Parker vs. EBMM JP

Opeth · #1 10-09-2001, 01:40 AM

LOOK AT MY AMAZING TYPING SKILLS. *EB MM JP. Sorry about that

*Anyways, on with the post!

* Ok, im in the market for a new 6 string, and i want a Piezo and a trem. *I have a JS100 with DiMarzio PAF Pro and FRED added to it. *The guitar sounds fine, but the floyd is a hassle and is IMPOSSIBLE to tune. *After re-stringing my guitar, i have to re-tune it like 20 times to get it right. *It will then stay in tune about as well as a non-trem guitar with Sperzel tuners. *Pain in the ass. *Anyways...
* I've looked around, and found a few options. *The first is the Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci 6 string with piezo. *The second is a Parker 6 string with piezo(fly? delux? classic? i dont know which is better, please fill me in on which model does what and whatever. i checked the website and they seemed pretty similar...). *I like both of these guitars because they have nice trems, locking tuners, but not a floyd. *Im open to other ideas if you have any. *I'd rather not get another Ibanez considering i already have one. *How does the EB MM JP stack up compared to a Parker? *They seem to both be around $1800 price range. *I see parkers used for much cheaper though, which is also an option. *Im ok with the wait time on the EB MM order, or i could always find one on ****. *Anyways, just wanting some opinions on these. *Thanks for the input. *

(Edited by Opeth at 2:11 am on Oct. 9, 2001)

JESTER700 · #2 10-09-2001, 06:23 AM

2 separate issues:

1) There are tricks to make tuning your trem up much easier - search past messages.

2) The Parker is like nothing else, and you really gotta play these instruments. *Nothing we say will really give you the idea. *Also, reconsider another Ibanez. A common complaint is the cheaper vibrato unit. *If you're into spending some bucks and get one with an edge unit, I think you'll like it much better.

Paul Warren · #3 10-09-2001, 09:16 AM

Well, I have had 3 guitars with piezos. *The 2027, a Parker and the EB/MM JP. *I still have the EB and the 2027. *If you are not considering Ibanez, then it's going to be a tough call between the Parker and EB because it comes down to what you want in the *feel* of your guitar. *I believe they are both high quality, but the neck of the EB JP is more of the feel I want than the Parker. *Parker necks are much bigger and chunkier feeling, but those stainless steel frets are awesome and I actually really like the looks of the Parkers.

I heavily prefer the new EB JP trem over Parker's. *My EB does not go out of tune and is very smooth, and rear-routed. *I think the trem on the Parker is nice, but just doesn't feel as good as my EB or Ibanez. *I also prefer the Dimarzios in the EB over the Parker's Dimarzios. *The Parker's just didn't seem hot enough for my tastes. *The piezo in the EB sounds great - nice and thick, but I can't really remember how the piezo in my Parker was so I can't really compare those.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Paul

darren wilson · #4 10-09-2001, 09:23 AM

Opeth: I can't speak to the EBMM Petrucci model, having never seen nor played one, but i'm a huge Parker fan, and i own a Fly Classic, so i can tell you what i know.

For what you're looking for, there are three Parker models worth considering: The Fly Classic, Fly Deluxe and the NiteFly.

The Fly Classic has a basswood/composite neck (neck-through body), stainless steel frets, DiMarzio pickups, piezo, and a mahogany body with translucent finishes. The Deluxe is exactly like the Classic, only uses Poplar for the body and is finished in opaque colours.

The new NiteFly M is really interesting, because it's pretty much a bolt-on version of the Classic... mahogany body and mahogany/composite neck, two humbuckers, rear-routed, piezo, composite neck with the famous stainless steel frets, Sperzel tuners, etc. The NiteFly SA has a swamp ash body with a pickguard-mounted HSS pickup config, but still all the functionality of its big brothers.

Beware, however, of the P-series Parkers. They're made in Korea and have none of the true features of the midrange and high-end Parkers. The pickups are cheap, generic OEM models. The piezo-equipped Wilkinson apparently sounds thin and anemic compared to the "real" Parker setup, and you get a standard maple neck, rosewood fretboard and nickel-silver frets. They don't even throw in locking tuners!

You can find out more at the Parker Web site.

Opeth · #5 10-09-2001, 02:49 PM

alright, thanks for the good info guys. *I think I will stick with the EB MM JP when i can afford one. *I just love how the arm cutaway in the body feels, and how the trem is nice on your hand. *

The reason i dont consider another Ibanez, is i would rather just put a better trem in my JS100 than buy a new one. *I already replaced the pickups to JS1000 pickups, and i love the way it sounds and plays.

