Parker Guitars Fly Deluxe

all the usual

great sound covers all bases

well made, finish is easily damaged

Absolute crap. It is fundamentally flawed. All my frets started to come off. The idea of gluing frets doesnt work. They replaced them but I had to cover the enormous shipping costs both ways. This has to be one of the biggest dissapointments of my life

see above

Tuners are great. It's very lightweight and well balanced. Great if your playing a long gig. Piezo system makes it very versatile. Fretwork is top notch but not well marked for finding your way around. The battery enclosure is poor design and having to have a battery is understandable but a nuisance. My battery connector has broken and one of the threaded the anchors broke loose from the body. Pain.

The electric pickups are not warm or versatile. My opinion is they sound like crap compared to any other solid body I've played. Maybe OK, if you like to play Pop styles. Doesn't seem to matter if I'm using effects such as Digitech RP6, GT3, or TS9 or going straight into my Mesa Boogie. The piezo system is what makes it. I wish I could have this on my other guitars. Give the Piezo a 10 and the magnetic pickups a 2 maybe.

Action is pretty good, the overall build is high quality. Hardware used is top notch (except for magnetic pickups). My Parker is the Italian Plum dark purple color and finished quite nicely.

Besides having to replace the battery on occasion, the overall guitar has been solid.

I've been playing many different guitars for over 25 years and bought it because I fell in love with the Piezo system. I did not particularly like the body design, too George Jetson for my taste. After playing it for a year and trying to find a way to make the magnetic pickups sound decent, I've decided to move on. I think if they would have used some decent humbuckers, I may been more favorable. The overall quality is pretty good and the sounds it does make for being so light is good. The lightweight body design is innovated and futuristic. Nice on this old man's back. I think I'll stick with the classics. The piezo system is cool, but not enough to make it my everyday favorite.

If you are reading this review, you already know the features of the Parker Fly. Dual humbuckers, piezo, composite fretboard, stainless steel frets. I bought my guitar used, approx 4 yrs old, from a professional musician. I am also a working musician ... this guitar has a lot of road miles on it, but you'd never know it to look at the frets. Not an ounce of wear on them!!!

I play everything from Patsy Cline to Ricky Martin, and everything in between. I need versatility, and this guitar has it. I run two wireless units from the stereo output, sending the electric p/u to a Peavey TubeFex processor, then into the board, and sending the piezo p/u straight to the board. Not a lot of processing (I can't afford all the gear!!) I have absolutley no complaint about the sound quality. You get exactly what you'd expect from the humbuckers. The piezo p/u requires a bit of eq'ing to add some bass, and cut the treble a bit, but that could simply be a function of my board and speaker set up. It is a small problem, easily fixed.

This guitar was bought used. I took it to my favourite luthier, who happens to be a Parker dealer, and he RAVED about it!!! He simply replaced the strings, adjusted the bridge, checked the electronics and gave it back to me ... after keeping it for two days so HE could have fun playing it for a while!!! This guitar NEVER goes out of tune, keeps perfect intonation. I never use the whammy, so I keep the bridge locked down.

The colour is Antique Gold ... really classy looking. My only beef with this guitar is that the master volume knob is in the wrong place ... I keep hitting it, and losing volume. I am constantly checking the knob, to make sure it is properly set. A bit distracting at times.

This guitar has seen a lot of gigging, and although I NEVER play without a back up, I have never needed it. The fret board appears new, there is so little wear on it. The knobs are all solid, the hardware is in tip top shape. The finish looks good, but then I make sure to wipe it down after every session.

no opinion ... not needed.

If this guitar gets stolen, first I will track down the miserable SOB who took it, and gut him with a spoon, then go out and buy myself a new one to play while I spend my days in prison!!! The fast action, and light weight of this guitar make it a dream to play. The tonal capabilities add another dimension. I looked at the Godin LGX, and although I already own a Godin SD (and love it ... can't beat it for the price), I decided the Parker was the way to go, despite its higher price. Undoubtedly, my favourite feature is the weight of this guitar. I play a lot of shows, and used to get a sore neck and back .. no more!!!

I believe mine was made in 97. It's Italian Plum colour, Two Dimarzio Humbuckers, Piezo pickup in Trem bridge. Piezo is active and controlled by dual pot which is both volume and tone. The humbuckers have a separate volume and tone control. There is also a master volume control. A small switch near the jack socket switches between stereo or mono out. The battery replacement could be a bit fiddley during live gig but not too dificult. Georgeous neck and fingerboard. The whole guitar oozes quality and attention to detail.

