Shame, I just saw his gofundme a couple of days ago. I've owned and played thousands of guitars, that's pretty much how I earned money through college (I'd flip guitars basically). Parker guitars were really something, but definitely not for everyone - a Parker Fly Deluxe was by far the lightest guitar I ever owned and tried. Should've kept it, as they go for 3-4 grand these days on the used market.
A true shame. Until recently guitarists were notoriously conservative regarding instrument design and I have an immense amount of respect for people like Ken that chose to push those boundaries. Challenging guitarists to play something more progressive than the usual 75-year-old designs was a big deal in the heyday of the grunge movement and emergence of the vintage gear market. Hats off to a true American original.
They're arguably the biggest step forward in electric guitar since the 50s. Lots of new stuff there for the time, some of which became standard years after: stainless steel frets, piezo+magnetic pickups, carbon fiber reinforcement, adjustable vibrato, possibly the most seamless/flattest neck joint ever... not to mention the whole design is amazing.
Similarly, my dad was a luthier for 15 years before passing away to cancer in 2022.
In the 5th grade, I wanted to learn guitar, so being the engineer he was, he built one. But needed machines first, and wood, and the garage.
Being an engineer instead of a business-minded operator prevented his work from becoming too well known but the instrument and what he accomplished was special.
Ken will be missed. A true innovator and so generous with his knowledge and experience. I wasn't following his personal affairs closely so was extremely bummed by the latest events but it was great to hear from himself he found a person he believed in enough to pass the torch to.
I've had one of his electrics briefly and it felt and played great. I didn't bond with the instrument due to specific personal preferences, but it was great to feel for myself this particular guitar was as good an instrument as Parker reputation makes you expect.
I play and build electric guitars. Interesting that I wasn't that familiar with his work. Maybe I'll take some elements from the Fly into my next build...
So sad. One of the few people who really innovated in the guitar space. I was just watching YouTube videos last night of his incredible archtop.
I never owned one of his original Fly series guitars but I played many back in the 90s and owned a DragonFly for a few years (not his design, but incorporated elements).
Years ago, a friend introduced me to the world of boutique luthiery. It’s a fascinating art and for steel string acoustic guitars, it’s been undergoing a kind of renaissance throughout the past 20 years. I was lucky enough to play some very fine instruments; it’s incredible how good they sound.
I played the Parker Fly at Fishman Transducers before it came out, when I was a kid.
I was actually working there, not for Ken but for Larry Fishman. I should never have been: I was too young and inexperienced and had no idea the responsibility I was taking on, or how underpaid I was for that responsibility. For a brief time I was shipping, receiving, inventory and stockroom. It near killed me and when they let me go I could only agree, I had no more to give and was totally burned out. I can still see the general manager, though I don't remember his name now.
I was trying to make guitars myself at the time, along very different lines, and when I played Ken Parker's new creation, I had enough sense to not recoil and show how much I just didn't click with it, but I still made Larry Fishman real mad and Ken alarmed and unhappy. Turns out Ken knew better than I did that there were people who'd understand what he'd invented: among them, Adrian Belew.
I ended up doing Ken-like stuff in my own field: I hope he learned that secret, that if you're doing anything really original you can only measure it by how intensely it affects people, both positively and negatively. I'd love to hear one of his archtops, and I have no idea whether I'd love or hate it, but I feel certain I'd immediately react in some way, and that's the highest compliment.
Unrelated, but: if you are a fan of comics/graphic novels, Ken Parker by Berardi & Milazzo [1] is an awesome Western. It's a series of short stories bound by a coherent but loose continuity, following the eponymous character as he moves across late-1800 America.
Having started in the '1970s, it features topics of social justice and the fate of Native Americans to a literary level rarely found in comics, but it's particularly good in how it depicts realistic characters - often conflicted, incoherent, and of uncertain morality. Parker himself is hardly a saint, and definitely not a hero to start with.
