[Jesse Greenawalt]

Parker Guitars

That's valid. It's the same reason I don't like all the old classics - Teles, Strats, and Pauls. They're either too heavy or too big for me.

So I dig Sabres, Radiuses, and the Fly.

 

[Kiko]

Parker Guitars

I´m a proud owner of a Parker Fly Deluxe w/vibrato.
I bought it few years ago (1996 I think) and I just love it!
It feels great and sounds better.

But I love Ibanez guitars too. That´s why I bought a JPM few months ago. It sounds very good and looks amazing, but it doesn´t compare to my Parker Fly; the construction of the Parker Fly is way better than the JPM, the sounds are similar, the Parker Fly is a more versatile guitar and ,IMO, it has more sustain (it doesn´t have locking nut) and it´s easier for changing strings and tuning.
What I like about my JPM is the wood/unfinished neck (it feels great) and the pickup switch position....oh, and the awesome look of it!!

 

[jeffrey]

Parker Guitars

As much as I (we) all like Ibanez guitars, for the prices that we pay, they really aren't made very well.

 

[jemsite]

Parker Guitars

Quote: from jay ratkowski on 2:56 pm on July 30, 2001
I plan to buy one down the road and customize it. Probably round off the upper horn on the back side a bit... see if I can do a few other mods. I love those guitars in many ways...

Don't forget to paint it blue :rotf:...glen

 

[ripl3y]

Parker Guitars

Quote: from jeffrey on 1:53 pm on Aug. 1, 2001
As much as I (we) all like Ibanez guitars, for the prices that we pay, they really aren't made very well.

In some way's I agree, In other's I don't

They are made well, I don't have any complaints about the joint work or the hardware (with the guitars I've owned)
I sometimes think people want a guitar made to spec by the 0.00000005 of a millimetre, but not me.

My only slight gripe is the JEM/RG body "edges", they could do with more contouring, but that's for Steve to decide as far as the JEM.

The Parker's don't really appeal to me to be honest.
I suppose I'm too old fashioned, but there is just too much of a "let's look to the future" aspect about them.
I don't wan't an ekowhatever neck, I wan't a solid piece of wood that the earth has provided (no I ain't a hippy)
I don't want to have a degree to understand the options the guitar can offer me, because my only concern is how it sounds and plays, it's a tool, if it will provide me with what I need to hit a note and I'm comfortable with it in my hands then it's up to me to do the rest, instruments need to be relatively simple, because music offers us enough challenges without our instrument being the main one.

I think Parker took a leap just a little too far, which is why they wont have a mass appeal.
"too much too soon"
They quite drastically changed the guitar's basic build structure in such a short space of time.
I'm not saying those who don't like them shouldn't, as then I'd be guilty of being an axe nazi!, but they just aint for me at the moment.

Steve

 

[jeffrey]

Parker Guitars

Don't get me wrong Rip

I didn't mean that they are made like ****
or anything. I love my UV and all, just for the money other guitars I've seen were slightly superior all around. It just seems like we're paying extra for the name and the artist association.

It's not a bad thing and I'm not complaining. I just wish that the price tag equaled the build quality.

Overall nonetheless, I'm very happy with my UV.

 

[ripl3y]

Parker Guitars

I'm with you on the name thing.

We do pay more to have a slice of Vai.
But I think it's a tasty slice

If JEM's were a standard Ibanez product without endorsement then they'd be priced accordingly, but for sure Steve's name add's the extra $ factor to it.
But at the same time you also have Steve's build requirements which means you get more than a standard build guitar.

Jeff,
I've gone very off topic after this so I've mailed you instead of clogging up the forum.

P.S. It's not a flame or argument in anyway, but hopefully an interesting 2-way debate.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jeffrey]

Parker Guitars

It's all good rip. I know no flames were intended.

I've been a big Ibanez fan for a long time and always felt this. You just put up with some things to have the stuff you like.

In our case it's musical instruments.

Debate? Nah. I don't think we disagree. Discussion? Certainly.

 

[Josh Blagg]

Parker Guitars

Parker necks are made of one solid piece of wood that came from the earth. They just have a carbon-fiber composite exoskeleton (and no, this stuff isn't light years ahead because you can order it yourself as a three part kit) as thin as a sheet of paper to add strength. With the added strength, the neck won't twist or bend or do any weird things your wooden neck might do, as the frets will not wear out. They are meant to last a very long time. I also, I don't think they "introduced too much new stuff in a short period of time." 99% of guitar designs come from designs of the 1950's with minor changes to make you think you are getting something really different. The Ibanez Jem is basically redesigned Fender Stratocaster. That isn't to say there haven't been good redesigns of Strats, but finally, after 40 years, somebody has done something completely original. Read the article, it is very interesting.

 

[Sevenstringer]

Parker Guitars

Parkers are great. I have owned several and all have played the same with amazing uniformity and have never let me down. Amazing piezo and sound great recorded

 

[Mikey55]

Parker's reputation for quality is unwarranted in my experience. I bought a Parker Fly Mojo Midi in April 2011 (so, yes, conveniently for Parker, their one year warranty has expired). The guitar began buzzing on the lower register frets, while the higher registers were buzz-free. Seems unlikely, right? i took the guitar to my local guitar tech who pointed out that the fretboard is separating from the neck. I am an amateur who plays the guitar several hours a week. The guitar has been out of my house once, for a two hour jam session. I would be angry if a $300 Mexican Strat suffered such a fate after a year and a half of gentle play. But a $4,000 guitar?!?! Looks like a replay of CBS' purchase of Fender. Unfortunately, I have a Post - U.S. Music Corp. Parker Fly, which will probably have all the value of a post-CBS Fender down the road. STEER CLEAR OF PARKER UNTIL THEY FIX THEIR QUALITY ISSUES!!! Caveat Emptor!!

 

[j.arledge]

i agree as well.

us music killed all the companies it took over. Pre us music parkers are amazing guitars. I would own one if i found the right one for sale, but there aren't too many that come around.

 

[Stemp Fester]

Holy 10 year old thread bump Batman!

That said I have a Parker Nitefly SA (don't know what year) and it's a fine guitar.

 

[AlaskaBat]

Holy 10 year old thread bump Batman!

That said I have a Parker Nitefly SA (don't know what year) and it's a fine guitar.

Yep--people Google things, find us and register just to reply without looking at the previous post date.

 

[BlanK]

But it's better than them creating a new thread for something that's been answered, or debated to death.

On that note, I don't think I'll pick up a lower end Parker, as one of my buddy's Parker truss rod slipped.

 

[ironfistx]

I almost bought a used P-38 earlier this year. It played really nice, but was overpriced for the market value.

I later saw two other guitars in that series, including another P-38, and neither of them played as well as the first one. There seemed to be quality issues with the P series necks.

The Flys are super nice but I don't see them in stores anymore. I haven't played one in a store since the 90s.

They don't have fret inlays which is a dealbreaker for me. I get lost in the high frets without markers.

Also, I would assume that parts would be hard to find, and expensive, too.

Dan Mumm plays a Parker: