6feet7 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) [size=4]I got this a few months ago but at the moment I'm having to sell everything. It only weighs 8 lbs, and is in pretty much unplayed condition. It looks like it's spent it's life in a hard case (which is included, as is a letter of authenticity)[/size] [size=4]Post or meet up. Let me know [/size] [color=#222222][size=4]Below is a review.[/size][/color] [color=#222222][size=4][email protected][/size][/color] [color=#222222][size=4]07881 596446[/size][/color] [b][color=#222222][size=4]PS. I can take payment by credit/debit card[/size][/color][/b] [color=#090909][color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The radical Parker Fly bass is available in imported form, without all the high-tech construction but still with a very individual look indeed. [/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif][url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]Parker[/url] Guitars was originally set up by American luthier Ken Parker in the early ’90s. Jazz legend Steve Swallow played the first prototype[url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]Parker[/url] Fly bass throughout the decade, and this endorsement – together with those for Parker’s Fly guitars – meant [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]Parker[/url]‘s small business in Rochester, New York grew rapidly.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]In 2003 the company was bought by US Music Corporation, and more affordable Asian-made models were introduced. The [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]PB51[/url] is a prime and rather striking example. It’s made in Indonesia but retains all the familiar characteristics of the US-built Fly basses.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The American models employ classical guitar-grade sitka spruce in the bodies: here the wings are two pieces of mahogany glued to a central core, with the whole front covered by a sumptuous flame maple top.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The polyurethane transparent red finish is the only colour available.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The body design is extremely unusual, even pincer-like, but it’s all part of a quest to create a bass that really fits right into the body of the player.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Flipping the [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]PB51[/url] over, you’ll notice both the sectional nature of the construction and a slight thinning of the body’s mass from lower half to upper. You’ll also see the heelless through-neck section; the deep cutaways afford unfettered access to the highest fret.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Any bass this modern-looking is likely to be active-powered, and the back is where you’ll find the convenient quick-release compartment for the 9v PP3 battery.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Neck construction on the US-made models involves graphite woven with wood for strength and stability, but on the [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]PB51[/url] the neck is a seven-piece all-wood affair with strips of mahogany separated by thin ebony stringers. The profile is a fairly flat ‘C’ – slim, fast and comfortable under the hand. Behind the curved oblong headstock there’s a strengthening bulge beneath the nut.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The same flame maple veneer that fronts the body adorns the headstock’s face, while the four [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]Parker[/url] Open Gear L-4 tuners, like all the hardware, are coated in black.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]The strings have plenty of break-angle over the graphite nut, and the ebony fingerboard carries 24 medium nickel silver frets with offset pearloid dots on its face and more on the top edge. The bridge – actually four individual Mono Rails – can be used string-through (courtesy of chunky ferrules beneath the bridge) or top-loaded.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Adjustment is by Allen key only. The pickups, in fairly standard neck and bridge positions, are a pair of black oblong [url="http://www.emginc.com/"]EMG[/url] 35CS units which are coupled to a roster of controls numbering two Volumes and centre-indented Bass and Treble, all of the knurled Tele-style variety.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Sounds Thanks to the [url="http://www.emginc.com/"]EMG[/url]s there’s no hiss whatsoever, just a clean, fat sound with a growling edge and excellent definition. Higher strings exhibit a high-mid zing, but this isn’t a dominating characteristic and it helps bring out the harmonics in the notes.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]It’s a contemporary tone from a contemporary bass, and none the worse for that. The [url="http://www.parkerguitars.com/"]PB51[/url] gets a lot rockier when you edge up the bass EQ, gaining a weighty, growly thud that’s well-defined enough for groove parts and sufficiently wide-sounding for more melodic work as well as old-school soul and blues, and the metallic edge helps it cut through a larger band. Adding treble EQ can brighten things up if needed.[/font][/color] [color=#474747][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif]Soloing the bridge [url="http://www.emginc.com/"]EMG[/url] delivers the tight, burpy tone you’d hope for and the minimal volume differential with the other two settings probably explains the slight high-mid bias elsewhere. More bass EQ gives a splendidly funky, punchy impact, and although the snarling edge on flat settings is lessened, there’s still plenty of burpy definition.[/font][/color][/color] Edited November 13, 2014 by 6feet7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilLawton Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Spankingly lovely bass. Have a bump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6feet7 Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Fleabay85 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 great sounding bass ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6feet7 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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