In '95ish I really wanted a Parker, but they were not distributed in Maine yet. I called Parker, Ken answered, and invited me to the factory. He very generously gave me a tour of the factory and helped me decide what Parker to buy. I will never forget how awesome that whole experience was. Parkers are awesome. (thanks for the forum)

The Fly in my photo is an original 1993 and is one of my main guitars for practice and gigging. Its range of sounds are almost unequalled - very few guitars can go from jazz, to out-of-phase strat, to metal, to acoustic with just two switches. Weather and temperature has almost no effect on the neck or playability. After 26 years of playing the stainless steel frets, there is zero visible wear. It is a pleasure to play.

5:21 The wheel actually changes the angle of the bridge. To change how firm the tremolo feels, you need to open the back - there are 3 slots that the leaf spring can sit in - each one of those settings changes the firmness of trem arm. When properly setup, a Parker should be able to switch from floating to fixed tremolo without any change in pitch on any of the strings. The wheel is designed to facilitate this. Set the small plastic lever on the back to make the tremolo fixed. Tighten the wheel until there is no change in pitch when you pull up on the tremolo arm. Tune the guitar. Flip the lever on the back to set the tremolo as floating. Now loosen the wheel until each string is brought to the correct pitch. DO NOT adjust the tuners. Now you should move that lever between floating and fixed without the guitar going out of tune. It was designed this way so if you break a string while playing with the trem floating, you can switch it to fixed and still play in tune. Great video by the way about these awesome guitars!

The first year these guitars were available(I forget when) I was in a guitar store in time to see a dozen of the Parkers come in. They were in gig bags laid on the floor, waiting to be examined and hung on the wall. ALL of them came out of the bags in tune. Astonishing!

6:00 Corrects coil tapping to coil splitting. If I ever make it to your shop I will hug your for that! My pet peeves are few but severe!

You're so happy and positive and it is easy to tell that you love making these videos, I love it! Keep it up man

I've got a Parker Fly Deluxe in Antique Gold since a couple of weeks and by far the best guitar I ever had. And I've had Fenders, Gibsons PRS and more. Plays absolutely like a dream

In 1997, I bought the last one ("Italian Plum") the local G.C had when they stopped carrying the brand. I did only two things to the instrument after I took ownership. I had the nut slots widened to accommodate 10-46 strings as it came set up for a 9-42 set. The vibrato uses a leaf spring rather than coil springs, and it came with two - one calibrated for 9-42s and the other for 10-46s, so that was swapped. After this, I set the intonation. That's it. String height was perfect, action was perfect, pickup height was perfect. I have not had to adjust anything other than tuning on this guitar in almost 20 years.

The main problem with the Fly was probably timing. Five years earlier they would have been huge but they came out just as Grunge and Britpop were hitting their stride and all anyone wanted was retro, retro and more retro. It will be interesting to see if the relaunch in 2017 will see them catch on any more.

Ken Parker and I were both had gigs as artists in residence at artpark in Lewiston New York in the summer of 1986. One of the other artists was working in very high tech cement and he and Ken built a guitar out of concrete that was very lightweight and would sustain till next tuesday. I sort of lost track of Ken in about 89 or so when I got married, but I remember that the concrete guitar was the same shape as the fly guitars. The first time I walked past a guitar store on 48th street in NYC and saw a fly in the window I immediately recognized it. Super nice guy.

I bought a Parker Fly the first year they came out and it is still my favorite guitar to play. There is a truss rod under the headstock but I have never had to move the truss rod. Great playing guitar and very versatile.

At 65 yrs I love the weight of my Parker. Play with the band for 3 hrs., no problem. It did take may mates awhile to warm to the look.

Keep em coming Phil. These videos are bothe educational and entertaining!!

Thank you for this video! I just scored a pre-refined Classic Fly with Gen2 pups, this video helped a lot!

Keep the videos coming. Presentations are getting better each time My T shirt came yesterday.

I bought a 724 Koa beautiful. It is different yet it plays great and can sound like any guitar you want.It does so many sounds and feels so good. I'm glad I found it.Got a great deal an craftsmanship is Great !

