PRS SE Silver Sky is here! (First look, PLUS head-to-head with a Player Strat!)

[@IndyRockStar]

i was 5 mins from buying a Silver Sky Core. After checking out the SE I ended up buying the Moon White SE Silver Sky. I just could no longer justify the $1,600 price difference. Love it. Excellent Guitar. I'm an American made guitar snob. For the Silver Sky I made a very rare exception.

[@vyvynylification]

Same here, i'll be buying an SE! ONCE it comes with a maple board. If not, I'll wait for a goodv used US deal.

[@TwistSmash]

Same here!!!

[@eyedunno8462]

The Silver Sky pickups are unique - and I love that

[@mattmanley7118]

The SE having rosewood vs Pau Ferro on the player it’s a no brainer for me. I own a player strat too.

[@scott6588]

Donner dts-400 is $199. Rosewood fretboard...Alder body... Canadian maple neck. Korean made pickups. Two point trem. It's technically a better guitar....at $199. These guys using Laurel and pau Ferro and Poplar while charging $850 is embarrassing.

[@douglasalexander4348]

You can get the Player in maple, which I prefer over rosewood on a Strat. Not saying it’s better, but an option over the Pau Ferro if you have it on your player. Then there is also the baked maple neck, which is sooo smooth. Spoilt for choice, lucky us.

[@Buragwit]

I have a SS core however with this one - alder vs poplar. Id rather compromise on the board than on the body

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@Buragwit I see where your coming from, but I bought a cheap classic vibe with a pine ! body. Sounds great. Just because it’s alder, doesn’t mean it sounds better.

[@Tronic21]

@@scott6588 it's real rosewood, (unless your talking about fender) and the silver sky pickups sound better, but I understand what you mean I was going to get the sterling ct50 for $549 but the feel and sound of the silver sky se was definitely the reason why, and it just felt solid, tech specs don't show how it plays and feels, but if a cheap guitar sounds and feels amazing for a person then grab that up real quick

[@SavvyCrypto]

Just bought this same Silver Sky in the Stone Blue color! Love the sound.

[@eddiex72]

What a really great review. Your experience really shines through and helps to make a decision one way or the other. Awesome.

[@sublyme2157]

Thanks for the comparison, this was great!

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

The PRS is clearly well made and looks great, but the pickups are too warm for me. The Strat really gives you the Strat sound.

[@phishphan5732]

Yep, that Fender was thin and crispy….with the dry pao ferro fingerboard. 🙃

[@mukhlishnurrahman]

Exactly

[@Robstrap]

A Strat gives Strat sound? damn coulda fooled me

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

@@Robstrap I guess that was a kind of funny comment but it is important to know that the SE Silver Sky pickups are much warmer and have their own sound.

[@ICee712]

@@phishphan5732I still can’t believe that Fender is using pao ferro fingerboards on their guitars. I think there are cheaper squiers using rosewood

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

I was really surprised. Sound wise I much preferred the Strat. But then again, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised. I've always been a Fender fan, along with Gretsch. Buddy Holly and Brian Setzer being my favourite artists.

[@vyvynylification]

Always loved teles, never loved strats. When I play a strat I notice I'm trying to look for settings to make it sound... Less like a strat. Nothing wrong with any guitar, But I'm quite confident I'd prefer a PRS. Now just waiting for it to get a maple board.

[@user-ih7zg6qw2p]

Now we have that! :)

[@josai7008]

I had both of them and sold the strat. I didn’t find a big difference on the tone but the feeling of the neck, playability and fret ending is a lot better on the Silver Sky.

[@bouboubomber]

They both sound great, and it’s always hard to really hear the difference on KZbin. However, Fender’s poor fretwork is easy to beat. Just bought a Noventa and had to spend 2 hours to file the fret ends , I could have used the frets to scrape wood, they were so sharp. Looking forward to getting my hands on a Silver Sky from all the reviews the fretwork is perfect, not like Fender’s

[@adamstevenson6444]

I bought a players strat last year-fretwork and setup perfect out of e box. Haven’t had to touch it

[@Tronic21]

my silver sky had really great fretwork, perfectly cut nut, and all the other great things, and it got to me on January 13th, and I have been looking for a reason to complain but have not found one yet over a month later with the way it came

[@tp6439]

I might be the only one that feels this way but I prefer positions 1 and 2 on the Stratocaster, both clean and with gain. I prefer positions 4 and 5 on the PRS, both clean and dirty. I didn’t see him play the middle position on either but maybe I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. Great helpful review though thank you!

