the Fly Clone Project

Nefarius wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:59 am What do I care if some idiot pays way too much for it in order to attempt to resell it for even more if it funds a lot of new gear for me?

I'm picturing a $30,000 Reverb listing with a Make an Offer button, and a line at the end of the listing body stating, "No: The mere act of seeing my listing does not signify that the Parker-branded something-or-another you won in an eBay auction last week has suddenly jumped in value. Nor is my asking price in any way indicative of appreciation, perceived market value, or whatever the final sale value will end up being. Serious offers only."

...I'd find it funny, anyway. Best of luck with the windfall for new gear, Nef. I know you'd also prefer that Toxic go to a good home.

...

We just had a Trans Butterscotch Nylon Fly (312039BSS) sell for $7,750 twelve minutes after being listed on Reverb. Recently sold Nylons include 260049 for $7,388.81, and P0802188 for $5,499. We don't know how much 243059 was sold for in its private transaction between FlyClone members.

Other previous serials and prices for Nylons include 067020 for $4,140.27+shipping, 031050 for $2,054.95, P0809128 for $5,099.99, 020050 for $2,300, and this unknown serial modded with Graph Tech saddles and 13 pin-out for $3,550.

The thread also has anecdotal data of VJ buying one for either $2,600 or $2,800 pre-pandemic bubble, as well as his brother buying one for approximately $3,300 at the beginning of the pandemic bubble.

My takeaway is that the Nylon/Spanish Fly remains enough of a unicorn for Fly enthusiasts identifying as classical players that they're willing to pounce on listings when they see them - Cost be damned.

Here's some awesome disinfornation:
Notice the broken nut, incorrect date and ridiculous price.

https://reverb.com/item/73857662-parker ... majek-blue

Patzag wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 12:45 pm ...incorrect date...

I do love a good 1992 Fly sighting. Our Fly Clone history thread be like:

Interesting beater on Reverb ...

https://reverb.com/item/73940969-parker ... shell-case

Patzag wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:04 pm Interesting beater on Reverb ...

https://reverb.com/item/73940969-parker ... shell-case

What greater compliment for an instrument can be paid than to say that it looks like somebody couldn't keep their hands off it? Update: Linked black '93 hardtail Deluxe (335013BP) subsequently sold for $1,685 on 9/30.

Update: A similar beater '93 (no serial, but production year indicated by white nut) was listed for $2,600 after the cheaper example sold. This one sold after a single offer.

What appears to be a A prerefined Rootbeer Deluxe listed as a "chocolate sparkle" Classic (no serial, possible scam from zero feedback seller) was listed for $2,202 and sold after three offers.

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 3:54 am

Patzag wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:04 pm Interesting beater on Reverb ...

https://reverb.com/item/73940969-parker ... shell-case

What greater compliment for an instrument can be paid than to say that it looks like somebody couldn't keep their hands off it?

Yeah. I'm somewhat surprised you didn't buy it immediately!

Patzag wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:38 am Yeah. I'm somewhat surprised you didn't buy it immediately!

You're right to be - Buying that Adrian Belew model has taken me out of the acquisitions game I until I've sold enough guitars to pay myself back.

...

Being as we don't see them as often: Here's a 2014 Fly Deluxe (P1410008) in Galaxy Gray on eBay for $4,070.

A bit of trivia to do with the last year or two of production is that someone's brainstorm was to make mahogany the default neck wood for Flys, rather than basswood. I've always found this puzzling; given all Parker production in the Washburn US Custom Shop had shifted to a "build to order" model in which buyers were free to request whichever neck wood they wanted for a build.

The Deluxe essentially became a poplar-bodied Mojo ("MP" designation on headstock) - but with the Seymour Duncan pickups being wound to Gen 2 Dimarzio spec (including the ceramic magnets), rather than the Mojo's JB/Jazz pairing. Also note that, unlike many of the listings we see, this one is technically depreciated from the $4,099 MAP that Deluxe, Mojo, and DF824/42 models were being sold for until the brand was shelved.

The '07 Trans Honey Supreme (P0709005) seen intermittently since 2022 is back up, as of October 1st.

As of October 8th, we have a silver '03 Deluxe (serial unknown) with its B tuner replaced being sold out of Saskatchewan for $2,671. I'm highlighting it because we don't see many silver Flys, these days. Update: Listing "ended" after four offers.

This '05 natural Mojo (3370505MM) with Powerchip removed has had its asking price dropped to $2,000. We also have a few of our regular "Flys are an investment" sellers out again to push the sub-$3k listings to the second page.

Guitar Center has a pre-refined plum Deluxe with GK-2A external pickup (no serial) listed as a Supreme for $3,500. I don't often mention or link to GC listings for the simple reason that their employees never know what anything is or what it's worth. It sometimes works in the buyer's favor. Most of the time, however, it's cases such as this one; in which the bare minimum of effort was made to get the consignment inventory listed.

In case anyone checking the moderator logs is wondering why I'm editing so many posts in this thread: I'm tidying things by specifying dead links and adding serials to posts.

I am surprised to see a listing for a $2500 (w/ free shipping) sitting for a week: https://reverb.com/item/74987157-parker ... t=74987157

Gregsaab wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:22 am I am surprised to see a listing for a $2500 (w/ free shipping) sitting for a week: https://reverb.com/item/74987157-parker ... t=74987157

Because it’s a scam!

vjmanzo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:28 am

Gregsaab wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:22 am I am surprised to see a listing for a $2500 (w/ free shipping) sitting for a week: https://reverb.com/item/74987157-parker ... t=74987157

Because it’s a scam!

