That thin rosewood is there because of the changes that Leo Fender made to neck construction in the late PreCBS era. Mayer’s favorite 1963 and 1964 strats have laminate boards.
I love the tuners. Never cold, slippery or sticky. Their size allows for maximum torque with minimum wrist torsion. They’re light and will never oxidize. I also LOVE the selector switch. Truly brilliant. I am (as you can tell ) a total guitar nerd. I’ve heard of John Mayer but have maybe heard 4 songs…I don’t follow him. But I love this instrument.
It's a shame they went with another jack plate on the SE model. I will totally buy the SE version, since it's quality is so close to the US model for about 1/3 of the price, but I'll sure miss the jack plate
Great video. I have a USA silver sky with a maple fretboard. I bought it in 2020. I was originally looking for a Fender with a rosewood fretboard, but had not found the one that sung to me and then this silver sky appeared and we just bonded. I love the neck shape and profile. It is so comfortable to play. It is one of my favourite guitars.
I really like my SE silver sky. I’ve played for long enough now that the neck carve, nut width, radius, etc is the most important aspect. I felt like the neck was a bit thicker than most fender strays I’ve played and I really like that. Plus you can get used SE sioverskys for under 500
Man, imagine being the guy(s) that nailed the design of the Stratocaster, way back in the early 50s- and everyone 70 years later not even trying after that.... amazing
I visited my local music store for the first time after moving back to town and discovered the PRS factory is an hour away. (Smith used to work in the store as a teenager.) I’m going to try to make time for a factory tour.
The horn contours are reworked so that they form a diagonal line to one another where they connect to the neck. This is a much more graceful design choice than the classic Strat which is just kinda random.
I have a 1994 American Standard Strat, a PRS SE Silver Sky & a USA Silver Sky. The 94 Strat was my No.1 guitar until I got the USA SS. Now it’s No.2. The USA SS is better than the SE in many ways. The SE has some unwanted resonances which the USA doesn’t. Not sure about tuning stability though. The troublesome G string is the same on all 3 guitars. The USA SS is easily the best playing experience. No issues with the fretboard radius or the thin frets. The only S type guitar I’ve owned which was better than the USA SS was a Tom Anderson S. I regret selling it. One feature I loved on the Tom Anderson was the ability to blend the neck & bridge pups. That gives a great funk rhythm tone. I had a Fezz Parka mod on my 1994 Strat to get that tone. Would consider the same on the SS. That means rewiring so the front knob is master volume, the middle one is master tone and the rear one is the add bridge blend control.
Great video, Jackson…Just discovered you from the Baum website, testing their Celestor #subbed …Really appreciate your insights about the Silver Sky…I'm privileged to own a new "Dead Spec" Silver Sky and it's absolutely incredible, in looks and sound… #Brass…Hopefully you'll get the opportunity to play one sometime.
I have to disagree with guitar reviewers who say that the fretboard radius doesn't make a difference. It's a personal preference thing, so if you're the kind of player that prefers a specific radius, then it will make a difference. I have two reissue Strats that are 7.25" that I really struggle on, even when they are set up well - they're just more difficult for me to play. I prefer 9.5" to 12". My Squire CV has 9.5" which is near perfect for me.
Ich nehme mal an dass die Frage sarkastisch gemeint ist, Herr Rebellius. Weil der Titel natürlich Clickbait pur ist (für mich eins der nervigsten Dinge in der UA-cam-Welt) und die „6 things“ rein subjektiv wahrgenommen werden können.
I was almost sure to pick up a cutlass...but yesterday I tried the ss (firts prs on my hands in my life), and was blown away by the tone...Now Im doubting, as the cutlass is much more ergonomic... But dont think will be as amazingly sounding as the silver sky
The Cutlass, IMO, is probably the best alternative to a good Strat. It beats out the SS, in tone and feel. It's totally subjective, of course, and there are literally dozens of comparable guitars. There are a lot of great boutique builders at that price point as well.
I heard so many people say that the fretboard radius isn't an issue at all and then I bought the Silver Sky and I can only say coming from a 10" radius - this is so terrible. I sent the guitar right back. I think it is not a good idea to talk this feature down - the fretboard is where you live as a guitar player.
What year is your Silver Sky? I’m starting to save up for one as a 30th bday present to myself. Seeing all of the supposed slight changes they’ve made around 2019-2021 is very interesting. No doubt all of them sound phenomenal, just curious. Loved the vid by the way!