[@mattnixon588]

Definitely I think it’s all about style of play too

[@mathtrixmusiclix4248]

Once you float the bridge, dress the frets and cut a nut that actually fits… this becomes a comfy rosewood fretboard with a dark/Smokey Strat tone. I love mine.

[@MrJackrockerman]

Huge difference price.. and you can upgrade the Player Strat with locking tuners and premium saddle bridge and nut.. and the cost still below of the SE price..

[@Tronic21]

not us right your talking about somewhere else?

[@hugomejia593]

Definitely

[@fzdreaddy]

They retail for the same price... Don't know how you got that.

[@Tronic21]

​@@fzdreaddy ok thank you i thought I was going crazy, in U.S. definitely if other countries are different I don't know. The Silversky seems so much better of a guitar build wise, sound wise, and everything else, the only thing that has been a negative is that if I want locking tuners I have to get the American silver sky locking tuners for $189, or I can go with grapthtech or the others, but that's it, just my opinion but it is absolutely more solid in every possible area you can look at, but if someone thinks it sucks or likes the fender more, I am not going to argue because everything is personal, I hate when people take a subjective thing and make it be a truth or false

[@fzdreaddy]

@@Tronic21 There are plenty of aftermarket locking tuners in that vintage configuration. You would not have to buy prs

[@pbhushanbsb]

FINALLY , Someone thought logically and compared according to the price range. I was waiting for this video (although 2 months back I already purchased a player series, maple fretboard.. just wanted to see by what margin is the SE better)

[@Tronic21]

the fact they are basically the same price, that makes the se so much better, in my house setup, the se silver sky sounds better then any fender at or even over $849

[@brentparks3669]

Isn’t that subjective to the listener! I personally like the fender sound better and it’s funny just how many other brands try to sound just like fender. Fender must have done something right for almost every brand to take a shot.

[@pbhushanbsb]

@@Tronic21 not everywhere in the USA. Where I live, India, A player strat is around 25000 bucks cheaper than a silver sky SE. Great guitar but too bad , I'm stuck with my player series

[@wildwolf8983]

I will stay with the Strat!!!

[@neilbush514]

For me I prefer the sound of the PRS SE Silver Sky. I'm not a massive strat fan though but to me I preferred the PRS.

[@estemelrod3445]

As both a Fender and PRS fan, the Silver Sky SE sounded better and looks more expensive, in my VERY subjective opinion. But for me it is not a "Strat replacement" really. It is PRS's SPIN on a Strat, with GREAT (sonic) results. I ALWAYS mod my Strats; that's the beauty of them. But this seems like the "Strat you leave alone" (ok, maybe a pearl pickguard on that gorgeous blue they got). I can't wait to play it, because for me it's all about the neck (I'm a fatter neck fan - I HATE thin necks). I can live with the smaller sonic differences in the mix.

[@Tronic21]

I agree with you about the silver sky se sounding better then fender. I believe alot better I've been playing it a week and a half and I haven't had any doubt in that yet, it feels better sounds better and same price, oh yeah, although I'm not a fat neck fan at all, it feels comfortable, more then I thought it would have

[@ekkuapo62]

Even though the amp was probably set for PRS still Strat sounded better. PRS was muddy and stuffy.

[@joerusso8950]

Their such similar yet distinctively different sounding unique guitars I think the tuning stability on the sky is so much better But I prefer that minimal difference of traditional stratocaster tones The sky feels more mids and a bit darker, the strat seems more cleaner by a tad of a difference

[@ClintsGuitarsNGear]

Great review and demo. I reckon the Fender Player Strat won that comparison by quite a bit from what I was hearing. Here in Australia the SE Silver Sky retails at $1599 AUD. The Fender Player is only around $999 AUD. The Fender Player Plus is still less than an SE Silver Sky at around $1349-1499 so picking the Fender is a no brainer for me. I think the SE Silver Sky is a nice guitar however the pricing at least here in OZ is a bit optimistic. Given what it actually is it should only be around the $999 price point.

