A summary of the Fly changes/issues through the years, and a brief history of Parker Guitars

[vjmanzo]

Correct, the pre-refined Flys for certain had the same fretboard material on the presentation side of the headstock (and the 2” strip of composite extending from the neck to about the 5th tuning peg a la the image on the parts page).

Here are some photos of that I just took:

I think the refined Flys do still have that part—it appears that way. Perhaps one of our members that worked at Parker Guitars during the USM-era can confirm.

[Gregsaab]

Pretty great that you have that piece on hand, thank you for verifying that for me. Just noticed it last week, just wasn’t sure.

Edit: missed the bit after photos. My 2011 certainly doesn’t seem to have CF.

[vjmanzo]

Pretty great that you have that piece on hand, thank you for verifying that for me.

No problem! Yeah, like many of us, my studio is somewhat of a Parker Guitars museum/shrine!

My 2011 certainly doesn’t seem to have CF.

Hmmm…interesting…I have a 2011 Mojo and it does have that:

It’s only function is cosmetic, so I suppose it could have been dropped in some cases.

[Gregsaab]

There is a difference between mine — can see hexagons on Deluxe, whereas the Mojo almost looks bead blasted

[vjmanzo]

Ahhh!! I believe what you’re seeing is the difference between the layers in the material. The top layer of the fretboard and that piece is fiberglass .010” thick, and the next layer is carbon fiber that, at least during Ken’s time, had the hexagonal pattern.

It seems that on some Flys, that top fiberglass layer is perhaps (becoming?) more transparent than others and allowing the carbon fiber to show through more than others—I doubt the fiberglass is “wearing out” with age, but it may be losing its pigment. My ‘93 redwood-neck Fly fretboard really shows a prominent hex pattern, for example, even though there’s a layer of fiberglass on top of it.

…either that or it was, in fact, another USM-era change!