Parker NiteFly conversion project

Started by MCK-fgn, September 01, 2010, 06:33:19 PM

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MCK-fgn

Hi,

A while back I bought a nice Parker NiteFly Mojo body off the internet for $42.- At that time I was simply thinking of hanging this on my wall or turn it into a wall-clock or something. A few days later a discussion about the Parker AB Signature Model sparked this idea in my mind to build a poorman's AB spec or something close to it for a fraction of the cost and so my quest to hunt Parker NiteFly parts began.

I am happy to report that I now have almost all parts required to put together a guitar now and my project is about to commence. I made a decision to postpone my VariAx guts purchase and see if I can get a VariAx V2 transplant going once these new guitars hit the market in September / October timeframe.

I will occasionally come back to this thread and post updates & photos etc. Wish me luck.

Here we go!
Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31267.0

Caig DeOxit - Buy now before you need it !!!
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31707.0

vanceg-fgn


photonutalan1-fgn

Quote from:  MCK on September 01, 2010, 06:33:19 PM
Hi,

A while back I bought a nice Parker NiteFly Mojo body off the internet for $42.- At that time I was simply thinking of hanging this on my wall or turn it into a wall-clock or something. A few days later a discussion about the Parker AB Signature Model sparked this idea in my mind to build a poorman's AB spec or something close to it for a fraction of the cost and so my quest to hunt Parker NiteFly parts began.

I am happy to report that I now have almost all parts required to put together a guitar now and my project is about to commence. I made a decision to postpone my VariAx guts purchase and see if I can get a VariAx V2 transplant going once these new guitars hit the market in September / October timeframe.

I will occasionally come back to this thread and post updates & photos etc. Wish me luck.

Here we go!

Here's a wish for luck! This is way cool. MCK! I can't wait to learn of, and follow, your progress!

Zummooz-fgn

Good  luck  MCK

Hope  all  bits  &  pieces  all  go  together  nicely.

Love  to  see  the  progress  &  the  final  outcome....

 
Q... What kind of advice can you give me ?   Tommy Emmanuel's reply ....

You move your hand Up and Down that long bit and the music comes out of that Big Black Box behind you !!

MCK-fgn

Ok. Some teaser-shots... This is where it all began :



I found this body on the internet and bought it to make a clock or something like that out of it.

Then came ...



Next I managed to find the bridge.



The bridge as you might note here is the original fly type and I will have to rework the part that connects to the tremolo spring. This version is designed to fit the leaf spring used in the Fly as opposed to the traditional helical springs as used on the NiteFly.

The next big challenge was to locate suitable screws to connect the neck to the body and the bridge to the neck. The thread type used is UNF. This is not metric nor american but something totally different. 4 pieces of 1/4 x 1" UNF are needed for the neck and 2 pieces of #10 x 1" UNF is needed for the bridge. I managed to find a source in UK selling this type of hardware I believe   to be used in classic British cars and managed to get my hands on something that will get me going.

Finally did a jury-rig install just to see how things look. Not bad! Not bad at all. The guitar turned out to be very resonant and quite loud on its own. I'm happy with what I have so far.



Next episode will cover tremolo spring installation, potential bridge rework, pu cavity routing for Sustainiac. Long road ahead but as someone wiser than me once said... "The most important part of a journey is the first step..."


Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31267.0

Caig DeOxit - Buy now before you need it !!!
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31707.0

MCK-fgn

Ok, next installment.... Dremel is a tool descended from heavens.

I had to chop off a part of the tremolo spring claw from a Strat. The spring cavity on the NiteFly is a little narrower compared to the Strat where my spare part came from. I then modified the Fly tremolo spring seat by drilling holes into it and making grooves for the spring to seat. I then had to slightly bend the L shaped end of the spring into a slight U shape so that the spring engages in this non-standard tremolo block. All seems to be working. We now have a working floating bridge. Wawavuwa!!!






More trigger happy action with the Dremel, this time using the routing bits... Dug out quite a bit for the Sustainiac which is quite bulky. Reached the tremolo claw tension screw threads which is unfortunate. I will fill them back with some saw-dust mixed with epoxy and stabilize the whole area and hope that it sticks...





It does seem as though I will have to use pickup rings on the Sustainiac. More on that installation later on the next episode. Onward and forward!
Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31267.0

Caig DeOxit - Buy now before you need it !!!
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31707.0

Zummooz-fgn

Looking  good  MCK

Making  good  progress  I  see.......
Yep  agree  totally, good  old  Dremel  tool  is  a  great  investment.
I  have  one  to.
That  amps  a  beauty !!  Mesa  Boogie  Is't  it ?  Amps  please !!

Cheers   
Q... What kind of advice can you give me ?   Tommy Emmanuel's reply ....

You move your hand Up and Down that long bit and the music comes out of that Big Black Box behind you !!

MCK-fgn

Its a vertical 2 x 12 Mesa cab with top open backed and lower part enclosed with some front ports. Not bad for a cab but not my favorite. Color matches the amp above it with is a Redplate. A relatively new builder out of Arizona who builds amazing amps.
Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31267.0

Caig DeOxit - Buy now before you need it !!!
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31707.0

Johnnyurq-fgn

Looking good MCK it should be excellent when completed.

I hear you on time versus things to do, oh for the Lotto win.