the Fly Clone Project

Lifelong dream come true.
A generous friend allowed me to acquire this at a relatively reasonable cost. More than I could afford, but less than the ridiculous prices of the last 3 or 4 years.
I've wanted one of these for so long - my screen backdrop was a Parker Artist for decades!
It's beautiful. Not flawless, but definitely a beauty at 27 years old!
I have to fix the piezo and the trem arm it was shipped with is refined (?). but those are minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things.
I have not weighted it yet, but it seems on par or lighter than my 1994 hardtail.
It resonates for days! I had no idea spruce was soooo nice!
Merry Christmas to me!

It's a real beaut!! Congrats on fulfilling the GAS-dream

You are going to have a great time with that!

Patzag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:40 am the trem arm it was shipped with is refined (?)

My black '96 was the same. I recall the retrofitting of trem arm bushings and point-to-point rewiring mods becoming fads in the first decade of the USM era, for the sake of bringing "obsolete" Flys up to modern spec; with Ken-era Flys exhibiting round arms and missing mono/stereo switches being some of the most common low-price listings I remember sifting through in eBay.

I also recall '94-'02 Fly owners being encouraged by USM to buy the round conversion bushing+arm combo for something like $60 USD, due to their unwillingness to produce or source any new hex bars.

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:33 pm

Patzag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:40 am the trem arm it was shipped with is refined (?)

My black '96 was the same. I recall the retrofitting of trem arm bushings and point-to-point rewiring mods becoming fads in the first decade of the USM era, for the sake of bringing "obsolete" Flys up to modern spec; with Ken-era Flys exhibiting round arms and missing mono/stereo switches being some of the most common low-price listings I remember sifting through in eBay.

I also recall '94-'02 Fly owners being encouraged by USM to buy the round conversion bushing+arm combo for something like $60 USD in an official capacity due to their unwillingness to produce or source any new hex bars.

I don't mean the bushing. The bushing is the standard pre-refined bushing. I just think that my friend incorrectly included the wrong trem arm. The one you see on the picture is the trem arm from my classic.

Patzag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:40 pm I just think that my friend incorrectly included the wrong trem arm. The one you see on the picture is the trem arm from my classic.

Ah. That saves me the trouble of looking through my parts boxes for a hex bushing to offer.

And, of course, congrats on your natural grain beauty.

Patzag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:40 am Lifelong dream come true.

Congrats, m’friend!!!!!

Thank you all so much. You've been part of my search for a long time now!
She plays as good as she looks. Ands she's quite a bit lighter than my hardtail which is itself quite light. Amazing! This could become my Number One quite easily!

May the honeymoon never end.

Now you just need to join a band where everyone has to play white instruments.

jb63 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:18 pm Now you just need to join a band where everyone has to play white instruments.

I must be either dense or French. I don't know what you are referring to.

I was once in a band that decided we would all dress in white (with hats!) and all play white instruments.

Its sort of an inside joke.

HNGD (belated). It's a beauty!!!

Patzag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:40 am Lifelong dream come true.
... It resonates for days! I had no idea spruce was soooo nice!

Hey, that's why the best sounding acoustic guitars use Spruce soundboards!
Congrats!!

Bravo Patzag!!!

Enjoy that beauty!


PS: Come ooooon, weigh her already!!!

Jupiter wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:00 pm Bravo Patzag!!!

Enjoy that beauty!


PS: Come ooooon, weigh her already!!!

Classic - 5.6 lbs
Deluxe Hard Tail - 5.1 lbs
Artist - 4.7 lbs

Patzag wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:05 pm Classic - 5.6 lbs
Deluxe Hard Tail - 5.1 lbs
Artist - 4.7 lbs

So

Classic - 2.54 Kg (hmmm, 200gr heavier than mine, still good!)
Deluxe Hard Tail - 2.31 Kg (interesting, that's just a few grams ligher than my Deluxe which has a tremolo)
Artist - 2.13 Kg!!! SCORE!!!

As an individual with severe chronic and permanent (as it seems) back pain, I say your back is gonna love it!!!

Wow, just wow!!!

Enjoy her, Pat!!!

I am happy for you, mate!

Thanks mate. And thanks for the metric conversion.

For me the Parker Fly is BY FAR the most ergonomic guitar I've ever played.

This one sounds amazing. No it's not exactly like the Hard Tail or the Classic. Very resonant and a little more bass heavy than the Hard Tail. The Piezo sounds delicious.
There's a slight issue with the volume when mag and piezo are summed, but nothing offensive or that a tweak of the volume knob can't handle. She's as beautiful to my ears as to my eyes!

Mine has that same thing: Piezo & Mags together are a bit louder than expected.
I kind of solved this by adjusting the piezo on the board under the hood, but I still need to dial it down.
Middle position mags is the best sound i've ever gotten out of a guitar, though, and sounds different with different techniques in different registers.
Piezo is more resonant and full than in the deluxe. Its worth the wait, eh?

jb63 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:43 pm Piezo is more resonant and full than in the deluxe. Its worth the wait, eh?

Definitely!