[@antoineaquino3055]

i think a vintera would be a better comparison

[@flyinggriffins4]

I assume the Fender is sent directly from the Mexican factory where as the PRS is sent to America first then to Australia so there are added import fees on PRSs in Australia

[@SixStringflyboy]

@@flyinggriffins4 Bingo.

[@davidharding200]

@@flyinggriffins4 I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s as easy as that. There’s all kinds of trade agreements between countries. Ultimately for whatever reason we can only take into account a straight price vs price.

[@Jalliams]

Tended to agree. Perhaps the ‘strat sound’ is burnt into my brain, and I associate most with a fender. Build quality and features, I.e. satin neck, etc, however, PRS are very forward looking to say the least. Built into the price with the SE is the gig bag I guess. It’ll be interesting to see if / when street prices decline in Australia to compete with Fender.

[@roblarson9065]

Better in every aspect IMHO!

[@fender68able]

I have a vintera 60's strat that I paid almost a grand for. Well worth it. But, there's no wayid pay $850.00 for a player strat. Fender has lost there damn mind!!

[@dlsmpsn]

I got mine as a open box and saved $300. It plays perfect for me.

[@kagenotatsumaki]

PRS are hands down my favorite Guitars. That being said, that Strat sounded better in literally every comparison to me. The Silver Sky seems to be a Strat for someone who doesn't like the sound of a Strat lol.

[@jeppej4265]

Already own the same fender, even in same colour so came here to listen how they compare. Was happy to notice I enjoyed the classic Fender tone more. I originally purchased it for country/rockabilly type classic sound so no suprise there. However been looking into new PRS S2 08 and wondering how it compares to CE tonally and parts vice. I really like the switch configuration on it but but the CE should be closer to core models in parts etc (bolt on neck though but I kind a like it). Maybe an idea for another video?

[@ThePoushal]

What's a CE 😂

[@jeppej4265]

@@ThePoushal Prs has roughly four production line. Price wice it starts from SE (Asia made), S2 is the first american made sharing some parta with SE, CE is second american sharing some parts with Core and the final and most expensive is core models. Prices range depending on models but roughly in euros its SE 1k or under, S2 1,5-2k, CE 1,8 -2,5 and Core 4k+.

[@ThePoushal]

@@jeppej4265 😭😭😭😭why do they not translate USD prices in £. Silver Sky SE retailing for £895 is shocking.

[@baileyva]

It’s all about the pickups Baby! Strat all day…. Thanks

[@douglasalexander4348]

Here in uk silver sky is £895.00and Player is £569.00. Huge price difference ! A third more for a similar guitar?

[@PowerPlantSpots]

For those outside the US, maybe the Player Plus Strat is a better price comparison.

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@PowerPlantSpots Yes. I can’t see where the price hike on the PRS is coming from ? They both have to be imported into the UK. Also not sure why the rosewood fretboard feels nicer on the PRS, it’s the frets and back of the neck that matters to me, and the Player frets are great and the neck is satin and lovely. Great Fender made a quality guitar without having to spend (I wouldn’t) on an American. Lucky us.

[@misterknightowlandco]

Just get a Mexican strat and with your savings order the staggered fender locking tuners and you’ll have a pro guitar. They pop right in no tools or hole redrilling needed.

[@PowerPlantSpots]

@@douglasalexander4348 Couldn't swear that this happens with shipments to other countries, but in the US, PRS makes a point of publicizing that all their overseas-made guitars go to the PRS facility in Maryland for inspection before they're shipped to retailers. It's possible that those outside of the US are paying for 2 import fees.

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@PowerPlantSpots Interesting. That’s does sound like PRS BS and they’re trying to make out it’s somehow American to appeal to ‘ its American so must be amazing quality’ crowd. Same happens here in UK with Union Jacks on Triumphs that are made in Thailand. Anything to UK from America is a silly price. Allegedly the USA decided to levy a high tax on imports, so other countries responded by taxing the crap out of American imports. Brilliant. For no one.

[@stephenaker5911]

I think that the Player Strat is at a disadvantage here due to having a pau ferro fretboard vs the Silver Sky's rosewood - if you listen to rosewood fretboard strats, even those from less than a decade ago, I really think you can here the difference

[@nevershoutgraham2297]

Check out Jim Lill. Might dismiss some of that thought.

[@dheevesh16]

Not what my ears or a sound curve indicates.

[@leandershah1617]

Its the same neck carve man!

