Nice review. Lots of interesting detail. I'm a huge Parker fan and own a coupe of Fly guitars. Having seen your review, I might have to investigate the Nitefly. An antique White SSS variant would certainly appeal to me. A couple of things. You called the Stereo/Mono switch a Piezo On/Off initially. It doesn't switch off the Piezo. However, if your Battery dies, switching to Stereo and selecting Magnetic pickups only will allow you to continue playing (Mag only). Your Battery will be drained whilst the Jack is plugged in - regardless of the orientation of the Mono/Stereo switch.

I worked at Parker from 97-00. I remember the NiteFly being heavily pushed by Ken & Larry at the time. It seemed to me to be designed to save the company from bankruptcy and/or to make the company more attractive for a buyout. Shortly after it being introduced staff started to dwindle & I left. Parker was sold not too long after. It's a great guitar but will always be the "Doomsday" guitar to me, lol.

I’m a Music Man Majesty player and I was kinda struck here by how much it actually owes to the original Fly design. Super thin body and neck with an oddly shaped upper horn, neck through, piezo trem with the electronics going into a PCB instead of point to point wiring, etc. I wonder if Petrucci ever tried a Fly at all back in the 90s and if it might have subconsciously influenced the design.

A neighbor of mine had one of these in early 2000. Beautiful instrument. To this day I follow Mr. Parker's work, and he is one of the biggest influences in my modest guitar-making explorations.

Great review Andre, very informative and well done. It's amazing how well the tremolo works.

Been trying to find one of these for years glad I came across your channel again I love how in-depth you go with things and I’m also in New Jersey thanks again

Your passion is evident here! I always loved the look of a Parker!

Dude I am so glad I just found your channel. You need more recognition.

I have one Parker Nitefly NFV2 since 13 years. I love it so much.

I came into the video very skeptical, but now have a new appreciation on the detail of design that went into these guitars. Great video.

Really good review. Thank you.

Dood -- just saw your personal website and bio -- you are one amazing mix of worlds and talents! Inspiring!

One of the best guitar review I've seen in a while. Keep up your good work!

Nicely done, enjoyed the video

Highly informative. Yet another guitar on my wishlist!

My Nitefly SA is the best guitar I ever owned or played. I'm glad to know changing the pickups could be an option. Thank you for making this video!

A channel with this production level + such great playing needs to grow fast! Good luck man!

Fascinating guitars, I remember them at my local music store being way out of my price range in those days. I think I may join the Parker family. Great vid man!

5 months alter, and my nitefly is arriving soon. thanks, andre.

Super cool. Definitely on my wishlist

That was super informative. I remember as kid seeing these on guitar stores magazine. Looked so sophisticated, cool and sleek at the same time. Now I know!! I would definitely try one

Amazing review!

Nice review my friend! I've had mine since 98

this is the best review of Parker guitars online, BRAVO!

Andre, great overview of the guitar (and it's components and historical detail). Will definitely check out your other videos, liked and subscribed. 🎸

I just bought a 1997 Nitefly with 3 emgs and your psot really helped me to know what I have and I'm even more happy with my purchase,. Thanks for the great post and rock on!!!

Hey Doc. Subscribed. It is evident you know what you are speaking of and are very well spoken. Thank you for great information. Just purchased my 1st on Reverb today. 🤗 Best Regards/Wishes!

Great video 👍🏻 can’t believe how good that bridge is and how well it stayed in tune

Hey man great video. I always admired these instruments, even back when I was young.

Great video, subscribed!

Great review, I've always wanted to play one of these!

I had a Nitefly in the late 90’s. Fantastic piezo-electric guitar. Being primarily a bassist, I felt guilty about having such an incredible instrument, and moved it on to a guitarist friend. I’d love to have another one day…

This is fascinating, mostly the bridge situation. I've been mulling over how to make a floyd rose better, having a screw that goes through the back that acts as a stop was somthing I've been thinking about, and then also having posts that don't wear. Very interesting indeed

Congratulations! Very good review! I totally agree, the Nitefly is an excellent guitar, I have one from 2001 and it sounds much better than some $4000 superstrats I've owned. It has a range of sounds that allows you to achieve vintage to more modern tones, it is very comfortable, light, resonant, tremendous sustain and you don't need a Floyd Rose because the system it comes with is very stable. I am a big fan of the Parkers and I have several price ranges and they have not disappointed me.

You Sir are a breath of fresh air. You deserve millions of Subscribers. Thanks for none of the Theatrical acts that others have to put on.

Nice review of the NiteFly. Very thorough. Love mine. Always wanted a Parker sine I first saw them, but never knew about the NiteFly. Added a black and white checkerboard pickguard from WD. Unfortunately all their pickguards.have the piezo on/off switch. So I covered the hole with my first Rick Nielsen pick that’s about 30 years old now. Enjoyed your video. Thanks for all the info!