I love your videos, man. So thorough and just the right amount of info.

always love your videos , they are like a guitar education , please make more and longer , thank you for sharing

I have watched several of your videos. This one made me subscribe. Thanks for the details!

Had the pleasure of playing one of these at a local shop here in NC. This bad boy is an absolute joy to play. So fast, so light, and I played this through a Peavy 6505 combo. I wish I would've bought that axe!

Hi Phillip, many thanks for your video. I have a gold pre-refined Deluxe just like the one you were showing. On the whole your information is good. There are a couple of things I spotted that are not quite right. Pre-refined Flies do have a trussrod, or more accurately, a truss wire. Bundles of piano wire were crimped together. This was lighter than a traditional trussrod. If you look at the end of the neck behind the nut where the headstock starts you will find it. Secondly until very late in the production run Deluxes, Classics, Supremes and Artists had Di Marzio pups and Mojos had Seymour Duncans. The very last switched over to Duncans if I remember rightly. Finally the wheel below the trem on a pre-refined Fly is for adjusting the tension so that correct pitch is achieved when the bridge is in floating mode. When set for dive bombing only it can be used for tension adjustment. As to the weight a pre-refined Deluxe will weigh around 5 pounds or 2 and a smidge kilos! As a last comment Ken Parker was fascinated by lute construction and wondered if the combination of hard and soft materials might be used to create a more resonant instrument. Received wisdom is that heavy = resonance and sustain. In truth the energy of the string is better preserved when it has less body and neck mass to move. Hence the Fly is an extremely resonant instrument which produces all kinds of rich overtones other guitars don't.

I have the pre refined and it's an exact copy including the color of the gold you showed. Absolutely awesome guitar. I can't say enough good things about this guitar. Sounds amazing and light enough to play a gig all night. Minds been road tested pretty hard with a lot of nicks on it but it's always in tune plays like a dream.

I used to think it was just a shape to stand out but now I see these guitars have so many interesting innovations. Thanks!

Man I've been drooling over the Parker Fly (Deluxe) guitars since high school, twenty years ago, and this video just whets my appetite even more!

I just came across this and it told me many things I did not know..... THE COMMENTS BELOW FROM OWNERS ARE EXTREMELY GOOD AND I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR ONE!!!! Many thanks, Phillip!!!!!!!

Good info. I purchased new in 2000 a Parker P38VA-TR and love it.

I was so lucky to play one back in the day when i was learning the basics. It was so easy to use and played like butter for real. If i find one in good condition, i'm going to buy!

I always enjoy the tech candor Phil. Thanks

I just finished watching the video on the Parker Fly. I was Enlighten Ed to say the least. I tried one way back when they first came along. I thought they where really comfortable and played great. The concept was so new and me being a traditional LP or Strat kind of guy I never gave it a second thought. After that video, and thinking about the weight and all the other great features on this guitar, I'm going hunting for one. I'm 62 years old. I have been playing for 48 years, it's time for something light, sleek, strong, with great playability. Thank you KYG

Loved this! I've always wondered about this guitar. Great vid

EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE AND ACCURATE VIDEO..VERY WELL PRESENTED..

I did not know until now that this guitar is made of wood. Every detail of this guitar is so precisely made.

THIS CHANNEL IS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! I WATCH EVERYDAY. THINGS FOR THE INFO...

I have been your subscriber from the first video o saw of yours and have been watching every video you post. I as a luthier from Nepal have learnt a lot from you. Thanks..

I love your videos and I love your presentation style. Great stuff.

A guitar so ahead of its time. Ive been wanting to build a guitar with similar specs and a normal looking body for awhile now.

Phil, you are great at explaining all things guitar. TY.

Great info really enjoy what your doing best of luck with the channel🎼🎸

Hey Phill , great content every time.❤😎🎸

Great video man. I'll be binge watching your channel now.

I had a Night Fly back in the day, one of the best guitars I ever owned , I still regret selling it

Bought my Fly (pre-refined) in about 2001. Never have had any problems with it. And it plays like a dream. Hands down the most responsive guitar I’ve ever had the joy of playing.

