The Parker Fly Thread

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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X-Ray Spex
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The Parker Fly Thread

Post by X-Ray Spex » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:55 am

Dude near me has one for sale which I am extremely tempted by, anyone on here have any hands-on good or bad experiences with them? Also if you own one post pictures please, can't get enough of them ;)
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:02 am

The one pointy guitar I’d actually want to own.

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by HNB » Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:07 am

I have the sort of Tele like one and the only thing I don't like is the headstock because of wanting to hang it on the wall.
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by fuzzjunkie » Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:16 am

Liked the Tele style one. Seemed more substantial, the body that is, the neck and headstock I was okay with. The standard body seemed really thin and lightweight, so it felt strange to hold and play it. You could get used to that of course. I switch guitars with different body styles all the time with out fuss.

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by tele_pathic » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:50 pm

A Parker Fly has been on my “want to buy forever” list. Good luck! I’d snatch in a hot minute

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by øøøøøøø » Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:27 am

Man, how times change.

And I even feel myself changing with them.

Like... I remember the Guitar World magazine ad in '94 or so that introduced me to the Parker Fly. And I remember playing one in a store as like a 14 year old around then and being impressed. Then I remember being 21 and "cool" and thinking it was the stupidest guitar ever.

And now, somehow, after not thinking about them in years, I'm curious again.

maybe that's how "vintage guitars" works. After all, about 2 years ago I bought an '87 JEM777 and had gone through all those same phases with that one.

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by Arthon » Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:42 am

øøøøøøø wrote:
Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:27 am
After all, about 2 years ago I bought an '87 JEM777 and had gone through all those same phases with that one.
I always thought they were f*cking ugly, until maybe 6 months ago when I saw someone playing a pink fluo one. I know think they look pretty retro kitsch cool.

I still dont like Parker guitars... Maybe you are just 2 years ahead of me.
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by countertext » Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:38 pm

I had to check and see - I’m astonished that Parker is still manufacturing. I can’t remember the last time I saw one other than HNB’s. I remember when they were new and Reeves Gabrels and Belew were playing them.

I’m not nostalgic enough to like them yet. They are offsets, though.

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by Paul-T » Sat Jan 19, 2019 4:46 am

I've always liked them, as they are something fresh still.

I saw Pops Staples play one live and it was mind-blowing. it gave him his tradmeark sound, with the tremolo, but he was 90something then so why wouldn't he want an ergonomic, light guitar that didn't hurt his back? He was a champion of the Strat, inspiring Jimi along with Curtis Mayfield etc, so was great to see him with another modernistic instrument. Whilst wearing a big multicoloured sweater.

Sadly, the vid of that song isn't available, but this is the wonderful fella that same evening alongside June Carter, Johnny Cash and James Burton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPc8ahc7iI
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by dj89 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:54 am

Nuf said
Image

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by øøøøøøø » Sat Jan 19, 2019 8:36 am

they've been around for like 25 years! man, time flies

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jan 19, 2019 8:49 am

I've been intrigued by one for some time, and would like to pick one up.
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by Maggieo » Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:44 am

countertext wrote:
Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:38 pm
I had to check and see - I’m astonished that Parker is still manufacturing. I can’t remember the last time I saw one other than HNB’s. I remember when they were new and Reeves Gabrels and Belew were playing them.

I’m not nostalgic enough to like them yet. They are offsets, though.
I saw Belew play one of his in '99 and there's a guy in town who has the Tele-ish one- both seemed pretty great.
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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by Axolotl » Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:19 pm

FWIW I had a Parker Fly deluxe (no midi) in white for several years. It came to me as payment of a debt from a former roommate in the late 90s. By then I was trying to learn jazz guitar and I remember the build was quite impressive. For a while I used it with flatwounds. It was really comfortable to play, and the piezo pickup was a great feature to have. Don't remember being too thrilled about the humbuckers but was I ever?. I remembered to be thrilled by the graphite fretboard and a bit annoyed by the plasticky feel of the back of the neck (painted in white like the rest of the guitar).

I eventually did install a GK roland pickup to do the synth/midi thing. Then I didn't play guitar for a few years and when I came back to it I went for an SG which I flipped for a 74 Mustang that hooked me into offsets until today. I sold the Parker in 2012 for about 2k - I was surprised how fast it sold - to buy an AVRI JM or something. Great guitar, and I'd say a somewhat important on my music journey, but I haven't missed it once.

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Re: The Parker Fly Thread

Post by s_mcsleazy » Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:28 pm

i've actually tried a few of these. if i know anything about them, it's that it's not for me. every one i tried had a super thin neck.

still good looking guitars. i dunno why but they always remind me of what was popular around 2004
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