Parker Guitars Stock Pre-2000

Pickup features: Humbucking Passive (middle position both inner coils of neck and bridge I think)
Impedence or other specs: Most likely same as Dimarzio Tone Zone

Model of guitar or bass: Parker Fly Classic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: NA
Other pickups on guitar: Parker Fly Neck (Original Pre-2000)
Artists using this pickup: Many, but not much for endorsement
You musical style(s): Metal, Shred, more than three chords
Reason for pickup change: None

Perceived output level: Very Hot, but defined and dynamic very flexible with good EQs
Tone: Fat, good lows and highs - unique mid sound (great for lead work - kind of Paul Gilbert-ish, and I know he endorses Tone Zones)
Sonic evaluation: History: Original Parker pickups are a modified Tone Zone in the bridge and an Air Norton in the neck. From my knowledge, the only modification is the pickup chassis, designed to fit the unique body of the Fly. After 2000, Dimarzio designed ceramic based pickups for the Fly, originals are Alnico 5 - I have tried them and did not like them as much. I have also taken my Fly and played it along side a new Fly Mojo (comes stock with Seymour Duncan JB), and would have to say that the original Fly pickups were fuller sounding and hotter. The original pickups have a much more progressive sound than the new stock ceramics by Dimarzio and the SD JB. Parker "Tone Zones" do need a high gain amp for serious metal - the average Marshall does not cut it, Boogies, Peaveys, Bogners, etc sound great with this guitar/pickup combo. Ed Roman has a rant about his dislike for the original pickups in Parkers, don't be misled by other's opinions until you hear it yourself. When I was testing out newer Parker at Fazio's in St. Louis, the sales guys were pretty impressed the original and surprised at its performance with against the "new and improved" Parkers. One must mind that this is a very unusual guitar in design and sound - so the pickup choices are limited due to size requirements. Dimarzio does make drop in replacements for the Fly now (Humbucker From Hell?, PAF?, PAF Pro?, FRED?, Norton?, Air Norton?, Air Zone?, Tone Zone?, Breed? neck and bridge models, Air Classic? neck and bridge and Virtual PAF? neck and bridge models.) Ed Roman does custom mods for dropping Seymour Duncans in Parkers - I do have a great respect for Mr. Roman check his site out www.edromanguitars.com The neck pickup is great sounding, but I may lean more towards a Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell for more defined highs and a thinner lead neck sound in general, but over all no complaints with either pickup

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup (in this guitar with the amps mentioned above is suitable for just about anything you can image - it rolls back nicely for more tradition rock sounds and it quite fat on clean channels - Parkers have the piezo for serious clean sounds

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen, I would custom order a new Parker Fly classic in Korina (laid out like the old ones) and get a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the bridge and a Humbucker From Hell in the neck. I have been palying for 16 years now (can't beleive it has been that long) and have has many, many guitar/pickup combos. I do prefer Peavey amps and have had many different combos and head over the years (Triple XXX is a great amp), currently I am a using a discontinued Peavey TransFex Pro 212s (this thing smokes - from AC/DC to Darrel with a handy bundle of effects)