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 letting 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.
Parker guitars are carved from solid wood, and then have a thin layer of carbon/glass/epoxy composite material applied as a strengthening measure. The fingerboard and peghead veneer on these instruments are made from the same synthetic composite material. While the futuristic design and composite material tends to mystify vintage-minded guitar owners, the Fly is still 95% wood.
In 2003, Parker introduced the Parker Custom Shop. Customers can now have guitars built to their specifications, where just about anything goes. Contact Parker for information on the Custom Shop. In 2003, they became a part of U.S. Music Corp., which also owns Washburn, Randall Amplifiers, and Oscar Schmidt. In 2006, Parker introduced a line of acoustic guitars with help with pickups from Larry Fishman. For more information, visit Parker's website or contact U.S. Music Corp. directly.
Instruments most recently produced in Wilmington, MA, since 2003 and in China. Distributed by U.S. Music Corp. in Buffalo Grove, IL. Previously produced in New York from 1992-2003. Previously distributed by Korg USA of New York, NY. In the Summer of 2015 it was announced that the Parker factory would discontinue all manufacturing until further notice.

PARKER Electric Guitars Models

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV1) Image

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV1)

- offset double cutaway solid maple body, bolt-on neck (composed of modulus carbon/glass fiber), 22-fret fingerboard, six-on-one-side locking Sperzel tuners, pickguard, free-floating vibrato, three single coil Dimarzio pickups/Fishman passi...

PARKER F Image

PARKER F

- fixed Parker bridge, 2 exposed humbucker pickups, master volume/volume/tone controls, 3-position switch, mfg. 1994 only.

PARKER DF824 DRAGONFLY Image

PARKER DF824 DRAGONFLY

- offset double cutaway carved alder body, set basswood neck, 22-fret fingerboard, Parker-style headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-Lok tuners, Parker vibrato bridge, two Seymour Duncan SSL2 single coils (neck, mid) a...

PARKER PM60 Image

PARKER PM60

- single cutaway Fly-style solid one-piece mahogany body, figured maple top, set one-piece basswood and carbon glass epoxy neck, 24-fret carbon glass epoxy fingerboard, symmetrical headstock with black overlay, three-per-side Sperzel Trim-L...

PARKER PJ12 Image

PARKER PJ12

- single cutaway uniquely-shaped hollow body, carved solid Sitka spruce top, solid carved maple back, maple sides, two contemporary f-holes, standard white/black body binding, five-ply maple/rosewood neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard wi...

PARKER ADRIAN BELEW SIGNATURE Image

PARKER ADRIAN BELEW SIGNATURE

- Fly-style one-piece solid poplar body, set one-piece basswood and carbon glass epoxy neck, 24-fret carbon glass epoxy fingerboard, Fly-style headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-Lok tuners with black buttons, Parker...

PARKER P-30 Image

PARKER P-30

- traditional Fly body style, poplar body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard, black headstock with six-on-one-side Grover tuners, Fulcrum-style vibrato bridge, white pearl pickguard, three single coil pickups, three knobs (v, tw...

PARKER FLY BASS (FB4) Image

PARKER FLY BASS (FB4)

- double offset parker type spruce top body with quilted maple top and back, mahogany neck, 24 stainless-steel fret glass/carbon fingerboard, two custom-wound DiMarzio Ultra-Jazz pickups, Fisman piezo active pickup preamp/mixer system, four...

PARKER BRONZE FLY  Image

PARKER BRONZE FLY

- Fly design, carved Sitka spruce body, basswood neck, 24-fret carbon-glass epoxy fingerboard, 6 Element Fishman piezo pickup, two knobs, black hardware, available in Sunburst (2008 only) or Trans. Butterscotch finish, mfg. 2004-2010.

PARKER P-36 Image

PARKER P-36

- Fly design, carved ash body, bolt-on maple neck, pickguard, single coil bridge and soap bar neck pickups, Fishman Piezo, available in Blonde, Natural or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2004-07, reintroduced 2009-2014.

PARKER PJ14 Image

PARKER PJ14

- single cutaway uniquely-shaped hollow body, carved solid Sitka spruce top, solid carved maple back, maple sides, two contemporary f-holes, standard white/black body binding, five-ply maple/rosewood neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard wi...

PARKER DF824VR VERNON REID SIGNATURE DRAGONFLY Image

PARKER DF824VR VERNON REID SIGNATURE DRAGONFLY

- offset double cutaway carved poplar body, set poplar neck, 22-fret carbon composite fingerboard, Parker-style headstock with black overlay, six-on-one-side Grover tuners, Floyd Rose original vibrato bridge, two EMG SAX single coils (neck,...

PARKER FV Image

PARKER FV

- standard Parker vibrato, vibrato tension wheel, 2 exposed humbucker pickups, master volume/volume/tone controls, 3-position switch, mfg. 1994 only.

