One of the most exciting things about the electric guitar is its limitless potential for creative design. A quick flip through any History of the Electric Guitar book will confirm this. While we’re all familiar with the iconic shapes from Fender and Gibson (for good reason), just beneath the surface lies a world shaped by visionaries like Paul Bigsby and Antonio Vandrè Pioli. If their names are new to you, do yourself a favor and explore their extraordinary contributions to guitar design. The point is—there’s endless room for innovation when it comes to what an electric guitar can be.
This brings us to Eugene, Oregon-based master builder Joe Parker and his stunning Skylighter model. Inspired by the timeless Strat-style design, Joe combines classic elements like bolt-on neck construction, a 25 1/2" scale length, and premium maple and rosewood. The result is a guitar that feels simultaneously fresh and vintage—almost as if it could have been crafted by a long-lost ‘60s builder.
The unbound birdseye maple neck with an Indian rosewood fingerboard offers a striking contrast to the one-piece chambered mahogany body with its Olympic White top. Featuring a 60s Oval C carve, 12” radius, and stainless steel frets, the Skylighter delivers a refined, vintage-inspired feel that’s both familiar and comfortable.
It's worth noting that Joe Parker honed his skills at Collings Guitars for five years—three of them in the setup department. If you’ve ever played a Collings electric, you’ll have a strong sense of the impeccable craftsmanship and feel Joe brings to the Skylighter.
Loaded with Gemini Alnico V HSS pickups, a Freeway 6-Position switch (more on this in a bit), a Gotoh 2-post bridge, and locking tuners, the Skylighter is a dream guitar for players who love elements of Strats & Gibsons wish they could merge into one instrument. It offers the ergonomics of a Strat, but with the feel, punchiness, and sustain of a Gibson. Expect plenty of muscle and sustain for both single-note runs and chords.
Now, about that Freeway 6-Position switch: what’s the deal? In short—it’s awesome. Imagine a traditional 3-way switch, but with a North and South "hemisphere." In the Southern position, you get standard Gibson-style options (bridge, bridge/neck, neck). Flick it up into the Northern hemisphere, and you’re accessing classic Strat combinations (neck/middle, middle, bridge/middle). While the Skylighter doesn’t dive fully into Strat “cluck” territory, it does let you blend in a touch of that vibe when desired.
Body
Style
Chambered
Body
1 Piece Mahogany
Finish
Nitrocellulose
Color
Olympic White
Hardware
Pickups
Gemini Alnico V HSS
Controls
Volume / Tone (push/pull coil tap) / Freeway 6-Position Switch
Potentiometers
CTS 250K Audio w/.047uf PIO cap
Bridge
Gotoh
Tuners
Sperzel Locking
Pickguard
3-ply Tortoise
Neck
Neck
Birdseye Maple
Fingerboard
Indian Rosewood
Radius
12"
Nut
1 11/16" Bone
Inlay
MoP Dots
Frets
Stainless Steel Medium
Scale Length
25 1/2"
Other
Serial #
2131
Weight
7.5lbs
Case
Custom Fit Hardshell
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