VIDEO SECTIONS: 1. Silver Sky Specs - 0:56 2. What Does It Sound Like? - 4:15 3. One Minute SOLO - 8:31 4. What's Under The Pickguard? - 9:48 5. Is It Worth Buying? (Overall Construction) - 12:48 Guitar Link: imp.i114863.net/BXYXK4 Enjoy!
@Darrell Braun Always watch you & love your show. However, is it a thing in Canada that you call 2nd & 4th position opposite? I, in the USA was always told & believed that the neck is 1 then 2 mid pup 3 then 4 bridge 5th. Please correct or direct me to where this is shown. I have been a musician for 6+ decades and never heard this. I appreciate you w/follow up. Cheers!
Dude they are killing it on the Sky. They are so amazingly consistent. The top of the line is second to none. The feel the play from one to the next its insane. The SE carries it all with affordability. You can have the SE even and it's one of your keepers until you go to the tomb.
@@soundofwinter I would be horrified, this guitar is way too ice picky and lacks any mellow at all. Also I cannot stand their metal style headstock design.
I bought this guitar the ever green one, 3 weeks ago, I’m completely in love even tough here in Brazil it does costs twice you pay for it in US or UK (due to taxes plus retailers ripping us off 🤯) I also own an American standard fender and I can tell that this is not a simple strat. It has its own personality and I like its tone a lot.
I just got this guitar in this color….. it’s what I have looking for. I like the tones and neck profile more than my American professional strat. Yes there are guitars better than this but this is phenomenal.
Me too, my same guitar, manage to score a demo model last weekend. I've also been a/d against my American professional. It actually stacks up to it quite nicely. I can't say that the pro is a better guitar but for paint job, maybe minor hardware differences.
I sold my American special because I got the stone blue for me and moon white for my niece. These guitars just feel better and sounds better. So much lighter too and my back can handle it. Yes knobs are plastic but the tuners hold tune. May only replace truss rod cover at some point. Got $133 below cost because they say it was returned and May have minor blemish . I never found it. 🎸🎸🎸
@@stacylenihan206 yeah I prefer how the volume knob works on this one, there’s a little heat at ten that cleans up nicely, where as the vmods on the American pro are crystal clear all the way . Im pretty wispy washy on what I like best and prefer variety but I can understand why someone would like this better, feels and sounds great. My favorite part is I got this for $1000 less.
@@stacylenihan206 The american special isnt so good;igave it away for a Blade Texas pro......feels better and sound is ok,i will get new Pickups.........from Fender!
I bought and returned a Silver Sky, just wasn't my thing. Got a Silver Sky SE on the way, and I have a feeling I'm going to like it much more than the Core version. Thanks for the video!
Poplar is a great wood, I just googled it, and it's one of the easiest trees to grow, it grows fast, and requires very little maintenance to sustain the tree's health. Excellent wood for those worried about the environmental damage of lumber. And it sounds great too.
It has been proven time and again that the choice of body wood does not influence tone in the slightest, so I don't care about that aspect. The reason why I don't like poplar for guitars is its softness. Poplar guitars dent much more easily and severely than hardwood guitars.
@@lordlorzius That is a very fair point, and I actually also hate the whole "tone wood" thing, idk why I included it in my comment. (Probably just to keep "tone wood" purists off my back? Lol)
I have subscribed to Premier Guitar for ages, and they do reviews on everything, and then they give the pros and cons at the end, and this guitar is the only review I've ever seen, guitar, bass, amp or pedals, that had no cons. PRS sweats the details like no other manufacturer.
@@michaeljames3252 i mean it literally isn't. You can find many strat copies that have better specs for less and have better QC. The Larry Carltons come to mind, the schecter nick johnston model is evenly priced for way better specs, there's a couple.
I have one in stone blue. Ive played but never owned a MIM strat so take this at face value. Mine just begs to be played, its so versatile and just plays so well. It may not have the absolute tubiest 'stratiest' strat sound, but it does sound amazing in its own right. However, the thing just bleeds music out of the frets, just wants to be played constantly.
Don't have this model yet, but that's exactly how I feel about my Music Man Cutlass. There's just something about the guitar that when you're playing it you can't stop and suddenly three hours have passed 😂
I Own five PRS's core and SE's and the only real complaint that I have ever had is that I wish they would spend a little more time on QoL things as opposed to cosmetic upgrades. Offering abalone inlays on the SE's is nice but I think that most people would take the cheaper inlays in trade for say stock locking tuners or a USA made nut. These costs would be miniscule and I think it would exponentially increase the value. The quality is good and I know that PRS offers the drop in locking tuners for the SE Silver Sky , but honestly, the tuning keys on the American made SS aren't much higher quality than the SE as far as I can tell. Glad to see that they made this model more affordable because a close to 3k price tag for the American made really put it out of reach for many players. Great review as usual Darrell.
A first class review, thanks! Darrell's is one of the tiny number of channels (only one?) where I can go and hear an accurate idea of what the review guitar really sounds like. I can't count the number of times I visit channels to hear a guitar I fancy purchasing only to hear it badly amplified to such an extent it puts me off buying, thinking it may be partly to do with the guitar. I'm pondering on buying a Silver Sky SE in this wonderful moon white colour, but they don't hit the UK until April/May so I'm going to hang fire until I hear what those are like, just in case the massive ramp up of production quantities impacts the quality control in any way.