I play in a church music group where we play music of all sorts of styles. I play through a sansamp GT2 into a Zoom acoustic pedal and then straight into a p.a system. The piezo acoustic sound although a bit different from a 'real' acoustic is still excellent. It produces very crisp bass notes and sounds very musical. The humbuckers I generally use through the sansamp set to an overdriven 'californian' or 'tweed' tone which sounds very good but not any better than any other rock guitar. I would say the bridge pickup could do with a bit more beef. Apparantly Dimarzio do various pickup options for Parker guitars. With both humbuckers on together it is actually wired for single coil and sounds a bit like a strat. Combine this with the piezo and you get a sound that is unlike any other guitar very musical. I would say that it is impossible to get a bad sound from this guitar. For my style of music, I would say this is the perfect guitar to have.

The action is very low but you can't get it ultra low without a bit of buz (at least on mine anyway. The nut has a slight gap under the base side (maybe they all do). The tuning pegs are very very stable and the whole thing stays in tune excellently. Very high quality finish.

This guitar is made for live playing. The first time I played seriously was during a worship time in a church. It felt like I'd had it for years, very friendly. Although it is very light it seems solid enough. I do use it without a backup, no problem. Make sure the strap fits tightly onto the strap buttons though.

Only contacted Parker by e-mail and got a very prompt reply.

I've been playing guitar for 20 years and had all sorts of guitars. I've played in various bands playing all kinds of music (except Jazz). This Parker Fly is the best guitar I've ever owned and I would definitely have another one. It's just too versatile to be ignored and too comfortable too put own. The neck actually helps you play better, so fast.

Tons of features. I would have put coil tapping/phase/series in addition to the three way selector. The tremolo design is incredible. my tremolo arm is loose but the plans/schema are GENIOUS. Hats off to the tension adjust knob and the springless spring - fucking brilliant.

Not the best...not the worst. The piezo is great for acoustic...7.5. The electric guitar blows...2.5. The humbuckers suck. The E string pole peices respond weaker and different to the other pole pieces. I would change them IF I COULD. You can't adjust the height very well. Have a buzz on the high E caused by a twisting neck. Mine might be the worst one ever. The fingerboard sounds very cold. I mostly play my own instruments though...built by me and they are far superior in tone (w/ gibson, lace and duncan pickups).

This is definitely a players guitar. My neck is twisting cause of the diagonal truss rod. I have played really good ones though and they are 10's...but beware. I am not a fan of the composite fingerboard. The fretwork is awesome. Finish is strong. The knobs are in all the wrong places...I bump the master all the time. the top cutaway (if you call it that) digs into my chest. The fact that it is light is a huge plus considering my bad back. That is actually why I got it. I am currently working on a couple guitars that are superlight and are going to take its place.

It is pretty tough. See above about the neck twisting. also the tremolo arm is loose. I haven't looked too far into this but it is annoying. battery life can haunt you if on a gig.

super nice and responsive.

I'm not really sure...I have played others that are great but mine sucks. If you get a good one w/ no problems...fantastic. I am going to send mine back.

yeah, well i don't even know where to start. you see this parker, you set it on your lap and put your fingers on the fretboard ... something strange happens. i swear, it plays itself. THERE IS NO THOUGHT PROCESS IN PLAYING A PARKER FLY DELUXE!!! it's the most amazing thing i've ever touched. if you just started playing like 2 weeks ago, you'll be able to play Eruption on this thing without a problem (possible exaggeration). you get what i mean. oh yeah, and they look incredible also ... i see no flaws in it at all

uh huh. go buy one if you have the money, cause you won't regret it EVER. unfortulately, i don't have the money ... care to send some so i can purchase one? helados@aol.com to email me if you have any questions at all. thanks everyone. *go buy a parker*

Hella features is tight on this mutha hoe. Scraight up tight wit all dem nobs. 4 uh dem an 2 switches (not as good as my phat 16 switches).
7 pickup configerations wit all possible tonal goods. Zarkie cheats people out of money. He ain't tight, my brutha son. Parker gots it wit me got the majik blue color. Dat one is scraight droppin you, man. Its all hella tight.

Sounds like Zarkie Jarkie Joe crying as I peed on his daughters butt. Au foe! The sound is smooth and solid through my Marshall amp. That amp has got hella goad. Gode front panel, goad knobs, goad back speakers. Sit dats tight. It also sounds good through a vacuum cleaner on the east stairs of Zarkies after they got melted by green egg smoke.