Thank you for the informative video ... I've always been intrigued by Parkers

Thanks for the review. I have a fly fro0m the 90's and a Nitefly. Love them both.

I own a ‘98 NiteFly n’ i love it! As and acoustic player, it’s a really complete and comfortable instrument! Greetings fron Colombia🇨🇴 Nice channel

Awesome video, thanks a lot!

My nitefly has the plastic springs for the trem. It is still a beast of a guitar. Never goes out of tune. Mine is a hss configuration. Great video on an unsung hero of a guitar.

Going through some massive guitar exploration in the early 2000s, I had many guitars that came and went in few years and eventually I ended up with a half decent collection that I was happy about. I really wanted a fly - like you said, it felt like getting your hands on a supercar. Somehow I was lucky to stumble (and win) an Ebay bid for a practically new blue Nitefly SA at £450 (about half the market price at the time). It ended up my 2nd most favorite guitar of all times and I wholeheartedly agree it's a monster super-strat. It is still is in perfect condition and never needed any setup work. It is an absolute keeper!

I've got a Parker P-38, looks extremely similar to the NiteFly and it's absolutely my favorite guitar I've ever owned. Love seeing coverage of these gems!

That in tune test... man, that makes me want to buy a nitefly!

Great video Andre! At one time i had 5 parkers. Nitefly Mojo, NiteflySA and three imports. i modded all of them. Kept them for years when i was gigging, then regretfully sold them. Got one back and after watching your video you reminded me of all the reasons i loved them. So years ago i recommended a friend of mine to buy one. Now he never plays it and he offered it to me. Looks like a 2004 NFVM. can't wait to go get it. thanks for this video it helped me remember why i loved Parkers!

I have a white HSS 97 Nitefly and the outboard preamp. It gets quite a bit of play, P-38 too. Amazing instrument.

Excellent review video. I have been wondering about the Parker Fly lately - I remember they were state-of-the-art back when they came out. I appreciate all the detail and reasoning you offered in your review. Subscribed to help you grow!

I'm seeing Adrian Belew perform next week, and I love his signature Parkers and what he does with them (including the piezo, variax, and MIDI setups that he has them outfitted with). I used to love seeing Reeves Gabrels in the '90s with Bowie during the Earthling era playing his tripped out Parker. They always fascinated me because even though I thought they weren't visually appealing, I'd seen and read about the innovation put into the design. Alas, I can never afford one (even used, and I have a friend who has one... and boy, the envy I feel, LOL). Nevertheless, I loved your video - wonderful review, and I'll be checking out more of your channel. Thank you, sir!

Exquisite presentation and no-faff explanation. To the point and highly nutritious information. Thank you Sir.

I gave my granddaughter my Parker P39 guitar and she loves it....I loved the neck and it was so easy to bend strings on...light as a feather...wish the piezo had a tone control...very ice picky tone unless blended but blended you could get awesome range of tones...I play a Casino or ES 335 so it was like having a clarinet on a strap to me..in the eighties I played overseas gigging on a Steinberger which is also indestructible travel guitar that stays in tune. The Parker reminded me of the Steinberger. Great channel...glad I bumped into it! Those are great looking Parkers in your collection!

I remember when I first saw the Parker Fly advertised in guitar magazines in the 90s I thought they were ugly as sin, now I think they look amazing. They really were ahead of their time. Nice vid.

Love that guitar. It just plays so well.

I am falling in love with your reviews. Your level of detail is excellent and you’re a legit player! There are so many mediocre guitar players out there doing reviews (sorry just the truth). How can I accept a review from someone that’s not truly proficient on the instrument? Keep it up!

Great video, bro. You've got me looking at Nite Fly's now. They are some great, underrated guitars.

Love the video. I have a Fly Deluxe from 99 n its my precious, now Im looking for a Nitefly.

Wanted a Parker ever since 2003 and Deron Miller from cKy playing them. I got a P38 (Asian Nitefly kinda). Then, 16 years later in 2020 I got a Fly. Since then I've picked up another Fly and 2 Niteflys ('97 and '06). I'm no great player at all but I love the guitars, rarity of them, story behind them and the community we have :) Great video! Very detailed, appreciated it!

the subtle zoom in while talking about the thicker horn that provides more comfort lmao

Very informative for a Parker Novice. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a 1998 Parker Nitefly. Thanks!

Great video! Always wanted a Parker since i was a kid. Some day, I'll get one.

Great informative video , i always wanted to own one and now knowing about that bridge, and how nice and even those pickups in a studio type environment sound i want one. A very unique guitar that was a classic as soon as it was produced.

That thigh stand thing you have is amazing and I need one immediately. Great review btw! Super insightful and I’m now interested in a guitar I had unintentionally overlooked. Unrelated but ur tone is super tasty

I dreamed of owning one of the dark teal ones of these a long time ago, I never realised they can go for that sort of price now I’ll have to keep an eye out for one ! Great video thanks

Thanks for the video! I absolutely love my Parker NiteFly. Traded a Peavey Wolfgang for it, and never looked back. It along with my EB Music Man Silhouette Special, my two favorites in my collection! Wish that Parker would make a comeback!

Fantastic video man! I've been on the lookout for a Parker recently. They were just some special instruments...nothing like them existed and nothing like them exists today.

I have a deluxe and a classic. Absolutely love them

I nabbed a Parker P44 a year or two back, and was incredibly impressed with it. I know it's the "budget" version of the line, but it's still a very nice and versatile guitar. Feels fantastic and sounds equally as fantastic.

Love my Parker Nitfly SA!

Great informative video ! I have the tobacco burst Nightfly I purchased in 1998 as my first serious electric guitar. A great guitar player named Phil Keaggy did an album called “On The Fly” and he recommended it. After some research I found The Fly deluxe was too expensive for me at the time, so I compromised and got The Nightfly. I’m glad I did. Its actually a more practical guitar than The Fly. Later I got a 1995 Fly Deluxe. With my Deluxe, if the battery goes dead, you better have a spare, or your done. But The Nightfly can switch to electric pups only and still play even with a dead battery. I still own it and still love it. I love them both ! I was surprised that so many thought they looked weird. To me, they look cool and unique, and play and sound spectacular.

I worked at Parker back in 96-97. Still have a handful of the knobs. Their original humbucker (heck screws) were a custom blend of the Tone Zone and a Super Distortion. Great pickup, wish I still had one. lol That button was an after thought and a pain. LOL They brought back a ton of units from warehouse and had us drill out the hole because it kept getting stuck under the guard. One thing I remember most is every time we would hear a guitar being played in the nut room and it sounded exceptional, it was a nite fly. Last, they sucked working for. LOL HUGE revolving door of stoners that thought working in a guitar factory would be cool and not work. As a result, all of us that took the job seriously still got treated as such, with a few examples. Great video man, thanks for sharing.

Love my Nitefly and my Fly Deluxe. The best thing about the Nitefly is that you can swap out the pickups. My Nitefly has an HSH configuration with Parallel Axis Seymour Duncans which sound amazing. The whole of the Nitefly neck is wrapped in carbon fibre with the back sprayed gloss black. It makes for a really stable neck.

Watching all your videos like i might actually use this information. Even when i was sweating buying a used squier. Still love the analysis.

I have a Parker acoustic..love it, hope to one day stumble into a Fly.

I was lucky enough to play one, years ago at a local music store and i was completely blown away with that guitar. Wish i bought one of these instead of a fender.

I bought a Nitefly in '97 or '98 and loved the neck on that guitar. Sadly, I sold it a few years later. The only problem with it - which drove me nuts - was fret buzz on the A string. I am very surprised that Parker wasn't more popular with guitarists. They built excellent guitars.

Parker guitars are what introduced me to ergonomic, lightweight guitars and it really changed how I think about the instrument. I’m a minimalist, one guitar person (well, two now that I also have a 7-string) and while I don’t own a Parker, its design philosophy greatly influenced me to go with Strandbergs. Thanks for the video!

Great video. Ive got very large hands and long arms and need to try one out

i have the v4, such a great guitar

I remember playing the Spanish Fly at the LA GC... I was there a long time and wish I had bought it!

that whammy bar test was unbelievable, amazing tuning stability

I worked for Parker briefly in 2001. The Night Fly was made and finished in Korea. Final assembly and setup were done at the Parker factory in MA.

Parker guitars are one of the most unique guitars, I find interesting and your review is very educational. Sincerely thank you

I love your progressive taste in guitars. We’re such traditionalists as a whole. It’s interesting because I love the newer designs and features but my favorite guitar is a Tele. Great video as always!

I just got a 2004 HH NiteFly in mahogany (no pickguard). So far, I’m really liking it. It has the ball bearings in the bridge but no button for the piezo system. Pretty sure the magnetic pickups work without the battery but I’ll need to double check.

My is 1997 ( passive piezo ) . Love it . Floating bridge is fantastic , like no others . At the time they've released it was something different from anything else and Parker added great spice to the guitar world . ( hanging on the wall is bit trouble - headstock shape - but I don't mind it : )

Can't believe how contemporary these specs are 🤯 quite astonishing

My first guitar was a Nitefly NFV4 and I 100% with a lot of the elements you praise. Especially the tuning stability. I'll pull mine out of the case after months of not playing it and it will still be in perfect tune. Just incredibly well designed and engineered instruments. Probably my favorite trem of all time as well.

