BTW, my wife bought a Parker PM10 Hornet at Sam Ash a few years ago.
The guitar was priced at $485 (before negotiating and trade-in). The workmanship is superb. You have to look really hard to see the seam between the neck and the body (we thought it was carved out of one piece of wood until we put it under a bright light, the grain matches almost perfectly), it's shape is rather LP-ish, it has dual tap pickups (either single coil or humbucker) so it has a variety of sounds, it has a graphite nut, an ebony fretboard, Grover tuners, and the neck is every bit as nice as the slim-taper my Gibson ES-330 and my Epiphone Casino. It does have a longer scale than the Gibson/Epi (similar to Fender).
Hers looks like this but the wood is darker.
Plus it only weighs about 7 pounds.
It certainly is a good alternative to a Gibson.
We went to Sam Ash in Margate Florida, plus the Guitar Center in West Palm Beach and George's Music is West Palm Beach trying out guitars including Epi, Gibson, Fender and others and simply thought this had the best tone, feel and style for the money. The Gibsons we looked at were all very well built, the finish was nice, but she liked the shape, sound and the weight of the Parker the best (I preferred the SG, but it's her guitar <grin>).
She's had it a few years now and is still very happy with it.
Insights and incites by Notes.
Bob "Notes" Norton
Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com Add-on Styles for Band-in-a-Box and Microsoft SongSmith
The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<
Time for TR to chime in. I own two Gibsons of mid to low end pricing, a Les Paul Studio ($1200) and a Les Paul Special ($750) and I own a Epiphone SG (G400 one of the higher end ones, $400). The Les Pauls are not 2 or 3 times better than the SG despite costing 2 and 3 times more. Nothing wrong with an Epiphone if it fits your buget. The Gibsons do sound better but the Epiphone had exellent attention paid to detail when it was manufactured and is one of my favorite guitars to play.
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
gnease, what about the "cheap" models, like the $600-ish single-cuts LP types that PRS has?
I'm tempted, but haven't played one yet -- plus I'd probably go for a soapbar (P90) instead of a 'bucker. Been looking at LP Juniors, Melody makers, Hamer's Korina version of LP Jr. and the various PRS SE guitars. Might bite on the Melody Maker, as the Hamer is a bit too much $$ for an occasional play. But that PRS SE One looks delicious for 3 or 4 bills. Can't say 'til I try, Roy. I'll let you know.
TR -- I think you are on the right track. Gibby's worn finish and studio versions seem to be far better values than the fancier fare, and less prone to out-of-the-box defects. Some people hate the worn cherry, mahogany and TV (colors)) look and feel, but Gibby seems to have done some better work on these more simply appointed guitars.
-=tension & release=-
Gnease, I actually like my Special more than my Studio and that instrument is in the price range of the Gibson Faded guitars. The Standards and Customs and such are very pretty, but I can't have that much cash leave my wallett at this time. Truth be known, I referred to the Studio as a $1200 guitar because thats what they go for now but mine was $750 back in 1992 when I bought it. $2000 - $3000 is a lot of money for a guitar ......... even with as much as I love them.
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
BTW, my wife bought a Parker PM10 Hornet at Sam Ash a few years ago.
Parkers are very special guitars, I like them very much. If someday I buy a new guitar, I'll consider Parker.