It is the best sss guitar made today. Every position is musically clear and articulate. The build quality is outstanding. They really reinvented the S guitar and made it better.
Awesome Darryl,I’m finally getting one, been wanting one for a year. I thought they had to be good. Appreciate the walkthrough and review. Really excited.
Darrell, thanks for your detail review; top notch as always. I think a lot of people trust your reviews (which is why I think you might want to do something about the scam account replying to tons of posts).
Something which doesn’t show up in the specs is how a particular instrument may or may not inspire the musicians. This one seems to have gotten to you Darrell!
I have this exact guitar down to the color. I didn't like the gray buttons or truss rod cover either but they've grown on me. Sure, PRS could easily make something more esthetically pleasing to the eye but then it'd be that much closer to every other strat style guitar out there. As far as tone and playability John Mayer himself couldn't tell the difference in the dark...well, maybe he could...but only him.
Love that Moon White. Agree about the plastic tuning knobs and truss cover. It isn't even so much the plastic as it is the gray color for me. While I think the typical chrome would have popped better, even white butterbean-style knobs and white plastic cover would have blended better with the classic lines.
I think you've really hit upon the real problem. Truthfully, no one cares about plastic buttons as many vintage guitars have them and no one EVER complains. It's really about the color -- and possibly the shape -- and how they go with the vintage style tuners.
@@markuyehara7880 For certain. I understand why PRS doesn't necessarily change the headstock shape, but those fat gray buttons and the gray truss rod cover put the UG in Ugly.
I think it's PRS' way of separating the Silver Sky SE from the 50 other strat style guitars out there. Have to admit...they stick out like a boner in sweatpants.
I will still you mine at a loss. I have the exact same one as this one. Plastic still on it, I need to sell it asap so I can sign up for my next semester. $850 plus shipping
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!
Thank you Darrell, excellent review, damn I wish I could play like you. I bought this guitar a few months ago and it's a very well made guitar, I'm very happy with it but I will be replacing the tuners, the plastic knobs are unacceptable and PRS shouldn't have cheaped out but they did. I just ordered the following: PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Locking Tuners (New, Chrome, 6-Pack) for $105.00. Always a pleasure watching you, take care buddy.
About time (kidding)! PRS has a real hit on their hands. If I didn't already have a Strat I like, this would be somewhere at the top of the list. Thanks.
Hey Darrell, when I remove the pickguard with strings on, I slip a thin section of cardboard between the guard and the strings. It keeps the pups and whatnot from snagging the strings. A cereal box works well.
Talking affordable versions of high end guitars, I have a 2009 G&L Legacy Tribute and have just had a third party PTB style upgrade (CTS pots and metal selector switch, with push pot to load in bridge or neck pup depending on the position of the selector, so a 7 way switch). My luthier who did the upgrade for me gave me the old pots and switch that came with it from Indonesia which are CTS and metal switch. Couple that with the USA made G&L pups and G&L Dual Fulcrum bridge, and it was very close to the US version. I have never regretted buying it, will never part with it, and have saved myself £100s on a US model, so they need a shout out too imho. They don't have the nomenclature of Fender or PRS, but they do give you a great midrange or high end guitar.
I got this guitar a few days ago and I have not been able to put it down. In the store I was choosing between a vintera fender and this and for me the PRS is just more comfortable. Not to mention the nicely rounded sound from the pickups.
The plastic buttons are great. Great grip, light, modern. Every part om this guitar is a new design, produced for this guitar, while othernone just keep using the standard gipson stuff etc.
YOU WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE PLASTIC TUNER BUTTONS, THIS IS FROM THE PRS SITE, Why are the tuners on both the SE and the original Silver Sky in the grey plastic material? What’s the purpose? Part of John Mayer’s goal with the Silver Sky was to bring a modern aesthetic to a classic design. As we developed the guitar, we were pulling materials and colors from modern references, and we both thought the gray buttons added unique, modern vibe to the guitar. In addition, they are incredibly lightweight, which supports the tone and resonance of the guitars. So, like with everything, it was a look, feel, and sound based decision.
People have been asking the same since the original SS was released. I have one and have just kinda learned to deal but is certainly a personal gripe. That and from what I understand the Bridge on the SE doesn't have the weird B-string issues that the cores have always had and were never fixed.
My 3 favorite electric guitars have all had Poplar bodies and Maple necks (but with Maple fretboards). The tones can sound crunchy or very clear and defined, providing a nice variety of tones. Bridge pickup with a tone pot is the way to go. 👍 I like the direction of the headstock swoop, as it is in the direction that allows the index finger side of the hand to lean way back and reach some unusual hand/chord shapes that sound cool. I wish PRS could find a way to incorporate the sharp points on the headstock into the body shape. The smooth contours on the body horns fight with the sharp points on the headstock. I think it would be an esthetic improvement if they were all pointy, and it would be a welcome move away from the rounded Fender design. It's time for PRS to stand on their own design while still giving a bit of a nod to Fender.
If it's as good as my SE Custom 24-08, then it's a really good guitar. PRS is the place to go for terrific playability and quality. It's just a winning combination. 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Of course I have to always watch your videos saw the 3 singles coils so the first I was wondering about was Tone especially clear? You must be totally correct about the pickups! So me being stuck in Mahogany Humbucker Land I it was time for my to open my Horizons and learn Something New!!! After listening I was truly amazed with the Tone!!! Also you said best with word Versatile!!! Very seldom can you find or buy a guitar that can play all styles and everything!!! If anyone asks if I know a good guitar to buy I'll tell them this one especially if its in their price range!!!
