Crayon Sky Music

Ken Parker did something few guitar makers ever achieve when he introduced the Parker Fly in the early 1990′s. He actually shocked the guitar industry. You see, apart from all the differences in music and lifestyles, most guitar players are pretty conservative about their gear.

Unfortunately, if a new guitar design deviates too far from the classic Fender and Gibson designs, a guitar maker faces a significant struggle. In Ken Parker’s case, though, the Fly guitar was recognized quickly for what it was, a true revolution in guitar design. The guitar’s variety of sounds (both acoustic and electric), playability, and lightweight design were heralded as a true step forward in guitar design.

Fortunately, Parker Guitars is still doing very well. They’ve changed ownerships a couple of times since their inception, the current owner being US Music Corporation. If this company sounds familiar, it’s because they also own Randall and Washburn.

The current Parker lineup includes not only the original Fly Deluxe model, but also numerous others that are inspired by Parker’s original design. No Parker guitar represents the best of the company as does the Parker Fly Mojo, the subject of this current review.

The Mojo features a mahogany neck and body for a beautifully warm musical tone. It also includes Seymour Duncan pickups (JB in the bridge, Jazz in the Neck), which is something Parker Fly owners have wanted for years. The JB and Jazz combo is a popular option for lovers of Seymour Duncan pickups.

The result? You have a guitar that is as versatile as it is striking. You have a coil tap for the pickups as well as the celebrated Parker acoustic sounds to draw from. It’s easy to mix these sounds as you see fit, a truly remarkable array of choices.

Of course, all the characteristics of the Parker Fly that everyone loves is still here. You’ve got that wonderfully designed vibrato bridge which allows you to have a floating, fixed, or bend-down only mode. Very nice.

When you add this brilliant bridge design with the locking Sperzel tuners, you’ve got one of the the finest vibrato systems around, and certainly the most versatile.

The neck is especially a joy to play. The fretboard, made from carbon glass, has 24 immaculate stainless steel frets and lends itself to super-speed fretwork. Notes bend effortlessly and chords fret with virtually zero effort. This is a guitar for serious players.

One of the most compelling features of the Fly Mojo is simply its weight, which is only around five pounds. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of strapping on a Les Paul for hours on end, you’ll definitely appreciate this point. Don’t think that this light weight means a loss of sustain, either. Far from it! The guitar rings like a 15 pounder! It also includes a professional hardshell case.

The finish, fretwork, and overall design were in line with a guitar in this price range. That is to say, it was flawless. If anything, it was almost too perfect. We didn’t want to do anything to detract from the guitar’s perfection!

If you’re looking for a guitar that looks to the future and not just the past, the Parker Fly Mojo might be the last guitar you ever buy. Don’t be surprised if one day you hear people mention Ken Parker’s name in the same breath as Les Paul and Leo Fender.

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