the Fly Clone Project

This prerefined Artist that includes “all” accessories (save for its 9 spring that was impossible to resist selling off separately at an inflated price) can be yours for only $6,583.31, after all is said and done:

https://reverb.com/item/53755138-1999-p ... ereo-cable

Compare to these previous ‘99 Artist prices:

https://reverb.com/item/1152028-1999-pr ... ody-w-ohsc

https://reverb.com/item/25689121-parker ... tterscotch

https://reverb.com/item/48461858-parker ... ccessories

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:07 pm This prerefined Artist…can be yours for only $6,583.31, after all is said and done…

Yeah, I see a few less-common Flys up there now asking in that price range—always difficult to predict if those asking prices will come down before being sold. Lately, I have seen a few Deluxe and Classic models coming and going alongside those listings in the late teens and $2k-ish range. Seems like the informed Fly aficionado is the target for the unique and high-priced listings.

vjmanzo wrote: ↑Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:53 pmSeems like the informed Fly aficionado is the target for the unique and high-priced listings.

That’s more or less what we are; and we’re not exactly fighting over who gets to overpay. Perhaps it’s intended for the aficionado who tells themselves they can always flip it at a profit (as the last few owners seemingly did in short order for it to triple up to its current “market value”) - In which case my interest lay in wondering how many turns remain in this game of hot potato folks are playing.

Bear in mind, I both want and can afford a pre-refined Artist - Yet am turned off by that listing because I intend to actually play the thing, rather than sit on it. I observed the same trends with Klein and Steinberger prior to Reverb collecting tax - The increased fees seem to just cause the effects of the speculator market to snowball faster, now.

Saw this supreme posted, the seller says the pickups are original but ive never seen them that color? https://reverb.com/item/53715860-mint-p ... rans-honey

Thoughts?

Hey @goodluckpete—the original pickups for that Fly would have been black Gen 1 DiMarzios like any other Fly. I don’t believe that DiMarzio was offering custom Fly pickups in 1998, but it is possible. At that time, I am fairly confident that the closest to a factory deviation from the Gen 1s was the gold pole piece version of the DiMarzio pickups that Parker Guitars installed in the Fly Jazz. In order for that Fly Supreme to have left the factory with those pickups installed, the original buyer would have had to call Parker Guitars (or Ken personally) and special-request it.

Having said that, if you’re willing to drop $7k on that and have it shipped to my house, I’d be happy to take a closer look for you

Well, the Supreme sold for $7,099, plus tax. Makes me feel better about the $2,500 Supreme I bought in 2020 that I spend all day not playing while I’m at work. Someone even teased me about it; saying “the more dust you let settle on it, that’s an extra thousand dollars added to its value.”

In keeping with recent trends, owners of common Flys with less-common finishes are banking their retirement on them:

Here on eBay we have a refined Deluxe in Butterscotch burst listed with a Buy Now price of $4,900, plus $100.30 for ground shipping, plus tax. At least this one includes an extra 9 spring.

5/2/22 update: Butterscotch Burst Deluxe Buy Now price decreased to $4,300 after receiving no bids.

Interesting observation. I am such a fan of those Sharon Cline (Shazrock) burst finishes, though! I have the blue burst on my Mojo, and I remember seeing the butterscotch burst and the green “mint burst” in the catalog around 2005—love that look! I think the seller is right that the butterscotch finish is rarely seen—I think this is only the second or third I’ve seen on eBay ever.

Mint condition Fly—that seems to be fetching around high 2k/low $3k, right? I don’t think I’m the “buy it because of the finish” type of player (I’ve wanted an Italian Plum Deluxe for a long time!), but the look is part of it! For Flys, the finish was greater than 50% of the cost, as you know!

I’m curious to see if it gets any bids—$3,700 opening bid with a reserve, to me, seems more like the “I don’t wanna sell it” price, or at least the “I’m in no rush to sell it” price, but we’ll see.

vjmanzo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 29, 2022 7:40 am […]the look is part of it! For Flys, the finish was greater than 50% of the cost, as you know!

Must be a $2500 finish, then.

For prices such as this one and what we’ve been seeing Artists and the like listed at, I see it more as those getting out of the Parker game trying to go out with a bang. For all the hyperbole we’ve seen in some of these listings, I doubt they’re selling for funds toward a more expensive Fly if theirs is the priciest one on the auction block.

vjmanzo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 29, 2022 7:40 amI’ve wanted an Italian Plum Deluxe for a long time!

Feel like reaching out to this Sam Ash to haggle on a used guitar?

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Fri Apr 29, 2022 1:27 pm ...I see it more as those getting out of the Parker game trying to go out with a bang.

I can see that—especially with all the talk about "investment guitars" just a short while ago.

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Fri Apr 29, 2022 1:27 pm Feel like reaching out to this Sam Ash to haggle on a used guitar?

oof—don't tempt me!!! Even I think I don't need another Fly, so maybe I should stick to this Italian plum:


or, perhaps, this Italian Plum(ber):

Perhaps if I keep tempting you, you’ll resort to selling me one of yours on the gentleman’s agreement that you can buy it back later (at which point I’ll absolutely ruin it with mods until you no longer want it).

Looks like the refined Butterscotch Deluxe eBay auction is going to end without a single bid. Meanwhile, this red 90s Classic with GK mounting holes, vague stereo piezo issue, and accessories (including spare 9 and 10 springs) can probably be shipped from Alaska to your home for around $2k, if you make an offer citing the defects.

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 3:14 pm Looks like the refined Butterscotch Deluxe eBay auction is going to end without a single bid.

Yeah—noticed that, and noticed the red Deluxe. I don’t have much experience with refinishes, but someone could probably put that butterscotch finish on that red Deluxe for under a grand, right?! Is that what you were hinting at, Marc? That’s where my brain went

Either that or buy two Flys for the price of the flan-colored one.

Mmmm….flan!

https://reverb.com/item/54720127-parker ... 6-mahogany

mmmguitar wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 2:25 pm https://reverb.com/item/54720127-parker ... 6-mahogany



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Crack is a hell of a drug, just ask Hunter Biden.

@Musikron, crack would make for a sweet deal (the guitar could be had for $9,804 through Reverb Payments, or five bucks in person). But I’m afraid this one is old-fashioned cynicism: Listing for the highest price, “for a limited time only”, maximizes the free advertising for wherever it is off of Reverb they prefer to sell tax-free (messageboard, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Crackhead Manor, etc.). The dude selling springs for $10,000 was similarly uncreative.