I remember when Paul Reed Smith released his first line of factory guitars back in the mid 1980s. The PRS Custom was basically a Les Paul and a Stratocaster in the one instrument. And what fine instruments they were indeed. I recall playing a few back then but the snob in me stil preferred to see the words Fender or Gibson on the headstock. How silly was I. Wish I had purchased one. The fact that the current cheapie PRS guitars can compete with the Fenders is (sadly) more a commentary on modern Fender than PRS.
I suspect a lot of people who extol the virtues of their cheap Asian-made guitars would swap them in a heartbeart for a genuine Fender if ever given the opportunity.
Honestly said - I've been a big fan of SE prs guitars (having owned 3 models so far) notwithstanding the fact they had serious setup issues . I've been waiting for (what appears to be) ages for Silver Sky to start shipping. And now, specs wise I think I'll go Sire or Nick Johnston. Even Vintage v6 seems more appealing now..Too much plastic for my taste for the price, nut is enigma, not a big fan of poplar either - Imho best sounds come from single coils combined with alder (personal preference, of course). Haven't had an opportunity to try SS SE, but Sire and Schecter NJ both sound and feel awesome. Not a native English speaker, so apologies upfront...
The Schecter strato style seem very cool and also look very sexy and slick, however i would prefer a more rounded fretboard on a strat style guitar. I would need to try them all to make a comment.
Found this about a year later. I finally got one, and in Piano black. Which was always sold out, and the, click here to be informed when they are back in stock,.... a few times dinged and I guess I was in a good spot in line, lol. I thought for a moment that I got a lemon, as the setup was horrible, I mean HORRIBLE. But some adjusting, then some adjusting, then some,...... I finally got it dialed in. It took me a bit even more as I had to re-think this guitar as NOT one of my shredder guitars, but more of a blues machine.
I'd love to have this one, but the cost in my country bump pretty high, with the price of one Silver Sky SE you can buy a T style and S style Sire guitars🙄
Hello Darrell. Never wrote before. I am not a guitar player, i just like the technics. What i like to do is building lap steels as an hobby, i am 67. Jus wanted to say that i realy like your channel! The reason, is there are a lot of them on RUclips, but it's very, very refreshing to hear reviewing from someone who actually can play guitar. Please keep doing what you do. Thnx and cheers, Paul
Great review as always bro. That truss cover caught my eye First thing when I saw the guitar..they should be ashamed of that thing..the tuners as well. PRS makes a great set of locking tuners, I for one would pay a little extra to have them on mine if I bought one. I could never leave that truss cover on it either.😁 I deal in a lot of different antiques Darrell, and having to tell the difference between bone, ivory, plastics, and other materials I have found a very hot pin locked in some small vice grips works great! I heat it almost red hot, then pick a hidden area on the part of the nut that's not obvious, and just touch the very tip against it. If it's plastic it will melt into it. But do it fast and you know for sure what it is, and the mark is so tiny I never had anyone even notice it. Just an idea from a old man bro.🙂 Keep up the great work!!✌️
I would like to offer to you this tip to try regarding locking tuners. I Was taught over 40 years ago to wrap he string around the tuner about 4 to 5 times then put the end of the string through the tuner hole being sure to run it between windings. once the string tension is set, the strings windings sandwich the string LOCKING it in. Try it. What do you have to lose? Spend the $90.00 saved on a mothers day or a fathers day gift Or some Black Acrylic paint for that truss rod cover and tuning pegs that seem to bother so many people. I'm 61 and do not concern myself with that so much. I have no thoughts on resale value. I just like playing and entertaining myself and bar patrons.
For the price, it’s a great Strat. But I still far prefer the PRS Fiore over the Silver Sky. If PRS ever makes an SE version of the Fiore, that would be the guitar I would buy and play more than any other S type model.
Nicely done, Darrell. There has been a lot of hype around this guitar -- but that's what happens when you deliver above average value. I've owned two SEs -- I have my name on the list for this model -- and they've both outplayed and outclassed guitars costing two to three times as much.
Looks like a good guitar for the most part, but I really found the pre release hype on this one to be over the top. I'm suffering from Silver Sky fatigue. It's still just one more Strat clone, in a market of many. I would probably go for a Sire S7 before this one. Thanks Darrell!
I can only agree. i bought a Sire S7 last year, and it is everything that you could ask for and i highly recommend buying one. It has a better spec than the Silver Sky SE and a lower price with locking tuners not cheap plastic ones!
That's how I feel about the Sterling by MM Cutlass SSS CT30 & CT50. And DBG reviewed that one back in 2018, so a PRS SE SS JM has been around for quite some time and perfected by Sterling by MM. I've already got the PRS guitar with a Squier Bullet SSS HT or even an Affinity SSS Tremolo. Andertons did a video, sound like JM without breaking the bank, they used the Squier Bullet in that video. I'm not a fan of the PRS neck pocket & even the finger rout cutouts for the 3x SSS pickups. This is a fine guitar though and it's more of a direct Fender MiM competitor. Fender in my mind gets the win still being Alder > Poplar. But Poplar being Poplar, that's where a Sterling with or without locking tuners saving $ 300-500, at this price point, the PRS can't compete with a Sire $ 599 Strat either. $ 250-300 is significant for essentially the same instrument. Must be John Mayer's endorsement cut per copy ? If I'm dropping $ 899, I'm getting a Schecter Sun Valley Shredder in Birch Green with a Sustainiac.
@@jimcamp2423 I agree, PRS have underspec'd this guitar in too many key areas to make it a must buy. Re Schecter, i have a C1 FR-S and it beats a lot of my guitars for playability. PRS is no different to the other big names, you pay a big premium for the logo on the headstock.
@@TheHumbuckerboy Sorry, but besides Gibson, there's nothing more pretentious than a Fender. All there is to it is the headstock and logo. There are lots of S-Style guitars that blow production line Fenders -- including the SS - out of the water.
A small thing worth mentioning: one of the complaints about proper Strats is the placement of the volume pot being too close to the high E string. This guitar has less space between knobs, but the volume is about a half-inch farther from the strings on its more famous counterpart.
Can you do a comparison between this and the sterling cutlass. I know that you’ve done a music man vs prs before put I think a strat vs strat Music man vs prs would be cool and I would like to know which ones better just because they both something I’m considering
You should do a comparison of the silver sky and fender player strat. Sounds like a typical strat to me. I'm a big Strat fan. Nice to see the cavity is sheilded. Yes the tuners are a drag and I'd be pissed if I ever needed to work on it and couldn't flip the pickguard over cause the wires aren't long enough. Ive owned 2 PRS SE guitars, a Santana and a Custom 24 and while both looked and played xlnt, neither would stay in tune with the whammy and while they both sounded good on their own when playing with a band they just didn't cut it.
Just change the nut and you can make dive bombs and stay in tune. I swapped the plastic nut with a graph tech nut. The tuners are perfect, no need for locking tuners. Thank me later 😉
Single coils aren’t for me, but PRS never disappoints, whether SE or American models. I’m sure for a single coil fan, this thing is a beast. Even SE models have absolutely incredible fretwork and build quality. Amazing value in that line up.
VIDEO SECTIONS:
1. Silver Sky Specs - 0:56
2. What Does It Sound Like? - 4:15
3. One Minute SOLO - 8:31
4. What's Under The Pickguard? - 9:48
5. Is It Worth Buying? (Overall Construction) - 12:48
Guitar Link: imp.i114863.net/BXYXK4
Enjoy!
Once again a great vid from Darrell B. Keep it up man!
Far oot!
@Darrell Braun Always watch you & love your show. However, is it a thing in Canada that you call 2nd & 4th position opposite? I, in the USA was always told & believed that the neck is 1 then 2 mid pup 3 then 4 bridge 5th. Please correct or direct me to where this is shown. I have been a musician for 6+ decades and never heard this. I appreciate you w/follow up. Cheers!
Hi, Darrell, did I win?
@@rockinrob2004 LOL!
Dude they are killing it on the Sky. They are so amazingly consistent. The top of the line is second to none. The feel the play from one to the next its insane. The SE carries it all with affordability. You can have the SE even and it's one of your keepers until you go to the tomb.
I’m pretty sure I would be happy if the Silver Sky SE was my only electric guitar.
@@soundofwinter I would be horrified, this guitar is way too ice picky and lacks any mellow at all. Also I cannot stand their metal style headstock design.
@@jhrdrake7205 poor review you obviously don’t own one
I bought this guitar the ever green one, 3 weeks ago, I’m completely in love even tough here in Brazil it does costs twice you pay for it in US or UK (due to taxes plus retailers ripping us off 🤯) I also own an American standard fender and I can tell that this is not a simple strat. It has its own personality and I like its tone a lot.
I just got this guitar in this color….. it’s what I have looking for. I like the tones and neck profile more than my American professional strat. Yes there are guitars better than this but this is phenomenal.
Me too, my same guitar, manage to score a demo model last weekend. I've also been a/d against my American professional. It actually stacks up to it quite nicely. I can't say that the pro is a better guitar but for paint job, maybe minor hardware differences.
I sold my American special because I got the stone blue for me and moon white for my niece. These guitars just feel better and sounds better. So much lighter too and my back can handle it. Yes knobs are plastic but the tuners hold tune. May only replace truss rod cover at some point. Got $133 below cost because they say it was returned and May have minor blemish . I never found it. 🎸🎸🎸
Just returned a brand new Players Series. PRS is FAR beyond Fender in QA. Really a bummer.
@@stacylenihan206 yeah I prefer how the volume knob works on this one, there’s a little heat at ten that cleans up nicely, where as the vmods on the American pro are crystal clear all the way . Im pretty wispy washy on what I like best and prefer variety but I can understand why someone would like this better, feels and sounds great. My favorite part is I got this for $1000 less.
@@stacylenihan206 The american special isnt so good;igave it away for a Blade Texas pro......feels better and sound is ok,i will get new Pickups.........from Fender!
This was my first real guitar purchase and I’m absolutely in love with it. Got it in the green!
I bought and returned a Silver Sky, just wasn't my thing. Got a Silver Sky SE on the way, and I have a feeling I'm going to like it much more than the Core version. Thanks for the video!
Poplar is a great wood, I just googled it, and it's one of the easiest trees to grow, it grows fast, and requires very little maintenance to sustain the tree's health. Excellent wood for those worried about the environmental damage of lumber. And it sounds great too.
