RIP Ken Parker https://kenparkerarchtops.com
Ken Parker Archtops - Finest Archtop Guitars Ken Parker, known for the Parker Fly, has turned his attention to making the archtop guitar an instrument that plays to the strengths of all genres. His designs use space age and traditional materials, with unique and as time honored techniques, to produce instruments that are sweeter, louder, more Ken Parker ArchtopsReeves Gabrels playing a Fly w/ Bowie and on his own The Sacred Squall of Now solo record was my north star of cool in high school in the mid-90s to such an extent that I just learned he passed when a high school friend heard and thought of me to pass along the news.
Ken’s Youtube is also great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDuWp2Bg7MQ
Ken Parker_The History and Evolution of the Archtop GuitarKen's lecture about the History and Evolution of the archtop guitar at the Rocky Mountain Archtop festival in 2019.Ken may be gone, but because of his illnes...YouTubeI thought I wanted to do 3D stuff when I grew up and so I taught myself 3D Studio (R2, for dos. Layers, lofts, and tweening.) in ‘94 or ‘95 by, among other things, mocking up a Fly by eyeballing an ad for them in Guitar Player Magazine of Gabrels holding one.
As soon as I was making any money, about ten years later, I bought one https://pizza.slow.high.quality.gravely.pizza/parker-fly-classic/.
kinda neat engineering (I have no idea what I’m talking about and am pretty credulous, but, neat to me for sure), the entire thing is an archtop with no sides or back ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbBzabnNJhk), ultimately compromised to move units / be a little more practical built with a bunch of 90s stunts like carbon fiber and stainless steel and lasers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbBzabnNJhk
Parker Fly Prototype - Ken Parker - Luthier Stories S2 E5Ken Parker is a true visionary in the world of the modern electric and arch top guitars. His revolutionary “Parker Fly” design was a paradigm shift when it f...YouTubeParker Fly Prototype - Ken Parker - Luthier Stories S2 E5Ken Parker is a true visionary in the world of the modern electric and arch top guitars. His revolutionary “Parker Fly” design was a paradigm shift when it f...YouTube