By 1997, some players thought that the electric guitar was at a dead end. Enter Ken Parker, a bushy-bearded maverick whose Fly model fused electric and acoustic in a package that looked like it had fallen off the Starship Enterprise. This is the cheap version.

The P-44V "has the signature capabilities of the high-end Fly in a beautiful solid mahogany body,” notes the Parker website, before playing the trump card: “The humbuckers deliver twang and shimmer… count on the piezos for a very realistic acoustic sound, then mix them with the magnetics for a hybrid that introduces a whole new dimension to music.”

Run your hands along the gorgeous neck and tickle a few licks from the humbuckers, and you’ll realise that this is a different class. By the time you’ve explored the mind-boggling versatility of that pickup configuration, you’ll be punching in your PIN.

Hit the bridge humbucker for ear-melting shred, try the coil splitter for snappy rock solos and select the piezo pickup for warm acoustic rhythm parts.

Verdict

The crazy mixture of mag’ and piezo can’t be described on paper. Critically, these disparate sounds are always underpinned by the P-44V’s unique flavour, meaning this axe actually has a really strong personality.

5 Stars

Pros : Mind-blowing versatility, feel.
Cons: Zilch.

BUY: Parker P-44V currently available from PMT Online

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