It's their most poplar
It has been proven time and again that the choice of body wood does not influence tone in the slightest, so I don't care about that aspect. The reason why I don't like poplar for guitars is its softness. Poplar guitars dent much more easily and severely than hardwood guitars.
@@lordlorzius That is a very fair point, and I actually also hate the whole "tone wood" thing, idk why I included it in my comment. (Probably just to keep "tone wood" purists off my back? Lol)
@@lordlorzius cabinet maker here- Alder is just as soft as poplar.
@@lordlorzius Years from now, denting will be considered an essential for any reliced guitar. lol
One of the best guitars you can buy for the money. Awesome guitar and you will NOT be dissapointed. GREAT guitar.
I have subscribed to Premier Guitar for ages, and they do reviews on everything, and then they give the pros and cons at the end, and this guitar is the only review I've ever seen, guitar, bass, amp or pedals, that had no cons.
PRS sweats the details like no other manufacturer.
The Silver Sky SE is probably the best value guitar on the market. It looks beautiful, and sounds great! Of course, you make every guitar sound good.
Not even close.
@@adriansoul7223 That was helpful.
@@michaeljames3252 i mean it literally isn't. You can find many strat copies that have better specs for less and have better QC. The Larry Carltons come to mind, the schecter nick johnston model is evenly priced for way better specs, there's a couple.
I would add Yamaha Revstar and Ibanez Azes to that list to
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess I agree, Schechter and LTD are far better built guitars for the price, too.
I have one in stone blue.
Ive played but never owned a MIM strat so take this at face value. Mine just begs to be played, its so versatile and just plays so well. It may not have the absolute tubiest 'stratiest' strat sound, but it does sound amazing in its own right. However, the thing just bleeds music out of the frets, just wants to be played constantly.
Don't have this model yet, but that's exactly how I feel about my Music Man Cutlass. There's just something about the guitar that when you're playing it you can't stop and suddenly three hours have passed 😂
Always a pleasure to stop by, Darrell. Thanks again😁
i absolutely need that guitar.
very nice they made a middle-class SE version of it.
I Own five PRS's core and SE's and the only real complaint that I have ever had is that I wish they would spend a little more time on QoL things as opposed to cosmetic upgrades. Offering abalone inlays on the SE's is nice but I think that most people would take the cheaper inlays in trade for say stock locking tuners or a USA made nut. These costs would be miniscule and I think it would exponentially increase the value. The quality is good and I know that PRS offers the drop in locking tuners for the SE Silver Sky , but honestly, the tuning keys on the American made SS aren't much higher quality than the SE as far as I can tell. Glad to see that they made this model more affordable because a close to 3k price tag for the American made really put it out of reach for many players. Great review as usual Darrell.
OTOH a new nut and tuners are pretty easy upgrades.
The upgrades you mentioned are waaaay more expensive than simple cosmetic upgrades.
A first class review, thanks! Darrell's is one of the tiny number of channels (only one?) where I can go and hear an accurate idea of what the review guitar really sounds like. I can't count the number of times I visit channels to hear a guitar I fancy purchasing only to hear it badly amplified to such an extent it puts me off buying, thinking it may be partly to do with the guitar. I'm pondering on buying a Silver Sky SE in this wonderful moon white colour, but they don't hit the UK until April/May so I'm going to hang fire until I hear what those are like, just in case the massive ramp up of production quantities impacts the quality control in any way.
It is the best sss guitar made today. Every position is musically clear and articulate. The build quality is outstanding. They really reinvented the S guitar and made it better.
I love that solo Darrell! Beautiful guitar as well.
Do you have the tabs for the solo you played first with just the neck pickup? Nice mellow lick.
Awesome Darryl,I’m finally getting one, been wanting one for a year. I thought they had to be good. Appreciate the walkthrough and review. Really excited.
4:25 just BEAUTIFUL! If you had told me this was the sound of an American Strat, I would have believed you lol
I heard that the rounded pickguard is what makes is so modern. And there's no bottle caps to speak of! No zombies on the fretboard here.
Darrell, thanks for your detail review; top notch as always. I think a lot of people trust your reviews (which is why I think you might want to do something about the scam account replying to tons of posts).
Something which doesn’t show up in the specs is how a particular instrument may or may not inspire the musicians.
This one seems to have gotten to you Darrell!
I have this exact guitar down to the color. I didn't like the gray buttons or truss rod cover either but they've grown on me. Sure, PRS could easily make something more esthetically pleasing to the eye but then it'd be that much closer to every other strat style guitar out there. As far as tone and playability John Mayer himself couldn't tell the difference in the dark...well, maybe he could...but only him.
Thanks Darrell, I've been waiting for your review for this guitar for a while. I'm gonna buy one asap.
Just subscribed
This is why I bought the Squier Affinity 2021 because its also poplar. But man PRS and their setups are exquisite even at their SE Models
The tuning peg tips are the same on the core model. For whatever reason, they're what John chose
Love that Moon White. Agree about the plastic tuning knobs and truss cover. It isn't even so much the plastic as it is the gray color for me. While I think the typical chrome would have popped better, even white butterbean-style knobs and white plastic cover would have blended better with the classic lines.
I think you've really hit upon the real problem. Truthfully, no one cares about plastic buttons as many vintage guitars have them and no one EVER complains. It's really about the color -- and possibly the shape -- and how they go with the vintage style tuners.
