Parker Fly Adam Dutkiewicz Signature

[KenanJ]

Hey parker-heads!

I just want to know if some of you have information regarding this Parker variation.

I think it looks sicks with the EMG's in it, I thought to body was to thin to perform such installation so I would gladly gather some information for some of you who might have digged the topic.

There is also a MaxxFly variation that also looks sick IMO.

I attach you a pic and provide a link to a terminated listing for you to have a visual of what I'm talking about

https://reverb.com/fr/item/34842911-min ... emg-s-ohsc

[mmmguitar]

I think it looks sicks with the EMG's in it, I thought to body was to thin to perform such installation so I would gladly gather some information for some of you who might have digged the topic.

Adam was a Caparison endorser who found the Fly after developing back problems. He and Vernon Reid were offered signature DF models to push the new direction of the brand (which was away from the Fly body shape retroactively designated "RF"), and both were longtime EMG endorsers. Around this same period, a number of Fly Mojos and Mojo Singlecuts were produced which featured traditional pickup routs and ring-mounted EMGs. Adam was photographed playing a Fly with ring-mounted EMGs prior to the announcement of a signature model. I don't know what the body wood was.

If I was to guess, Fly bodies were likely thick enough to be routed to accommodate EMGs by time the Mojo line entered production in 2003 (as the pickup routs contained holes drilled to depth so that the Seymour Duncan screw pole pieces wouldn't have to be clipped). By 2011, it seemed that all USM-produced bodies were of sufficient thickness to accommodate the rout depth requirements of traditional ring-mounted pickups; and this helped lay the groundwork for the brand shifting to a build-to-order model similar to what Carvin was doing at the time (except worse in every respect; being as placing custom orders through retailers, rather than ordering factory-direct, caused prices of 824 and 842 models to continue to increase from $3,200 USD to $4,099 USD).

Unfortunately, very few Adam D signature DFs were produced; due to his abandoning the brand following at least one incident of frets falling off during a performance, which led him to deem the guitars unviable for touring. He promptly shifted to PRS, before eventually returning to Caparison. Though he doesn't disparage the brand's quality in the quote, I found an excerpt from this 2011 interview:

"I've stopped working with Parker now, although I used a Fly on the album. They had a tremendous revamping of their company… so I wasn't in touch with those guys any more, and now I'm actually playing a PRS. Downsizing - it's the state of the music industry, man. It's crazy."

The similarly EMG-equipped Vernon Reid model continued to be built to order until the brand was shelved in 2015. Reid moved on to a signature PRS from 2017 to either 2023 or 4; with a signature guitar with Reverend having recently been announced.

[KenanJ]

Wow @mmmguitar is there anything you don't know about flys ?

Thanks for all this feedback once again!

If I was to guess, Fly bodies were likely thick enough to be routed to accommodate EMGs by time the Mojo line entered production in 2003 (as the pickup routs contained holes drilled to depth so that the Seymour Duncan screw pole pieces wouldn't have to be clipped). By 2011, it seemed that all USM-produced bodies were of sufficient thickness to accommodate the rout depth requirements of traditional ring-mounted pickups; and this helped lay the groundwork for the brand shifting to a build-to-order model similar to what Carvin was doing at the time (except worse in every respect; being as placing custom orders through retailers, rather than ordering factory-direct, caused prices of 824 and 842 models to continue to increase from $3,200 USD to $4,099 USD).

So it means if one want to replicate EMGs in a fly we need to look for USM era model or maybe either later post 2011 models?

[mmmguitar]

Wow @mmmguitar is there anything you don't know about flys ?

Plenty. Then again, I don’t know what I don’t know I don’t know. In this case, I happened to be active in the old Parker Guitars forum while the Adam D stuff was happening. I have no idea whatever happened with the Deron Miller signature P series scheduled for release in Fall of 2004, or the Dave Martone signature Mojo which had a graphic finish decided upon - Apparently, USM got cold feet.

So it means if one want to replicate EMGs in a fly we need to look for USM era model or maybe either later post 2011 models?

Not necessarily - You’ll have to either rout the pickup cavities, or trim the EMG baseplate tabs and figure out a means of mounting it. It’s just that Flys with thicker bodies are a safer bet for such modification. I routed a ‘97 Deluxe for a Sustainiac driver in the neck; and it’s much taller than an EMG. So I’m confident that most any Fly could accommodate such a mod, provided the pickup isn’t too tall (some EMGs are; as a consequence of having three coils for “splitting”) - It’s just a matter of whether you’re willing to live with the results (either a pickup ring or however fitting a rectangular pickup in a rout with rounded corners ends up looking).

I think Fly bodies being carved thicker in the post-Ken era was a “Better safe than sorry” approach to reinforcing that thin bit of wood between the rear of the guitar and the bottom of the holes drilled for the threaded brass inserts the neck pickup was mounted to.