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What do you think about the odd Parker Fly?

You like it... or not?

  • No way, I'm never going to buy this thing...

    Votes: 88 59.5%

  • Dunno.. takes time I think

    Votes: 26 17.6%

  • Yes... I am beginning to like it more and more...

    Votes: 15 10.1%

  • Definitely... gimme gimme!!!

    Votes: 19 12.8%
  • Total voters
    148
  • Poll closed .
D

De Teng

Oct 27, 2003
534
1
46
Utrecht, Holland
#1
Personally I dig it! I read this review about the bass in a bassmagazine in holland (called Bassmagazine... what a coincidence folks) and was fascinated in a way by its design.

How elegant, modern en stylish! A lot of basses with new designs or alterations of the traditional look like crap to me, but not this one. I was wondering how you feel about it?

(Got one on the GAS list btw... )

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#2
I'm one of those guys who's too philosophical about ordinary things. I admit it too. If I were any more like this, I'd sit around the house pondering the purpose of dust bunnies, etc.

Music should not be about looks. Personally, if I found a neon pink 4-94 with Basslines in it at or around $1500 or less, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Personally, I'm not attracted to that bass because of the look, I'm pushed back by the J/J pickup configuration.
 
#3
The appearance doesn't really matter, but I like my basses to sound good unplugged. When I played one of these, I thought it was very weak. Maybe the electronics would make up for it, but I was turned off before I plugged it in..
 
#4
A smalll note concerning the tone... the reviewer said that a lot of traditional sounds were obtainable but with a modern feeling. Together with the piezo pup, a very round and deep basstone. A bit smaller spacing then normal (bridge... 17mm... what a pity) but nevertheless a very nice playability.


The poll is about the design only in fact...


(although it isn't my main concern when buying a bass, it's nice that the bass looks good as well... but has one of the lowest priorities)
 
#6
I think you are better off spending that $1500+ on something more versatile in all situations. That parker is more of a fusion jazz bassists dream, but in any other situation, it just won't fit with it's looks. If you are playing with bela fleck or someone, yes its perfect, if you are the weekend bar gigger, heck no!!
 
#7
I think you are better off spending that $1500+ on something more versatile in all situations. That parker is more of a fusion jazz bassists dream, but in any other situation, it just won't fit with it's looks. If you are playing with bela fleck or someone, yes its perfect, if you are the weekend bar gigger, heck no!!
Click to expand...
I would assume that it's targeted at the professional gigging musician in a wedding band, as the guitar is, and is probably a hell of a bass for that purpose. I'll bet it sounds the business and is light as a feather. Not my style but I'm sure it's a hell of a bass.
 
#8
I played one just like that at BassNW. In contrast to AlembicBob, I loved the unplugged tone. I found it rich and warm - almost acoustic sounding. However, it did not have the punch I get when playing my NYBW Deep Jazz unplugged. Maybe you can elaborate on what you mean by weak, AlembicBob?

Anyway, it is very alive and responsive to touch both acoustically and amplified. It rewards varying technique. I think it is a fabulous instrument. It would not replace one of my NYBW 6-string basses but if I could afford 5 basses, one would be a Parker Fly. Very playable, rewarding, and VERY full of usable, righteous tones. It's really one of my faves.

BTW, I read the BP review of it, and for once I agree with them.

http://www.bassplayer.com/archive/0703/0703_Soundroom1.htm

Tom H.
 
#11
I'd like to step in, which is out of the ordinary for me on this list. New things are always scary, I bet the first time a farmer saw a tractor he thought it fugly, for that matter the first time a bassist saw an electric bass. Time will tell what new designs stick and what was a fad, or a flop. I think its important for designers, if only for cosmetic purposes, to keep pushing the envelope otherwise nothing would ever change. How many times have you guys played with your band and tried something new, and it sucks, and the drummer hits you with a stick... well mabye not that bad. But for every couple times you pull something out of left field, you get a great result !! :)

Ill step off the soap box now.
(please for the love of god dont take me seriously)
 
#13
slombovia said:
I played one just like that at BassNW. In contrast to AlembicBob, I loved the unplugged tone. I found it rich and warm - almost acoustic sounding. However, it did not have the punch I get when playing my NYBW Deep Jazz unplugged. Maybe you can elaborate on what you mean by weak, AlembicBob?

... snip ...

Tom H.
Click to expand...


Tom, I felt it was very sterile sounding. For me, I felt the tone of the Fly 5 I played sounded about the same as if I had strung up an I-beam. From one perspective, that can be a wonderful thing, kind of like the Modulus neck-thrus that I owned some years back. I suspect that for those who seek piano tones, that the Fly will produce, but it will take some help from electronics to get a tone with classic bluesy warmth. I would say that the Fly also lacked sustain, maybe the neck joint wasn't as tight as it should have been?

For comparison, I have played Zon for most of the last ten years, and those basses really provided the benefits of composite necks while still capturing some woodsy warmth.

Just my opinion, and based on playing one Fly 5 for about 15 minutes.

-Bob
 
#14
I just wish they'd have ported the guitar shape directly to the bass, like Ken Parker did with Steve Swallow's, and came close to doing with that one fretless 6 Ken made with no lower horn.

The way the bass came out is totally unappealing to me, and I think the Fly is the finest *guitar* ever created.
 

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