Been searching for this baby for 20 years! Parker makes fabulous guitars, but mostly solid colors ... well, I found a 1999 Fly SUPREME in absolute mint condition, with all the case candy and not a scratch on it ... unbelievable.I sold my Taylor T-5 already, and there's a few more guitars on the block to make room for this one.
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/msg/4376002224.html

( better deals for Zoners!)

That's a BEAUTIFUL axe, Dave ... best of luck with it ... when are we going to hear it on a recording?

As soon as I get it setup with the proper gauge strings for my heavy handed strumming style! It's got 9's on it now ... gotta UP the ante to 11's or 12s!

What's special about this model vs others?

Only everything!
It's 5 lbs ... wraps around my tummy like a belt - has awesome tones ... Fishman piezo acoustic bridge, PLUS dual humbuckers with split coil tap sound in the center position - master volume -separate stereo outs for both pickups (for PA and gtr amp) insanely beautiful finish ... best neck in the biz - stainless steel frets (never wear out) 24 frets (yup, two full octaves) smooooooth, stable vibrato arm with LOCKING option - blend acoustic & electric together or play either separately ... it's just SO comfy to hold and plays itself ... it's like buttah! Can we tawk???

Good luck with it Dave.

Just love it Dave. I look forward to hearing it.

What! No chord sequencer, no arpeggiater, no MP3 player, no harmonizer, no lyric display, only 6 note polophony, only ONE voice, PLUS....you actually have to learn to play the thing. Sorry Dave, it sucks.



chas

Sounds like you found your Holy Grail! Enjoy it

Chas,

The deal breaker for UD is onboard speakers. It must have them.

Tom ... you made me smile.
Thankfully, the body of this incredible instrument is SO resonant that it actually DOES make sound all by itself. Almost like having real speakers.

Tiny, but 2 more pics.

No chas it has a few different voices. Dual humbuckers with coil tap offers a number of different voices. Plus it also has a Fishman piezzo pickup for an acoustic guitar sound. So definately more than one voice. But I do get your drift

One thing for sure though, they sure are puurrrtty. In fact, among musical instruments, guitars may be THE most 'handsome' of the bunch. Large Grand pianos are up there too. Sadly, flutes, saxes (ugly), upright pianos, clarinets (seriously?), oboes, ....all range from bland to downright homely. Even my beloved 'B3' wouldn't raise an eyebrow if not for it's magnificent sound. And how about ukuleles; they look like ugly little runts (sound like it too). Violins are okay but don't have the 'brashness' and 'in-your-face-ness' of even a run of the mill guitar. I own 6 (several inherited) and can't play a single chord, but damn, they look so good in your studio or rec room or parlor.

So yeah, Dave, I don't know what it sounds like but I'll give it a "10" for looks.

chas

I'm glad I made you smile Dave. I make a lot of people smile, mostly when I leave them.

I love the wood guitars are made from. They are just such organic instruments. Even though they are electric guitars the wood the body, neck and fretboard are made from is so important to the sound they make. And it can look so beautiful.

I love guitars also still have 3 even though I have not played one in a couple of years.

I cut my teeth in the music biz using a six-string Gibson that I purchased in a pawn shop while still in the Navy. I added a pickup, one that was held in place with a hasp-spring and fit in the body opening. My first paying jobs consisted of a skinny kid sitting on a bar-stool with his pawn-shop guitar, a Shure mic on a boom stand, a 100-watt Crate amp, and a music stand beneath which were a plastic box filled with three-ring binders holding lyrics and tabs. I later purchased a six-string Ibanez. When I switched to a Yamaha 12 string, I thought I died and went to heaven.

Those were the days my friend,

Gary

I took my guitar kids to the Martin Factory today .... AWESOME day. It's the 3rd or 4th time I've been there, and I always see something I missed. We have 2 new
"converts" that are both psyched on getting an acoustic guitar asap. Proud moment for a teacher when the kids actually LIKE what I show them! We had a great time on the trip, up and back, and the kids got to see and play some of the nicest instruments in the world. Every Martin guitar in every corner of this world was made in THIS very factory. 200 or more per day. Cool trip.

I would think you would prefer the Martin acoustic vs the Fly?

