Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: gibsongaz#1 on July 13, 2008, 12:19:00 PM

Title: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: gibsongaz#1 on July 13, 2008, 12:19:00 PM
I collected it from Manchester yesterday. It is mint, stunning and a steal! I absolutely love it and cant put it down for more than 5 minutes!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/gibsongaz/S7001122.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/gibsongaz/S7001123.jpg)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: sgmypod on July 13, 2008, 12:24:55 PM
nice
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: gibsongaz#1 on July 13, 2008, 12:50:23 PM
If I was being critical, the cons are you cant change the pickups and the volume contol is slightly in the way for trem work. I generally just 'stroke' the trem to get natural feedback anyway so not a major issue.
Other than that it is a belter! Soooooo light - especially in the Hiscox case, very fast and smooth action, Stainless steel frets, spezals, piezo.......the list goes on!  :D
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: indysmith on July 13, 2008, 12:54:43 PM
you cant change the pickups
:O Why?
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: dave_mc on July 13, 2008, 01:12:29 PM
very nice! :)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Will on July 13, 2008, 01:33:07 PM
What do all the controls do?
The manufacturers website didn't help :(
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 13, 2008, 01:55:34 PM
Very nice!  I like the way you can see the wood grain on the top, it makes it seem a bit more organic (if I can say "organic", the word normally reserved for Nailbombs).
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: indysmith on July 13, 2008, 02:09:28 PM
Sorry, I know I've posted in this thread, but I didn't say how jealous I am! That thing looks awesome; I always fancied the looks of those Flys (Flies?) and that colour suits it perfectly.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 13, 2008, 02:36:17 PM
Let me make something clear...

I LOVE PARKER FLYS.

SO MUCH.

And that is as good an example as any - I am a VERY jealous man.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: hideous on July 13, 2008, 03:39:17 PM
Cracking!
That "Mouse wheel" is something I haven't seen before on these.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: badgermark on July 13, 2008, 04:39:20 PM
Not too sure about the back, the big plastic cover looks out of place. Have to say i'm impressed though, not to my usual tastes but nice none the less.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: dave_mc on July 13, 2008, 09:56:26 PM
Very nice!  I like the way you can see the wood grain on the top, it makes it seem a bit more organic (if I can say "organic", the word normally reserved for Nailbombs).

maybe the photos are playing a trick, but it looks like you can see the grain from the front, but not the back? why is that?

looks nice regardless... :)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 13, 2008, 10:04:39 PM
Transparent finish on the front - metallic finish on the back - I assume.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Oli on July 13, 2008, 10:33:09 PM
you cant change the pickups
:O Why?

Because they are so thin, they have some thin proprietary pickups- DiMarzio's if my memory serves correct.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: gibsongaz#1 on July 13, 2008, 10:41:14 PM
Pickups are indeed Dimarzio. They sound great but not as beefy as Im used to. Thats why I have my Les Paul though!

The coulour is see-thru on the top and metalic on the back. I was suprised to see that too but I like the contrast around the neck join!
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: hideous on July 13, 2008, 10:53:28 PM
All the flys have solid paint on the back as far as I know.
My Mojo Natural is natural grain on the front, but bronze paint on the back. Don't know why, but it's alright.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: march667 on July 14, 2008, 02:22:52 AM
the reason why it's opaque/metallic on the back is because that's where the composite is at, look up this one here for details on how they make it ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt085421u_U
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Fikealox on July 14, 2008, 08:18:16 AM
Dammit, I never GASed over a Parker before, but I've spent the last 24 hours lusting for a Fly. Argh! I'm trying to tell myself I don't want another 25.5" scale guitar, but it's not helping much
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Sifu Ben on July 14, 2008, 11:35:23 AM
If I was being critical, the cons are you cant change the pickups and the volume contol is slightly in the way for trem work. I generally just 'stroke' the trem to get natural feedback anyway so not a major issue.
Other than that it is a belter! Soooooo light - especially in the Hiscox case, very fast and smooth action, Stainless steel frets, spezals, piezo.......the list goes on!  :D
A friend of mine with one just got his dad to make him a new arm from a piece of hexagonal/octagonal metal rod. Apparently it was really simple to do, and it now clears the controls.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: dave_mc on July 14, 2008, 03:32:25 PM
the reason why it's opaque/metallic on the back is because that's where the composite is at, look up this one here for details on how they make it ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt085421u_U

thanks :)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 14, 2008, 08:12:37 PM
If I was being critical, the cons are you cant change the pickups


Says who?

My Mojo Flame has a Nailbomb and Cold Sweat in it and my Classic has a Ceramic Warpig and Warpig.

Fitted by myself, being far from an expert, with very, very little hassle.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 14, 2008, 09:51:02 PM
If I was being critical, the cons are you cant change the pickups


Says who?

My Mojo Flame has a Nailbomb and Cold Sweat in it and my Classic has a Ceramic Warpig and Warpig.

Fitted by myself, being far from an expert, with very, very little hassle.

I have to know...