I have a 98 SuperFly made in Jan 98 weighs5 1/4 lbs and I bought it new in 99 and has been my favorite guitar! I have had over 150 guitars but this my favorite.

Your vid helped me get off the fence about buying one at my local haunt. I’ve played it like 4 million times but could never decide. I’m buying it. Thank you!

I've always had a thing for these...just because they are so weird looking yet so well thought out and designed. I remember hearing they were carbon fiber, but thought that was a shell all around the guitars...never even saw a wood finished one, so thanks for showing them in both iterations...I have yet to own one..maybe there's a deal out there waiting to be had, but until then I'll just admire from afar...thanks again for your amazing videos Phil!

I'm not getting a Parker Fly, but this video made it interesting enough to actually consider it.

Thanks for the info Phil, much of which I wasn't aware of. Admittedly, the first time I ever saw a Parker, I was quite taken back by the design; I started with a strat, moved to a superstrat and have settled there. It's funny to admit that after watching your video, I have a stronger appreciation for the pre-refined Parker fly deluxes that are beginning to look not half bad. I'm appreciated your video series "5 things you may not know." Keep'em coming!

My favorite guitar I own, after 24 years it still plays and sounds as good as day one.

Interesting to see the carbon fiber method/parts. I never did deep homework on Parkers, but recall they were often marketed as carbon fiber bodies or necks. I've only ever touched one and it was an early 90s model. Fascinating guitars.

Great video, thank you for this. I think this is going to be my next purchase! I need one.

"The pickups (Seymour Duncans) attach with the same way as we said earlier", but he didn't say earlier...

I bought one Parker Fly deluxe in Rudy Pensa's shop in New York (1995) , and I loved this guitar, although the little E-string had a tendancy to break easily. Unfortunately, when I came back to France, my guitar teacher harassed me until I sold her to him. I still missed her. When Rudy opened his little shop on 169 W 47th street NYC, in 1980, my brother and I were his first buying customer. We bought two electric legend ovation, one wine red Les Paul Custom, and one super heavy Twin reverb. I was amazed to come back in 1995, and see how he expanded so much, four floors shop, Pensa-Suhr guitars, etc. Rudy recognized me instantly. He was happy to see his first customer again, and offered me plenty of little stuff. Old memories... Thanks for your nice guitar descriptions.

Best one yet! I didn't even know it was made of wood! Cheers!

Thanks man. Had a chance to own one in the early days. great one. Best neck to play on. Simply awesome

Great job, I actually learned some things that I didn't know before.

Fascinating insight into a guitar I knew very little about, thanks.

Enjoy your channel and these vids about guitars, very interesting!

Thanks Philip, another great video. I never knew much about these they were always just a curiosity .

I change my vision about Parker Guitars because this video, thanks !

I just found a series of videos that Ken made on his acoustic arch top guitars, the guy is a meticulous machinest and file artist to build some of the items required. A beautiful work of art they are. Search for them to really get impressed.

I have a Parker Fly. I bought it in the 90s. It plays well. I love it and play it daily. It is a real treasure. I had Semore Duncan pickups. Ed Roman did the changes on the pickups.

Always loved those I remember picking up a nylon electric at the local go.

This is absolutely new to me, heard Joni Mitchell play Woodstock on one. THANKS!

I have a Parker P42 and absolutely love it.

Great video Phillip. I remember seeing these on a show call "Beyond 2000" Have always wondered if they took off more.

Ridiculously Awesome Guitar! Mine is original Fly Deluxe, mid to early '90s Thanks for posting this. I like all of your videos I've seen. Good job man!

Great looking guitfiddle with a lot of innovation! I will have to check these out!

hey phillipe love your vids and info! def subscribed :)

Great Video Phillip ! I didn't know the Parker Fly was such a unique guitar.

I really enjoy your videos!

I absolutely love my Parker Fly pre-refined;)

Good video. Watching this makes me want one now.

Wow ! Now I have to find one of those !! Thanks again for a great video !

Great video. As an owner of a 97 Fly Classic and a Supersonic 22 I must say I like your style ;) Interesting to hear the differences between the old classic Fly and the refined ones!

I have 3 (so far), all pre-refined, and love them more than any other guitar.