I'm not a Martin guy, myself ... I love my Taylor 714CE. It's got me by the heartstrings ... problem is - I won't bring it to a lot of places because of the possibility fo damage, or climate changes if it has to stay in the car for any length of time. The fly is definitely a workhorse and a back-saver (5 lbs!), but in a true acoustic setting ... I'd much prefer having my Taylor strapped on to anything else I've played.

Life is too short to worry about damages when you love what your doing Play dat Thing I say share it with the world!! .....besides your a keyboard player

My take is - life's too short to expose beautiful, handmade instruments to careless, drinking, party people. I'll use it in controlled situations, and love every second of it.
Keyboards are plastic pieces of expendable parts ... no so with guitars. They live and breathe, and need us to protect them!

I trust a solid piece of wood in a carbon shell SO much more than a hollow box of Spruce and Rosewood. Jaba the Hut endorses this method of protection, and so do I!

all gear can be replaced..enjoy it while were on this earth...

Awesome, Dave, it's a looker. I have always been intrigued by these guitars, if you find another one, let me know!

"most" gear ... some things are too specific to be generically substituted. Again - guitars are NOT keyboards ... different animals. I would be heartbroken if some drunk fell on my Taylor.
Life's too short for avoidable heartbreak.

That guitar begs to be played for people ....keeping it in house is a sin.
Look at willie nelsons guitar 'Trigger" now thats adding character I'd say......

http://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebsto...guitar-trigger/

Willie's got roadies and protection from the idiots in the first couple of rows who might "fall onto" his gear. In the trenches, where we rarely get a real stage or separation from the crowd - I'm playing "better safe than sorry"
There's absolutely NO sin in playing that guitar to sooth my soul, and entertain it's owner .... or whomever I choose to invite to the show.

P.S. You're invited, but not Don mason ... he doesn't love us enough.

TAYLOR VS MARTIN you be the judge...

http://www.georgesmusic.com/articles/the-great-acoustic-debate-martin-vs-taylor/

http://www.guitarsaccessreviews.com/martin_vs_taylor.html

Nice guitar, Dave...pretty too!

My old axe was a 1957 Telecaster, maple fingerboard...very nice sound through a Twin.

They all have personalities, that's for sure...much like the ladies.

Ian

That's the beauty of an Arranger keyboard like Yamaha S-series & Tyros with So many killer guitars inside to make a player happy!

Someone please explain to me why does everyone and his brother play some guitar. There are more guitar strummers than there are harmonica players! It has to be one of the easiest instruments to play in music other than a bass drum in a high school marching band, no? Learn to strum three chords on a guitar and if you're not very smart ya can always use a cheater bar, right? We have 85 houses in our neighborhood and I bet we have 59 guitar strummers too.

Oh, Boo ... where do I start?
lol
The girls all go for the guitar players.

Down in the Florida Keys, Dave, guitar players were a dime a dozen - the ladies seemed to like OLD keyboard players a lot more, especially when I sang their favorite songs. I never had a gal run her fingers through my hair when I played a guitar and sang, but it has happened many times since I switched to full-time arranger keyboard. Unfortunately, I'm too old, or maybe too smart, to respond to their admirations.

Gary

Oh Gary, you are so full of it. They are just being kind to a senior citizen!

Well, instruments aside ... how can any ladies resist your charms, Gary? They can't help themselves!

I've always known I was singing to the ladies - the guys could care less. They were there hoping to get laid, drink booze, maybe watch a football game on the big screen, but music - NAH! The ladies, they wanted to party hearty all night long. They wanted to drink, dance, have fun, and they loved the music.

Now, maybe the ladies were just being nice to an old man. I'll take that! Additionally, the ladies were the ones shoving the 10s and 20s in the tip jar, while the guys might thrown in a couple ones at best. When I fill in for a friend at a local restaurant, it's the same way. Gotta sing to the ladies if you want to make a good living in this biz.

Gary

Saw this in a "You know you're an older musician when...." thread on another forum. I happen to agree with it.

"You know you're getting to be a pathetic older musician when you think any chick gives even the slightest thought about you physically and that you even contemplate such a ridiculous possibility that any would".

But I guess it's okay to dream.

chas

we've all had our time..