Everyting was scraight good. I got mine used for 11 hunneds, and its all good. Them uther gitars Ise got ain't all that compared to my blue Parker. Them fretboards are tight like East Thursday unda Natural Bridge in Saint Louis Mo. Nofe side.,/?@#$^%*(_+*! The Custom Parker bidge is like my 3 goad teeth: Performs Great. All them strings in tune at all time, my brutha son. Girl, I look good. Shoo. Zarkie in Saint Louis ain't tight, doe. He gone ripped my brutha off. But he got Green egg smoked for it. Equal trade. And as they say in my Nofe Ghetto, "Equal trade, Equal rights, my Equalibrium hodes!"

Dat fretboard is tight and sturdy as Zarkie's Daughter's Butt wich I just peed on. I depend on it au hell.


TRUE

"neva delt, neva felt"



TRUE

No mo to say. Goes and gets yo's self ones uh dees mutha hoes! Greatest guitar ever available. TRUE. Zarkie Jarkie Joe likes his little boys almost buzzing. Like his strings. Dateg has a very tight sound wit them new drums them has been emplaying into their contraversial LEGAL TERRORRISM style of music. They are hittin big with their 26th album in their trilogy. Their latest style is scraight relating to the anguishing pains of this fella in my crib named Mr. Go. He's got terrorrism in his head but the broccoli ain't knockin at his door, it ya catch my sayin. TRUE. He be who I quote here . For Real. Zarkie will recieve the greatest amount of Legal Terrorrism as anyone.

DATEG will conquer all cribs and ghettos.

This is a 24 stainlss steel fret(oh so smooth) guitar with 2 DiMarzio humbuckers and the Parker tremolo bridge. Sperzel locking tuners with a thin neck with a very usable radius. Mine came with a hard case because the store had an extra and the guitar was on clearence. Italian Plum color, basswood neck and I believe tha body is poplar, but I am not sure. This thing also has the piezo elements for the acoustic sound. Controls are layed out a little cramped. Master volume, magnetic volume, tone, piezo volume and tone. The pickup selectors are a little difficult to get at when you have to switch quickly, but as with anything you get used to it and move on.

I play contmporary christian worship for our church worship team. Stuff like Third Day, Delirious, Matt Redman, etc... Th reason I bought this guitar was for the versatility. I use this with a Digitech RP 2000 and a Morley PWA (wah). Extremely quiet in all settings. The only noise I have ever heard is from the RP 2000's phaser setting, and it was the RP 2000's fault. I run the piezo line to a separate channel because the piezos are run through a preamp in the guitar, and the Digitech is a preamp. The 2 together do not work. 2 preamps make for a very sharp sound. If I had an acoustic preamp that theory would change, but it sounds better in a separate channel. The acoustic sound is a little unforgiving to not fretting a chord 100% properly. It will buzz when you don't nail that chord, but if you add some chorus and such it takes away some of that. I like the acoustic sound, kind of different but truly usable if you set it correctly. The dimarzios are great. Neck is very blusey, bridge has definite attack. Middle position splits the buckers into singles. This sound is VERY stratishly clean. Good change of pace. All setting are very distinct, no problem telling if you have chnaged settings.

Set up was good. The composite fiber wrap makes the truss rod just a strings guage change adjustment. I changed the strings from .009 to .010. The difference in the deeper tone is great. The guitar is made perfectly. No blemishes. Hardware is solid. This guitar will last a long time. Don't let the light weight fool you. Carbon composite materials have the strength of metals but let the wood sing out. This thing is built so well that when you strike a chord the whole guitar vibrates as if it is breathing. It is life-like in its responsiveness.

Tough as nails. Like I said, composites have the strength of metal, but are thin and lightweight. Tuners(locking) and other hardware are superior. Strap buttons are solid, but I will be changing to strap locks because I play often and straplocks are just a good idea. I HAVE gigged without a backup for almost a year now. This guitar is even easy on strings. Granted I use .010's and I change them every 2 weeks, but I still have NEVER broken a string yet. Finish is good, doesn't seem as thick as others, but seems more resistant to scratching.

Don't remember how long the warranty lasts. Every time I have ever e-mailed them they have responded the same day. I e-mailed a TON. Before I spent $1500 I was going to make sure I knew everything about this guitar. I was alwys received with courtesy.

