Parker Guitars PM-20

Parkers new single-cut entry. Last Summer I was talking to my friendly neighborhood dealer, complaining that Parker hadn't come out w/ a single-cut model yet. That night I opened my new issue of Vintage Guitar, and lo and behold there was a blurb on just such a new model!

I'd had a ho-hum experience w/ a Parker Standard a couple years ago--loved the playability, but hated the balance and pickups--so wanted to see what else they could come up with. YESH!, THIS IS IT!

I snagged this one 3 days ago, and am already planning to sell off a few of my other 10 axes on ebay so I can get another.

Most guys compare it to an LP: I'd posit that it more resembles a Gibson L5S (I've owned 3 of that model), but its weight, playability, and sounds surpass the pricier (!) Gibson.

This is the bubinga version. I can only find one super-miniscule finish ding on the back of the horn, but it takes some serious scrutinizin' the catch it; otherwise this baby is perfection incarnate. All other details have been covered admirably by the previous reviewers. I prefer the simplicity of this instrument to many other overly-tricked-out geetars in this price range (The 10 "Tons of features" rating is for the lack of unnecessary features and the shear usefulness of what you get here). I especially like the omission of position markers on the sweet ebony fretboard. I would add that this axe is extreamly lightweight.

My only gripes: a) there is a very slight tendency to be neck-heavy, but that trait is negligible in light of all the positives; b) the lower edges of the frets are a little rough, but a little steel wool should take care of that in a jiff; c) the bridge is a typical cheapo Korean T-O-M that may tend to corrode or collapse under regular use, so will have to be replaced by something sturdier...

Tone depends much on the amp used and the hands/musculo-nervous system doing the playing. This one suits me. Through a Behringer 212, trying out the different amp models, the humbuckers are a tad dark, but the sustain is super-buttery, with a smooth attack that can be made more percussive with the right pick (I use 3mm Dunlop Little Stubbies). In single-coil mode you get a nice sparkle'n'spank that, while not too tele-like, approximates a decent stratoblaster. Overall , I'd agree with the reviewer who thought the tone was like an SG. Nothin' bad 'bout that!

Very likely, I'll soon change out the pickups for some Duncans (I will have to snip the mounting tabs down to a triangle, though, as the routs are cut for Dimarzio baseplates/tabs) so I can get a little more bite and grind out of her.

PERFECT. 'Nuff said.

This remains to be seen. It'll be a month or two before I can take it on a gig or two. Right now it seems plenty solid.

I haven't dealt with'em.

Over the past thirty years I've gone through about 500 guitars (NO LIE), and I can honestly say this critter smokes 495 of them.

I'm selling off some other pieces so's I can grab a second.

Believe me, this guitar plays itself. I can Burn on this mother, no sweat.

Coulda been a custom shop for me: Tele neck, ebony fb, two humbuckers and coil tap to provide a variety of tones. Wanted both LP and Tele in one guitar. Switch is in the LP location which I prefer. Push/pull pots.. Very nice smooth finish. These Korean made $500-$700 guitars seem to be the sweet spot for the best price/performance at this time (1/15/2005). My short list included the Yamaha AES620 and Fender John 5. Would never have bought anything that was named a Fly or looked like them. A bit of that design is left over in this model ? oh well, it?s very attractive otherwise. Not too heavy (7 lbs?). In a word: elegant.
See details at www.parkerguitars.com.

Clean and pure unadulterated sounds are what I hear in this guitar. Notes are clear and rich up and down the fb. I don?t get a hint of LP or Tele sounds but it does sound great with my very limited amp. In an unplugged A-B check with by old Yamaha Tele copy, the contrast is dramatic. The Tele twang is there in the Yami but not in the PM20. There is no hint of ?personality? in the PM20 playing unplugged ? just perfection. Will be shopping for a new amp which might help to get LP sounds and will try various effects/amps. Will likely go for the DiMarzio virtual PAF and maybe a "twang" pickup.

Perfect fit and finish. Every detail speaks of quality. Very nice playing neck.
I give the ebony a slight edge over rosewood - YMMV.

Too soon to tell but seems to be solid.

No dealings with Parker support.

That is a qualified 10 because the sound is so subjective. Just be sure to do a good audition before buying which I?m sure you would. I bought on impulse and a love at first sight kinda decision. I don?t gig or have any expectations of doing so. I don?t have a style to project - only hopes of sounding something like Mark Knopfler or Chet Atkins some day. The playability and overall quality makes it a steal and a keeper.

