I want a Parker fly (but probably shouldn't)

[simonhpieman]

Ever since a 12 year old Pieman picked up his first guitar magazine and had his interest piqued by an advert for Coda Music or somewhere selling a blue Parker Fly they've been heavily on my radar.

I actually had one before - the P38 Fly that was a Korean verson of the nitefly. It wasn't the same thing, though. Also, I was in a band that was doing its best to sound and look like the Strokes and all the other "the" bands of the early 00s so I was instructed to get shot.

I now play mostly in a covers band. Image isn't everything but I usually play a Riviera, Starcaster or Strat. And we play a load of indie with a bit of rock and soul on the side.

Anyway, I REALLY want a proper Fly. I tried one yesterday and loved it. Talk me out or into it. I dunno. Seems a lot for a "novelty" guitar but I could really see myself loving it. And they weigh nothing at all!

[Danley]

Ever since a 12 year old Pieman picked up his first guitar magazine and had his interest piqued by an advert for Coda Music or somewhere selling a blue Parker Fly they've been heavily on my radar.

My first thought was a Parker Fly, a cheap silver Zoom effect pedal and an early Line 6 Spider are the best way to get that 'I selected all my gear based off the first three ads I saw in Sept. 2001 Guitar World when I was suburban fifteen year old '-hipster look. Though personally if I was going for that look, I'd get the Papa Roach Schecter.

I also only played a Korean one, way back. I have no clue what I'd do with a piezo pickup on any guitar, for me they've all sounded terrible. Guess Parker as a company is no longer around?

[marqueemoon]

I’ve said here before I’ve always kind of wanted an original Fly. Before it got watered down, one of the most original electric guitar designs ever.

[simonhpieman]

Ever since a 12 year old Pieman picked up his first guitar magazine and had his interest piqued by an advert for Coda Music or somewhere selling a blue Parker Fly they've been heavily on my radar.

My first thought was a Parker Fly, a cheap silver Zoom effect pedal and an early Line 6 Spider are the best way to get that 'I selected all my gear based off the first three ads I saw in Sept. 2001 Guitar World when I was suburban fifteen year old '-hipster look. Though personally if I was going for that look, I'd get the Papa Roach Schecter.

I also only played a Korean one, way back. I have no clue what I'd do with a piezo pickup on any guitar, for me they've all sounded terrible. Guess Parker as a company is no longer around?

Only took me a year or so to pick up the sexily named Zoom Player 2100! Looking back now I have absolutely no idea how those things worked even now.

Love the idea of that look, tbh!!

[Larry Mal]

I’ve said here before I’ve always kind of wanted an original Fly. Before it got watered down, one of the most original electric guitar designs ever.

Yeah, I would like one very much.

[Danley]

Only took me a year or so to pick up the sexily named Zoom Player 2100! Looking back now I have absolutely no idea how those things worked even now.

I had the Line 6 of that era but no Zoom I never got the Papa Roach Schecter, but I had an Omen 6 to kick around in the dorms - that was a few years 'later' though and I was in a different frame of mind.

One of the most off-putting things I ever saw about the Fly was a Guitar Player cover article of 'What if Jimi Hendrix never died,' and the masthead was a digitally aged pic of 'Jimi' holding a Parker Fly playing into a POD and an eBow or something - because we all know Jimi would be prescient enough to recognize the vast potential of using piezo pickups with fifteen crappy chorus models on cheap consumer electronics with barely enough computing power to play 'Snake.'

[simonhpieman]

So... Showed a picture to the guy who runs my band last night (he's essentially my boss as he gets all the work in).

He told me that "it'll probably sound great in your bedroom but there's no fucking chance you're showing up to a gig with that" which, sadly, is the response I expected.

Philistine

Maybe if they were 3-500 quid I could get one anyway but 12-1500 is a lot of money for something that's not going out often.

[Gordon]

One of the most off-putting things I ever saw about the Fly was a Guitar Player cover article of 'What if Jimi Hendrix never died,' and the masthead was a digitally aged pic of 'Jimi' holding a Parker Fly playing into a POD and an eBow or something

This one?

[Danley]

One of the most off-putting things I ever saw about the Fly was a Guitar Player cover article of 'What if Jimi Hendrix never died,' and the masthead was a digitally aged pic of 'Jimi' holding a Parker Fly playing into a POD and an eBow or something

This one?

Nope - in the pic he was aged (basically by using the 'enhanced technique' of Photoshop to put Keith Richards' jowls and gray hair on a picture of Jimi; I can't google it somehow, don't remember which magazine it was actually in. It just struck me as ridiculous even at the time.

Anyway, I guess band image is a thing but I pretty much wish people could get over the appearance of instruments that are otherwise fine to use. The audience doesn't care or notice; maybe they'll take note of what color your guitar is, or whether the chrome on it keeps blinding them from the stage lights.

[Maggieo]

Get an all-composite Steinberger with a Trans-Trem!

[countertext]

^ I have genuinely and unironically wanted a Steinberger for 30 years.

[Maggieo]

^ I have genuinely and unironically wanted a Steinberger for 30 years.

As have I.

[BlueSparkle]

I could have bought a Parker Fly in the lat 90's. I passed it up, because I was a LesPaul guy (still am). Not the only decision of mine that hindsight has proven me intellectually handicapped.

I mean, I LIKED the Parker Fly, but they were just so darn expensive here in Australia that it was not justifiable. Except maybe a lawyer or doctor. ($$$$)

I still want one of the early pre-washburn "unmolested" models.
It still has that modern look - a timeless contemporary instrument, only problem is, I never thought to search hard or long enough to find one - and they are a very rare guitar here.

Well, now that we all have the interwebs and reverb and stealbay etc, you'd think it'd be easy.... uh no. Whatsmore, prices have shot through the roof.

Still love them, I think they are really polarizing from a style perspective, but when you actually play one.... fwoar. smooth, fast, light and the sculpted back is amazingly comfortable.

and.... still can't afford one.

[pj]

I two Parker Niteflies. They are awesome and I like them much better than Strats. They might be something to look into because they are a lot cheaper than the regular Parkers.