Plus you saved me money on string changes and I will restring myself. This was a great video!!!

Great video. These guitars are very interesting. Brian Gates of A7x used one in their early days.

Great video!!!!!! I personally have had a couple of the "Lower end" indonesia made with the thicker headstock. I will say these necks are absolutely tiny!!!!! but again, GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!

I'm happy to say that I may own one of the Top Parkers out there! Is the black parker Fly deluxe! It was the top of the line when I bought it like 12 years ago! It's very unique and high quality, the sound is amazing! Did not play it for years, now she's back home again and it's my main!! I'm happy because of that!👍

Finally. Had mk ii. Crushing lower mids. Stellar highs. Forget to tune it for 4 gigs.

New subsriber, i always loved the Parker Guitars, they are such a futuristic look, great playing sir

Fantastic video

I'd never heard of a Parker guitar before; great vid, have a subscriber :)

I still have the nitefly my uncle gave me I play it all the time and he’s not kidding about it staying in tune. That was like 20+ years ago

Had one of the original Flys...played amazingly well...

With a severe nickel allergy limiting me to stainless or evo gold frets and sharing the companies name lol, these have been on my radar for many years (long before SS frets were seen on other guitars)...whilst finding one here in the UK is hard enough, finding one in budget is proving to be quite a challenge 🤦🏼‍♂️ ...thanks for the excellent review, breakdown and advice, so much useful and interesting info in one vid, great work my friend 🤓👌🏻

I remember skimming this video in the past - but after seeing one for sale in my country (I live in the middle east, so nothing is really easy to get like the US) I went looking for this to see a proper review. The one they're selling is a strat (triple single coil) sunburst, with the stereo/mono selection. Can't tell what model it is with no access to the serial number, but it's at least V3 or older. Great condition, it was played professionally for a long while and looks to be very well taken care of - no physical marks that I can see. Just a bit of dust, patina, and rusty strings. All that for right around 1450$. It's not a fantastic deal but honestly not that bad - though I'd have to part with my current guitar to feel alright purchasing this one. This is not a cheap one, but if it's a guitar for life then it's probably worth it... put some of my haggling skills to good use. I'll edit this comment if I actually get it. Regradless, you really made me want a nitefly. It looks to be a killer design, ergonomic as it's unique (I love an instrument with some personality in it), and modding seems like a breeze with the pre-routed body (though I'm not afraid of some woodwork!)... so making this guitar my own would be a no brainer - black with rainbow swirls anyone...? A big thing is that I am not mainly a guitar player (despite recently becoming the guitarist-frontman for a prog metal band me and my friends started) so I have little interest in one trick ponies. The only reason I should want another guitar (to me) is because the one I have physically cannot do what I want to, or is uncomfortable (which ideally should never happen after I had my first guitar, because now I know what I like). This should ideally be an all around studio instrument I can pick up at any moment on any track I am working on and lay down a good sounding track regardless of genre or type of sound (latin, jazz, rock, fusion, metal, funk, blues, metal, ethnic, and everything inbetween. Fuzzy acid funk or jazz comping accompaniment, chugging metal power chords or searing overdriven solos). Obviously this is way way way too generic a classification, but nowadays I have a pretty solid idea of what I like for each and what I have to do to get that sound. And if there was ever a guitar to do it on, I think the nitefly is a pretty solid candidate. Honestly I suspect I'd end up with something very similar to your "perfect guitar" in terms of configuration and pickups, with a few of my own spins of course. For the record: The guitar I have right now is a "boutique" handmade super-strat, loosely based on the Steve Vai signature series... regular trem (not floyd rose) and heavy as all hell. It's pretty old, got some noticable dings, sounds great (great pickups, seymour duncan hot rails really shine there), but mostly it's just not really a guitar that I like. Too heavy, got a nasty buzz on the open E string no setup could figure out, I got it for my dad from a distant relative who stopped playing, and after my dad stopped learning to play (he's not much of a musician) I just kinda took it and learned how to play myself. Now that I have a way clearer vision of my ideal guitar and guitar sound I feel more confident looking for a guitar I will play for years to come.

I remember watching Jools Holland years ago and David Bowie was performing a few Songs his Guitar player was using one of these Parker and ive wanted one ever since.

Excellent video, I've owned several Parker Fly's, but here is the problem parts are no longer made and the ribbon to the electronics have been known to fail over time. So you can end up with electronics that are glitchy. They can be hardwired via a good tech but you get my point. What happens when other parts start to fail.