Designer Ken Parker began building unconventional archtop guitars in the 1970s. He then took a job with (now defunct) Stuyvesant Music in New York City, working both in the repair shop as well as building Guitar Man instruments. ParkerĀ“s background in repairing and customizing guitars became the groundwork for the innovative design of the Fly guitar.
In 1982, Parker met Larry Fishman (Fishman Transducers) while reviewing a prototype bass. Parker and Fishman joined forces, and attended the 1985 NAMM music industry show to gain financial backing for the new Fly model. The new guitar design attracted some interest in the market, but Parker and Fishman were interested in protecting the design, rather than let unauthorized versions show up in the marketplace. Around 1990, Korg USA (distributor of Marshall amplifiers and Korg keyboards in the U.S. market) took interest in the design and production applications. The Fly guitar debuted at the 1992 NAMM show. In 2003, they became a part of U.S. Music Corp., which also owns Washburn, Randall Amplifiers, and Oscar Schmidt. In 2006, Parker released their first full-acoustic models: the P6E and the P8E. In 2007, they expanded their acoustic line to two series, eight guitars, and one bass, but by 2010, Parker announced that they were discontinuing production of all their acoustic instruments.
Acoustic instruments previously produced in China between 2006 and 2010. Distributed by U.S. Music Corp. in Buffalo Grove, IL. Parker produced electric guitars in Wilmington, MA and Mundelin, IL from 1992-2015.