Does anyone know if a good Lo-pro or something can fit into the JS100 body without further mods? *How much would a piece like this cost? *Thanks.

Sevenstringer · #6 02-24-2002, 06:09 PM

Parker Classic or Deluxe all the way

jem7vwh · #7 02-24-2002, 06:14 PM

i go both ways on these. *Neither guitar presents enough of what I like to make it a purchase, but both have their good points.

The EB/MM

* has a solid trem that does not go out of tune
* has a nice set of pickups
* has a pretty paint job

The Parker

* has nice big steel frets
* has a pretty good piezo sound
* is very original looking

Neither one of them have the wide slim profile of an Ibanez, and neither trem has the range of a double-locking trem. *Neither has a middle single-coil. *

mojo · #8 02-26-2002, 06:37 PM

I have a parker nite fly. YOu can use stainless steel strings on it without any frets wearing down. If you are a student go for it. ITs a very low matence guitar. IF you want somthing to perform on get the EB MM JP.

J

jono · #9 02-26-2002, 07:56 PM

fixed the title

BeastofLove · #10 02-26-2002, 08:18 PM

Quote:

jem7vwh on 6:14 pm on Feb. 24, 2002

The Parker

* has nice big steel frets
* has a pretty good piezo sound
* is very original looking

Neither one of them have the wide slim profile of an Ibanez, and neither trem has the range of a double-locking trem. *Neither has a middle single-coil. *

I have a NiteFly and I love it. Tried the EBJP and didn't like it at all. Not a fan of the neck or body shape.

Also- you forgot to mention that sweet fretboard the Parker has- it plays like silk. And my NiteFly has a single coil in the middle position, and the trem has just as much range as my JEM- from slack strings to ripping them all off. You may have demo'd one in the store that had the trem stop-screw stopping the trem from pulling back too much.

-Ben

pd0x · #11 02-27-2002, 04:21 PM

Everything about a non bolt-on Parker guitar is more than perfect, except the pickups. The stock mag. dimarzios really suck. Ed Roman (www.**************.com) will replace the pickups with some better ones. Just try and ignore his Ibanez hatred

If I could only own one guitar it would be a Parker Fly Classic with upgraed magnetics, thats it, and I'd be happy. Unfortunately I dont have money so I can't have one

vaijem777 · #12 02-27-2002, 04:35 PM

Before getting my EB/MM JPM, I had owned (2) Parker Fly Deluxes *(1 in Emerald Green, 1 in Majik Blue). *I loved them! *Great acoustic sound and very light-but not the most comfortable body style to play sitting down, and I really didn't care for the DiMarzios in them. *But, I really did like em. *

However, as soon as I played the EB/MM JPM at the '01 NAMM Show, I decided that the Flys must go. *So..I immediately set to work selling them both when I got home and got my JPM on order. *I love it! *I like the piezo sound a lot better, and the DiMarzios scream! *Just a better balanced guitar IMHO. *Plus...I dig the Mystic Dream finish. *

jay ratkowski · #13 02-28-2002, 12:26 AM

The JPM guitars are actually really nice. *I didn't think anything of them until I happened to be at GC Boston on vaccation and tried one. *Even with a GC setup, I was really impressed. *Good acoustic (not plugged in) tone, great neck feel, looks pretty neat too (subtle and kinda classy = good). *I actually really want one.

But against a Parker... damn, that's actually making me think. *That upper horn on the Parker drives me nuts... but those guitars are really wild. *They might honestly be worth it more to ME.

I say try 'em both. *Don't plug them in (except maybe the piezo)... but just play them. *Then see which one is more comfy.

Carlo · #14 02-28-2002, 01:07 AM

I tried an EB/MM recently. *That thing is soooo easy to play. *I loved the feel of it immediately. *But it is still a little too expensive for my budget. *And I'm still not used to the way it looks.

(Edited by Carlo de Dios at 1:08 am on Feb. 28, 2002)

shred4Him · #15 02-28-2002, 10:19 AM

I have a Parker Fly Deluxe. *I love it. *I love the frets, I just wish they were jumbo instead of medium jumbo. *I have not tried the new Petrucci yet, but I will. *I am thinking that my next piezo guitar purchase will be a Carvin DC127 with the Wilkinson piezo bridge. *I already have a DC127 and I think it plays great. *The more time that passes the more companies are starting to have a piezo option. *It is starting to become a must for me.