PRS SE Silver Sky vs Fender Player Stratocaster - What's the best guitar for $850?

[@rvlewis1950]

I'm an older beginner first of all, and I love trying different gear. I have had several Strats over the last few years. However, the Strats have disappeared from my collection, and I have two Silver Sky SE's now. The Strat has classic sound of course, but the SE sounds a touch more modern sounding to me. A Strat can sound harsh to me at times. I like the SE colors more, which is personal preference. I like the Strat neck better, but I'll deal with the SE neck.

[@rvlewis1950]

I should have said headstock

[@AdamJonMusic]

Thank you for doing an alternating A/B comparison. Its way easier to hear the difference that way rather than playing one for 2 mins and then switching.

[@jonathanmetze9796]

I fell in love with my Hss Player as soon as I picked it up. My only issue with that is the Humbucker sounds off. I love the chime in the single coils would never switch those pickups.

[@Shadesingrey]

Thanks man! Was thinking about getting a Strat, while I already have a PRS Custom 22, this is a great comparison

[@haggertysmusicworks]

Thank you!

[@fusoperso]

Imo the fender sound win in every video comparison

[@tbone2451]

Out of curiosity, which did you prefer ? I do like the warmer sound of the se.

[@cameronspears1386]

In this video, I prefer the sounds from the Fender. I’m surprised because I am partial to the Silver Sky and expected to let my biases win.

[@haggertysmusicworks]

They both are really great in the end! If you haven't yet, play both just to make sure you like the feel, especially the Fender. If it feels and sounds good, then that guitar would be perfect!

[@davideoverman]

You can get that same fender player strat at sweetwater for $679 and it’s routed for hsh if you wanted to change the pick guard and put a humbucker in it. The PRS will require additional routing if you wanted to modify it for a ssh configuration for instance. For the ability to modify in that way and $170 less I would go for the Fender. You could spend that extra money for a gigbag and locking tuners. All that said Prs does make great guitars.

[@akshayseller73]

I just prefer the Strat. It’s that tone that I’ve always known.

[@glenngardin3561]

I own and love a PRS SE Santana, no hate toward PRS, but I really dislike the plastic tuning knobs. IMO they look cheap. And since I'm that vain..... this is a dealbreaker for me. Also.. I also own a American Strat, and my wife says I have enough guitars!

[@Runner862]

There are so much advantage on the prs se, every part is a new design instead of parts that already exist. Just the knops the jack in etc, even the reverse headstock, there just design and produced for the ss se. So its more like a custom guitar. Its an modern guitar, i love it

[@LetsArion]

Obviously a very personal choice but in my opinion: I own both and played them extensively. The PRS silver sky takes it for me. I personally love the sound of the SS. I don't notice a huuuuge difference between the fender and PRS and it's even less noticeable once you dont compare them side by side, play them or hear them through an amp and pedals. Interestingly enough, in a comparison between the silver sky, silver sky se and the fender strat the OG made in america silver sky sounds the most unique. Did a blind test with a few of my friends and I thought it was the fender strat because the fender and the SE sound the closest. In terms of feel I also like the silver sky SE. 8.5" radius is no issues at all. I love vintage style strats. The neck is among my favorites its so comfortable sits great in your hand etc. Now I "hate" the basjc fender C for some reason. PRS quality control is great and their support is helpful without any issues. Overall the quality on all their SE guitars is amazing. My SE feels like thrice its budget. Great great great guitar and I sincerely mean it! Never been a huge prs fan but this one clicked with me. Not the biggest fan of all their color options on the SE but theyre good. Everything just feel right. I love my fender strat but quality wise it feels slightly a level below the PRS. You feel that its a mass produced instrument (even though the PRS is as well). Not to talk them down in any way I adore fender guitars and they are some of the best value options period. You can get a fender Player guitar and own it for the rest of your life. Price wise they are roughly similar. In Germany the PRS is 1000€ but you can find them frequently on sale for example at andertons for £499 which is wayyy cheaper than the fender player strat which is roughly 800€ at most stores. Even a full price prs silver sky se plays like 3x its budget. In the end its a personal choice but the PRS just clicked with me. Sounds amazing. Plays like a dream especially after you set it up though the factory setup was perfect as well. Tremolo is awesome. PRS specifically designed new Pickups for this model to achieve a similar tone with different Materials for a lower price. Biggest reason I reach for my PRS more frequently is because its so cozy? So comfortable? You pick it up and it just feels RIGHT. Neck fits perfectly. The body is comfortable. Yeah i love it. Glad I own my fender tho but ever since I got it I play it less and less. If anyone was wondering which one to get: Both are amazing and youll be happy. I personally love the PRS SE. If you like to mod your guitars 100% get fender. Easy parts to replace and upgrade.

[@haggertysmusicworks]

We really love the honest input! Both guitars are great but it truly comes down to preference, which we hope in this video we were able to help anyone out with a purchase decision. We are glad you love your Silver Sky!

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

Yes, the PRS is much darker. The neck is chunkier also.

[@MrAMF50]

I really like the Silver Sky but that pure bleached white pick guard and knobs are a deal breaker. What were they thinking?

[@tenebroruncr4374]

The difference is that the Fender Strat sounds like that and the others sound like copies. I have the Schecter Nick J and nothing to do with my Fender Strat. It's a different sound and the guitar doesn't feel the same.

[@anotherstart1]

The se silver Sky in my opinion is the best sss style guitar made today. I had both core rosewood and maple neck versions and stuck with the se version. No need for old smelly guitars that are way to much money and hard to play. Prs makes the best guitars at any price point

[@Skoora]

I would just go with which neck feels better. Pickups can be changed. I don’t gel well with Fender necks. I’ve played a few SE’s of different types and in general the necks feel really good.

[@bredluvr6925]

Silver Sky SE neck is miles above US CORE lil thinner and stain finish instead of laquer, IMO SS SE ALL DAY

[@Skoora]

@@bredluvr6925 Unfortunately they’re not making a color I like with a maple fretboard at the moment, otherwise I would have bought one when they were on sale a while ago.

[@homeemporium378]

i like both have to buy both

[@caleblavake9831]

Good stuff 👌👌

[@samrichards589]

The se is better out of the box. I have an hss player. With a little fret work, edge rolling and a proper setup o think it’s great

[@OURGAMERSTUDIO]

Se Silver Sky has more light weight than Player.

[@djizzah]

I'm not paying the same for a strat copy as real strat, that's stupid

[@lowellthomson1958]

It’s not a copy, it’s a different guitar that licenses the Strat body shape from Fender. And there are many levels of Strat quality. Unless your buying something quite pricey most of them are poorer built and finished than the SE.

[@UniversallyRy]

​​​@lowellthomson1958 licensing an exact shape to use by definition makes it a copy. And you aren't going to find a lot of badly built Fenders for 1000 and up, which is around what the Sky SE costs. Which was OP's point.

[@420blzeitfgt8]

The strat sounds like a strat, and the PRS sounds like a copy with bassier tones

[@paulcarter5117]

Fender 👍