@@markuyehara7880 For certain. I understand why PRS doesn't necessarily change the headstock shape, but those fat gray buttons and the gray truss rod cover put the UG in Ugly.
I think it's PRS' way of separating the Silver Sky SE from the 50 other strat style guitars out there. Have to admit...they stick out like a boner in sweatpants.
Great review! Looks and sounds like one that definitely should be considered to fill the single coil void in my very small collection. Thanks, Darrel!
I will still you mine at a loss. I have the exact same one as this one. Plastic still on it, I need to sell it asap so I can sign up for my next semester. $850 plus shipping
@@vhcxhbvg lol that’s not a loss that’s the standard price of the guitar
@@bustings1457 you live on a cruise ship? No sales tax?
I'm new to following this channel and Darrell comes off as the nicest guy in the world. 👍
The best thing is that I isn't afraid to give an honest opinion. There are way too many channels that will only shill for giants like Fender.
I especially like that crunch tone you are getting, right on the money
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!
I bought exactly this one at 1 february 2023 great guitar and a nice review, thank you for that.
A lot of PRS tuning machines are not replaceable except with PRS tuners, usually very expensive too!
Thank you Darrell, excellent review, damn I wish I could play like you. I bought this guitar a few months ago and it's a very well made guitar, I'm very happy with it but I will be replacing the tuners, the plastic knobs are unacceptable and PRS shouldn't have cheaped out but they did. I just ordered the following: PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Locking Tuners (New, Chrome, 6-Pack) for $105.00. Always a pleasure watching you, take care buddy.
Darrell , you are so right about PRS pickups , my PRS 245se (LP style) has amazing powerful and clear pickups in it . That guitar sounds really good .
I want one and just love those PuPs ~ better than the USA made Silver Sky PuPs I think.
I own one and it plays and sounds FANTASTIC!!!!!
that demo was so smooth
I literally just yesterday searched PRS silver sky Darrell Braun and it wasn’t a thing. Then a few hours later BAM! Here it is!
About time (kidding)! PRS has a real hit on their hands. If I didn't already have a Strat I like, this would be somewhere at the top of the list. Thanks.
Hey Darrell, when I remove the pickguard with strings on, I slip a thin section of cardboard between the guard and the strings. It keeps the pups and whatnot from snagging the strings. A cereal box works well.
Your reviews are fantastic! You seem so happy doing them 😊 just bought the stone blue and can’t wait!
Talking affordable versions of high end guitars, I have a 2009 G&L Legacy Tribute and have just had a third party PTB style upgrade (CTS pots and metal selector switch, with push pot to load in bridge or neck pup depending on the position of the selector, so a 7 way switch). My luthier who did the upgrade for me gave me the old pots and switch that came with it from Indonesia which are CTS and metal switch. Couple that with the USA made G&L pups and G&L Dual Fulcrum bridge, and it was very close to the US version. I have never regretted buying it, will never part with it, and have saved myself £100s on a US model, so they need a shout out too imho. They don't have the nomenclature of Fender or PRS, but they do give you a great midrange or high end guitar.
I got this guitar a few days ago and I have not been able to put it down. In the store I was choosing between a vintera fender and this and for me the PRS is just more comfortable. Not to mention the nicely rounded sound from the pickups.
wow,,,,
About 10 years ago, i bought a DeltaTone HSS in a sorta chsb with blk parts.
Ruled thru a FM212. Still plays great.
$75.00.
The plastic buttons are great. Great grip, light, modern. Every part om this guitar is a new design, produced for this guitar, while othernone just keep using the standard gipson stuff etc.
I wonder if they use the plastic buttons for weight reduction to reduce neck dive. I haven't played one yet but have one on the way from Reverb.
I really wish the one I ordered from Sweetwater in January would show up.
YOU WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE PLASTIC TUNER BUTTONS, THIS IS FROM THE PRS SITE,
Why are the tuners on both the SE and the original Silver Sky in the grey plastic material? What’s the purpose?
Part of John Mayer’s goal with the Silver Sky was to bring a modern aesthetic to a classic design. As we developed the guitar, we were pulling materials and colors from modern references, and we both thought the gray buttons added unique, modern vibe to the guitar. In addition, they are incredibly lightweight, which supports the tone and resonance of the guitars. So, like with everything, it was a look, feel, and sound based decision.
People have been asking the same since the original SS was released. I have one and have just kinda learned to deal but is certainly a personal gripe. That and from what I understand the Bridge on the SE doesn't have the weird B-string issues that the cores have always had and were never fixed.
My 3 favorite electric guitars have all had Poplar bodies and Maple necks (but with Maple fretboards). The tones can sound crunchy or very clear and defined, providing a nice variety of tones. Bridge pickup with a tone pot is the way to go. 👍 I like the direction of the headstock swoop, as it is in the direction that allows the index finger side of the hand to lean way back and reach some unusual hand/chord shapes that sound cool.
I wish PRS could find a way to incorporate the sharp points on the headstock into the body shape. The smooth contours on the body horns fight with the sharp points on the headstock. I think it would be an esthetic improvement if they were all pointy, and it would be a welcome move away from the rounded Fender design. It's time for PRS to stand on their own design while still giving a bit of a nod to Fender.
Bore off mate.
Got the stone blue one on the way. Excellent review. Thanks.
Wow! An 8.5" radius. Now that is a kick back. Props to PRS. But, for $850 plastic buttons are less than Squire standards.
