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Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $3,622
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
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Description
The Parker Fly Deluxe is an electric guitar that merges futuristic design with exceptional playability, making it a favorite among innovative musicians. Originally crafted by Ken Parker, this guitar boasts a lightweight poplar body that defies the usual expectations of solid body electrics. Its sleek, contoured construction allows for effortless handling and comfort during those long jam sessions or on-stage performances. The Fly Deluxe is not just about aesthetics; it's about delivering a superior sonic experience.
Equipped with a set of custom-wound pickups, the Parker Fly Deluxe offers a wide range of tonal possibilities, from crisp cleans to gritty overdrive, allowing you to explore your musical creativity without limits. The advanced electronics ensure a seamless transition between different sounds, catering to a variety of genres with ease. Additionally, its unique composite fingerboard enhances playability, providing smooth action and increased durability.
Whether you're shredding at a gig or experimenting in the studio, the Parker Fly Deluxe is designed to keep up with your dynamic performance style. Its innovative features and unmatched versatility make it a standout choice for musicians looking to push boundaries and create something truly unique.
Key Features:
- Lightweight poplar body for enhanced comfort and playability
- Custom-wound pickups for versatile sound options
- Unique composite fingerboard for smooth action and durability
- Advanced electronics for seamless tonal transitions
- Futuristic design with a contoured construction
Product specs
| Brand | Parker |
| Model | Fly Deluxe Vibrato |
| Finish | Antique Gold, Black, Dusty Black, Emerald Green, Euro Red, Galaxie Gray, Heather Gray, Italian Plum, Majik Blue, Ruby Red, White |
| Year | 1993 - 2002 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder, Mahogany, Poplar |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Top-Load, Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Grey, Purple, Red, White |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Composite |
| Fretboard Radius | 10", 15" |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On, Set-Neck |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HH, HSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque |
FAQs
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What makes the Parker Fly Deluxe unique compared to other electric guitars?
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The Parker Fly Deluxe is renowned for its lightweight design and carbon-glass-epoxy composite exoskeleton, providing a distinct feel and enhanced resonance. Its combination of magnetic and piezo pickups offers a versatile sound range, from traditional electric tones to acoustic-like sounds.
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How does the neck profile of the Parker Fly Deluxe affect playability?
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The Parker Fly Deluxe features a slim neck profile with a composite fretboard, providing smooth playability and fast action, making it ideal for players who prefer a sleek, modern feel.
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Can the Parker Fly Deluxe handle a variety of music genres?
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Yes, the Parker Fly Deluxe's dual humbucker and piezo pickup configuration allows it to produce a wide range of tones suitable for genres like rock, jazz, and even acoustic-style music.
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Is the Parker Fly Deluxe suitable for live performances?
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Absolutely, the Parker Fly Deluxe's lightweight design and versatile sound options make it an excellent choice for live performances, offering comfort and tonal flexibility on stage.
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What type of bridge does the Parker Fly Deluxe use?
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The Parker Fly Deluxe features a top-load tremolo bridge, allowing for expressive pitch modulation while maintaining tuning stability.
Videos
World Music Supply
Parker Fly Deluxe Electric Guitar Demo
Parker Fly Deluxe Electric Guitar Demo
World Music Supply
Steve Vai seems to love the Parker Fly Deluxe Guitars during Demo
Parker Guitars
1997 Parker Fly Deluxe
Guitarsenal
PARKER FLY DELUXE vs PAUL REED SMITH CE24 | Comparación entre dos guitarras que tuvo Gustavo Cerati
Matute Facio
Parker Fly Deluxe, 90's Carbon Fibre guitar
Offbeat Instruments
Parker Fly Deluxe Metal Tone Test
Ross Cloughley
Parker Fly Deluxe is it Good?
Safe Haven Music
Parker Fly Deluxe 1997 Pre-Refined in Majik Blue Unboxing and Tone Test Demo
Tone Dojo
1998 Parker Fly Deluxe Black PRE REFINED
Guitar Chimp
Reviews
PROS
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Feather light design enhances playing comfort and reduces fatigue
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Unparalleled fret access with all 24 frets easily reachable
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Splittable humbuckers and piezo pickups offer amazing tonal range
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Ultra slim neck and low action ideal for shredders
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Innovative exoskeleton construction of carbon and glass fiber
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Easily accessible 9V battery compartment with snap open cover
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Fishman acoustic pickup adds versatility to electric tones
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Known for minimal setup needs and excellent maintenance
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Distinctive sound reminiscent of late 80s Rush
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Feels like an extension of the player's musical soul
CONS
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Out of production, making replacement parts hard to find
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Dimarzios pickups can sound thin compared to other models
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Heavier than the Parker Fly Classic Mahogany model
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Neck is slightly wider and thicker than some may prefer
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Potential durability issues with battery connector design
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Parker Fly Deluxe.