2004 model. Solid mahoghany body with highly figured glossy bubinga top. Single cut like a LP but with the familiar Parker shape to the lower cutaway. Pickups are Parker Stinger Humbuckers with push-pull coil taps for single coil tones. Each pickup has this capability.
Cosmetically, this guitar is perfect. Grover 18-1 tuners. Tune-O-Matic bridge. String through body. LP neck scale. Ebony fretboard with jumbo frets. 3 way switch. Tone and volume controls.

The humbucker and single coil tones are more than capable to be applied to virtually any music style. The tapped single coils have a shimmer to them that I have never experienced with any other tapped config on any guitar. Real attractive sound. Rich and full. The fact that each humbucker can be independently tapped adds a whole lot of tone options. I love all of the tones!!!

Perfect set-up, fit and finish. Pickups are mounted directly into the body with perfect adjustment. No weak individual strings. This is a top drawer guitar that easily rivals the expensive boutique brands in looks and performance. The neck is easily the best I have ever played in over 35 years of owning and playing guitars.

This is a solid dependable guitar period.

No comments. Never dealt with Parker.

I have been playing over 35 years. I only wish that this guitar had been available years ago. I would have saved a lot of money that I wasted trying to find something this good. The only thing I added was pickup rings as it looks much better with the rings instead of the routed gap cavity between the body and the pickups. Also, the chrome rings at the base of the bridge studs were missing. I don't know if this was by design or purposely left off. Nevertheless, only my preference and does not affect the performance of the guitar at all.

2004, Korean-built. This is Parker's new "single cut" model, with a quasi-Les Paul vibe. Mahogany neck and body with quilted bubinga top. Dual Parker "Stinger" humbuckers, one volume & one tone knob each with push-pull function for splitting either the neck or bridge humbucker. Ebony fretboard with no position markers (just side dots). Tune-o-matic bridge with string-through-body ferrules. Grover 18:1 tuners. Neck is 22 fret, with profile very similar to that of the USA Fly models; fairly wide and thin. Neck is set, with no heel whatsoever. Feels just like a neck-through body Parker. Only Parker series with no piezo acoustic bridge. If this had a piezo bridge, it'd be perfect.

Wow. Unplugged, this Parker has a very resonant, bell-like tone. Very similar to a Fly Classic. Pickups are definitely not the same as those in the older P-38 guitars, or at least they sound much much better to my ears. I owned a P-38 for a while, and thought the pickups were terribly bright, harsh, and lacked definition. These seem much fuller and punchier. I use a bunch of different tube amps, modeling amps, and such, and the guitar seems to have quite a unique voice. It does NOT sound like a Les Paul; more like an SG. Coil tapping works very well; easy to get some relatively convincing single-coil sounds. Nice to have each pickup able to be tapped separately; this opens up many more pickup combinations. Clean, the guitar sounds very clear and full. As distortion is added, it does a fairly good job of retaining clarity of notes even with highly overdriven power chords. Leads have a very open, musical tone and never get overly muddy like with a LP. I guess my rating could be a bit misleading; because the guitar really sounds excellent. However, I have some other guitars in the same price range with Duncan pickups that just really make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, so I have no choice but to knock off a couple of points. One point of interest: The pickups are direct-mounted into the body, and the pickup routings are cut for Dimarzio-style p'ups (very "pointy", triangular mounting tabs). If you decide you want to put Duncans or some other brand of pickups in, you'll need to do some serious trimming to the mounting tabs on the pickups to get them to fit the guitar.

Factory quality is outstanding. This is one beautiful guitar, and it plays like a dream. I lowered the action a bit (it's now very low with no buzzing. Truss rod was correctly adjusted, with the prerequisite 0.010" of relief at the 7th fret. All controls are smooth and quiet. Fretwork is excellent. Nut is cut better than any other Korean-made guitar I've purchased. Finish is like polished glass. I can't find a flaw anywhere on this instrument.

Seesm pretty solid. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't hold up to the rigors that the average working musician would put it through.

I have no idea. My guess is that they're okay.

I've been playing for 21 years and currently own 21 guitars (just a coincidence, I guess). I've owned dozens and dozens of guitars over the years, including USA LP's, Strats, Hamers, Carvins, Kramers, etc.
This guitar ranks with some of the best from the standpoint of fit, feel, and playability. The neck is amazing, and the guitar really seems to want to "play itself". I'm thinking that adding a set of DiMarzio Virtual PAF pickups (I prefer Duncans, but for the sake of ease of fit as mentioned above) that this would rate as a truly world-class instrument. I'd put it up against a Carvin, Anderson, or USA Parker almost any day.