I loved how good looking my parker deluxe was, natural wood finish, but the master volume used to drive me nuts, and other Parker owners, because when you were strumming hard, you could hit the master volume and turn the guitar down. It happened all the time to me and so many people, so some people started modifying them and having the master volume relocated out of the way. I’m surprised you didn’t address that here, as that was a big thing. But great video, thanks!

Thanks for the information !! I love Parker guitars and basses !!

Love these videos! Thanks Philip! You should do a video about those 60's/70's Sears starter guitars (Harmony, Silvertone, Teisco, etc).

I have the exact same Fly, same color and everything. I like your "pre-refined/refined" distinction. I prefer my pre-refined to the refined that I have played ANY DAY.

I played the original in a boutique guitar shop in Rochester NY in 1993, they told me it's just come out. Anyway, it was without a doubt a revolutionary guitar but it didn't make a lasting impression on me at the time, though I wished I had bought that on the spot back then. BTW. I didn't know 99% of what you shared here, great information and I really enjoy your delivery. Thank you.

I've never actually seen Adrian playing a Fly, however I've seen Joni Mitchell playing one in her open tuning setup. The sound was crystalline and very organic sounding. The other notable player was Walter Becker who just tore it up, from clean to a scream!

how cool! I actually had a sponsorship with Parker Fly many years ago and they sent me the green deluxe. My right hand loved it for the fingerstyle stuff (from hours of nylon string), but my left hand didn't like the wide string spacing (as I was accustomed to Gibson string spacing for electric). I'm glad I kept the guitar because I love it now. Zero fret wear - they still gleam like new. It's the fastest guitar ever and very expressive. I still like my heavy all-wood guitars (maybe because you feel like you can lean into them more). It's a keeper though because if nothing else, it's the one guitar I'll still be able to lift when I'm 80!

Gorgeous quiver! That's probably exactly the spread I'd have as well, if I had the space.

Another great video man.

I did NOT know these things, and actually think it's cool that you reviewed this.

I didn't even know these existed, i may need to look into getting one, it looks awesome!

hey Phillip,great vid,i bought a parker fly 7 years ago,still have it and love it ,the 1 issue i dont like is they have tangless frets,1 fell off the guitar one day and i noticed it,and i saw it had no tang,weird,i hope they change that one day

I haven't had any Parker guitars on my bench, but I'd like to check them out. I've been watching Ken's videos and his thought process is incredible.

that was a that was a really cool demo thank you. I'm going to look into buying me a Parker fly guitar I've admired them for years now I think it's time that I own one

Hey Philip! I really enjoy your videos. Especially the "5 things you may not know" series. I'm a big fan of Fenders offset guitars. How about the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster? Cheers!

Thanks Phill ,great Job

Always thought they were ugly, but I had no idea they were so revolutionary. Good review.

Just got a 97 nitefly last summer and i must say it has rocketed itself to the top of my list of favorite guitars. Now I am saving money to nab a fly mojo or a maxx fly or something this year.

Awesome video!!! very complete

Great! I was unaware of all those informations, thanks a lot!

Hey there Phillip, great video! I'm looking for some advice: at the moment i've got a Vantage T481 guitar with a tremolo bridge and H-S-S. It isn't a well-known guitar, but it plays nicely. However, it's famous for the pickups being crappy. I wouldn't know if it's true, because my last guitar was a beginner and this is already a great step up. Do you think I will get a better sound out of my guitar by replacing the pickups? Do you know any good (cheap?) pickups of H-S-S sets? Thanks? Also, please keep making video's, because even video's like this featuring guitars that I don't own broaden my knowledge of guitars A LOT! Appreciate ya!

My understanding is the wheel also helps you tune to pitch in floating mode. So you lock the bridge tuneup unlock the bridge everything drops but remains in tune and the pitch wheel brings it back up to correct pitch. Believe that’s the primary function of that wheel not adjusting the tremblo tension.

great video, as always!

Very educational! I knew almost no details about the Parker.

I never could get into the aesthetics of Parker's, but I saw Fishbone a few times a decade ago and that was his main guitar... The sound he got out of it was outstanding!