Joe Parker Guitars Skylighter Hardtail Fiesta Red

Before diving into the details of this ultra-vibey Skylighter, it’s worth highlighting that Joe Parker spent five years honing his craft at Collings Guitars—three of those in the setup department. If you’ve ever experienced the flawless playability of a Collings electric, you’ll recognize the same meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail in Joe’s work. While Parker’s Skylighter guitars have a distinct vibe, feel, and tone all their own, Collings fans will appreciate the shared DNA of excellence.

This Fiesta Red Skylighter is a perfect example of Joe’s genius, blending the best elements of Strats, and subtly of Gibsons, into one versatile instrument. Outfitted with Gemini Twin Mag pickups, a hardtail bridge, Gotoh tuners, and the innovative Freeway 6-Position switch (we’ll get to that in a second), the Skylighter combines the comfort and ergonomics of a Strat with the punch, sustain, and dynamic range of a Gibson. It’s a guitar built for everything from nimble single-note runs to powerful, punchy chord riffage.

Now, let’s talk about that Freeway 6-Position switch—as in, what the heck is a 6-way switch anyway? Think of it as a traditional 3-way switch with an added twist: it offers two “hemispheres.” In the Southern positions, you get classic Gibson-style configurations (bridge, bridge/neck, neck). Flick it up to the Northern hemisphere, and you unlock Strat-style combinations (neck/middle, middle, bridge/middle). While the Skylighter doesn’t fully replicate Strat-style “cluck,” it gets damned close and adds just the right amount of that flavor when you want it, making this guitar incredibly versatile without losing its unique voice.

In short, the Skylighter is a dream for players looking for a guitar that bridges the best of two iconic worlds while offering something uniquely its own.