"Parker Fly" electric guitar

Parker Guitars

1987 · Carbon-glass-epoxy composite, redwood, steel, plastic · Musical Instruments

This is a prototype for the "Parker Fly" model guitars developed by Ken Parker and made famous by its unusual double-cutaway design and its lightweight body. The instrument has a carbon-glass-epoxy composite exoskeleton and a rosewood neck. The pre-bent epoxy fingerboard is glued to the neck. This instrument is the first iteration of Parker's patented tangless, stainless steel frets. The body design is the same as appeared on production models of the instrument and is painted with "Rattlecan" metallic silver finish. The electromagnetic pickups and electronics were designed as a "one off" for this prototype by Larry Fishman and the thermoformed plastic covers were made by Parker. The instrument uses Sperzel machine tuners in a line on the fingerboard. Parker / GUITARS is stamped in white on the headstock.

Artist

Parker Guitars

Date

1987

Medium

Carbon-glass-epoxy composite, redwood, steel, plastic

Culture

American

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Ken Parker, 2015