[@brandoncohen3606]

honestly prefer the prs pickups, they sound more clear, not like a strat persay but in their own right they sound amazing

[@secretdaisy6484]

Didn’t care for the PRS. The Strat sounded better. However, I like mine with rosewood fingerboard and locking tuners. I probably wouldn’t like playing the PRS since I like my Strats. The only other guitars I like are Reverend Flatrocs and 6 Gun. Good job on the video. 👍☮️🌞🌟🎸

[@jng1226]

Great review and comparison. Are aftermarket (Other brand or PRS) locking tuners not available for the SE Silver Sky?

[@foggyblues13]

They are available. Paul said last week that the original SS locking tuners will fit…. I think there was also some talk of some SE priced ones that would be coming

[@jng1226]

@@foggyblues13 excellent, thanks

[@MooreMusicGuitars]

As foggyblues said, yep. Plus, Moore Guitars is authorized by PRS to mod our SEs with tuner/bridge/pickup upgrades while keeping original warranty intact. Just ask any of our sales staff if you're interested.

[@nizodizo9549]

The Players have a 9.5 inch radius.

[@MrAMF50]

Haven't liked the newer fender pickups for years.

[@frabber321]

Jeff Bridges is good at guitar.

[@voidtremors5814]

Could anyone tell me the name of that finish on the Strat? It’s amazing

[@MooreMusicGuitars]

It's called Silver. I was a bit let down. Was expecting something more poetic.

[@voidtremors5814]

@@MooreMusicGuitars hahaha me too I guess you're no longer alone! Thank you for your video 🙏🏽

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

@@MikaelLewisify the OP asked about the Strat, not the Silver Sky SE...

[@KenithCopeland]

and this is the number 1 take away, affordability isnt always the deciding factor, justification is. im in the market for a S type and its either a ibanez az prestige or silver sky. given that here in australia the silver sky is $4100 and a ibanez MIJ prestige is $3100 its not a price decision but more based on feel. enter the silver sky SE and at $1500 aud the neck on these are MUCH more to my likeling, so my brain is trying hard to justify the price jump for the AZ and i have already written off the USA built silver sky

[@luckyrocks1]

Correction: I think you mean they are finally NOT here! Ha!

[@ekkuapo62]

Pickups on Silversky sound cheap and crappy…and I don’t like PRS headstock it’s ugly…so Strat 💪💪💪

[@juancoronado]

I had an "interesting" experience with that guitar... check all the details here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jomxe5SbarGto80

[@pedroalagos9771]

Poly finish??

[@hugomejia593]

Some reasons why fender is the better choice, a real strat sound comes from alder, the SE rosewood in fact it isn't a rosewood is just a similar Asiatic wooden growing there. another spect is the electronic meanwhiletime on SE is Alfa corean middle range made electronics on fender is CTS and dimarsio American made as the fender American ones. For me both sounds good but Fender is for me the worth well

[@jakecal6802]

The PRS sounds so much better… damn.

[@ethanwalters3475]

I have had many player style fenders. Two /3 had terrible finishes. My player plus strat is a different animal. Almost comparable to the American strat

[@SkorpioMusic]

Love my Player Plus! Got the olympic pearl with tortoise pickguard. Looks beautiful and plays like a dream. Agreed it feels like an American.

[@douglasalexander4348]

The new players 2018 + seem to have better quality control plus satin neck (back) and alnico pickups which I prefer. The older were a bit hit and miss. For me it’s the perfect balance of quality and price. American is a bit better for a huge price jump.

[@hugomejia593]

In fact yes

[@smacker360]

@@hugomejia593 I bought the player strat about 6 months ago. Out of the box the action was high, the frets were sharp enough to hurt and the intonation was off. I spent an entire day filing frets, lowering action and setting intonation and am happy with it but very disappointed with the condition on arrival.. I also have a maple neck. If someone bought this guitar with no luthier experience they would have to pay quite a bit to get it set up. In the future I'm only buying guitars I have first played. BTW, I also bought a PRE SE Hollowbody II Piezo a year ago and out of the box it also needed a setup. You'd have thought I learned my lesson with the PRS but Covid restricted my buying opportunities for the player strat. Anyway, I think guitars sent out for demos get a bit more attention from the company prior to sending them.

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@smacker360 Why didn’t you send the Fender back ? Sounds like you got mugged. I tried 5 players in the shop, all had a similar great finish for the price. I chose the lightest. Think you got a second.