I have been playing since I was 14 but I stopped for about 6 years before I was asked to play in church(I am 26). I also own a Washburn JB100 Jennifer Batten signature model and a Seagul S6. This is the best guitar I have ever felt. VERY balanced and lightweight and the most versatile guitar I could find that excited me. If it were lost or stolen I would have to wait forever to get another because of the price, but I would make sure I got one. Just easy to play. I have seen other guitars priced as much or more and they are not equal value. This is by far the best made guitar I have seen and held. Ernie Ball is another great company but the neck radius didn't feel right and Fender and Gibson are NOT worth the prices they charge. You can get copies and change the pickups and hardware and have the same product while saving $$$. There is only 1 Parker. Get one!!

Many many reviews below list the features. There isn't any guitar out there that does more than a Parker. Mine is finished in Antique Gold. <p>A lot of people say these look weird, but this guitar is the favorite of my girlfriend and my brother, and I was awfully fond of it as well. In this case, one person's weird is my beautiful.

This note definition on this guitar is incredible. You can turn the gain way up and still hear every note in a chord. The versatility is amazing. You can get everything from a very creditable acoustic sound to a nice Rick jangle to AC/DC crunch to...you dream it, and you can probably find a good approximation on this guitar.<p>As a side note, some very good guitar player friends and I went into a music shop and did an A/B test between a Fly Deluxe and a PRS Custom 24 through a Marshall JCM 2000, and the Fly just had a deeper, and to our ears, all around better tone than the PRS. I'm not saying that these guitars were representative of every Parker and every PRS, but I think that if other people did this, they might be surprised.

I purchased this guitar used, but it is absolutely flawless. There isn't even a pick scratch on it. Other people seem to have had some problems with the action, but in my experience, music seems to go straight from my brain to the amp bypassing my fingers entirely. It's a strange feeling.
<p>This guitar is built every bit as well as the PRSes and McInturff's I've had. I'm very picky, but I have nothing but praise for the build quality.

The one problem I've seen with these guitars is that the paint seems to come off the guitars in chips. Otherwise, I don't see anyone wearing through the paint, not in one lifetime at least. As for gigging, since I'm not, I'll defer to the other reviewers.

I don't know as I haven't had to deal with them. I saw that one of the early reviewers mentioned Parker not having a strong web presence. Well, that certainly has changed. Check it out: <a href:"http://www.parkerguitars.com">http://www.parkerguitars.com</a>

I've been playing for about 16 years now. Among other instruments, I own or have owned a PRS Custom 22, a PRS Standard 22, a McInturff Polaris Pro, a McInturff Monarch, an Epi Les Paul, and a lot of other stuff. This Fly rates with the best of them in tone and is a step above any of them in terms of playability. It truly is an amazing guitar. I suspect it's not for everyone, but if you're planning to fork out in excess of $1000 for a guitar, do yourself a favor and try one of these out.

The Parker tremolo-system. Piezo pickup. Two Dimarzio humbuckers witch sounds very well. One 3-way selector for the humbuckers, and another 3-way selector for no piezo, piezo and humbucker or just the piezo pickup. The selectors are placed very uncomfortable (behind the volume and tone knobs.) Mine guitar is black. Active electronics with one battery.

The guitar sounds vary good to me. I am basicly a shred-player with really fast picking, string-skipping etc. I play alot John Petrucci and Steve Vai, and the guitar sounds very well. I also play some jazz and it sounds good, but i use 010-046 and that is too thin for a real good jazzguitar sound.

I bought my guitar rom a friend of my father, and think the set-up was just great, but i do not know how it was when it came from the factory.

I have played live a tons of times and the guitar is great. I do not have a backup with me, and that is no point either when you play Parker. I have had some problems with the input, so I had to buy a new from the states. It was pretty expensive.

I had to change the input because it became very nisy. It took for around a week to get the input from the states. I live in Norway, and that is a long trip.

I am fifteen years old an have been playing for about 3-4 years. I really loves this guitar. I also have a french-made Lag guitar wich is also very nice, and a Fender Lonestar Strat. I am not a big Fender fan, but i like the sound of the Texas-special singlecoils. My amp is a Carvin 100-Watt tube amp. The Parker works really great on this amp, and after a gig people comes to me and says that i have a really godd sound in my guitar.Now I am trying to get enoughf mony to buy a Triaxis rack with Simul Class 2:90 and a Rack fx. I also have a Nady Wireless.