@@JacksonBrooksby sweet, thanks! Ya it’s interesting, they do seem pretty subtle though at least. As far as I know the frets got slightly bigger, neck carve may be slightly different, the body finish is nitro topcoat now, and the pickups are voiced slightly different. But every example I’ve heard of the different years, including yours, sound so good!
Bought a Silver Sky SE and it’s a splendid guitar, almost too perfect. It doesn’t fight back and it’s very versatile. Sometimes I long for a high end filthy Strat but you can’t have everything. As I said it’s just a great tool but not doesn’t always have the mojo of other guitars.
Help! I am playing like John Mayer when I play it. And then I become him and become kind of obtuse. All my friends have abandoned me. Even though my name is Seabert I insist that they call me JAY EM.
It’s not a thin piece of rosewood. Its smaller radius gives it that impression. There is less rosewood visible on the edge thickness due to less wood being present. From top of the arc to base is probably close to the thickness of a flatter board top to bottom.
Sire guitars beat everything all to hell. Sire is the real deal strat and tele and 335 and jazzmaster and les paul. They are all leaps and bounds ahead of anything I've played in a long time. Been a guitar tech for over 47 yrs and I fell in love with Sire guitars. I think you will too!
@@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender still a S-Style. Even a G&L would be an S-Style. It's only a Stratocaster when it's a Fender only due to the proper model name. Obviously an S-Style means Strat Style, so calling it an S-Style is still calling it a Strat in a way, but avoiding using an actual model name. It's the reason why Suhr calls them a Classic S Vintage, or G&L calls it an S-500. It's just being proper in your terminology even though we all know what the abbreviation means.
Can't get over that headstock looking totally wrong for the body...Then that ugly scoop they took out of the bottom horn..WTH?...Hideous...Sounds o.k. but, I'd rather be seen on stage with a Squire.
Agreed. I could afford the price tag, but I’m just an amateur guitar duffer. I wouldn’t enjoy the Silver Sky more than the MIM Strat, MIM Tele, Epi Les Paul Custom and the Gretsch 5230T I could buy together for the same money.
What does this offer to hold a $2750 price tag? No stainless frets?!? Fender Ultra Luxe, Ultra, and Professional II stratocasters are superior in every single way. The Silver Sky SE only sold well the last two years because they sold them 20% off. John Mayer hasn't been relevant since 2003. 😂
I played Silver Sky, it is modern guitar now, but in just a few years, everybody will hear how lifeless and tiny these guitars sound, you see fender strat is not legendary guitar because of horn contour, but because of the life it breaths into the note. Try to understand, even the John Mayer sounds better on the stratocaster.
One advantage of the angled back headstock is that it removes the need for string trees. Great vid.
Great point!
That thin rosewood is there because of the changes that Leo Fender made to neck construction in the late PreCBS era. Mayer’s favorite 1963 and 1964 strats have laminate boards.
I love the tuners.
Never cold, slippery or sticky.
Their size allows for maximum torque with minimum wrist torsion. They’re light and will never oxidize.
I also LOVE the selector switch.
Truly brilliant.
I am (as you can tell ) a total guitar nerd.
I’ve heard of John Mayer but have maybe heard 4 songs…I don’t follow him.
But I love this instrument.
@@mathtrixmusiclix4248 agreed , great tuners in real world practical situations , love em
Interesting pov that I hadn’t considered!
not even a strat player, but teh silver sky jack plate is a thing of beauty
It’s the small things…
It's a shame they went with another jack plate on the SE model. I will totally buy the SE version, since it's quality is so close to the US model for about 1/3 of the price, but I'll sure miss the jack plate
Great video. I have a USA silver sky with a maple fretboard. I bought it in 2020. I was originally looking for a Fender with a rosewood fretboard, but had not found the one that sung to me and then this silver sky appeared and we just bonded. I love the neck shape and profile. It is so comfortable to play. It is one of my favourite guitars.
I really like my SE silver sky. I’ve played for long enough now that the neck carve, nut width, radius, etc is the most important aspect. I felt like the neck was a bit thicker than most fender strays I’ve played and I really like that. Plus you can get used SE sioverskys for under 500
Man, imagine being the guy(s) that nailed the design of the Stratocaster, way back in the early 50s- and everyone 70 years later not even trying after that.... amazing
I visited my local music store for the first time after moving back to town and discovered the PRS factory is an hour away. (Smith used to work in the store as a teenager.) I’m going to try to make time for a factory tour.
