All those YouTubers that keep acquiring expensive gear…do they still live in their parent’s basement and/or live off things by turning a profit through resale? In many cases, it's both - But the latter is so common as to constitute the norm (minor rant ahead): For any industry with brands establish...

Thanks for the holiday wishes (and everything else you’ve shared, to date), Gary. Looking forward to more good news about your health and your impressions of whichever cool instruments you get to try and tinker with.

JimmyFly wrote: ↑Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:02 am 3m, Sorry it's taken this long to thank you for your detailed response. This is great info and still reviewing the details.

No worries, at all. I'm quite informal in such matters, and you can trust that any question which results in a wall of text from me has helped me stave off tedium elsewhere.

can anyone point me in the right direction, please? Standard gauges: 8-38 for 8 spring 9-42 for 9 spring 10-46 for 10 11-48 (or 49, in many cases) for 11 12-52 for 12 etc. Understand that the spring tension rating is range : A 9 spring can balance an 8-38 set that doesn't exceed its tension rating,...

This white '96 Deluxe with a few paint chips (and what appears to be Ken's signature) was listed for $2,450+tax, raised to $2,650 once the seller decided they could probably get more, then seems to have sold for the increased price with zero offers. I highlighted the listing because Pearl White Fly...

Interesting, thanks. If I'm reading the serial number correctly, my 'M' is from 2002 so pre-dates the "years-of-desperation". I'll get it totally rewired in the new year I think. It's worth spending a little more cash on it to get it perfect again. I’m inclined to agree: I rewire all my P...

I don’t have experience with the NiteFly M specifically, but I can vouch for a significant drop in electronics QC being reported from at least 2008-onwards. I don’t know if the Washburn Custom Shop (where US Parkers were being built) managed to get their act together by time they switched over to Gr...

JimmyFly , modern piezo preamps will switch between mono and stereo automatically, depending on whether you plug in a T/S or T/R/S cable - So the early '90s red mono/stereo button won't carry over to the new guitar (though, if you insist, adding one would be a matter to discuss with the preamp manu...

I saw both of your Flys when they were on Reverb, @ElCidofZen - How do you feel about the bone nut on the gold Deluxe vs the graphite one on the Mojo? Are you running the same gauge strings on both? As VJ said, welcome to our little corner of the internet.

I visualize Pat wading through international guitar listing websites with a machete and pith helmet in the course of honing in on such treasures. I suspect that lots of Flys have changed hands at high-prices because of the sense of urgency that you're feeling now This concisely summarizes most of my...

I will add that the Graphtech preamp is "noisy". I often forget that people have this issue; due to my only using their Hexpander board [Update: I subsequently tried the GraphTech preamp...and found it noisy :lol: ]. JimmyFly , Pat has previously shared a diagram in which a 4PDT toggle sw...

Any suggestions for adding a volume/tone control for a fishman piezo pickup or using a different piezo solution? I believe I can help with both, depending on your needs: If you’re specifically wanting a stacked piezo vol/tone pot, I’d suggest going Graphtech or RMC, rather than Fishman. This is bec...

I've never found a tried-and-true method, nor have any no two sets of the same strings seemed consistent in the amount of stretching required before "settling" in. I just lather, rinse, and repeat until the strings seem to hold their tuning. And then you sometimes find that the D (or other...

Why? Well, I am not a very good guitarist, so why not? A player after my own heart! Your project ambitions are somewhat similar to this thread . I bring it up to say that, when you feel up to attempting the surgery, I'll be happy to help. I *think* the Free Way blade switch circuitboards are simila...

Funny enough, this experience kind of defused my obsessed lust for a Fly Artist. The only problem is that it stirred an unhealthy desire for a Ken Parker Archtop. Mostly unhealthy because I'll never be able to afford it. Much to my chagrin! FWIW, I’ve still got an eye out for an Artist, and cope wi...

Patzag wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 4:22 pm the verdict is still pending.

Thanks for updating us. Your impressions are in line with what I was expecting, and parallel my own experiences with "jazzier" guitars (including the sentiment of having been spoiled by the Fly).

Congrats. Looking forward to reading about it.

Just to be clear, is the bridge “level” (i.e., no change in pitch when changing step-stop modes, and minimal pull-back room with the step-stop block engaged)? On the rear of the guitar, are both bridge height adjustment posts sunk equal amounts into the body (backplate has to be off to confirm)?

the artist sold. if they really paid that, wow. i'm pretty sure i saw one of those go for half that price in the past few years. As I recall, several offers were made on that listing over the months. Even with hype dissipating between June and now, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone convinced thems...

Reverb's relegated itself to being free billboard space, at this point - It no longer serves to establish market value; because more and more storefronts (such as the ironically named "Best Price Music Gear") are listing inventory at intentionally outrageous prices for the sake of enticing...