Inspired by a friend who used carbon fiber to build speed boats, Ken Parker started experimenting with the material.

Fly guitars featured a stereo output jack, allowing the piezo and magnetic pickups to be sent to different amplifiers, or blended into a mono signal.

Responding to complaints about their non traditional hi-fi sound, Dimarzio introduced a new set of humbuckers in the spring of 1999.

Commonly referred to as "Gen 2 Dimarzios", these new pickups were custom designed for the Fly's unique voicing.

Featuring ceramic magnets, the Gen 2 design had more mid range focus, and higher output than their predecessors, and were still used on many of the last Fly models.

The Parker Fly guitars are equipped with Sperzel tuners, which allow the string to be locked into place at the pole in which it winds.

Shortly before Parker Guitars was acquired by U.S. Music Corporation, the Fly was changed to make it more production-friendly and less expensive to produce.

Parker Flys have been played by John Lees, Martin Barre, Gustavo Cerati, Adrian Belew, Matthew Bellamy, David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, Steve DeMarchi, Amir Derakh, Anssi Kela, The Edge, Mark Farner, Reeves Gabrels, Synyster Gates, Daniel Gildenlöw, Phil Keaggy, Brian May, Joni Mitchell, Dan Schafer, Dave Navarro, Lou Reed, Trent Reznor, Paul Simon, Pete Townshend, Juan Luis Guerra, Joe Walsh, Vernon Reid, Bob Weir, Jason Mendonca, Harvey Mandel, David Lynch, Daniel Jones, Jon Gutwillig, Kitchie Nadal, Barbie Almalbis, Greg Gonzalez, Deron Miller, and J Mascis.