Parker P-38 User manual

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Larry Fishman and I formed Parker Guitars in 1991. It continues to be a
rewarding project and a great education for us. We're thrilled that you have
chosen to make your music on our creation!
I designed the P-38, and Larry and I personally certified the production
process in one of finest guitar production facilities in the world. We're sure
that you will be inspired by its versatility, tone, outstanding quality, and
playability.
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- Ken Parker
THE PARKER P-38:
POWERFUL VERSATILITY
The Parker P-38 is equipped with custom voiced Parker alnico magnetic
pickups along with Fishman®piezo transducers mounted in a Wilkinson®
licensed vibrato bridge. These piezo transducers, or acoustic pickups, are
integrated into each bridge saddle and respond directly to the acoustic
energy of your Parker guitar's strings, providing a full-range acoustic sound
quality.
On their own, the piezo pickups produce a subtle and intimate acoustic
guitar-like sound, but the true power of the P-38 is the ability to blend the
piezo and magnetic signals together. A special Fishman®active circuit allows
you to mix the two types of signals right on the guitar! You can blend the
piezo pickups with clean magnetic sounds to create bright percussive tones
or with your favorite distortion settings for fat, two-guitar-like, mixes. You
can even send the piezo and magnetic signals to two different amplifiers for
an amazingly lush split sound.
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PARKER GUITARS
P-38 GUITAR HANDBOOK
© 2000 Parker Guitars • Parker Guitars are patented by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 5125312, 5305674,
5337644. Other patents pending. 8-2-00
®
PARKER GUITARS
P.O. BOX 388 WILMINGTON, MA 01887 USA
978.988.0102 FAX [phone]
www.parkerguitars.com
®
LIMITED WARRANTY
There is a 1-year limited warranty beginning on the date of first customer pur-
chase on all unmodified and properly cared for Parker Guitars.
Any Parker Guitar found to be defective within the 1-year warranty period set forth
above will be repaired or replaced at the option of Parker Guitars provided the guitar is
promptly delivered (freight and insurance prepaid) directly to Parker Guitars for service.
Please contact Parker's Product Support office at [phone] for information, return
authorization, and a Parker Work Order Number. Please visit the Parker Guitars Web
Site at www.parkerguitars.com for more detailed warranty information.
Warranty Repairs Outside the U.S.
For warranty repairs outside the U.S. please contact either the dealer from whom you
purchased the guitar, or the Authorized Parker Distributor in your country for informa-
tion and assistance.

SPECIFICATIONS
Body Ash
Neck Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood
Neck Radius 12"
Scale length 25 ½"
Frets 22 medium jumbo
nickel / silver
Bridge Custom Wilkinson
®
bridge featuring
Fishman
®
piezo
pickups
Magnetic Pickups Parker custom
wound alnico pickups
Piezo System Fishman
®
active
preamp/mixer
Stereo Output Jack Fishman
®
"Smart
Switching" jack
Controls Magnetic Pickup
Volume, Tone, and 5-
way Pickup Selector
Switch
Piezo Volume,
3-way Magnetic / Piezo
Selector Switch
FEATURES & CONTROLS
CONTROL DESCRIPTION
Along with the familiar Volume, Tone, and Magnetic Pickup selector found on most electric guitars,
the P-38 also has controls for Piezo Volume and a Piezo / Magnetic Pickup Selector.
“S MART SWITCHING”OUTPUT JACK
A special active circuit, featuring a "Smart Switching" output jack, automatically senses whether a
stereo or mono jack is inserted. This circuit makes it possible to mix (sum) the piezo and magnetic
pickup signals, by automatically sensing the output cable, and play both sounds through a single
amp, or split them to two separate amps or mixers.
1. MONO GUITAR CABLE
When a standard mono guitar cable is inserted, the guitar's two signals (magnetic and
piezo) are automatically mixed (summed). Both sounds can be played through a sin-
gle guitar amplifier or mixer.
2. STEREO CABLE
When a stereo guitar cable is inserted, the guitar's two signals (magnetic and piezo)
are automatically split into stereo. The special stereo “Y” cable provided with the gui-
tar allows you to send the two signals to two separate amplifiers. The piezo pickup will
sound its best through a PA, an acoustic guitar amp, a keyboard amp, or some other
high-fidelity unit.
BATTERY
The 9-volt battery that powers the Fishman®piezo pre-amplifier has a life of approximately 150
hours. The circuit switches on when a cable is plugged into the guitar, so to conserve batteries,
unplug the cable when you're not playing your P-38.
NOTE: To replace the battery, unscrew the small battery cover on the back of the guitar.
PIEZO FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Piezo pickups have a far greater treble response than magnetic pickups. Some amps have no
trouble with the additional high frequency output, but others may distort. If this happens, either
lower the piezo volume at the guitar or amp, or try lowering the treble control of the amp.
GROUND LOOPS
Sometimes when using two amps, there may be a loud hum when the guitar is plugged into the
second amp. This hum is caused by a ground loop. This ground loop isn't the fault of the guitar (or
the amps for that matter), but rather the result of essential electrical safety code requirements.
Ground loops can occur whenever two pieces of electronic equipment are connected.
NOTE: Do Not Disconnect Or Otherwise Attempt To Defeat Ground Connections On Your
Electrical Equipment !!
There is ONLY ONE safe way to rid yourself of ground loops: Use a Direct Box with a ground
lift to isolate the two amps. Plug the magnetic end of the stereo "Y" cable into one amp and the
piezo end into the Direct Box. Plug the Direct Box's output into a balanced input on the second
amp.
ADJUSTING YOUR PARKER GUITAR
If you're unfamiliar with adjusting instruments, we suggest that you take your guitar to a qualified
guitar technician. He or she can help demonstrate these adjustments and you can decide which
ones you are comfortable making yourself and which ones you might prefer to have made profes-
sionally.
Magnetic Pickup Volume
5-Way Magnetic Pickup Selector
Magnetic Pickup Tone
3-Way Piezo / Magnetic Pickup Selector
Piezo Volume
Forward: Magnetic Pickups Only
Middle: Combination
Back: Piezo Pickups Only
Forward: Neck Single Coil
Middle and Neck Single Coils (Hum-canceling)
Middle: Middle Single Coil
Inside Coil of Bridge Humbucker and Middle Single Coil (Hum-canceling)
Back: Bridge Humbucker