Parker P-38 Standard - User Manual

P-SERIES Player’s Guide
P-38 • P-38 STANDARD • P-40 • P-44
Dear Fellow Guitar Enthusiast:
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-Series Guitars and Larry and I personally certified
the production process in one of the finest guitar production
facilities in the world. We're sure that you will be inspired by its
versatility, tone, outstanding quality, and playability.
Thanks for your support. Play from the heart!
-Ken Parker
P-SERIES SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
P-38, P-38 Standard & P-40: Ash
P-44: Mahogany with Maple top
Neck Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood
Neck Radius 12"
Scale length 25 ½"
Frets 22 medium jumbo nickel/silver
Bridge Custom Wilkinson
®
vibrato bridge featuring
Fishman
®
piezo pickups
Magnetic Pickups Parker custom wound alnico pickups
P-38, P-38 Standard & P-40: One Humbucker and
two Single-coils
P-44: Two Humbuckers
Magnetic Controls P-38, P-38 Standard & P-40: Magnetic Pickup
Volume, Tone, and 5-way Pickup Selector
P-44: Magnetic Pickup Volume, Tone with push /
pull coil-split switch, and 3-way Pickup Selector
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
• 3mm allen wrench (Bridge Stud Screws/Height Adjustment)
• 1.5mm allen wrench (Bridge Saddle Screws, Individual string height
screws, Vibrato Bar rotation tension screw)
• Steel rod capstan wrench (Truss rod adjustment)
• Stereo Y-cable (15 feet)
• Vibrato bar (5.2 mm.)
• Vibrato spring
CONTROLS
P-SERIES GUITARS (with piezo systems)
The Parker P-38, P-40 and P-44 are 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.
However you choose to blend (or split!) the sounds on your Parker P-
Series guitar, the results are an exciting new range of hybrid clean and
dirty tones!
Along with the familiar Volume, Tone, and Magnetic Pickup selector
found on the P-38 Standard, the P-38, P-40 & P-44 are piezo equipped
models and feature additional controls for Piezo Volume and a
Magnetic / Piezo Pickup Selector switch.
®
®
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
P-38 & P-40 Controls
Magnetic Pickup Volume
3-Way Magnetic Pickup Selector
Magnetic Pickup Tone
(with push/pull coil-split switch)
3-Way Piezo / Magnetic Pickup Selector
Piezo Volume
Forward: Magnetic Pickups Only
Middle: Combination
Back: Piezo Pickups Only
Forward: Neck Humbucker
Middle: Both Inside Coils (series / hum-canceling)
Back: Bridge Humbucker
(with tone pot push/pull switch pulled out)
Forward: Neck Humbucker
Middle: Both Inside Coils (series / hum-canceling)
Back: Bridge Humbucker
P-44 Controls

Summary

P-Series Guitar Specifications

Body and Neck Construction

Details body wood, neck material, fingerboard, radius, scale length, and frets for P-38, P-40, and P-44 models.

Bridge and Pickups

Describes the vibrato bridge with piezo pickups and the type of magnetic pickups used in P-Series guitars.

Magnetic Control Configurations

Outlines the magnetic pickup configurations and control layouts for P-38, P-40, and P-44 models.

P-Series Guitar Controls

P-38 & P-40 Control Layout

Details the controls for P-38 and P-40 models, including magnetic volume, piezo volume, and pickup selectors.

P-44 Control Layout

Describes the specific control layout for the P-44 model, including its magnetic and piezo controls.

P-Series Standard Model Features

Standard Model Controls

Explains the volume, tone, and 5-way pickup selector for P-38 Standard models without piezo systems.

Stereo; Mono Operation

Details the 'Smart Switching' output jack and its function for mixing or splitting piezo and magnetic signals.

Battery Information

Provides information on the piezo pre-amplifier battery life and replacement procedure.

Guitar Adjustments and Maintenance

Action Adjustment

Guides on adjusting string height (action) using bridge post and saddle screws.

Intonation Setup

Explains how to set string intonation by adjusting saddle screws for length.

Truss Rod Adjustment

Provides instructions and a strong recommendation for professional truss rod adjustment.

Vibrato Bar Rotation Adjustment

Details how to adjust the vibrato bar's tension or prevent it from falling out.

Limited Warranty

Warranty Coverage and Service

Outlines the 1-year limited warranty for unmodified guitars and service procedures.

International Warranty Repairs

Provides guidance for obtaining warranty repairs for guitars purchased outside the U.S.

Parker P-38 Standard Specifications

General

Brand	Parker
Model	P-38 Standard
Category	Guitar
Language	English