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Parker Fly Bass... Opinions?
- Thread starter Baird6869
- Start date
A bassplayer friend has one, similar to the one shown. I've had several opportunities to try it. I can't get used to it in the least, and I own and play a variety of basses. Body feels overly large, neck seems at a weird angle. As I'm not crazy about the look either, I humor (my friend) when he offers it to me, yet again, to "try". Seems he's looking to justify his purchase of the bass, but I can't help feeling that he bought an overpriced piece of junk. Some may really like the feel & look, but I'd definitely find one to check out thoroughly, before I plunked down that kind of ca$h. Your run-of-the-mill Precision, it's not...
Thanks for your comments people. I have given it a miss anyway, the hi-fi tone I believe they have has really put me off along with the large body and active pickups.
I'm now on the look out for a nice bass with an passive electronics and and ash body. Please PM if you have anything along those lines for sale.
I'm now on the look out for a nice bass with an passive electronics and and ash body. Please PM if you have anything along those lines for sale.
Haha, yeah, I know what you mean. Pleased I didn't go for it in the end. It's hard enough buying an instrument online even without that price tag.
"I'm now looking for a passive bass with an ash body. Please get in touch if anyone has anything for sale"
"I'm now looking for a passive bass with an ash body. Please get in touch if anyone has anything for sale"
I still want one,I was gassin for a few bass guitars that were non P or J I have fender anyway because you always need one,so far check off my gas list the colored Hofs the jazz the LTD les Paul still waiting to get the dano and ric and guild starfire but I did score the Iceman.I played a nice green Parker on my cable access show and I want it real real bad.It was very light so I will keep my fellow bassists posted
I just got a first run Fly bass from 2003 (#164) used. I have to say it is a pretty rad instrument. Super versatile and interesting sounding. Oddly heavy in a mod-hi but flat 70's Klaus Voorman kind of way. (That makes sense in my mind!)
Definitely have to accept some abuse from the classic bass crowd on a gig, but I think I am really going to diggit.
Very balanced. Even tone and outside the box tone options on the instrument itself between the magnetic and piezo pickups.
Definitely have to accept some abuse from the classic bass crowd on a gig, but I think I am really going to diggit.
Very balanced. Even tone and outside the box tone options on the instrument itself between the magnetic and piezo pickups.
- Jul 3, 2007
- 70
- 6
- Disclosures
- Independent Asian Sourcing Consultant and Instrument Designer/Builder
Most of the ones I've seen with high action are Washburns. They changed the way the necks were made and ruined the design when the company was sold and moved to Chicago.
I own two of these (one Red, one Natural) and I don't know what all of these people are talking about. Mine play and sound fantastic. The action is low (not high like others complain about) and no buzzing. Perfectly straight necks and stainless steel frets....they always stay in tune. I play anything from church music to Soundgarden with these basses and they sound incredible. I play through either a Mesa Boogie bass tube amp and cab, or an Ampeg SVT Classic amp and cab and both basses sound unbelievable. I have a feeling that mine are both old (I know for sure that the red one was made in the original Parker factory) which might explain the discrepancy. The piezo by itself sounds like an upright bass almost, and you can blend it with the magnetic pickups, although I haven't ever needed to do that. You do have to roll off the bass when using the piezo, or it's just HUGE. I don't know, maybe I got lucky, but both of my PB5's are incredible works of art. I also own two Parker Fly guitars (Mojo, Single-cut) and they are both perfect instruments. I own several other types of guitars and basses and the Parkers, although not for everyone, are in a class all their own. By the way...these are LIGHT. If you ever have back fatigue or play long gigs, these make it a breeze.
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Yours look like the real deal Parkers, not the Hornets (PB41/51/61), though, if I'm not mistaken. I would love to try a PB61 spalted just cause it looks cool; I actually don't like the quilted finish much on the nicer ones.
I wish they'd have styled the bass more like the guitar. My 1994 Parker Fly Deluxe Hardtail was unbeatable back when I played guitar, and I always wanted a bass like that, but the slab front and weirdly-long horns on the production basses just don't look as good as the guitar body does.
Yes, I get it. They are not for everyone as far as aesthetics. You definitely had a true-blue Parker with the 1994 Deluxe. That's what these basses are...true-blue Parkers. They are nothing like the Hornets. But they are niche guitars and not everyone will appreciate them. I am probably going to sell both of mine. I have way too many guitars and these would bring the most money if I could find buyers. I don't know. I might have to keep one of them.
Oh yeah I was just saying the reason you probably hadn't had any of the neck issues was because they're the real Parkers and not the Hornets. =0)Yes, I get it. They are not for everyone as far as aesthetics. You definitely had a true-blue Parker with the 1994 Deluxe. That's what these basses are...true-blue Parkers. They are nothing like the Hornets. But they are niche guitars and not everyone will appreciate them. I am probably going to sell both of mine. I have way too many guitars and these would bring the most money if I could find buyers. I don't know. I might have to keep one of them.