As far as I know, it has only partially been translated to English from its native Italian, but even the smallest nuggets is worth experiencing IMHO. There is something about Italians doing Westerns (see also: Sergio Leone) that brings the genre to epic levels.
I have a P32 guitar which is probably forgotten by many. I played a neighbor’s fly, and it was so much better than my crappy guitar at the time that I decided I wanted a Parker. The P32 was all I could afford but it is extremely playable and overall a really great guitar, even though everyone thinks it looks weird.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 40.1 ms ] threadThey're arguably the biggest step forward in electric guitar since the 50s. Lots of new stuff there for the time, some of which became standard years after: stainless steel frets, piezo+magnetic pickups, carbon fiber reinforcement, adjustable vibrato, possibly the most seamless/flattest neck joint ever... not to mention the whole design is amazing.
This video from this guy dropped just two days ago, and explains a lot about the features and constructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S6Cni3nkws
It's a shame they stopped manufacturing after the company was sold. I had one and regret selling, as prices haven't really come down!
Rest in peace and thanks for everything, Mr Parker!
Being an engineer instead of a business-minded operator prevented his work from becoming too well known but the instrument and what he accomplished was special.
I know own the shop, guitars, and everything after his passing - a couple years ago I made a reddit thread asking for help - it blew up and is an interesting read - https://www.reddit.com/r/guitars/comments/1f07f1s/my_dad_lef...
I like to take pictures of products and build websites, unfortunately we just ran out of time.
https://sgg2.webflow.io/
I've had one of his electrics briefly and it felt and played great. I didn't bond with the instrument due to specific personal preferences, but it was great to feel for myself this particular guitar was as good an instrument as Parker reputation makes you expect.
I never owned one of his original Fly series guitars but I played many back in the 90s and owned a DragonFly for a few years (not his design, but incorporated elements).
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-happened-to-parker-gui...
He had a great attitude, and I loved him “passing the torch,” in that manner.
Maybe the attention the post gets, will help his family to recoup some of their medical costs. Kinda sucks, that they need to do it, though.
>> $127,419 USD raised of $450,000 goal · 788 donations
Go play lute with the angles, noble sir.
I was actually working there, not for Ken but for Larry Fishman. I should never have been: I was too young and inexperienced and had no idea the responsibility I was taking on, or how underpaid I was for that responsibility. For a brief time I was shipping, receiving, inventory and stockroom. It near killed me and when they let me go I could only agree, I had no more to give and was totally burned out. I can still see the general manager, though I don't remember his name now.
I was trying to make guitars myself at the time, along very different lines, and when I played Ken Parker's new creation, I had enough sense to not recoil and show how much I just didn't click with it, but I still made Larry Fishman real mad and Ken alarmed and unhappy. Turns out Ken knew better than I did that there were people who'd understand what he'd invented: among them, Adrian Belew.
I ended up doing Ken-like stuff in my own field: I hope he learned that secret, that if you're doing anything really original you can only measure it by how intensely it affects people, both positively and negatively. I'd love to hear one of his archtops, and I have no idea whether I'd love or hate it, but I feel certain I'd immediately react in some way, and that's the highest compliment.
Parker guitars is new to me. Saw some pics. They look absolutely gorgeous!!
As a profession, luthiery is quite niche. I feel it’s one of those professions, like all craftsmanship, that is timeless.
Looking at these pics makes me feel like I want to learn the art.
(Bassist here)
Having started in the '1970s, it features topics of social justice and the fate of Native Americans to a literary level rarely found in comics, but it's particularly good in how it depicts realistic characters - often conflicted, incoherent, and of uncertain morality. Parker himself is hardly a saint, and definitely not a hero to start with.
As far as I know, it has only partially been translated to English from its native Italian, but even the smallest nuggets is worth experiencing IMHO. There is something about Italians doing Westerns (see also: Sergio Leone) that brings the genre to epic levels.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Parker_(comics)