Page 1 of 1

Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:20 am
by MadMac
hello,
well just came across a very rar guitar...
never seen before ... and not clear what brand it is...
it looks little like a Ken guitar before Parker launch...
so here the stuff i'll know...
back body: Mahogany ... one plate
front: Spruce laminated on Mahogany with Cashew Viloin finish <- sound like Ken

also the form and thickness looks like a Parker or Ken made guitar...
koj2va8u4anirxmnpoxx.jpg
fmza1efokrs58kopuico.jpg
does anyone know something about?
many thx
M.

Re: Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 5:38 pm
by mmmguitar
Where are these photos from, that you think Ken built it? Ben Crowe of Crimson guitars, for instance, builds a ton of single-cuts in this style. Apologies if I’m missing an April Fool’s joke about a newly-announced Gibson or something.

Re: Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 1:01 am
by MadMac
hello,
many thx @mmmguitar...
no april fool...
well got these pic's from a friend who will buy the guitar...
the owner doesn't know ...
first impression was Gretch or old Gibson... it's a old git.
but did some research and did not find the form...
i'll really felt in love the guitar.... because some similarities to Parker...
thought maybe ... because Ken was building guitars from begin 80 to 90...
sure there are other like Crimson and Ben etc... looked @ them too...
did also a picture search... but nothing came up...
so think it's not a catalog guitar...
looks like Gibson Les Paul archtop... but has this special form and Spruce top like a classical instrument...
and this Cashew Viloin finish ... so must be done by someone who knows old classical instruments...
hope to get more pic's and info's soon...
thx
M

Re: Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 5:04 am
by vjmanzo
@Ken Parker mostly built acoustic archtop guitars before the Fly; some electric archtop or semi hollow guitars, but not many. I’m 99.999% sure that Ken did not build this guitar, but, nonetheless: I’ve tagged him in this thread.

Ken got started on the Fly project in the 1980s, as you know, and most of those early prototypes look very much like the modern-day Fly we know today. One main aspect of the Fly that he explored at great length was the use of composite reinforcements in specific areas of the guitar; it doesn’t appear like this guitar has those treatments, so it seems less likely, to me, that this is one of his.

Re: Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:19 am
by Vantasner
It's a Greco Cougar from the early 80's ;)

VDM

Re: Ken's prototype before Parker?

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:08 am
by MadMac
Vantasner wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:19 am It's a Greco Cougar from the early 80's ;)

VDM
wow
true !!!
many many thx...
did some research ... so rar... that's why nearly unknown...
only released in japan... 50 where made...
but still the leg looks like a Parker PM
could not find many ... but the auction where the pic's are from...
was sold already...
thx for clearing !
M.