PARKER FLY MOJO BASS Image

PARKER FLY MOJO BASS

- Fly Bass four-string configuration, Sitka Spruce body with quilted maple top and back, carbon reinforced neck, 24-fret carbon-glass fingerboard, two humbucker pickups, three knobs, black hardware, available in Dusty Black or 3-Color Sunbu...

PARKER FLY ARTIST Image

PARKER FLY ARTIST

- Fly design, carved Sitka spruce body, basswood neck, 24-fret carbon-glass epoxy fingerboard, two DiMarzio Humbucker pickups, 6 Element Fishman piezo pickup, three knobs, two switches, aluminum vibrato bridge, black hardware, available in...

PARKER P-38 (P38VA) Image

PARKER P-38 (P38VA)

- similar to Nitefly, select ash body & bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 22 jumbo nickel frets, custom Parker alnico humbucker and 2 single coil pickups, pearloid pickguard, Wilkinson licensed vibrato bridge system featurin...

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV3) Image

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV3)

- offset double cutaway solid maple body, bolt-on basswood (reinforced by a back layer of carbon/glass/epoxy composite), 22-fret composite fingerboard, 6-on-a-side locking Sperzel tuners, black pickguard, Parker vibrato, 3 DiMarzio single c...

PARKER FD Image

PARKER FD

- fixed Parker bridge, 2 exposed humbucker/6 piezo bridge pickups, master volume/humbucker volume/tone controls, stacked volume/tone piezo control, two 3-position switches, mfg. 1994 only.

PARKER FLY ARTIST (FAV) Image

PARKER FLY ARTIST (FAV)

- similar to the Fly Deluxe, except features a solid Sitka spruce body, vibrato bridge, piezo bridge mounted pickup, magnetic pickups, available in Trans. Cherry or Rootbeer Metallic finish, mfg. 1996-2002.

PARKER P-38 STANDARD (P38VAST) Image

PARKER P-38 STANDARD (P38VAST)

- non-piezo model, ash body, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, custom wound DiMarzio pickups, 22 jumbo nickel-silver frets, Wilkinson licensed vibrato, 5-way pickup selector switch, available in Black, Sunburst, or Trans. Red fi...

PARKER FLY SUPREME Image

PARKER FLY SUPREME

- Fly design, carved Big Lake maple body, basswood neck, 24-fret carbon-glass epoxy fingerboard, two DiMarzio Humbucker pickups, 6 Element Fishman piezo pickup, three knobs, two switches, aluminum vibrato bridge, black hardware, available i...

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV4) Image

PARKER NITEFLY (NFV4)

- similar to the NiteFly, except features 2 single coil DiMarzio pickups/DiMarzio humbucker, available in Black Pearl (B), White Pearl (W), Sunburst (SB), Trans. Red (TR), or Trans. Blue (TB) finish, mfg. 1998-2000.

PARKER PB41 Image

PARKER PB41

- offset double cutaway Fly Bass-style Urethan body, set maple neck, 24-fret carbonite fingerboard, black headstock with four-on-one-side tuners, adj. bridge, two EMG-35CS pickups, four knobs, active electronics, black hardware, available i...

PARKER NYLON FLY Image

PARKER NYLON FLY

- Fly nylon-string design, carved Sitka spruce body, wide basswood neck, 24-fret carbon-glass epoxy fingerboard, 6 Element Fishman piezo pickup, two knobs, gold hardware, available in Trans. Butterscotch finish, mfg. 2004-2010.

PARKER P-40 (P40VA) Image

PARKER P-40 (P40VA)

- ash body, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 1 humbucker pickup & 2 single coil custom wound Parker alnico magnetic pickups, Wilkinson licensed vibrato with Fishman piezo active preamp/mixer system, available in Steel Gray,...

PARKER NITEFLY-A ALDER (NFA) Image

PARKER NITEFLY-A ALDER (NFA)

- Nitefly configuration, carved alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret carbonand glass fingerboard, stainless steel frets, six-on-one-side Sperzel locking tuners, Nitefly vibrato system with stainless steel saddles, precision aluminum brid...

PARKER PB51 Image

PARKER PB51

- offset double cutaway Fly Bass-style mahogany body, flame maple top, seven-piece mahogany/ebony NTB, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlays, matching finish headstock with four-on-one-side tuners, Mono-rail string-thru bri...

PARKER FLY CONCERT (FCT) Image

PARKER FLY CONCERT (FCT)

- similar to the Fly Deluxe, except features a solid Sitka spruce body, piezo bridge pickups, and no magnetic pickup system, available in Trans. Cherry or Rootbeer Metallic finish, mfg. 1996-2002.

PARKER PB61 Image

PARKER PB61

- offset double cutaway Fly Bass-style mahogany body, spalted maple top, seven-piece mahogany/ebony NTB, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with offset pearl dot inlays, matching finish headstock with four-on-one-side tuners, Mono-rail string-thru b...