Build quality
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The Parker Fly Deluxe features a neck wrapped in carbon fiber, known for its exceptional strength and resilience.
Source -
Parker Fly guitars incorporate a synthetic exoskeleton and carbon-reinforced neck, while the body and neck are constructed from wood, with serial numbers indicating specific wood types used.
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Features and functionality
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The vibrato system on the Parker Fly Deluxe is highly praised and considered by some as possibly the best ever designed.
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The Parker Fly Deluxe features custom DiMarzio pickups that are thinner than standard humbuckers, specifically designed to accommodate the guitar's significantly thinner body.
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User experience
Setup and maintenance
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The vibrato system utilizes a flat spring, with tension adjustable via a thumbwheel between the bridge and rear strap peg, offering unique setup flexibility.
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Use cases and applications
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Despite not being ideal for jazz tones, its lightweight design makes it a preferred choice for home practice and travel, especially for those with back issues.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 8 Ratings
I will never get rid of this guitar
The Parker Fly Deluxe (the white one in the picture) is an extension of my musical soul. I have never known a guitar like I know this one. The neck practically plays itself. The weight is around 3 1/2 pounds. It has a fishman acoustic pickup as well as 2 dimarizo's. That being said, the sound of the dimarzios is pretty thin, think late 80s Rush. The Fly Mojo models have Seymors that are way thicker in tone. The other guitars in the picture (left to right) the Parker Bronze Fly, a solid body guitar with only the fishman pickup. The red guitar is the prototype for a flamed to Fly Supreme. The black one is a 10th anniversary edition. The green one is the prototype for the quilted top Fly Mojo. Then there's my white one.
The finest electric guitar I've ever played.
It instantaneously made me a better player. I'll attempt to describe better later. Mine, a Dusty Black 1996 Deluxe.
Artist usage
Add artist
Smith can be clearly seen using this guitar from 1:20 into the video.
A Parker Fly Deluxe was used by Synyster Gates during Warped Tour 2003, as can be seen throughout the video.
"I actually bought this playin' India 'cause I knew I'd have to carry around a guitar and I was playing at this festival and it had an acoustic setting and an electric setting and it's only, like, four pounds. So that way I didn't need to carry an acoustic and it was really light. Yeah, I like it actually, but I haven't used it since that much."
Reverb.com specifies this to be a "Parker '99 Fly Classic Deluxe".
"Gustavo la usaba puntualmente porque sonaba muy bien como acústica, muy liviana y cómoda, era el modelo más caro de Parker..." "La Parker Fly siempre la atendí yo, tuvo un problema en el circuito, que no se pudo volver arreglar, se había roto la ficha, donde mezclaba el circuito de la guitarra acústica y eléctrica, no recuerdo si fue por una caída, eso lo debe recordar Barakus (Iencenella, guitar tech de Gustavo)..." "Le servía para cosas acústicas, le rendía muy bien"
Luthier Andy Ramos
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Dave Navarro used this guitar while performing "My friends" live with the RHCP, stating that it mimics the sound of an acoustic. It´s a blue model with tremolo and two humbuckers.
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In this video, it shows Machine Gun Kelly showing off a 1998 Parker Fly Deluxe guitar that he bought at Norman's Rare Guitars. He states what the guitar is and takes it out at 0:27.
Aprox. en el minuto 9:47, Richard habla de su Parker que le terminaron robando.
I've been playing a red Parker Fly Deluxe for a couple of years. I really like the way it feels. The neck is flat and very thin. It has a stereo out which splits the signal. One output is the conventional magnetic pick up selection the other output is the piezo pick up in the bridge which gives a pretty convincing acoustic sound. The combination of the two is fantastic.
In a photo from the mid-2000s, Roine Stolt is seen using a Parker Fly Deluxe guitar.
For a few years he used a Parker Fly Deluxe
Ivan "Noize MC" Alekseev has been playing the Parker Fly Deluxe since September 2012, and it has become one of his primary instruments for concerts. A photo from Rock-review provides visual evidence of his usage.
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Album Usage
The Parker Fly Deluxe has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Parker Fly Deluxe, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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