Although I do have a PRS Fiore, I am still in love with my Eric Clapton Fender Stratocaster.
It should be noted that the frets are med size after 2020. Before that they were the skinny frets which some like and some don't.
Great video man! Keep it up!
Appreciate it!
The horn contours are reworked so that they form a diagonal line to one another where they connect to the neck. This is a much more graceful design choice than the classic Strat which is just kinda random.
Loved your video - sick finish, btw!
Would you be able to do a video on the SE version sometime? I've played both and own the SE but I wonder what your op on it is.
I have a 1994 American Standard Strat, a PRS SE Silver Sky & a USA Silver Sky. The 94 Strat was my No.1 guitar until I got the USA SS. Now it’s No.2. The USA SS is better than the SE in many ways. The SE has some unwanted resonances which the USA doesn’t. Not sure about tuning stability though. The troublesome G string is the same on all 3 guitars. The USA SS is easily the best playing experience. No issues with the fretboard radius or the thin frets. The only S type guitar I’ve owned which was better than the USA SS was a Tom Anderson S. I regret selling it. One feature I loved on the Tom Anderson was the ability to blend the neck & bridge pups. That gives a great funk rhythm tone. I had a Fezz Parka mod on my 1994 Strat to get that tone. Would consider the same on the SS. That means rewiring so the front knob is master volume, the middle one is master tone and the rear one is the add bridge blend control.
I see you also have the jm watch too , i have that same one
Nice video! What about the trem? I heard it comes with the bridge anchored to the body, did you make it to be floating?
Yes it comes anchored to the body which is my preference so I haven’t raised it. I know some people who have and it works great.
I think the slim fretboard is there to mimic his ‘63 strat.
Dope watch btw
Thanks!
Love it , 😻 im wanting one , just doing my due diligence, cant decide on maple or rosewood
Great video, Jackson…Just discovered you from the Baum website, testing their Celestor #subbed …Really appreciate your insights about the Silver Sky…I'm privileged to own a new "Dead Spec" Silver Sky and it's absolutely incredible, in looks and sound… #Brass…Hopefully you'll get the opportunity to play one sometime.
That’s awesome! I’d love to play a Dead Spec
I asked a sales rep about the nitro finish maybe a year ago. They confirmed that its not nitro, its poly.
at least the poly was thin enough to produce little cracks like a nitro does when aged, unlike the thick poly finishes that peels like egg shells.
Since 2021 its Nitro
I have the exact same Silver Sky as shown in the video. I can 100% confirm it has a nitro finish. Most of my guitar already has nitro cracks.
Nice video. Keep this great content coming.
Thanks!
Honestly, I have two 70s Classics reissues. They are both 7.25. It’s not an issue for me ever.
I have to disagree with guitar reviewers who say that the fretboard radius doesn't make a difference. It's a personal preference thing, so if you're the kind of player that prefers a specific radius, then it will make a difference. I have two reissue Strats that are 7.25" that I really struggle on, even when they are set up well - they're just more difficult for me to play. I prefer 9.5" to 12". My Squire CV has 9.5" which is near perfect for me.
Nice & comprehensive review man, good one... I really hope to own one soon❗
Nice timepiece bruh 👀
Good spot
John Mayer face strikes again!
Is it a good neck for folks with small hands?
Interesting!! Why hasn't PRS told us all this themselves? Is there a reason for this?
Ich nehme mal an dass die Frage sarkastisch gemeint ist, Herr Rebellius. Weil der Titel natürlich Clickbait pur ist (für mich eins der nervigsten Dinge in der UA-cam-Welt) und die „6 things“ rein subjektiv wahrgenommen werden können.
I was almost sure to pick up a cutlass...but yesterday I tried the ss (firts prs on my hands in my life), and was blown away by the tone...Now Im doubting, as the cutlass is much more ergonomic...
But dont think will be as amazingly sounding as the silver sky
The Cutlass, IMO, is probably the best alternative to a good Strat. It beats out the SS, in tone and feel. It's totally subjective, of course, and there are literally dozens of comparable guitars. There are a lot of great boutique builders at that price point as well.
thanks man!@@RByrne
Music Man makes the best USA guitars on the market. I miss my Cutlass.
I heard so many people say that the fretboard radius isn't an issue at all and then I bought the Silver Sky and I can only say coming from a 10" radius - this is so terrible. I sent the guitar right back. I think it is not a good idea to talk this feature down - the fretboard is where you live as a guitar player.
@ Sagerydian doesn’t bother me but I can see some being sensitive to that.
What year is your Silver Sky? I’m starting to save up for one as a 30th bday present to myself. Seeing all of the supposed slight changes they’ve made around 2019-2021 is very interesting. No doubt all of them sound phenomenal, just curious. Loved the vid by the way!
Mine is a 2023. I actually didn’t realise how many subtle changes they’ve made since release
@@JacksonBrooksby sweet, thanks! Ya it’s interesting, they do seem pretty subtle though at least. As far as I know the frets got slightly bigger, neck carve may be slightly different, the body finish is nitro topcoat now, and the pickups are voiced slightly different. But every example I’ve heard of the different years, including yours, sound so good!
What fuzz pedal didyou use? Sounds awesome
New Reeves Electro TwinSound
Bought a Silver Sky SE and it’s a splendid guitar, almost too perfect. It doesn’t fight back and it’s very versatile. Sometimes I long for a high end filthy Strat but you can’t have everything. As I said it’s just a great tool but not doesn’t always have the mojo of other guitars.
You make a great point and usually that’s my approach to guitars as well. Although I’m getting on with the Silver Sky tremendously
Help! I am playing like John Mayer when I play it. And then I become him and become kind of obtuse. All my friends have abandoned me. Even though my name is Seabert I insist that they call me JAY EM.
You forgot to mention the body-to-neck pocket is not a square but curved.
A colour coordinated T shirt, such attention to detail 😂.
Hope you're doing well buddy 👍
It’s different than a strat
because its not a strat
It’s not a thin piece of rosewood. Its smaller radius gives it that impression. There is less rosewood visible on the edge thickness due to less wood being present. From top of the arc to base is probably close to the thickness of a flatter board top to bottom.
Imagine Jimi ripping on it he would put it through hell and back !!!
I’ve changed my official name to Juan Mayor….
Sire guitars beat everything all to hell. Sire is the real deal strat and tele and 335 and jazzmaster and les paul. They are all leaps and bounds ahead of anything I've played in a long time. Been a guitar tech for over 47 yrs and I fell in love with Sire guitars. I think you will too!
👍🏽👍🏽…🤘🏽
but it's pink...
If it doesn't say Fender, it ain't a Strat.
Exactly! Its a S-Style guitar, but not a Strat
True!
I might agree, but what about a suhr, john suhr ran that fender custom shop in the 90s.
@@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender still a S-Style. Even a G&L would be an S-Style. It's only a Stratocaster when it's a Fender only due to the proper model name. Obviously an S-Style means Strat Style, so calling it an S-Style is still calling it a Strat in a way, but avoiding using an actual model name. It's the reason why Suhr calls them a Classic S Vintage, or G&L calls it an S-500. It's just being proper in your terminology even though we all know what the abbreviation means.
Somebody likes deleting comments
Can't get over that headstock looking totally wrong for the body...Then that ugly scoop they took out of the bottom horn..WTH?...Hideous...Sounds o.k. but, I'd rather be seen on stage with a Squire.
Nahhhh I'll take a Strat first anyday. The REAL THING.
Agreed. I could afford the price tag, but I’m just an amateur guitar duffer. I wouldn’t enjoy the Silver Sky more than the MIM Strat, MIM Tele, Epi Les Paul Custom and the Gretsch 5230T I could buy together for the same money.
You would if you played it@@brianhansen-hj3ml
You get so much more dollar per dollar with a Stratocaster.
More fret sprout.
@@markuyehara7880 If you pay for top of the line Strat (still cheaper than the PRS) you don't get fret sprouts.
What does this offer to hold a $2750 price tag? No stainless frets?!?
Fender Ultra Luxe, Ultra, and Professional II stratocasters are superior in every single way.
The Silver Sky SE only sold well the last two years because they sold them 20% off.
John Mayer hasn't been relevant since 2003. 😂
I have a am pro 2 and an ultra and my silver sky blows them both away
I played Silver Sky, it is modern guitar now, but in just a few years, everybody will hear how lifeless and tiny these guitars sound, you see fender strat is not legendary guitar because of horn contour, but because of the life it breaths into the note.
Try to understand, even the John Mayer sounds better on the stratocaster.
That's called "listening with your eyes".
The pickups are 1 of the best things about the guitar😅
It doesn’t say Fender, it’s not a Stratocaster……………thank god!