PARKER NITEFLY-SA (NFVSA) Image

PARKER NITEFLY-SA (NFVSA)

- Nitefly configuration, carved swamp ash bodyand mahogany bolt-on neck, carbon and glass fingerboard, stainless steel frets, Nitefly vibrato system with stainless steel saddles, precision aluminum bridge, two DiMarzio single coil pickups a...

PARKER FLY CLASSIC (FCV) Image

PARKER FLY CLASSIC (FCV)

- similar to the Fly Deluxe, except features a solid mahogany body, and finished top, available in Dusty Black, Emerald Green (2008-2014), Metallic Rootbeer (1996-2000), Natural Mahogany (1997-2014), Teal (1997-2000), Trans. Blue (1997-2000...

PARKER P-42 Image

PARKER P-42

- Fly design, carved mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, 2 humbucker pickups, Fishman Piezo, stop-tail bridge, available in Metallic Gray or Metallic Black finish, mfg. 2004-2014.

PARKER PB65 Image

PARKER PB65

- similar to the PB61, except in five-string configuration with five-on-one-side tuners, mfg. 2008-2014.

PARKER NITEFLY-SA STANDARD (NFVSAST) Image

PARKER NITEFLY-SA STANDARD (NFVSAST)

- non-piezo model, swamp ash body, mahogany bolt-on neck, custom wound DiMarzio pickups, 22 hardened stainless steel frets, locking Sperzel tuners, 5-way pickup selector switch, available in Black, Sunburst, Trans. Red, or Trans. Blue, mfg....

PARKER Fly Classic Standard (FCVST) Image

PARKER Fly Classic Standard (FCVST)

- non-piezo model, mahogany body with basswood neck, custom wound DiMarzio humbucker pickups, 24 hardened stainless steel frets, Parker vibrato system, locking Sperzel tuners, push-pull tone control coil-tap enables six pickup settings, ava...

PARKER P-44 (P44VM) Image

PARKER P-44 (P44VM)

- solid mahogany body, flamed maple top, maple bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, two custom wound Parker Alnico humbucking pickups, Wilkinson-licensed Vibrato, Fishman active piezo pickup preamp/mixer, Grover locking tuners, three knobs,...

PARKER FLY DELUXE (FDV) Image

PARKER FLY DELUXE (FDV)

- standard Parker vibrato, vibrato tension wheel, two exposed humbucker/six piezo bridge pickups, master volume/humbucker volume/tone controls, stacked volume/tone piezo control, two three-position switches, available in Antique Gold (disc....

PARKER NITEFLY-M (NFVM) Image

PARKER NITEFLY-M (NFVM)

- similar to Nitefly-SA except mahogany bodyand neck, two DiMarzio humbucker pickups, available in Black, Sunburst, Natural, Trans. Red (disc.), or Trans. Blue (disc.), mfg. 1999-2015.

PARKER P-44 Pro Image

PARKER P-44 Pro

- similar to the P-44 (P44VM), except has a set mahogany neck, two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups (Jazz neck, JB bridge), and a Smart Switching stereo/mono output jack, available in Natural Mahogany, Trans. Green, or Wine Red finish, mfg....

PARKER Fly Deluxe Standard (FDVST) Image

PARKER Fly Deluxe Standard (FDVST)

- non-piezo model, poplar body and basswood neck, custom wound DiMarzio humbucker pickups, 24 hardened stainless steel frets, Parker vibrato system, locking Sperzel tuners, push/pull tone control coil-tap enables 6 pickup settings, availabl...

PARKER NITEFLY MOJO Image

PARKER NITEFLY MOJO

- Fly-style carved mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, 22-fret carbon glass epoxy fingerboard, two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups, aluminum vibrato bridge, three knobs, two switches, black hardware, available in Dusty Black (2004-08), G...

PARKER PM-10 Image

PARKER PM-10

- single cutaway mahogany arched top body, set mahogany neck, stop bridge and tailpiece, no pickguard, two Parker Stinger humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way switch, available in Black or Natural finish, mfg. 2005-06.

PARKER Nitefly Mojo Flame Image

PARKER Nitefly Mojo Flame

- similar to the NiteFly Mojo, except has a AAA Flame maple top, available in Cherry Sunburst, Trans. Blue, Trans. Green (2008-2015), or Trans. Purple Burst (2008-2015) finish, mfg. 2004-2015.

PARKER PM-20 Image

PARKER PM-20

- single cutaway mahogany body, carved mahogany, quilted bubinga, or flame maple top, set mahogany neck, stop bridge and tailpiece, no pickguard, two Parker Stinger humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way switch, available in Flame Maple Tr...

PARKER FLY MAPLE CUSTOM (FMCV) Image

PARKER FLY MAPLE CUSTOM (FMCV)

- select maple body, basswood neck, 2 custom wound DiMarzio humbucker magnetic pickups, Fishmad piezo active preamp/mixer system, parker high performance vibrato, available in Trans. Cherry finish, mfg. 2001-02.