How are they attached?  I thought they must go in from the back, but that doesn't look possible.  Do they have feet at all, or are the actual polepieces screwed to the body somehow?
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 14, 2008, 09:54:52 PM
If I was being critical, the cons are you cant change the pickups


Says who?

My Mojo Flame has a Nailbomb and Cold Sweat in it and my Classic has a Ceramic Warpig and Warpig.

Fitted by myself, being far from an expert, with very, very little hassle.

I have to know...

How are they attached?  I thought they must go in from the back, but that doesn't look possible.  Do they have feet at all, or are the actual polepieces screwed to the body somehow?

Exactly what I was thinking...
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 14, 2008, 10:30:14 PM
Bang on with the polepieces chaps.

Different polepieces act as the screws on different models (and only the mojos have pilot holes to accomodate the other polepieces - the other models only have two polepieces through the baseplate) but they all work with that principal.

It meant I had to drill pilotholes to accomodate the polpieces in my classic, but that really was the most difficult thing. Other than that, it's simply a case of snipping off the ears and rounding off the corners of the baseplate. Easy peasy.

A lot of repairers and pickup manufacturers dress it up to be a big complex job but it realy isn't.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 14, 2008, 10:39:38 PM
So you have all 6 adjustable polepieces screwed into the body?  And some of the DiMarzios have two extra-long polepieces for attachment?  Pretty clever.  :)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 14, 2008, 11:00:04 PM
The body of the fly has two mounting screw sockets inside each pickup cavity, so the two polepieces that act as screws are into them, the others are just in little holes drilled a fraction wider than the polepiece, so they aren't actually screwed in, just the two mounting ones.

It's a good little system, means you can switch your pickups back out into other guitars but it's all lovely and neat.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 14, 2008, 11:16:08 PM
Ah, gotcha!  :D  Yes, tidy little system.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: gibsongaz#1 on July 16, 2008, 02:10:54 AM
Bang on with the polepieces chaps.

Different polepieces act as the screws on different models (and only the mojos have pilot holes to accomodate the other polepieces - the other models only have two polepieces through the baseplate) but they all work with that principal.

It meant I had to drill pilotholes to accomodate the polpieces in my classic, but that really was the most difficult thing. Other than that, it's simply a case of snipping off the ears and rounding off the corners of the baseplate. Easy peasy.

A lot of repairers and pickup manufacturers dress it up to be a big complex job but it realy isn't.
Any chance of pics of your Fly? I'm intreagued and may attempt getting it done myself (By 'myself', I mean the 'nice guys in Mansons'!)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 17, 2008, 10:31:31 PM
I don't have a camera, but the missus take photies for a living so I'll pinch one off her tomorrow and get photos of both the flys for ye bud.  :)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: HTH AMPS on July 18, 2008, 12:01:59 AM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Sifu Ben on July 18, 2008, 09:40:47 PM
They're popular with session people, and funk players.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: hideous on July 18, 2008, 09:52:18 PM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.
:lol:
Yeah, only that guy from Akerc--ke (UK) springs to mind as a fairly well known Parker player. Hardly a big name guitarist, though.
Probably don't do great endorsement deals, like Ibanez etc.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: MDV on July 18, 2008, 09:53:34 PM
I've always thought they looked amazing and were really well designed

But sounded thin :(
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 18, 2008, 10:12:51 PM
I can imagine them being very popular with session people.

Basically, anyone with a steinberger I guess?
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 18, 2008, 10:19:32 PM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.

I've mentioned it before, but does anyone remember the Parker ad Dave Navarro did?

He claimed he wanted it to say "At least it sounds good".  :lol:

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/navarroparker.jpg)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: gibsongaz#1 on July 19, 2008, 11:09:38 AM
Matt Bellamy from Muse used to have one when he was on the road for the first two albums. Not sure about now though as not really into them now.

It's certainly a Marmite guitar. I love it!
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: HTH AMPS on July 19, 2008, 12:15:57 PM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.

I've mentioned it before, but does anyone remember the Parker ad Dave Navarro did?

He claimed he wanted it to say "At least it sounds good".  :lol:

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/navarroparker.jpg)

I remember that advert since you mention it, though I can't ever remember seeing Navaro playing them - always see him with a white PRS.

Also, to come back to the earlier question about replacement pickups and the fact they are slightly smaller - I believe DiMarzio do (did) offer a range of pickups specifically for the Parker fly.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 19, 2008, 12:42:36 PM
I remember that advert since you mention it, though I can't ever remember seeing Navaro playing them - always see him with a white PRS.

I can't remember the time frame - it might have been inbetween his Ibanez endorsement and switching to PRS, but more likely it was around the time he was in the Chili Peppers and switched to mostly Strats for a while.

Either way, you're right, I never saw a picture of him actually using one.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Kilby on July 19, 2008, 12:46:59 PM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.

Adrian Belew and Reeves Gabriels seem to like them though they are perhaps an aquired taste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_D6CUyovzg&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_D6CUyovzg&feature=related)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 19, 2008, 01:03:58 PM
I'm surprised they still make those Parker Fly guitars since I've never seen anyone play one, ever.  Someone must be buying them though.

