with any great regularity, it's just that if it does, you can't get replacement harnesses. The good news is that plans abound for "direct" wiring, that any electric guitar tech can follow and rewire your guitar if the original system fails.

As to the frets, they don't fall off randomly. At least not the older ones. It's not hard to find authorized techs who can do work on them if you knock one off.

Superb guitar. You can get the trem to float, or like I do, work like a six screw strat trem. My only complaint is one I have with many guitars. I don't dig gloss necks.

Best played standing up due to the upper horn. You can get a "moob-ectomy" from that thing!