New Parker Guitar Adds MIDI Output

Parker Guitars announces the introduction of the MIDIFly guitar featuring their versatile magnetic and piezo pickup design, along with Virtual DSP Corp.'s MidiAxe guitar-to-MIDI converter system. The MIDIFly's Fishman® piezo circuit triggers the internal MidiAxe DSP, resulting in a fast tracking, stable, "glitch free" MIDI guitar controller.

The MIDIFly is easy-to-use. With a few simple, yet functional switches, the guitarist can intuitively control the essential functions of MIDI, along with the magnetic and piezo pickups, from the normal array of controls he is already accustomed to.

MIDI IN and OUT ports are provided to allow standard connection to any MIDI devices, from synthesizers to computers. This is an improvement over current MIDI guitar systems that require a clumsy 13-pin connector, additional pickups, and an external converter box to be added to the guitar.

The MIDIFly features a mahogany body and Parker's TurboTone® neck (also constructed of mahogany) which is backed with an ultra-thin layer of high-modulus carbon and glass fiber. Its 22 jumbo frets are made of durable spring-tempered stainless steel, and the guitar is equipped with custom DiMarzio® magnetic pickups plus an active Fishman® piezo system.

The MIDIFly will be shipped in a molded hard shell case along with the audio and MIDI cables and CD ROM containing the MidiAxe editor utility program. Pricing and colors will be announced shortly, and a ship date of early Spring '99 is expected.