Adrian Belew and Reeves Gabriels seem to like them though they are perhaps an aquired taste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_D6CUyovzg&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_D6CUyovzg&feature=related)


Oh bollocks.  Now I've got GAS for an Adrian Belew signature model.   :roll:  :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Kilby on July 19, 2008, 01:24:13 PM
Oh bollocks.  Now I've got GAS for an Adrian Belew signature model.   :roll:  :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related)

Yeah the interview had that effect on me thats why I didn't post the link :roll: it's git every gadget and doobrie you could ever claim to want already built in
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 19, 2008, 01:35:49 PM
Oh bollocks.  Now I've got GAS for an Adrian Belew signature model.   :roll:  :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgeS7kfpXU&feature=related)

Yeah the interview had that effect on me thats why I didn't post the link :roll: it's git every gadget and doobrie you could ever claim to want already built in

Things like the Variax stuff wont be inside the production model though, they're only to be in Belew's own guitars, course you could get them added...

Obviously when it's eventually realeased it's going to be daft expensive.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: sambo on July 19, 2008, 01:40:37 PM

Things like the Variax stuff wont be inside the production model though, they're only to be in Belew's own guitars, course you could get them added...

Obviously when it's eventually realeased it's going to be daft expensive.


Already released, with the Variax features included, according to a few websites:


http://www.sweetw@ter.com/store/detail/FlyABvxAS/


I'm not sure if they are actually doing a traditional "production" model of it...?
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on July 19, 2008, 02:13:23 PM
Already released, with the Variax features included, according to a few websites:


http://www.sweetw@ter.com/store/detail/FlyABvxAS/

Link doesn't work.  I think Big Brother has zonked it for having "TW*T" in it...  :lol:

But yes, it does have all the Variax gubbins.  A snip at $7,500.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on July 19, 2008, 02:30:32 PM

Things like the Variax stuff wont be inside the production model though, they're only to be in Belew's own guitars, course you could get them added...

Obviously when it's eventually realeased it's going to be daft expensive.


Already released, with the Variax features included, according to a few websites:


http://www.sweetw@ter.com/store/detail/FlyABvxAS/


I'm not sure if they are actually doing a traditional "production" model of it...?


Oooh. Well there you go, I haven't paid attention for a while but the last time I had a nose on the Parker forum that was the story.

Anyway, those pics of my Flys with the Bareknuckles, the missus didn't bring her camera, so it's a camera phoneas wielded by my shoddy hands I'm afraid.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/neilerskine/DSC00154.jpg)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/neilerskine/DSC00155.jpg)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Fikealox on July 19, 2008, 03:04:06 PM
I'm lusting hard for a Fly now :( I'd buy one right now except I prefer 24.75" scale, which rules out all the Parkers, as far as I know.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: sambo on July 19, 2008, 05:01:54 PM





Oooh. Well there you go, I haven't paid attention for a while but the last time I had a nose on the Parker forum that was the story.

Anyway, those pics of my Flys with the Bareknuckles, the missus didn't bring her camera, so it's a camera phoneas wielded by my shoddy hands I'm afraid.




Not so keen on the red burst, but the natural finish one is very, very nice!
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: sgmypod on July 19, 2008, 05:12:19 PM
Natural finish is very nice...shape stands out more in the natural colour
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 02, 2008, 03:13:00 PM
It turns out Trent Reznor in NIN uses them alot aswell btw.

So maybe there are alot of people out there who use them that we just don't know about :o

They're a very understated looking guitar imo, the reason we probably don't see them so often, is because egotistical shred gods don't use them?
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: _tom_ on August 02, 2008, 03:14:23 PM
I think the natural ones look pretty cool though the body doesnt look that comfortable. I dont like loads of controls either, a volume, tone and switch is enough for me.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 02, 2008, 07:25:17 PM
Funny this topic has come up
I have got a tricky job on with a Parker at present
I have to install some BKPs with covers on which will involve cutting out wood so that the corners will go in
Here are some pix to show how the old pickups mount
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/parker%20guitar/PICT4531.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/parker%20guitar/PICT4534.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/parker%20guitar/PICT4538.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/parker%20guitar/PICT4537.jpg)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: indysmith on August 02, 2008, 11:10:57 PM
Clever 8)
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: Philly Q on August 02, 2008, 11:19:52 PM
Interesting how the 4-conductor cable is cut so very short!
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 02, 2008, 11:53:35 PM
Is it just me or is that phenomenally neat?

Seriously? Like incredibly neat...
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: il˙ti on August 03, 2008, 12:04:48 AM
I dig it. Especially the really shallow rout. No wood cut away unnecesarilly.
Title: Re: My new Parker Fly....
Post by: nfe on August 03, 2008, 12:24:06 PM
I'm keen to see the result after Jonathan has done hs business, I imagine it will be neater than the inside of my classic  :lol: