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PRS Silver Sky SE - Were they OVERHYPED?
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- Опубликовано: 15 авг 2024
- For my Presets visit: johnnathancord... Finally, I managed to get hold of a Silver Sky SE. This was REALLY hyped for a while, and then all of the buzz around these seems to have gone away. In the UK, these are priced at £895, which is over £300 more than a Fender Mexican Player - so the values are a bit weird compared to some of you guys who may be watching in the USA.
Here's unboxing and playing it for the first time, and finding that the Pickups are VERY high....
The preset I'm using here is "EricLead" for the drive stuff, and I'm using a Two Rock Traditional Clean for the cleans.
/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoff... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
I've decided to make it possible to grab both my Helix/HX Stomp bundles (the expression bundle with freeze presets has always been separate) together for £5 - www.paypal.com... - I will then email you a link to both bundles!
You can get my EXPRESSION patches in this bundle using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
Try my GENERAL Patches for Helix or HX Stomp in this bundle for £3 using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
Try my patches for Pod GO for £3 using this link - I will then send out the patches! www.paypal.com...
/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoff... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
00:00 Moving on and Getting Over
3:36 Unboxing
4:14 Actual Unboxing
6:59 First notes through a Two Rock Traditional Clean
9:35 Initial thoughts - it's a bit dull?
14:18 More thoughts?
15:48 It's EXPENSIVE in the UK
16:54 Pickup Heights seem off?
![Finesse2Tymes & Og Boo Dirty - Real Recognize Real [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3xb4bl5PWF8/mqdefault.jpg)
Ok - so I think this example is - kinda pretty good? But in the UK these are £895...Which is...Expensive for an indonesian guitar?
Have you tried a Silver Sky SE - were the pickups this high?
Hey buddy. Use a ruler and press the last fret on the E string. The gap between the end of the magnet and start of the string should be 2mm +-. That always gives a good starting point. Imo it can make a custom shop sound like shit if pickup height is not correct
I have a Bernie Marsden PRS se. Electrics all changed except the pick ups due to faults. The neck bows with least amount of temp change and fret sprout, My Harley Benton is better quality than any SE I have played
ruclips.net/video/Ci1Iucx7Ims/видео.html
I have to agree.... the way it's advertised, the expectation is that it would compete with boutique. I sent mine back.
@@scottwilliams3608 thanks for sharing your experience. I guess maybe my expectations were a little high
Funny, I bought one and absolutely love it. It kicks the crap out of the player strat in my opinion. I bought it after playing it at my local shop, I had an instant connection with it. Pickups are definitely high, but I actually like the increased output I'm getting. I can switch between the se and my humbucker guitars with less adjustments to the amp.
Well I would assume the pickups are high because they are extremely low output. It’s suppose to be a cheaper quality version of the Silver Sky which is similar in spec to his real ‘64 strat. Vintage pickups are known be on the weaker side.
I would encourage everyone to adjust their pickup height according to taste themselves. You’d be surprised at how good a strat can sound when the pickups aren’t high output
Love mine also...feels so good to play
i bought one and hated it
Sounds sweet to me and seems to stay in tune pretty well. I like everything about it except the non locking tuners, plastic nut and oversized truss rod cover.
I finally got one 2 weeks ago and was worried about the hype...I absolutely love this guitar and don't want to put it down. For $800 no complaints here, can't see paying 3 times as much for the made in the USA version
Best Strat type guit available ATM - I tried one in a shop and bought it after 5 min playing - 3 months on and I still love it as much as the day I bought it - Overall - its much warmer and less ice picky than any strat I've ever played - to anyone looking for " that" vintage strat tone - this is it in an affordable package
Lowering high pickups definitely makes a difference. The strings can vibrate better.
I Agree 100% = sweeter tone too !!! oNe LoVe from NYC
I learnt to play guitar on a squire strat, experimented with some other guitars over the years then started playing a SE custom 24 5 years ago. I wanted a strat again and played loads of fenders at different price ranges but there was always something “missing” with them that I couldn’t put my finger on. Then I played the SS SE and it just felt and sounded like home instantly. I couldn’t put it down in the shop and bought it immediately. That was 2 months ago and I literally haven’t played any of my other guitars since. The SS brings something out of me other guitars don’t. I’ve also found the harder you play it the more it gives back to you.
As pickup height's been discussed, I'll mention that I see a lot of guitars set by factory spec measurement incompatible with high gain in the highest registers, resulting in bad warbling, etc. I prefer to set the height by ear and gain up as necessary downstream. Don't think you are being too harsh on it. Cheers mate, D
I'll add that any company that professes to be better than the rest should really not rely on poor setup to make guitars sound hotter in the stores as I suspect is sometimes the case.
the pickup height made a huge difference. I am glad I found this vid because I have one on the way and your talk of "dead" sounding guitar freaked me the heck out! I also have a core I bought new which is awesome
Grate playing!!
A bit expensive, yes.
I just bought a G&L Tribute for 385 euros with two years, and sounds fantastic.
New or used? Is the tremolo limited in movement? I read there is a rubber grommet under the bridge at the pivot posts so it wouldn’t slide up and down, although it limits movement.
And don't forget to add..,. the MIM Fender Player strat comes with a year's supply of bandages to repair the fret wounds to your fingers...
It definitely wasnt placebo. Lowering the pickups made it sound a lot better. More output isn't always the key. Cool color, but otherwise I would just go with the Mexican strat.
Just did a quick google search, and here in the States the Silver Sky SE and Fender Player Strat are the same price, $850. The SE you got certainly looks and sounds nice in this video!
Yeh - that's right for you chaps!!
I had to raise the bridge pickup to achieve balance with the others, but this is a superb guitar at any price. I’ve owned many Fenders (mostly US models) they always had issues. This Silver Sky SE is a terrific guitar, mine is ‘moon white’ - I’d prefer just white as this has a yellowish tinge, but the color options are limited. The guitar has best neck (for me) that I’ve ever played on any guitar. Everything works great. This PRS is a great guitar. Of course the Fender purists will never agree, but they are wrong. Let’s face it, all strat style guitar are ‘kit’ guitars bolted and screwed together in a simple way. The UK prices are ridiculously high and kind of defeat the purpose of an SE model. A great guitar nonetheless!
Never a good sign when the main axe is strapped back on, 1/3 way through the video. Great job as always!
The first thing you should do on any PRS guitar is change the strings. I prefer D'addario XL - it makes a BIG difference.
I don't know John, it sounds pretty damn good to me. I'm first struck by it's clarity. Sounds like feel is what it is lacking in.
I recently bought a used 2018 PRS SE. I had to refret it to Jescar EVO gold, as I had to do a fret dressing each month to avoid the frets getting to rough to do vibrato on. The fretwire is just too soft. Same deal with a JTV-69 Variax (both Korean). Let's see what reviews will say in a years time..... FWIW
I have the silver sky se and a road worn 50s vintera MIM strat. The silver sky gets a better pure clean tone. If I want to play some Hendrix-type stuff I would used the strat. My understanding is the mid range in the silver sky se is pushed more than a strat, so they really do sound different. I live in the US and the silver sky se was cheaper than my vintera strat. I play in a cover band and getting a loud clean tone over drums and keys can be difficult and I think the silver sky se does a better job than the fender
Great sounding guitar I have changed my mind and am now saving up for a Silver Sky gray with maple neck… There is no way I would ever purchase a green guitar unless it was like a dark hunter green.. Nice job though great playing as usual. God bless.
I talked smak about PRS SSKY SE but now that I have one, I'm a believer baby! 😂 Mine is magical 🧙♀️
I think you’re being honest and fair. I find most PRS reviews to be fake and bought, I mean what does this guitar do better than a fender player Strat, at the same price (here where I live)? The rosewood fingerboard is the only thing I can think of. I’ll never buy that Fender Pau Ferro crap. The Squire models even look better 😂
Full disclosure: not a fender fan boy, but I’ve never ever touched a PRS. I was never into their looks and frankly can’t respect a company whose reviews look so fake and a basic concept was to trace a Les Paul and a Strat and combine the two.
I didn't even know they existed until a month ago. It's now my favorite guitar over my Pro 2 even.
I spent quite a bit of time recently playing both a USA-made Silver Sky and an SE, having previously not had a chance to play either. I so desperately wanted to like them, I was all ready to buy a core model in fact. They look great and the build quality is very good, even on the SE. For me though there were two things I didn't enjoy, on both models. First, the neck is too thick for me, I appreciate its more a vintage spec which a lot of people like, and it's probably somewhat impacted by the fact I have an issue with my left hand/thumb and find slimmer necks more comfortable now, but I just couldn't get on with that neck. It was like a baseball bat. Secondly I just really didn't enjoy the pickups, they were too bright for me. There is a slight difference between the core and SE pickups as far as I could tell not sure if one was dimmer than the other, I think it was a bit more clarity in the core but it was very slight and at any rate they're both too bright and too hot for me. Even with rolling the tone and volume down quite a bit I just couldn't find the right sound for me. I know these things are purely preferential, so somebody else will have no issues with these things, but it was enough for me to rule out getting a Silver Sky in the future.
SE pickups are hotter, and the neck is a tad wider and flatter but miniscule, and the Core model pickups are also different depending on the year of the Silver Sky, as the years progressed Mayer asked each iteration after 2020 to be less hot. PRS are known for VERY articulate pickups. Players with disabilities or heavy hand might find they do not like them very much (I am one of them). Those players who have a more delicate touch, like my son, LOVE it.
I personally also only like their pickups through tube amps, I don't like it through my kemper or using plugins with reaper. I don't know what it is, I haven't had a guitar that I felt this way about before.
I always think about the silver sky’s, but I also wonder how much I have hyped it in my head
The one american one I played was really nice - as good as the Fender Custom Shop strat I had, and on the level of the K-line - I guess it's kind of unsurprising that this one isn't, but with all the videos saying they couldn't tell the difference between the two models, I kind of expected this one to be....better?
Tks for your honest feed back. Would love to see a comparaison with your sire S7 Vintage.
Will do!!
Great 👍👍👍 tks
Yes, me too. I think that this could be a hugely important comparison because I suspect that the SS-SE is perhaps inflated by around £300 because of the connection to JM. I’m genuinely keen to get one for the pickups and the fretboard radius, but the Sire with a more vintage spec is appealing and especially in comparison on price.
Keep playing it John…. Actually sounds great. But then you could probably make a tin box strung with a few strings sound good 😊
Yep - he's that good. Love his guitar playing. It Inspires me.
@@michael_caz_nyc totally agree… and a very humble man as well.
@@kenphillips3282 No Doubt.
Sounded a lot better after you adjusted the pickup height.
I had that same exact one and sold it. The pickups were great but I just bought a used Squier strat and upgraded the pups for half the cost of the SS SE.
Per usual though, you make another guitar sound fantastic!
At the price point of $850 the Silver Sky SE will be the best guitar the many folk will play and own. I see many of the comments and most of these contributors have played and owned higher end guitars. It a great guitar for its market. I have a dragonfruit and for me I am very happy with it. I am blessed to own high end Fenders. I grew up learning on Hondas and Mexican Fender. I wish something this good existed in my early years of playing. Btw love your playing
For you guys in the US $850 does seem about right for the guitar, in the UK - £895 I'd say is pretty expensive for what it is - but yeh competes with the Mexican Player fairly well
"high end Fenders" Solid body, bolt on necks all made via CNC the same way as they do in China, Indonesia. Ironically those factories in the far east will have better machines as they need to be industry quality to make the volume they churn out. then again the US probably just import the parts from those factories before slapping the "Fender Made in US" decals.
I LOVE my PRS SE, had to lower my strings but for my cash it is every bit the monster tone maker that my 62 Strat, with a slightly wider neck. you're sounding mighty wit it! cheers
At least it comes with a good gig bag.
You ever get that 1x10 Mark Five: 25 combo? Have had mine now for a few months and love it.
Playing sounded great.
No sir!!
Everytime I hear these SE versions, they sound decent, but the pickups are just too different from mine and other Core Silver Sky I have heard. I think the Core SS pickups are just phenomenal all the way around and do that "vintage" thing a little better. Mine is a 2019 and the 2020 model pickups are more low output that have their own thing going for them.
I also think Popular is usually a softer wood in my experience which I believe really changes the way things ring/vibrate and can affect tone. But now I'm getting into the weirdo territory!
Totally I don't really remember the other Silver Sky being dull in any way? These pickups seem quite hot too?
@@johnnathancordy yeah I don’t remember the exact readings, but I know the SE pickups were in the mid-high 7ks where the Cores are more in the mid-low 5k range.
I know that’s not the BEST determination, but it definitely shows the SE is much hotter overall. I also am a firm believer in tone wood making a difference, but I know there are tons of people who disagree! Either way, I think it makes a great option if you’re in the market (in the US price wise it seems) for a Fender Player series, but I don’t see the SE taking away from the Core
@@TheAdamBates No, Mister Bates (am I the first one to just call you "Mister"?) : )
I think you are dead on with tone wood. I think I figured it out. More accurately, I figured it out and then I ran across others on youtube that had already figured it out - naturally. Anyway, I believe wood affects tone by what frequencies it absorbs and reduces. At most, it will allow more sound transmission but doesn't "add" to the tone. My opinion, anyway. But if so, that means a potentially big difference in tone even between the same species of wood, but species will generally give you a good guide or starting point. I think, overall, this is crucial to feel and the way you are connected to the instrument. And that "feedback" is what is inspiring when you play a guitar and think "damn! this cheap ass guitar plays great!" - when you have just played 5 guitars at guitar center and pick one up at random and are taken aback by how good if feels to play because its just more responsive than you expected. and that's all through the same signal chain when you're trying out guitars. It's clearly not more important than the electronics, but I think it's close behind.
I have a Japanese strat (1990 50's reissue). I put '69 CS pickups in it years ago. The SS SE is way louder. I attribute that to the higher pickups. I can understand being underwhelmed if you are paying 25%-30% more than we are in Canada. But I do really prefer the SS neck to my strat.
Dude!!! Respect! Admittedly, I prefer the SE Silver Sky over the Player Series and the player plus series. Admittedly, I'm probably going to hunt down a older Squier Pro Tone Strat.
I think in the US it's a bit of an easier choice to make, in the hands the Silver SKY SE does to me feel like it's a touch more polished compared to the mexican player - but over here it's nearly £900 which is....A lot
@@johnnathancordy Geez!!!! at that price point I dont blame you!!!!
@@JasonTMays Yeh. It's a lot over here haha. If it was £550 like the player series I'd be a bit more impressed I think
I just got one yesterday and it's an awesome guitar. I don't know what is the matter with people complaining about the same things over and over again: the tuning keys and the truss rod plate. Come on. It's alright. As for the price, in Canada, I paid 1100$ plus taxes. It's less than a mexican strat. Sounds better, holds tuning better. Fret work is perfect for the price (not rolled like higher end guitar but no sharp edges and everything is levelled). I've seen glue on a mexican strat fingerboard around frets. I've tried american professional II strats. This guitar is better. Pick ups are warmer. Less ice pick highs getting in your teeth. It's an awesome guitar. Plus you don't get the feeling of having been ripped off because of the name on the headstock. John Mayer and PRS did good on this. The seller also told me that between this and the core model the difference is so small that he would go for the SE anyday. I'm not a John Mayer fan. Just happens that this guitar is really great.
If I were looking for a new strat without unlimited budget I would for sure go with a Schecter Nick Johnston signature. Way better value imho. This is just a quirky strat coopy, the only thing I like is the 3+3 headstock
Yeh the Schecter to me is one that I've never heard a bad word about
Yeah... The thing just oozes value and tone, you should try to get one to play around since you are a strat enjoyer :)
I traded down, sold my SE. Bought a 2000 MIM standard for 150 bucks and it plays great and has a more enjoyable Bridge for me. I feel it responds to some dirt better than the SE.
Purchased 2 prs se a 24 08 and se custom both sent back for bad fret work did not expect that from prs after watching videos of final checks at factory mine had not been checked both unplayable
Thanks for the contributions!
Dropping the pickup height made it way better. I had to do that with mine. Honestly, I feel my Mexican Players Strat is better in everyway. And after I upgraded it's bridge and put on locking tuners it was in a different class. I've always liked the PRS SE line in the past. This was the first I felt wasn't quite there. I sold mine after a few months. Just a bland guitar really.
Really? Interesting!
Dropping the pups was definitely an improvement, didn't sound quite as "plastic" and unimpressive.
Sounds good but that's down to your playing. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered. I think we are paying a premium for the hype but that's often the case with anything. Lovely stuff.
Let me know how you get on with it!
I thought the American Silver Sky was a good guitar, just not for me. Really happy I played it first, rather than order it and hope for the best. The prices have gotten a bit silly though. It was $1600 new a couple years ago, now it's $2549. The SE seems like a bargain in comparison! Anyway, thanks for the video.
I think I would agree, given the UK cost. At US price, it's a pretty good deal. Add $300 and that changes.
Think I'll save my money in hopes of buying a USA made strat some day. After all aren't they all trying to copy the real deal. PRS does make some really nice guitars for sure! Great video, thanks.
That guitar has a great looking neck!
Also I’m all about clean tone if I ever even use any kind of overdrive that’s all it would be just the Tiniest amount of overdrive and that’s it for me it’s all about that clean town and it sounds wonderful
"Quickest that hype died for a product in recent memory" scans room for Quad Cortex
Yearh… Dude was already biased going in… But fun observation none the less!
What about the PRS vs the Sire S7?
All in good time!
I heard a difference in the pickup height for sure definitely sounded better after lowering them. I sold a squire j mascis and a Mexican strat recently because of that “dull” feeling also.
I got one while I was working on the road and thought it was great! Then I got back home to my Strats. I think I may have played it for 20 mins since. It can’t touch the Fenders in my opinion. I love that K-Line! I might have to try one of the offsets. San Bernardino is it?
Not placebo. Sounds crisper after the pickup height adjustment. I had the exact same impression you did
Haven’t played a silver sky but have played a few PRS guitars and they were all very well made, beautiful guitars that had absolutely no soul or mojo.
You summed that up well. I had a CE which I nearly kept, but in the end it just never got picked up and it got dusty. Lovely finish and the colour matched my jeans, but meh.
Sold it to help pay for a MM Luke 1.
Well you would, eh?
I started off not wanting to like this bc I wanted the guitar. I critiqued your playing like any subconsciously jealous, mildly drunk, insecure player would...and watched. Great video man and I love the playing and sounds. You also have talked me out of buying this very pretty but sterile sounding instrument. I still may pick one up used one day but I'm going to start eyeing Tele's again. Keep up the great work my friend!!
Hey Paul! I'd try one before you decide whether or not it might work for you - they're certainly not bad guitars and if you like the neck, could be worth a look!
@@johnnathancordy , I hear you brother but changing the pups out seem to be on the to do list. I don't even like John Mayer but like the Yngwie model I've just always wanted one since they came out...I just can't justify the purchase. Mayer SE is cheaper tho and the cream color looks amazing but all the demos I hear it sounds ..sterile...compared to regular strats or strat styled gitfiddles.
@@pauljude agreed it's a bit vanilla....
How does this compare to a Sire S7? I know you gave that pretty high praise.
The neck feels way different, due to the vintagey radius, in comparison the Sire neck feels quite oval/modern/flatter - to play I'd say the Sires I've had seem a little more happening - but I'll do a video on this in the next few days
@@johnnathancordy awesome, I look forward to seeing that!
This guy is literally the only person on RUclips with a MEH attitude about the guitar. And it’s not a pine body lol
John Nathan would you be up for trying some of the Harley Benton cheapo Strat Copy n Les Paul Copy and then do an A/B of this PRS Silver Sky?
I heard Mayer play live a week ago and he played the core mostly obviously but did play the SE on New Light, it had a noticeable sound difference, more harsh or stale. Hard to describe but I didn’t like the clarity as much. Cool he used it tho
I actually quite liked the warmer sound of the SSky se in this vid (going through my studio monitors).
Your playing is utterly phenomenal
Man, you really are a great guitarist. You seriously need to write and record a solo guitar album (apologies if you've already done it).
My feeling of the original Silver Sky is that it was overhyped. What impressed me the most, was how plastic it felt. The one I played didn't have a very solid tone though, it was quite thin in comparison to a standard fender strat. Fabulous unboxing btw!
Don’t agree with you on that one Art. I played my much loved custom shop Strat for 19 years before buying one of the first USA Silver Sky guitars that hit the market. It is my main gigging guitar now and the Strat is the backup. I don’t know about the cheaper version of the Silver Sky, but the original is a fabulous guitar… in my humble opinion and experience.
Unfortunately, as a lefty, I can't try these guitars, but from an outsider's perspective, I feel like #1 it was the worst kept secret and hype started to build up a few months back prior to release; then #2 it finally dropped in January and of course we all held on to our collective hats with video after video about this guitar; I think, however, the Fender Acoustasonic marketing machine was worse than this. At least I do still people playing these Silver Sky SEs. I haven't seen ONE RUclipsr use one Acoustasonic in any context after their release video. But I am with you there, I feel like aside from the headstock and bird inlays, it doesn't bring anything 'new' or 'different' to the table than what a Fender Player Series Strat brings - and hey they do make them left handed and with maple freboards to boot! I think I'd rather plunk down the cash for a Schecter Nick Johnston ST-Style guitar in HSS for example.
I'll raise you one - Josh Meader haha!
But yeh. The Acoustasonic thing is curious to me because it seems like a real niche that hasn't particularly taken off at all, yet there is also a substantial marketing push for those that I personally can't understand?
@@johnnathancordy I mean, compared to say the Yamaha Revstar - now THAT's something to get excited about. Completely new (well to us lefties) completely different. Priced JUST RIGHT. Ticks all the boxes. I sincerely think that a G&L Tribute guitars give you a better bang for your buck considering they are WAY cheaper and made by the same people in the same factory (Cor-Tek) with USA hardware and pickups. If you speak to the Yamaha guys, though, again please give them my sincere thanks for not overlooking us lefties and you dang right I placed my order for the Standard version immediately when it was announced. Now, I just have to be patient until it ships :D
What is your favorite? It’s not a fender. My favorite has become my fender professional I. It just feels and sounds amazing. But I got the dragonfruit model recently from PRS. It’s fun and better than a MIM Player series. The PRS set up is awful.
Dude you and me both. My first impressions I was slightly let down. In hand it does feel cheap, and I just wish they could have made it feel like it punches above its weight class like some other lower end guitars do, even other SE PRS's. This was super hyped up, and I honestly feel like it's worth spending the cash on the US one. No contest between the two.
Yeh to be honest it's not really the same experience I had with the US Silver Sky - maybe I was expecting too much!
First of a dozen or more reviews where the reviewer wasn't simply delighted. But then, your 'fav' guitar did sound special... even with old strings. Looking at my strats...and yeah, pups seem very high/close to strings....dropping them should help.
Now a comparison with Sire!😜
I can’t get passed the cheap plastic tuning knobs .
I've been keeping an eye on the Peach web site for the arrival of these, but they're still back-ordered. Did you receive this one recently from them? Many thanks for the review, I've been wondering how the QC would hold up when they ramp up production considerably to meet demand.
Hey chap! They had 3 of these green ones in the other night so I quickly grabbed the lightest one!
still absolutely baffled by the decision to put a two point trem on it. I have NEVER heard a strat with a 2 point trem I thought sounded great. I thought it did seem to sound a bit better with the pickups dropped. that said, Im not the target market for this guitar so I probably shouldnt have too strong of an opinion.
Go watch Jake from Umphreeys play his G&Ls. They are all 2 point floating bridges and they sound effing incredible.
I would have never imagined a chainsaw in any of your videos Johnathan! Beautiful playing as always. Could you please do a lesson on major/minor scale exercises someday? Keep up the great content!
Whoah, 895 pounds!? For some reason I was thinking they were in between 500-600 pounds. That's a tough price point for such a guitar.
Yeh I don't know if it's a UK tariff thing or anything it just seems like what was supposed to rival the Mexican player ends up being pretty pricey here?
@@johnnathancordy Everything seems to be going up in price in UK it's lame as heck. With regards to PRS SE's though there's been a price creep for the past good few years. Kinda mad how much they've went up without thattt much change in quality >.> (as great as they can be)
Its crazy that it costs £895 in UK. In my area, it costs only £670
VAT is 20% so it would push it up but still very expensive even factoring in transporting them from the US (but they are built in Indonesia so they would be shipped from there just like they would be in the US).
Ah, I thought you were getting an Yngwie yellow one... 😟
Maple neck please
Very interesting, I've always been sceptical of the whole Silver Sky 'phenomenon', it always looked like a John Mayer sour grapes/vanity/money grab to me. They sound brittle when played by anyone but him. Superb tones on his new album and recent live clips, very treble and brittle in everyone else's hands. You did a good job but then you've got excellent touch/musicality. Still not impressed by the instrument and wonder if JM's is 'tweaked' especially the pickups. A deeper dive comparing a 1k Fender Strat and this would be interesting. Also a comparison of the Silver Skys and the original Fender John Mayer.
I would love to hear your review of a PRS Fiore!
It’s a great sounding guitar hands down
I haven't played one of these as I don't even think they're available left handed, but I really can't understand how anyone would buy one of these over a Fender. Don't get me wrong, it's cool if people like them. I just don't get it.
IF it was the same price as the Fender in the UK, I'd be able to get it, I think it's definitely on that level or maybe a smidge better, and the neck is quite different to what Fender offer at this level
Glad you abandoned the chain-saw unboxing! I believe that guitarists should avoid chain saws (and other power saws) as a general rule.
Love a good PRS. Never once even considered wasting a penny on a silver sky.
I would love for you to a play Godin Radium and give your opinion on it.
The people have spoken and they want the pickups lowered.
I did lower them!
I actually had this same exact model delivered to me yesterday. I didn’t get a lot of time to play it, but I guess my first impressions were that it seems fine but not necessarily amazing.
But perhaps I’ve played too many really nice American Strats and other comparable things to be fair about it. It feels different than most Strats too me simply because it’s so light. So when I’m playing it, I didn’t really have the feeling of, “oh, this feels like a Strat”. For the record, I currently own a 1991 Strat Plus and a 2001 American Deluxe Fat Strat (which would later just be called a US Deluxe HSS, I think).
So I don’t know… We’ll see, I guess. I do think the color looks better in person than in the photos, I’ll say that.
Hey Phil! Yeh the colour I think looks really nice in person - even Lenny said "that's a nice colour" (she doesn't normally care about the guitars I bring into the house ha) - but yeh. I'd put it into the good kind of category - I guess I was hoping for more as it's kind of expensive in the UK
I ordered one whose arrival was repeatedly postponed.... my expectations are sinking a bit...
John, have you tried a JET guitar yet? they get good reviews for the cheaper end of the market.
Hey Peter - I haven't! I do worry that those are SO cheap that someone somewhere is doing work for very very low wages?
I live in UK. Can’t get a right lot for £895 anymore. Maybe 2001 when USA strats where £850.. price on guitars is silly now. 3k mark for a lot of stuff. Tbh I thought it sounded pretty well, but you can’t compare it to the USA version. No way. It will always be better. Tokai are amazing guitars. My friend has 2 from early 90s when they actually made cock on copies of strats and were sued.
$849 vs K-line used (at best) $1800 (twice the price = twice the value?) The SE is an entry-level product. The K-Line is professional.
Actually I bought the K-Line for less used than the SE.
I think where you're from the SE is more competitively priced - the point was that the REAL Silver Sky compared favourably with both the K Line and the Fender Custom Shop - as expected - the Silver Sky SE didn't - but that's not exactly what the influencer folks were pushing right?
@@johnnathancordy I agree with you. I'm impressed (from watching your videos) with the K-Line but it is somewhat expensive here. They are around $2750 new and finding a well-priced used K-Line is difficult (based on Reverb). I'm not impressed with the SE. The signature model Silver Sky has evolved (pickups are different on the newest model--which I prefer). I tend to buy used when shopping for a guitar.
@@lawboss I'd say a real Silver Sky could be totally awesome based on the one that I played and aren't actually that expensive on the used market, relative to the Fender CS alternative.
I guess also over here the Silver Sky SE is priced at £895 which just isn't entry level pricing? For £550 or something it'd be fine!
See, I always thought it was an overpriced version of the Sterling by Ernie Ball CT-50 without the baked maple neck and locking tuners.
I actually disagree.
I think it’s the best (for the money) you can buy. But I love the neck profile. I do think they are better than any of the fender Mexican stuff by far.
Where are you from Kenton? I think the value proposition for anyone not in the UK is quite different!
The pickups were insanely high. If you press the last fret and the string hits the pickup, well that speaks for itself. I think it is the most important adjustment you can make on the guitar with its current pickups.
I suggest setting them to the PRS Factory Specs, then adjust the height by ear. Small height adjustments can make a big difference.
I just dropped them a ton Mark, not sure what the factory heights are but this had been checked over/set up by Peach apparently?
@@johnnathancordy Not sure who "Peach" is. For the final setup of pickup height, I think it's best to do it so it sounds great on your gear with you playing. Nothing else can compare to you doing that step. 😎
@@picksalot1 peach is a UK guitar shop where John bought the SE
@@tonystartup3817 Thanks
@@picksalot1 no probs. If you're not in the UK it probably didn't make much sense
Yeah made a huge difference to my ears you lowering the pickups.
I have no idea how these guitars feel and I can say that the look of the Silver Skys is a bit so so - but to me these clean tones you had in the intro were some of the nicest I heard on that channel ... and that is saying a lot because I think you generally dial in some very nice tones.
Jake's Traditional Clean!
Not sure if you mentioned it but the K-Line is way more expensive than the Silver Sky SE...so can't really compare ..maybe compare the other Silver Sky John Mayer with the K-Line ...
Yeh of course, it was more to get a sense for what it is that I'm missing - the other PRS Silver Sky compared favourably with Fender Custom Shop and the K Lines so that's why I picked up the K Line to get a sense for that
John Ive been awaiting your review of the PRS SS-SE. I have played the core American PRS SS. It didn't work for me. Not saying the SS is not a great guitar, its just not for me. The thing I've noticed on most of the hundreds of videos out there on the SE model including yours, is the pickups are too glassy and high end. More than they need to be. Any Strat has that especially on the neck pickup. However, there is a good glassy tone and bad and what I've heard thus far it is too glass and lacks warmth.
This to me was duller (or more bass and mids) than I'd think of with a Strat, but something about it just doesn't seem to jive as much as the one core Silver Sky I played (I hear there is a bit of variation with those anyway?)
Certainly there cannot be a different definition between British and Standard English - It's a PHOENIX, not a pheasant lol
Having never played one but owning a PRS I'm a little surprised by the negative comments. I thought I'd give the hype time to calm down and then get one but after my latest trade I think I'll shelve that thought. I picked up a G&L Comanche that IMHO blows away Strat-like guitars...and I own two Strats. Thanks for showing the other side of the hype....it helps us all.
To me it doesn’t even sound like you playing, which is weird, cuz you always sound like you. (Awesome, BTW!). Also, it sound like the nut isn’t in spec, and it needs a setup, or at least a truss rod adjustment. All this is anomalous for even PRS SEs, AFAIK… but I’ve never had a new one in my hands.
It’s a great guitar straight up no need to pay $3000 anymore for Guitar and I just absolutely no need