The USA version has plastics buttons too…
*Squier
Pearl pegs looks better too.
I’ve seen used ones on the market with cracks across them. Is there anything you can use as replacements
If it's as good as my SE Custom 24-08, then it's a really good guitar. PRS is the place to go for terrific playability and quality. It's just a winning combination. 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I prefer g&l tribute and I own 4 core models
Before removing the pickguard slide a piece of paper in so the pickups dont catch on the strings.
Of course I have to always watch your videos saw the 3 singles coils so the first I was wondering about was Tone especially clear? You must be totally correct about the pickups! So me being stuck in Mahogany Humbucker Land I it was time for my to open my Horizons and learn Something New!!! After listening I was truly amazed with the Tone!!! Also you said best with word Versatile!!! Very seldom can you find or buy a guitar that can play all styles and everything!!! If anyone asks if I know a good guitar to buy I'll tell them this one especially if its in their price range!!!
I remember when Paul Reed Smith released his first line of factory guitars back in the mid 1980s. The PRS Custom was basically a Les Paul and a Stratocaster in the one instrument. And what fine instruments they were indeed. I recall playing a few back then but the snob in me stil preferred to see the words Fender or Gibson on the headstock. How silly was I. Wish I had purchased one. The fact that the current cheapie PRS guitars can compete with the Fenders is (sadly) more a commentary on modern Fender than PRS.
Great job as always Darrell...I'm a Fender guy, I'll stick with the original
I suspect a lot of people who extol the virtues of their cheap Asian-made guitars would swap them in a heartbeart for a genuine Fender if ever given the opportunity.
@@rexrathtar3893 Are you going to pay the difference?
if you don’t care about resell these do the job. I just feel I’d rather have a USA made Fender over this.
Just my humble opinion.
Maybe going forward, PRS will address these shortcomings.
Great video. I got the Dragon Fruit one and I love it.
Great intro Darrell!! This should definitely be your new intro tune to all of your vids!! Nice work!! 🙏🔥
Honestly said - I've been a big fan of SE prs guitars (having owned 3 models so far) notwithstanding the fact they had serious setup issues . I've been waiting for (what appears to be) ages for Silver Sky to start shipping. And now, specs wise I think I'll go Sire or Nick Johnston. Even Vintage v6 seems more appealing now..Too much plastic for my taste for the price, nut is enigma, not a big fan of poplar either - Imho best sounds come from single coils combined with alder (personal preference, of course). Haven't had an opportunity to try SS SE, but Sire and Schecter NJ both sound and feel awesome. Not a native English speaker, so apologies upfront...
The Schecter strato style seem very cool and also look very sexy and slick, however i would prefer a more rounded fretboard on a strat style guitar. I would need to try them all to make a comment.
Found this about a year later. I finally got one, and in Piano black. Which was always sold out, and the, click here to be informed when they are back in stock,.... a few times dinged and I guess I was in a good spot in line, lol. I thought for a moment that I got a lemon, as the setup was horrible, I mean HORRIBLE. But some adjusting, then some adjusting, then some,...... I finally got it dialed in. It took me a bit even more as I had to re-think this guitar as NOT one of my shredder guitars, but more of a blues machine.
Sounds amazing, and I really like that solo you used to show it off.
Glad you pointed out how cheap the tuner knobs and truss rod cover look. In my mind they just cheapen the whole instrument. Too bad. 😎🇨🇦🎸
agree, they look terrible, nonetheless, I love mine
I'd love to have this one, but the cost in my country bump pretty high, with the price of one Silver Sky SE you can buy a T style and S style Sire guitars🙄
Another great review. Thanks Darrell 😊
Hello Darrell. Never wrote before. I am not a guitar player, i just like the technics. What i like to do is building lap steels as an hobby, i am 67. Jus wanted to say that i realy like your channel! The reason, is there are a lot of them on RUclips, but it's very, very refreshing to hear reviewing from someone who actually can play guitar. Please keep doing what you do. Thnx and cheers, Paul
Nice clean wiring job on that pickguard.
Often imitated never duplicated 🔥
Weird thing to say about a strat knockoff.
Nice guitar! The sound is very identical to the original one!
I like your Tool videos, but like that you're also doing reviews now.
Great review as always bro. That truss cover caught my eye First thing when I saw the guitar..they should be ashamed of that thing..the tuners as well. PRS makes a great set of locking tuners, I for one would pay a little extra to have them on mine if I bought one. I could never leave that truss cover on it either.😁
I deal in a lot of different antiques Darrell, and having to tell the difference between bone, ivory, plastics, and other materials I have found a very hot pin locked in some small vice grips works great! I heat it almost red hot, then pick a hidden area on the part of the nut that's not obvious, and just touch the very tip against it. If it's plastic it will melt into it. But do it fast and you know for sure what it is, and the mark is so tiny I never had anyone even notice it. Just an idea from a old man bro.🙂
Keep up the great work!!✌️
I would like to offer to you this tip to try regarding locking tuners. I Was taught over 40 years ago to wrap he string around the tuner about 4 to 5 times then put the end of the string through the tuner hole being sure to run it between windings. once the string tension is set, the strings windings sandwich the string LOCKING it in. Try it. What do you have to lose? Spend the $90.00 saved on a mothers day or a fathers day gift Or some Black Acrylic paint for that truss rod cover and tuning pegs that seem to bother so many people. I'm 61 and do not concern myself with that so much. I have no thoughts on resale value. I just like playing and entertaining myself and bar patrons.
