|
|
Failed to execute CGI : Win32 Error Code = 3 |
| Free from a music retailer near you. |
 |
Parker Fly "Classic" Electric
Guitar Reviewer: Craig McDonald Distributor: Central Musical Instruments |
I am sure many of you have seen the Parker-Fly "Classic" guitars (with that strange looking shape) in magazines or being played on stage by pro-musicians, and you’re asking yourself, "I wonder what they are like to play?" or "Are they really that good", well I am here to tell you that yes, they really are that good and my one and only word to describe this guitar is awesome!
First off, let’s look at the evolution of the "Fly". For years, guitar builders have combined the features of available instruments in countless ways trying to serve the changing needs of guitarists. Surely the uses and limitations of such new combinations have been fully explored by now. As different as they seem, solid and hollow-bodied guitars both create sound the same way, wood and other materials are designed to respond to the strings vibrations.
Knowing this, ‘Parker’ set out to create the most versatile, responsive and dependable instrument possible. Using a harmonious balance between the magic soulfulness of ‘tone-woods’ and more stable modern materials such as carbon and glass-fibre (which can tend to sound cold and clinical), ‘Parker’ have been able to mix a lightweight tone-wood with a very tough exoskeleton of high-modulus-carbon and glass-fibre to come up with what they like to call a ‘new-kind-of-wood’. This patented structure allows ‘Parker’ to sculpt a beautiful, extremely lightweight guitar optimised for its ability to respond to the strings’ vibrations. The "Fly" comes in several different models, the Deluxe, Classic, Hard-tail, Artist, Supreme, Jazz, Single-Two and the Mojo.
The ‘Classic’ arrived in its custom ‘Parker’ hard-case with moulded recesses allowing for a very snug fit for its contoured body. It has a mahogany body, one-piece basswood neck with carbon-glass-epoxy reinforcement superbly moulded into a reinforced multiple-finger-joint, a carbon-glass-epoxy composite fret-board and a graph-tech nut all smoothly blended together with a very hard high-gloss polyurethane finish. This model is in transparent cherry colour, allowing for the natural grain of the wood to clearly show through.
The featherweight, contoured and ultra-thin body moulded into the neck make it look a little weird. Strangely geometric, with parallel horns that reach up like arms. The moment you pick it up, you can feel the sculptured recesses embrace you and allow effortless access to every note, and I mean every single note!
The ‘Classic’ has a mixture of active-piezo (Fishman) and magnetic (Di-Marzio) custom-wound humbucking pick-ups, which are designed to work with either the stereo guitar cord (supplied) or a standard mono guitar cable. The onboard ‘smart-jack’ circuitry can tell the difference and automatically mixes the signal according to the type of cable plugged into the guitar. This allows you to route the pickups in two different ways. With a standard mono guitar cord, a mixed piezo-magnetic mono signal is carried to one amplifier, using the stereo, the output is split into stereo with the piezo signal going to one amplifier and the magnetic signal going to another amplifier. It has a series of three control knobs and two toggle-switches. Master-volume and tone control for both magnetic pick-ups, (push-pull coil-splitting function on the tone), and master-volume for the piezo pick-up. In total there are six different possible combinations that can be set. I would advise you to read the very inclusive handbook supplied to fully understand all these settings, but after a little playing around, it becomes second nature and logical to work out. If you don’t require the piezo pickup at all, you can simply switch it off.
The neck is slimline and smooth with the hardened stainless-steel, highly-polished frets actually bonded to the carbon-glass-epoxy fret-board (no tangs!) A superb low, fast action can be achieved with the precision construction of the neck and mounting of the frets in this manner with no fret buzzing or string choking on any part of the entire fret-board. The custom ‘Parker’ vibrato-bridge pivots on ball-bearings and it is extremely stable using a special piece of flat spring steel to control the tension rather than using conventional coil springs. The bridge needs to be balanced at all times and can easily be adjusted using the balance wheel accessed by a slot in the back-plate of the guitar, however, this guitar remained totally in tune for the entire ‘road-test’ with no need for any adjustment, even after many long sessions. The intonation was perfect straight from the case.
Playing the ‘Classic’ is so easy, it makes you feel like it was made just for you, such is the beauty of the ergonomic ‘Parker’ design. It screams for metal, blues, rock or jazz, and every tone can be easily achieved. Finish off with a crystal-clean acoustic tone, or custom blend of your own. This is a real ‘guitar-players’ guitar. ‘Parker’ describes the tone of the ‘Classic’ as having a solid low mid-range for a smooth distortion, and it truly has that. The custom-wound Di-Marzio pick-ups are well matched and compliment the tone of the mahogany body perfectly. Tuning was never a problem with the ‘Sperzel’ locking-tuners always holding tight and secure, the tremolo felt as solid and stable as you could ever want. I can only suggest that you actually play one to feel what I am trying to describe here, it is such a great guitar to play. I had trouble putting it down.
Playing in the standing position feels so comfortable, balanced and light, you could easily forget that the "Fly" was even attached. My only gripe, and I was struggling to come up with this, is when playing seated, the top horn tends to dig into your chest a bit, but with the fun of playing this guitar, a little problem like that can easily be overlooked.
With a retail price of around $3,400, this professional series guitar stands out as a great choice for any serious musician trying to make a statement or just to add something very different to his/her collection. When you purchase a ‘Parker-Fly’ guitar, you’ve purchased a quality instrument that will last a lifetime and sound just as good as the day you first bought it — personally, I would love one myself!