The first thing you notice is how they look. A little weird.
Strangely geometric. With parallel horns that reach up like
arms that want to play you right back. And they do. Because
the moment you pick up a Parker guitar, you’ll feel its sculpted
recesses embrace your torso while its featherweight body gives
you effortless access to every note. And when we say “every
note,” we mean every note—from visceral, in-your-face
electric tones to the warm, juicy harmonies of acoustic. They’re
all here, in one guitar. The entire spectrum of jaw-dropping,
impassioned sounds, just waiting to be transformed into
music. Your music. One moment you’re playing blistering
electric grind. The next—thick, meaty, strum-heavy acoustic.
And the next, the two voices are wailing simultaneously,
crunching notes that were in your head before you even knew
how to spell the word riff. What is this beast? It doesn’t look
like any other guitar ever made. It doesn’t feel like any other
guitar ever made. And there’s no other guitar—period—
that can turn sound into seduction like a Parker guitar.
Ken Parker’s understanding of hardwoods and the physical forces involved in guitar playing has been combined with exhaustive research on
modern composites, fibers, and acoustic technology to create a new kind of instrument altogether. A guitar with the magic soulfulness of wood,
optimized to respond unlike any other guitar in the world to the vibrations of steel, bronze, or nylon strings.
S O U N D I N I T S F U L L E S T D I M E N S I O N
2 VOICES, OR 2000
Parker’s dual pickup systems work together to
deliver electric, acoustic, or a mix of the two sounds.
Our custom DiMarzio
®
or Seymour Duncan
®
magnetic
pickups produce powerful electric guitar tones while
our Fishman
®
piezo pickups, designed by Larry
Fishman specifically for Parker, sense each string
individually, providing the lush, complex tones of an
acoustic guitar. The two systems are blended by a
stereo preamp that allows you to mix the volumes and
tones on-board. A “smart” switching jack senses stereo
or mono cable and routes the signals accordingly.
UNCOMPROMISED VIBE
The point at which a guitar neck meets the body is
the Bermuda Triangle of sound. Not only is it where
vibrations traditionally disconnect as one material meets
another, it’s also the point where alignment goes
haywire due to the sheer physical stress. Ken Parker
solved all of that with our revolutionary, multi-fingered
neck joint. A marvel of physics, it contributes to
the evenness of the sound and resists the inevitable
warping that sends other guitars out of tune.
Basswood
Basswood is lightweight, stiff, and stable, which is why we use it for the necks of many
Parker guitars, as well as for the body of our Custom Shop Hardtail model, in which it really
demonstrates its terrifying low-end response. Combined with our patented epoxy carbon/
glass-fiber coating, the wood becomes supercharged, adding even more power to the music.
Mahogany
Revered for a smoldering tone and an acoustical range that extends all the way from deep
octaves to a singing upper register, mahogany is also valued for its color, grain, stability, and
high-strength/low-weight ratio. We use mahogany for the bodies of the Fly Classic, the new
Fly Mojo, NiteFly-M, as well as the necks of our NiteFly-SA and Fly Bass models.
Maple
West Coast big leaf maple is the softest and lightest of the maple family, with a wood grain that
resembles waves. Visually, the curly pattern is breathtaking. Acoustically, the wavy fibers reduce
the long grain stiffness and vibrate more freely—the secret to the bright, clear, powerful sound.
The Fly Supreme is the only solid body guitar with a body made entirely of curly maple.
Poplar
This strong, dense, yet lightweight hardwood is unusually resonant, creating a tone that
starts easily and sings out. We select only those grades of poplar with excellent silk to ensure
an exceptionally crisp sound, often described as “spirited” and “bouncy”—even “funky.”
Our poplar guitars are ideal choices for players who favor single-coil snap and clean work.
Sitka Spruce
Our spruce-bodied models are the only electric guitars made from vertical-grain Sitka spruce,
a fact we think is remarkable, since spruce produces such a rippin’, ferocious sound. Springy
and stiff, it has the very best strength-to-weight ratio. If your style demands a wide, dynamic
response and robust, meaty sound, this is your tone wood.
Swamp Ash
Swamp ash is famous for its mid-range snarl and biting response. Only a few microclimates
on the American Gulf coast provide the right conditions for this tree, which grows partly under
water—and it’s the soggy parts we value. Season after season under water leaches out the
minerals, lightening the wood and increasing its stiffness for a sound that’s swampy and spicy.
THE RICHEST TONES
You can’t make an exceptional instrument from indifferent-sounding materials,
which is why wood—the original miracle fiber—is at the heart of every Parker guitar.
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Adrian Belew