Can't wait to get my hands on one!
I'm selling one on reverb under Rock N Foal. I need it gone to pay for my current semester. I'll let it go for $850 plus shipping. Lmk.
For the price, it’s a great Strat. But I still far prefer the PRS Fiore over the Silver Sky. If PRS ever makes an SE version of the Fiore, that would be the guitar I would buy and play more than any other S type model.
The PRS DC3 was a fine Strat style model IMO
Both forever guitars if you afford them
Nicely done, Darrell. There has been a lot of hype around this guitar -- but that's what happens when you deliver above average value. I've owned two SEs -- I have my name on the list for this model -- and they've both outplayed and outclassed guitars costing two to three times as much.
i got this few weeks back. loving it😍
Great video great playing guitar 🎸. So sound great audio. Great show
Looks like a good guitar for the most part, but I really found the pre release hype on this one to be over the top. I'm suffering from Silver Sky fatigue. It's still just one more Strat clone, in a market of many. I would probably go for a Sire S7 before this one. Thanks Darrell!
I can only agree. i bought a Sire S7 last year, and it is everything that you could ask for and i highly recommend buying one.
It has a better spec than the Silver Sky SE and a lower price with locking tuners not cheap plastic ones!
That's how I feel about the Sterling by MM Cutlass SSS CT30 & CT50. And DBG reviewed that one back in 2018, so a PRS SE SS JM has been around for quite some time and perfected by Sterling by MM. I've already got the PRS guitar with a Squier Bullet SSS HT or even an Affinity SSS Tremolo. Andertons did a video, sound like JM without breaking the bank, they used the Squier Bullet in that video.
I'm not a fan of the PRS neck pocket & even the finger rout cutouts for the 3x SSS pickups. This is a fine guitar though and it's more of a direct Fender MiM competitor. Fender in my mind gets the win still being Alder > Poplar. But Poplar being Poplar, that's where a Sterling with or without locking tuners saving $ 300-500, at this price point, the PRS can't compete with a Sire $ 599 Strat either. $ 250-300 is significant for essentially the same instrument. Must be John Mayer's endorsement cut per copy ?
If I'm dropping $ 899, I'm getting a Schecter Sun Valley Shredder in Birch Green with a Sustainiac.
Seems like a rather pretentious guitar.
@@jimcamp2423 I agree, PRS have underspec'd this guitar in too many key areas to make it a must buy.
Re Schecter, i have a C1 FR-S and it beats a lot of my guitars for playability.
PRS is no different to the other big names, you pay a big premium for the logo on the headstock.
@@TheHumbuckerboy Sorry, but besides Gibson, there's nothing more pretentious than a Fender. All there is to it is the headstock and logo. There are lots of S-Style guitars that blow production line Fenders -- including the SS - out of the water.
Thanks for the honest review.
There is plenty of dead ash lying around, but no live tree's since the invasive Ash Borer destroyed them all.
That's a nice looking guitar! Sounds great too!
Great honest review, thanks!
Sounds Amazing!
Please do a silver sky vs fender strat video
The old Ibanez roadstar was a good strat copy
Looking forward to you testing an S-style Charvel at some point 👍
A small thing worth mentioning: one of the complaints about proper Strats is the placement of the volume pot being too close to the high E string. This guitar has less space between knobs, but the volume is about a half-inch farther from the strings on its more famous counterpart.
That intro "song" was epic 👌👌👌
Can you do a comparison between this and the sterling cutlass. I know that you’ve done a music man vs prs before put I think a strat vs strat Music man vs prs would be cool and I would like to know which ones better just because they both something I’m considering
I love my dodgem blue Silver sky. If I could change anything it would be the radius. but honestly the vintage radius ain't that bad
Agreed. I love my SS and while the radius doesn't make it unplayable, it's definitely rounder than what I prefer.
They usually make their own pickups!
Hey Darrell, great review. Looking forward to the PRS Silver Sky SE vs Sire S7 video coming soon?
You should do a comparison of the silver sky and fender player strat. Sounds like a typical strat to me. I'm a big Strat fan. Nice to see the cavity is sheilded. Yes the tuners are a drag and I'd be pissed if I ever needed to work on it and couldn't flip the pickguard over cause the wires aren't long enough. Ive owned 2 PRS SE guitars, a Santana and a Custom 24 and while both looked and played xlnt, neither would stay in tune with the whammy and while they both sounded good on their own when playing with a band they just didn't cut it.
Just change the nut and you can make dive bombs and stay in tune. I swapped the plastic nut with a graph tech nut. The tuners are perfect, no need for locking tuners. Thank me later 😉
Amazing Darrell
Single coils aren’t for me, but PRS never disappoints, whether SE or American models. I’m sure for a single coil fan, this thing is a beast. Even SE models have absolutely incredible fretwork and build quality. Amazing value in that line up.
I replaced the tuners on my SS SE with the Silver Sky locking tuners to keep teh same look, but the buttons are also not great. At least they lock. :D
I own that very guitar.....color and all. I sure can't make mine sound like you do. Nice playing.
Looks and sound great....
What jm song was that on position 4
Hi Darrell, could you please review the new neck-through Ibanez guitars especially Ibanez RGT1220PB please?
I have a strat special with a poplar body and love it. I'm surprised I hadn't seen more.