Parker Guitars Opening Custom Shop

Spanish Fly (Click for a close-up)

Fly Supreme (Click for a close-up)

Parker Guitars announced the opening of the Parker Custom Shop. Beginning January 1, 2003, consumers will be able to place orders with authorized Parker dealers for custom models. A variety of options will be available including the choice of special woods, pickups, frets and tuners. In addition, guitars no longer in standard production will also be available.

"The Parker Custom Shop will enable us to fill the immediate needs of our customers on a consistent schedule," states Drew Hannah, CEO of Parker Guitars. "This will also allow us to focus our sales and marketing strategies around our core models."

Several popular, high-end professional model Parker Guitars will now be available through the Parker Custom Shop including the Spanish Fly, a diverse electrical/classical nylon string guitar, the Fly Supreme, a figured Maple body guitar retailing for more than $5000, the Fly Artist, Fly Concert, Fly Jazz and the Hardtail.

With standard production streamlined, Parker plans to increase production of its core models, the Parker Fly Classic, Fly Deluxe, NiteFly SA and NiteFly M, the Parker P-Series and the heavily back-ordered Parker Fly Bass. The Parker 4- and 5-string Basses began shipping in October 2002, but player demand has continued to outpace production.

"We can't make the Fly Bass quickly enough," adds Executive Vice President Norm Fitton. "The demand for the Bass has been far beyond what we had initially imagined. By designating several models as Custom Shop instruments, we will be better equipped to meet the demands of our retail customers, as well as the worldwide marketplace."