What is the concensus on Parker guitars?

[67mike]

What is the deal, these things any good? Guy want to trade me one and a fender bass for my Heritage.

[monwobobbo]

totally depends on which model. the "real" parker US made guitars that aren't wood are super light and have a feel all ther own. the wood ones are ok but not the same.

[soundgardener75]

Great guitars, but not worth trading your Heritage though.

[67mike]

Thanks.

[Jp77]

I think that they are ugly and remind me of an 80's era keytar or synth guitar for some reason. I wouldn't trade a heritage for one. Also, they have a limited market if you chose to resell it.

[67mike]

Ya,, no way am I trading......Thanks.

[100 watt]

DNW. Im sure theyre nice, but I cant make myself like em, just bc of the way the look.

[Yarbicus]

They sound great, play great, and I like the way they look. However, I sold the one I had because it just didn't like "me" whatever that means. However, you would be hard pressed to find a more flexible guitar.

[Elessar [Sly]]

The ones I have seen are cool. That's about all the help I can give. I know... not much help

[Viesczy]

A guitarist I used to jam with has one of the "real" ones, neck through phenolic resin or w/e the fretboard is made out of, it feels great with its weight and the fretboard is a great feel but the sound is very "modern".

The sound isn't bad, it has a weird lack of timbre/life/personality. Like how a high end stereo playing a record has a different feel than a CD played through the same basic parts.

Maybe it is just the p-ups? I believe they are (were as I've not touched the axe in years) the stock ones at the time.

Derek

[mitsu13gman]

My experience very closely mirrored Viesczy.

In terms of fit-and-finish, I've only played guitars that were the Parker's equal, but not its superior. The frets are absolutely perfect, the neck profile is amazingly comfortable, and the body hugs up against you like it's almost not even there.

But when people describe the tone as "plastic-y," they're not being dramatic - it really does have this sterile, non-resonant sound to it, even playing unplugged. If I had to guess, I'd bet there is very little inter modulation distortion going on, so you get the "pure" tone of the string, but the body/neck really don't contribute.

I wanted to love the one I played, but a few seconds after I plugged in, I knew it wasn't for me. Perhaps for someone who uses a lot of layered effects, or a really complex gain tone, it would be the holy grail. But for me, it just wasn't what I want to hear in a guitar.

They do play absolutely phenomenally, though! :-)

[DjentFarts]

1. The top end Parkers are wood. They have a thin layer of carbon fiber baked onto them. back of the body and the fret board. Maybe try a mojo it may fit your tone tastes a little better with mahogany and duncans.
2. The lack of "life" may have been i dislike for the wood type or pick ups. I have an old fly deluxe, which I have dialed in on my amps. It is my number one guitar. Beating out quite a few fenders, ibanez, and a les paul classic antique for it's top spot. Nothing plays easier or sounds better to me. Owned it for about 13 years now and it has been in my top spot since the first day I owned it.

[Devin]

Only one I've ever played was an old Fly Deluxe, but it felt fucking amazing

[DjentFarts]

Amen Devin. I have been contemplating a mojo purchase soon. Just not sure I need yet another guitar.