are parker guitars made by the same guy as ken parker archtops? they share that headstock design
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Parker Club
- Thread starter kingofthestring
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Same guy/name but he sold the rights to Parker Guitars in '03 to US Music Corp. (Mundelein Ill.) and the Parker custom shop was started in the Washburn factory in in '05. Parkers are still made and the brand is currently owned by a Canadian company.
Ken Parker Archtops started in '06 and are all custom made by Ken Parker himself.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
No affiliation to the seller - but check this out! At the juncture when Ken Parker sold his franchise and started making his exquisite hand-made arch-top guitars, a very limited # of acoustic/electric basses were produced. (who knew?) It looks super sweet w/touches Parker was know for.
If I had the spare scratch I'd pop for it myself -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=151013316502&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
If I had the spare scratch I'd pop for it myself -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=151013316502&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261195615063&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160
As very few people seem to like these basses, I'll continue to spread the word that they are quality instruments which can be acquired for a reasonable amount of $ on ebay. I have a 5'r that is of this series (as shown in this thread) and I love it. Looks great - plays great - sounds great and was very affordable. It looks to be in mint condition and it has a reserve but it's worth checking out. New they were somewhere around $1300.
As before - no affiliation w/the seller, just channeling it through this Parker Club thread for anyone who is interested. By the way, the acoustic is still for sale as well. (and I don't play the lottery!)
As very few people seem to like these basses, I'll continue to spread the word that they are quality instruments which can be acquired for a reasonable amount of $ on ebay. I have a 5'r that is of this series (as shown in this thread) and I love it. Looks great - plays great - sounds great and was very affordable. It looks to be in mint condition and it has a reserve but it's worth checking out. New they were somewhere around $1300.
As before - no affiliation w/the seller, just channeling it through this Parker Club thread for anyone who is interested. By the way, the acoustic is still for sale as well. (and I don't play the lottery!)
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I have never seen the PB61 with 4 strings. I am very tempted to get this one as the mate to my PB51.
My 51 has RotoSound 88 tapes. I could try and justify this, by stringing with Chromes - and saying I needed both to gig with.
If I gigged...
This model has a subtle/understated woody look and the satin finish is very nice to the touch - and the EMG soaps/preamp are rich & flavorful. I also like the larger paddle-style pegs, like the carbon ones on the earlier models which are unique and cool.
One of the coolest bass players playing one of the best basslines ever on onehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fx0h66g778
eBay Alert:
Three Parkers on eBay right now. All at fair, if not great prices. No affiliation, I just like to see these get attention that they deserve. My descriptions link to the auction pages.
PB41 (Urethane) Silverburst 4-String
Heavier than the wood ones, actually - but with the synthetic fingerboard and epoxy-mount frets. This one doesn't seem to suffer from the neck-joint separation on some of these.
PB51 (Mahogany) Maple Top Cherryburst 4-string
This one is the same model as I'm playing. I LOVE it. No "tone of its own", but will produce almost any sound that you care to pull out of it. I paid 475 US.
PB61 Maple with Spalted Top 5-string
Seller mislabeled this a"PB51". The 51's are red, with black hardware. 61's are blonde and gold. Both PB51 and PB61 came in 4 and 5-string versions.
Three Parkers on eBay right now. All at fair, if not great prices. No affiliation, I just like to see these get attention that they deserve. My descriptions link to the auction pages.
PB41 (Urethane) Silverburst 4-String
Heavier than the wood ones, actually - but with the synthetic fingerboard and epoxy-mount frets. This one doesn't seem to suffer from the neck-joint separation on some of these.
PB51 (Mahogany) Maple Top Cherryburst 4-string
This one is the same model as I'm playing. I LOVE it. No "tone of its own", but will produce almost any sound that you care to pull out of it. I paid 475 US.
PB61 Maple with Spalted Top 5-string
Seller mislabeled this a"PB51". The 51's are red, with black hardware. 61's are blonde and gold. Both PB51 and PB61 came in 4 and 5-string versions.
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Excellent! So that is your profile in your avatar! (you never know) Looks like you are rockin' the Parker! Still diggin' my 5'r (like the one you posted) It looks, plays, sounds and records great! I have an embarrassment of wonderful 4's, but only one 5'r.