The night life, and the entertainment industry specifically, has always been more of a "La La Land" than reality. Everyone is freshly showered, strutting their stuff, lowering their inhibitions ... and we, as entertainers play a large part in this little mating dance that they came to do. Sure, we have our true fans, but it's all make-believe for the most part. It's a few hour fantasy-land .... a chance to blow off steam, loosen up and brush away the dust of life. We serve a valuable role in facilitating those actions, and I'm proud to be a part of their lives, if only in a small way for a short time. I've made many lasting, true friendships while singing, and even met my wife at one of my old haunts. The praise, the tips, the flirty smiles ... naw, their not REALLY real, but they ARE a part of the game, and the game is real. We've all played it, and for the sake of the business - I hope it never stops.
Nothing wrong with a pretty lady giving a nice old man a smile to say ... "Thanx for the music"

Billy Joel said it best:

It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Making love to his tonic and gin

He says, "Son can you play me a memory
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet
And I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes"

Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright

Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there's someplace that he'd rather be

He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me"
As a smile ran away from his face
"Well, I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"

Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talking with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably will be for life

And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better than drinking alone

Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see
To forget about life for a while

And the piano sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say "Man what are you doing here?"

Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright

Gary

Well said Dave.

UD sure does have a way with words.

Gary

You're right, nothing wrong with THAT...the 'pathetic' part is when we delude ourselves into thinking it's anything MORE than that. Like posing with 'young chicks' and implying that they're 'into you' really IS kind of sad. I say just concentrate on being a good older musician, accept any compliments for what they are, and quit pretending that you're attractive to anything other than a female green fly. JMO, of course.

chas

what does age have to do with it?......
people are people, ....just go have fun, makle people smile while you enjoy it, who cares?
because it ain't no fun being in the ground that you cant pretend.......hurry!

Actually, EVERYTHING.



Well, I guess if you prefer 'pretend' to reality. Some of us prefer to live in the real world.

chas

Well, I guess if you prefer 'pretend' to reality.
Some of us prefer to live in the real world.
chas [/quote]

Nah thats too boring ....JMO

Chas, no sexual fantasies on my part - I'm much too old for that. I'm smarter than that as well - at least I think I am. Hopefully, I'm having as much fun entertaining as my audiences are having on the dance floors and sitting at the bars and tables singing along with me. This is show biz. I'm not nearly as competent as a musician as you and most of the other folks on this forum, and never will be. Sure, I'm still learning, but that has always been the case with me. Now, I think I can hold my own as an entertainer, but I am well aware there are many that are better than me in this aspect as well. Now, when the entertainment biz/show biz is no longer fun for me, that's the day when all my equipment will go on Ebay, I'll walk away from the forums, and I'll begin pissing away the kids inheritance on the sailboat.

Cheers,

Gary

Then you're a better man than me. I just try to keep them confined to my own perverted little noggin'.




Best idea ever. I made that decision a long time ago .

chas

So Dave if I want more attention you think it would help if I hung a guitar around my neck while playing the sax?

Man in the 60's R&R the Sax guys got lots of attention. A while back Matt Lauer and Katie Couric said it was the sexy UPS uniforms. I'll never figure this stuff out.

Dude, go for the UPS suit, a Tele, and a Selmer Mk.VI and man, to quote a line from the movie The Commitments, "they'll be throwing their knickers on the stage!" Oh, the humanity.

THE COMMITMENTS!!!! Awesome flick. Love it.

Gary ... I love ya man, but I don't think you've had enough hair for a lady to run her fingers through in quite a while ...

UD ... good comments ... like me, I am sure many of us have been the background music for marriage proposals, professions of love, etc. ... it's a great ride ...
BTW, I met MY wife at the accordion school we were both studying at ...

I'm surprised no one has posted that pic of the blonde in the UPS 'uniform' ...

Tony, there's still enough hair for the ladies to do that, but I have to wear a hat during the summer to prevent sunburn while sailing. Yeah, I know the hair's pretty darned thin, but we all have to live with the cards we're dealt.

Cheers,

Gary

OH YEAH! Every muso should see it. The quintessential 'been there, done that' movie. I don't know how many times I've watched it.