The Ken Parker archtop ... the highlight of my 2012 NAMM

[Jazzman301]

Jim I just want to say one more time that your playing on both the Parker clip posted here and the demos on your site are just exsqusite and inspired to my ear. I find myself not only loving your tone, your playing and note choices but gasing for one of your amazing instruments.

'Mike

[mangotango]

Well, your playing was praiseworthy indeed. And that Parker guitar is a work of art. Not my cup of tea I have to say, but then that's just a matter of taste; you can't please all of the people all of the time. It still sounds lovely, but if it were mine, I'd have to play it with my eyes shut.....and Lord knows what problems that would bring.

[paynow]

Jim,

Great playing and that is an awesome guitar. Price is price; I'm sure he can only make a certain number of guitars a year, it's amazing work, and the man has to eat. I just hope that the people who are able to afford them can really play or are at least collectors who will realize how great they are.

I just saw a video of you playing "One Note Samba" on "The Swan." Awesome, Jim! Your own instruments are nothing to sneeze at!

[uncletele]

Jim, thanks for the good posts!! That Parker is amazing.

[mrblues]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Someone payed $52,000 for this?!



Dood, there's something wrong with that wood!

Oh my God! Looks like my 3 years old cousin, who played with an ementaler cheese and a hole puncher...

[jdazey]

Ahh, yes. Worm holes are far superior to f holes.

Joe

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Someone payed $52,000 for this?!



Dood, there's something wrong with that wood!

There's a whole story that goes with that Benedetto. The holes were made by a really pernicious type of mollusk. Bob was given this piece from a supplier of very high grade spruce and he held on to it for years before building this guitar with it. Here's a link to the story.

http://benedettoguitars.com/boutique/il-teredo/

Originally Posted by rictroll

My first thought was - "this sounds like Jim".

You have such a distinctive touch and approach that the instrument becomes secondary to the music.

As it should methinks.

I think that's true. It's also what I look for in a guitar, the ability to impose my will on it. It doesn't happen with every guitar but this really felt like I could really make it work for me.

Originally Posted by uburoibob

Perhaps you will be able to, Jim!

Bob

I certainly hope so Bob. They were all fabulous but I'd love a chance to play YoYo again.

Originally Posted by Jazzman301

Jim I just want to say one more time that your playing on both the Parker clip posted here and the demos on your site are just exsqusite and inspired to my ear. I find myself not only loving your tone, your playing and note choices but gasing for one of your amazing instruments.

'Mike

Originally Posted by paynow

Jim,

Great playing and that is an awesome guitar. Price is price; I'm sure he can only make a certain number of guitars a year, it's amazing work, and the man has to eat. I just hope that the people who are able to afford them can really play or are at least collectors who will realize how great they are.

I just saw a video of you playing "One Note Samba" on "The Swan." Awesome, Jim! Your own instruments are nothing to sneeze at!

Thanks to both of you. I should probably point out for those who don't know that I'm in the process of getting out of the whole guitar building thing. My business is being taken over by Doug Kauer from Kauer Guitars and he's keeping my designs going. I have one guitar to sell and we have just a few custom orders to complete and then I'm done. I'm at a point in my life where I'd really rather put my energies into just making music.

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by dmorash

Fascinating guitar. I did many a gig (albeit not jazz) with a Parker Nitefly, and it was just so different on many levels. Playing other guitars became hard work afterwards.

Sounds like it really suits fingerstyle players. Thanks for posting this.

I have two Niteflys. They do kind of spoil you for other "Strat-style" guitars. I love Ken Parker's aesthetics and sense of invention. His archtops are breathtaking!

PJ

[Adam Zimmer]

Big Daddy Love guitar has more holes than
the Blackburn Lancashire.