Ya, those are photos from an old Lovies Guitars ad. They have a very specific way of photographing their guitars so it's pretty easy to spot.

What's the scam here anyway? Wouldn't any purchase like this just get immediately refunded by Reverb?

Just saw a CLEAN tobacco sunburst pre-refined Supreme w/case for $2,500 shipped - Reverb listing, 7 days old.

Ok, consider the carcass to be sufficiently scourged.

colliderman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 9:57 am What's the scam here anyway? Wouldn't any purchase like this just get immediately refunded by Reverb?

From what I understand, the scam involves only offering buyers a PayPal payment option, which is much harder for Reverb to refund.

Carcass wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:15 pm Just saw a CLEAN tobacco sunburst pre-refined Supreme w/case for $2,500 shipped - Reverb listing, 7 days old.

Please link to the listing you're highlighting: This guitar, sold by Lovie's Guitars in July or so, has been cloned by scammers several times, at "too good to be true" prices.

Edit: Moved to "What is this worth" thread; where the listing is also being discussed.

vjmanzo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:51 pm From what I understand, the scam involves only offering buyers a PayPal payment option, which is much harder for Reverb to refund.

Yes: The claim must be made through Paypal; with Reverb only being able to corroborate that it was a fraudulent listing prior to Paypal deciding the outcome. My experience is detailed here.

Gregsaab wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:22 am I am surprised to see a listing for a $2500 (w/ free shipping) sitting for a week: https://reverb.com/item/74987157-parker ... t=74987157

yeah i saw this and almost hit the buy button without thinking.... til i thought.

Well, that makes more sense

Just highlighting some beater Fly listings trending downward in price:

Black '95 Deluxe (311045BP) - $2,600

Red '96 Classic (278026BMH) - $2,510

Ken-era Candy Apple Red Deluxe (serial not photographed) - $2,399

Green '95 Deluxe (230115BP) - $2,299.99

Black '96 Deluxe (094116BP)- $2,215.32 (Italian listing - International shipping will add $$$ to final price)

Other than VJ's S2 he scored, here are some listings which sold for under $2k:

Blue '99 Deluxe (033069BP) - $1,999 (before shipping; which tipped it over to $2,049)

Ken-era red Classic (serial not photographed) - $1,850

White '95 Deluxe (174055BP) - $1806.88

Black '93 Deluxe (hardtail) (335013BP) - $1,685.00


NiteFly prices are currently all over the map; with sellers refusing to go back down to the sub-$1k price point they were at only a year or so ago.

Supposedly, used gear prices across the board are trending downward as all the covid guitarists get out of the game by dumping on Reverb at the same time. We'll see if it leads to more sub-$2k Fly listings.

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 3:06 pm Just highlighting some beater Fly listings trending downward in price:

Black '95 Deluxe (311045BP) - $2,600

Red '96 Classic (278026BMH) - $2,510

Ken-era Candy Apple Red Deluxe (serial not photographed) - $2,399

Green '95 Deluxe (230115BP) - $2,299.99

Black '96 Deluxe (094116BP)- $2,215.32 (Italian listing - International shipping will add $$$ to final price)

Other than VJ's S2 he scored, here are some listings which sold for under $2k:

Blue '99 Deluxe (033069BP) - $1,999 (before shipping; which tipped it over to $2,049)

Ken-era red Classic (serial not photographed) - $1,850

White '95 Deluxe (174055BP) - $1806.88

Black '93 Deluxe (hardtail) (335013BP) - $1,685.00


NiteFly prices are currently all over the map; with sellers refusing to go back down to the sub-$1k price point they were at only a year or so ago.

Supposedly, used gear prices across the board are trending downward as all the covid guitarists get out of the game by dumping on Reverb at the same time. We'll see if it leads to more sub-$2k Fly listings.

Strange, I ordered the white 174055BP from Reverb today.
This was the listing with shipping from Belgium https://reverb.com/de/item/75458155-par ... _sold=true.
Should i request a refund?

Hi @vaya—welcome!

I was concerned that the listing you cited was fraudulent—the seller has no feedback and it looks like the listing you won is the same as this listing. If you read this thread (up a few posts) you’ll see that this sort of scam has been going around Reverb for some time—a Fly priced far below others, but from a seller without any prior sales.

If it were me I’d take action immediately.

I have been contacted by Reverb Support and got a refund:

Unfortunatly we are currently having problems with our PayPal payment system, so some payments are not going through succesfully.
15:01:19

We are now going to refund your payment to your PayPal account, and provide you a personal payment link, where you can choose one of available payment methods
15:01:32

Your order has been refunded, please proceed to payment following your personal link:
15:02:22


In the link i have the option to pay via bank transfer or credit card. Neither of which I am willing to do. I also just received a message from the seller:

Hello, I received a message from Reverb that there is some problem on the buyer side. Have they contacted you?
Hands&Hits
Nov 06, 2023 03:55 PM

Now that i have the support messaging system open i could say that something weird is going on with the listing.

vaya wrote: ↑Mon Nov 06, 2023 10:15 am We are now going to refund your payment to your PayPal account…

That’s part of the scam—the necessity for the buyer to pay through PayPal, which is more difficult for Reverb’s support to manage. I’m glad you got a refund!