RIP - Ken Parker

[Chris Pile]

Just heard the bad news - pioneer luthier Ken Parker just passed away.

 

[Mincer]

What a loss. A true visionary.

 

[Securb]

Huge loss. A visionary and a great guy. I interacted with him on the Fly Clone Forum and he walked me through a fix for my Parker even though he sold the company decades ago. He helped many people on that forum.

 

[Chris Pile]

He helped many people on that forum.

Not just there. He answered all sorts of questions on YouTube, etc.

 

[Masta' C]

Oh dang! I literally just donated to his Gofundme last night and he passed today!

Very unfortunate loss. He did a LOT for players and the industry. One of the greats, like Bill Lawrence, etc.

Prayers go out to his family and loved ones <3

 

[Evan Skopp]

Cancer sucks

 

[jeremy]

suuure does. if ya live long enough, and nothing else gets ya, cancer will

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Man, I knew he wasn't doing well, that's very sad to hear. I've enjoyed his long-form videos on making and ruminations on what made the old guitars that inspired him great.

I only had a brief chance encounter with a Nite Fly once years ago (super rare in Australia), but it left a positive impression. Back in the early 90s, it was probably too soon for a guitar like the Fly, despite the fact that Steinberger had already broken the mould away from the traditional. If they were released today, they'd be more popular, I imagine, particularly in an extended range format.

 

[Masta' C]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the brand revived and refreshed at some point, especially with similar "high tech" guitars like Aristides, etc having become so popular.

 

[Securb]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the brand revived and refreshed at some point, especially with similar "high tech" guitars like Aristides, etc having become so popular.

Washburn owns the IP, they destroyed the brand and, over time, removed everything that made the guitars unique.

 

[Mincer]

Washburn owns the IP, they destroyed the brand and, over time, removed everything that made the guitars unique.

They tried to make it cheaper and less innovative and it killed them. I'd wish they'd sell it to someone who will take care of it. Kinda like Gibson did with Steinberger.

 

[Chris Pile]

Plus, they had the gall to call them "the improved" version.

 

[Securb]

They tried to make it cheaper and less innovative and it killed them. I'd wish they'd sell it to someone who will take care of it. Kinda like Gibson did with Steinberger.

SS frets, carbon fiber fretboard, piezo, Fishman bridge and headstock design were all gone by the end of the guitar's production.

 

[Securb]

They really butchered the headstocks

 

[Chris Pile]

I've had a couple of the Washburn/Parkers on my bench. Rather unremarkable Parker shaped guitars.

 

[Mincer]

They really butchered the headstocks

Yeah, that looks terrible.

 

[Securb]

Yeah, that looks terrible.

And they stopped using Spetzel Tuners.

 

[Spaghetti Bolo]

I'm glad he shared some of his knowledge and stories. Seeing the Fly prototypes and the construction/ origin of the composite fretboard was surreal after pondering them since the mid 90's.

Goodbye Ken. An inspiration since I was 15.