Parker Fly Owners and Fans

FrankenStrat

Experienced
I have been looking at Parker Flys as I consider adding one to my collection. I have seen a number of listings where they referred to the guitar as “refined”. As an example one title is “2007 Parker Fly Classic Guitar (Refined) w/HSC”. What (if anything) does refined mean with Parkers? Is this actually a thing?

Any insight is appreciated.
 
If you can find a pre-refined Parker at a decent price, that's what I would go for. Amazing instruments.
Refined is a marketing term - not an actuality. Lots of cost-cutting that actually denatured KP's original intent.
To be fair, a refined Fly is still above most guitars on the market today. But the pre-refined are just very special.

If the posts above don't clear it for you, I'll give you more details.
 
Alright. i understand it now. Thanks for the help.

In reading the Wikipedia, it was indicated that refined was just before the buyout of Parker, but they did not mention when that occurred. What is the date that separates refined from.... unrefined?
 
2003 catalog was all refined, in late 2002 classic/deluxe may have flipped to refined but not sure. You can tell the pre-refined models as they still had the fly wheel through the front of the body

Cheers
 
2003 catalog was all refined, in late 2002 classic/deluxe may have flipped to refined but not sure. You can tell the pre-refined models as they still had the fly wheel through the front of the body

Cheers
Thanks for replying.

I am enjoying learning about Ken Parker and these guitars. The prices fluctuate wildly. I guess it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
 
I had an original Deluxe in Italian Plum back in 96 and sold it dirt cheap to a student. Regretted it ever since. I have bought a couple more "pre-refined" over the last 10-15 years and I'm still crazy about them. If there ever was a guitar that made playing feel like you were cheating a little bit, it would be a Parker for me. Hands down.
 
I used to own this pre-refined Fly. Really incredible innovations all over the thing. I was intellectually fascinated and had fun for a while, but ultimately it wasn't true love so we parted ways.

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I used to own this pre-refined Fly. Really incredible innovations all over the thing. I was intellectually fascinated and had fun for a while, but ultimately it wasn't true love so we parted ways.

I had a Mojo in that color and in black. Also, had a pre-refined in white. I loved their light weights and how effortless they were to play. I wasn't fond of the way the rear of the upper bout jabbed me in the ribs and I didn't like the way they sounded (even after pickup swaps) so I sold them. I would like to try a USA Maxx Fly one of these days.
 
I used to own this pre-refined Fly. Really incredible innovations all over the thing. I was intellectually fascinated and had fun for a while, but ultimately it wasn't true love so we parted ways.

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You know Robbo, that’s exactly how I felt When I played the 6 string at Sam ash, it is a truly fascinating piece but like other boutique guitars, it may not suit you

And the thing is, like the EBMM majesty, I thought a guitar like that would be universally suitable, but to my surprise, it isnt as popular or loved as i thought it would be

In any case, with all the counterfeits and knock offs, and all the volatility with QC and what not, I think to be safe, my next guitar is gonna be an ESP Custom shop, especially since There are no 7 string Parker’s for sale, even used [although again, with the counterfeit market, i dont want to buy anything besides a japanese custom]
 
Would never even think about selling my pre-refined fly deluxe, just like the red one above. I have plenty of guitars that would hit the bricks before it. It's very different, plays effortless, weighs nothing, sounds great. He was way before his time. Would love to see him build something today.
 
Pardon my French but 3 fuckin days ago someone sold the exact guitar i was looking for a decade. It was right under budget too, at $3500, so i could’ve gotten it - I’m disappointed, i doubt ill see another MaxxFly 7 for a few years and because of this i pulled the trigger on the ESP custom shop i wanted as the alternate....well it made that easy, but if this ESP wasnt brand new and cheaper than than the parker i just missed, id probably be pretttty upset
 
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Are black flys unusual? Seems there are a lot of red and blues out there. Blacks seem to be scarce.

Also, how is the neck thickness? I have seen some say that the Fly has a thin neck kind of like a Wizard neck. Just found the specs for a Fly Mojo. The neck is spec’d at .890” at 1st to .960” at 12th. That is hardly Wizard thin. My DK1 is .750” - .810” and that is thicker than a Wizard.
 
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