Parker Bronze Fly

[hippietim]

After playing Jennifer Batten's Bronze Fly I was hooked. I found a killer deal on one recently so now here's mine.

[rjohnstone]

Very nice!
That's the one with the Spruce top right?

[hippietim]

Very nice!
That's the one with the Spruce top right?

Yes - the thing weighs in 4 lbs and sounds huge!

[rjohnstone]

I can imagine.
I've always loved the Fishman setup Parker uses.
Crystal clear electronics with top notch wiring.
I still want to get a Fly Deluxe one day. I used to play the floor model at the shop everyday.
Had it plugged into to JC-120's with the stereo cable. Talk about a HUGE sound.

[hippietim]

This Parker is for sale locally - this is kind of tempting:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/929893932.html

[rjohnstone]

I was never a fan of the Nite Fly.
Doesn't have the same feel that I like in the Fly Deluxe.
The neck heel on the Nite Fly is not very comfortable.

[shredmonster]

I have considered Parkers. The "Cons" I have read by people who have owned them are:

1) Thin tone - I read this alot
2) Shitty trem systems that don't stay in tune
3) They have their own "unique" sound and it ain't "woody"
4) Sound kind of sterile - the notes tend to stick to their fundamental and don't get
the same harmonic complexity that a traditional guitar made of wood seems to get
5) Hard to work on and change pups
6) Frets can be temperamental in high temps

They do play nice but I have stayed away from them because of the above

[Spivonious]

My friend has a Fly, and they do have a bit of a thin tone, but it's easily remedied by swapping the pickups.

The trem system is really neat and can be set on the fly to be floating, dive-only, or fixed. Also, the trem springs can be adjusted without taking the trem cover off.

They're definitely unique in the sound department, but that's not necessarily bad. I haven't noticed any lacking in harmonic overtones.

I don't know why it would be any more difficult to work on than any other guitar.

[hippietim]

they make a mahogany model with duncans that is very tempting:

http://www.parkerguitars.com/code/models/models_fly_mojo_intro.asp

[shredmonster]

I really would like to like the Flys. They play great. But the tone is mediocre at best.

The only guy I ever heard who really had a Fly that had mojo tone - at least he said it does - was a guy who shipped Parker a hand picked one piece Koa body that was about 1/2" or so thicker than a normal Fly body, had custom pups wound by Seymour himself, and had the neck satinized.

People are always modifying them to get better sound - its kind of humorous over at the forum. I would have one in a second if they sounded like a Les Paul or a good Strat - I wish they did.

[Flatpicker]

nice.
Your on a roll.