I just discovered that Parker made basses by checking out this flawless example by a guy local to me selling it on Craigslist. A Parker PB61 Hornet. It really is an incredible bass and exceptional value. Equal to those boutique basses going for thousands:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Grab it from him direct through CL and save over his Reverb ad
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Grab it from him direct through CL and save over his Reverb ad
I joined the club yesterday.
I scored this at a local guitar shop's Black Friday sale.
It has been played but not beat up.
I first thought it would be cool to play one of these after seeing Adrian Belew's band sometime around 2000-2005. His bassist was playing a Fly bass and got this incredible growl. Not like a Rickenbacker, though. The Parker had its own voice.
I went to the Black Friday sale intending to maybe pick up a guitar pedal, and came home with a 5 string bass.
I scored this at a local guitar shop's Black Friday sale.
It has been played but not beat up.
I first thought it would be cool to play one of these after seeing Adrian Belew's band sometime around 2000-2005. His bassist was playing a Fly bass and got this incredible growl. Not like a Rickenbacker, though. The Parker had its own voice.
I went to the Black Friday sale intending to maybe pick up a guitar pedal, and came home with a 5 string bass.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,962
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Very, very nice. I hope you will be giving us a review shortly.
It has been a while, but here are a few words in the way of a review after having a chance to record with it and set it up better.
When I got it, it was set up with very low action, but I thought the strings buzzed excessively. I raised the saddles a bit. Then I thought the action was too high. I also put a new set of strings on it, an Ernie Ball Power Slinky 5 string set.
Just a few days ago I think I finally got it set up right. A little more relief in the neck, and I lowered the saddles a bit again. The string action is lower but doesn't buzz excessively. It plays very nicely now.
There is lots to like about the Fly bass. The frets have no wear, and probably never will. They're perfect, no rough edges. The neck profile is very flat, making it easy and comfortable to play.
The tone is very clear and hi fi. I have to set tone controls on the bass amp or my dp3x differently when playing this bass because it's significantly brighter than other basses. I have another bass with the same bridge pickup (Dimarzio Ultra Jazz) and the Fly is as bright or brighter with its tone controls all the way down as the other bass is with its tone control all the way up. I wonder if the tone controls on the Fly are boost only. That would make sense. Then all the way down, they'd be flat. They don't have a center detent that I can feel.
Its tone is very mid scooped, also lending to its hi fi tone. I have another 5 string with a rosewood fretboard, alder body, and Seymour Duncan basslines Jazz pickups and the tone is completely different - much more midrange and much less ringy treble than the Fly bass.
The Fly is a great bass for slap and pop style playing with its low action, flat fretboard and bright tone.
The Fly bass I heard Belew's bassist playing was apparently a Fly Mojo bass, with the EMG pickups. I've read that that one has a midrange boost circuit, which explains his bass tone when I saw the band. Very midrangey and growling.
A question: Do you other owners think it's wise to leave the bass tuned to standard pitch when not playing it with the Ernie Ball Power Slinky set on it? Those are .050" to .135". I have Power Slinkys on my Rickenbacker 5 string and have no worries because that one has a thicker neck profile. The Fly bass's neck is very flat. But I understand the carbon fiber is supposed to increase its rigidity.
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You're likely to never have any issues with the neck whatsoever. It is as good, if not better, than any Modulus I've played and will certainly outlast everything on that bass with the exception being the frets!
I did some research today and reached the same conclusion. According to the manual for the bass, the factory strings are Fodera® Nickel strings, .045" - .130" for 5 string models. The Power Slinkys I have on there are .050" - .135". Each string is probably .005" thicker.
And I found that "Weight for weight, carbon fiber offers 2 to 5 times more rigidity (depending on the fiber used) than aluminium and steel. "
I don't think I need to worry.
When these strings wear out, I may try a set of coated strings if I can find them in the same gauge, to take a little of that ringy high end off and to not have to worry about changing them again for a long time.
And I found that "Weight for weight, carbon fiber offers 2 to 5 times more rigidity (depending on the fiber used) than aluminium and steel. "
I don't think I need to worry.
When these strings wear out, I may try a set of coated strings if I can find them in the same gauge, to take a little of that ringy high end off and to not have to worry about changing them again for a long time.