[@maxamgilbert]

Mmmh, not really fair here in my mind. Pricing here in Germany means compare the Silver Sky with the Play Plus! The Player is by far cheaper!!!

[@theshadowoftruth7561]

Thinner! I was trying to put a word on how the Strat sounds compared to the Silver Sky SE . I love the PRS SE sounds, I just picked up a PRS SE Myra love that sound.

[@nikverschuren4291]

Great comparison, but i cant adjust myself to like that pau ferro fretboard. Looks so cheap.

[@douglasalexander4348]

It also comes in maple….

[@MikaelLewisify]

It’s not Pao Ferro. According to the official PRS spec sheet, it is Rosewood.

[@nikverschuren4291]

@@MikaelLewisify was talking about the fender mate haha

[@MikaelLewisify]

@@nikverschuren4291 ahhhh…gotcha!

[@nikverschuren4291]

@@MikaelLewisify Gotcha to 😉

[@benwell905]

The PRS neck is better than the player strat but the tuners on the PRS look awful as does the headstock ! This alone is a deal breaker fir me ! In the UK the PRS is about £150 more than the player strat so jts not afair comparison! I suggest you compare it to the vintera strat price wise ! And the vintera strat is is a far better guitar !

[@wildwolf8983]

What’s next? Gibson will make a John Mayer signature Stratocaster version lol

[@MooreMusicGuitars]

Good one!

[@voiceofexperience]

Looks & sounds very... nice. Inoffensive.

[@RickyTickyTV]

Both are great guitars but there is only one strat

[@TheBbtlegit]

I would buy the Fender plus over this.

[@SantOrozco]

Fender should stop making dot inlays, as simple as that. The Strat sound is the Strat sound

[@ferdelazerda836]

Please fender! Just change those pickups, then you’ll beat the prs (at least tonally). I think fender lead us owners to look for a less thin Sounding pickup… really hope they change that!

[@HalfFastReviews]

Prefer the fatter tone of the SE. Player sounded thin. All a matter of personal taste.

[@beatlemartin12]

i prefer the SS, the MIM is too bright with those pickups for my taste

[@douglasalexander4348]

You make a bright pickup darker with a tweak on the tone knob. You can’t make a dark pickup brighter. The PRS doesn’t get the bell like chime the Fender gets, which is the bonus of a strat over other guitars ?

[@robertlucas9867]

@@douglasalexander4348 I think it’s weird that this video sounds darker but other channels the SS has a clear bell like sound. Even John Mayer video sounded great.

[@aperezdeal]

@@robertlucas9867 probably has to do with eq/ post production. Shrug.

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@robertlucas9867 Your right. The only way is to pop into a guitar shop and play several through the same amp.

[@scottylopa5004]

Imagine how good if it was in tune!

[@duanesmith2747]

As a lefty the PRS doesn't exist, so it's Fender for me....

[@StaticPanda]

Sire s7 larry carlton is cheaper and better than all of them

[@jazzsounds8159]

To bad they ain't going to make a lefty version. 😒

[@itsBennett]

Is it me or is the Silver Sky out of tune the whole video?

[@Matt-op9fh]

Silver sky totally wins! How ever fender American performer range is not much more.

[@blackbearbear9313]

I'll tell you one thing there not even close to each other and one sounds better than the other you guess watch one and that's all I got to say about that

[@edlicari3909]

Fender all the way for me, the prs sounds muddy and lifeless. Plus, the prs uses poplar wood for the body which is junk in my opinion!

[@garyatkins4479]

Been tempted but the Colours other than the one he has there are butt ugly . Sky sounds a bit too bright as in ice pick bright , back off the tone a bit . Fender for me thank you

[@shanewalton8888]

Shameon PRS for abusing an endangered species. Rosewood

[@RomainG6409]

Fender ... far ... far ... far ahead from the SE ... far ...

[@foggyblues13]

The Silver Sky just sounded better. That strat sounded plain and lacked personality.

[@douglasalexander4348]

It had more clarity. A tweak of the amp and you could thicken it up a bit to be like the sky. You can’t make the sky more harmonic. Well, when I was in the shop, I couldn’t.

[@duppykitoon]

If you want your guitar to sound like a Stratocaster, buy a Stratocaster.

[@pandabakery123]

The player...