Parker Guitars Limited Edition

1998 Limited run of quarter-sawn Tulipwood popular bodied Parker Fly Deluxe guitars signed by Ken Parker. The finish is a satin transparent green that really pops. I normally wouldn't buy a green guitar, but this was an exception due to condition (mint) and the seller is a super good guy on the Parker forum

There were supposedly 35 of these made, but rumors persist that there were more.
You rarely run across these (or the Butternut), the Tulipwood seem a rarer find.

Everything is as a Parker Deluxe Fly, so there's really no need to go back over old ground except to say these are pre-USA Music Parkers -- the real deal -- and pre-refined.
I actually prefer the older models after having played both. The master volume comes in really handy; the separate piezo tone and volume is welcome; and finally, the middle position on the 3-way mag-pup switch is the tapped position (both pickups).

These guitars (Fly Deluxe) are quite versatile and not as sterile as some would have you believe.

I'm more a finger-style / strumming acoustic player who, when going electric, prefers jazz improv and blues riffing. I do fool around with broken-up high gain sounds, but it's not my forte at all.

I play this through a couple of amps, primarily a 5 watt boutique style head with 1x12 cabinet.

A lot of reviewers of the earlier Parkers comment on the quality (or lack thereof) of the Dimarzio pickups, based on the Tone Zone and Air Norton. This guitar's wood provides a bright sound with immediate attack. Perhaps the quarter-sawn wood? Don't know, but it's very responsive. The tapped sound is very good, though the volumes drops considerably. I've heard better tapped humbuckers, but this is fine. These pickups are, in my opinion, far better than people give them credit for. This is barely a five pound guitar with stainless steel frets and composite materials. Thus, it presents sonic challenges unlike a hunk of mahogany spit out by a CNC machine covered in thick poly.

I will say this: running the Fly in stereo (native ability) with the piezo sent to a good acoustic amp (or DI) with a little acoustic processing and boosting the low-end a tad, while the mag pickups are in a good tube amp is a sound like no other. You won't hear better cleans. At least I haven't.

Dislikes: knob and switch placement, and the switches don't feel very substantial for a high-dollar guitar.

Richer tonality from the magnetic pickups is this guitar's only weakness, but it's nowhere as bad as some say. The generation 1 pickups are much better than people give them credit for. I'll deduct one point for humbucker-only operation.

Aces. The seller told me it was mint and it is mint. The fit and finish on this 11 year old guitar is as good as it gets. It's used (I believe I'm the 3rd owner) so I can't comment on factory setup.

I don't gig - I just began my fifth decade and I enjoy myself by myself (-:

I've dealt with US Music before, and I'd rather not again. That's not to say they don't care, but based on my experience, the front line doesn't know much about the guitars, and the factory is still trying to figure out a direction for Ken Parker's baby.

I'd buy this guitar again without hesitation, but the odds of finding another are very slim.

1998 Parker fly Limited Edition in Tulipwood. It is transparent green and looks awesome. The guitar has 2 Dimarzio humbuckers and a piezo pickup. It has sperzel locking tuners and stainless steel frets. Great features for a great guitar

The guitar, for being so light weight really sounds fat. It has a great chunky tone and the acoustic pickup is just awesome. I usually run the guitar in stereo so i get the best of both worlds. I mainly play modern progressive rock and this guitar handles all my tones perfectly.

The action could not be better. It is very low with no buzzing whatsoever. The finish is in a emerald green which shows off the tulipwood grain that runs through it.

i have had the guitar for about 2 years and love it. The frets are stainless steel so i wont ever need to replace those. I believe this was a guitar built to last I havent experienced any problems. I always use a backup guitar but that is also a Parker Fly Classic.

Havent dealt with them

I think it is one of the best guitars I have ever played. Fast neck great tone , beautiful looks , great hardware , lightweight , and very versatile. I just wish they were more affordable, but i guess you get what you pay for.