PRS Silver Sky vs Fender Black1 John Mayer Signature || Head To Head Demo By Rhett Shull

www.rhettshull.com
THE GREEN ROOM
flatfiv.com/pages/become-a-gr...
DOWNLOAD MY HX STOMP PRESETS
flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-...
DOWNLOAD MY HELIX PRESETS
www.rhettshull.com/helix-presets
DOWNLOAD MY KEMPER PROFILES
www.rhettshull.com/kemperprof...
The Backstage Journal Podcast
(apple) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
(spotify) open.spotify.com/show/1q8Rrv4...
Rhett Shull 2
/ @rhettshulltwo
Shipping Address
5805 State Bridge Road
Suite G90
Johns Creek Ga
30097
MY FAVORITE GEAR (Amazon Affiliate)
Mono M80 Dual Electric Case
amzn.to/2ueNdCk
G7 Capo
amzn.to/2Gg0MGq
String Winder
amzn.to/2HT9ffQ
RockSlide Brass Slide
amzn.to/2GS6aNJ
Mogami Gold Cable
amzn.to/2FZzQao
Alpine Earplugs
amzn.to/2DLBHh4
Strings
amzn.to/2FASkB7
Cables
amzn.to/2G7i0mH
Picks
amzn.to/2FnEhzP
Kemper Profiling Amp
amzn.to/2FmZw4q
Line6 Helix
amzn.to/2TCjhra
Line6 HX Stomp
amzn.to/2V2xy1N
Recording Interface
amzn.to/2oWwOgH
Pedalboard
amzn.to/2DbcqfW
MY CAMERA GEAR [Amazon Affiliate]
Camera
amzn.to/2Da24Nu
Lens
amzn.to/2FAOAQ9
Microphone
amzn.to/2HKgOJB
Webcam
amzn.to/2G5U57a
Camera Cage
amzn.to/2FyrvxB
Tripod
amzn.to/2FDP0mD
Lights
amzn.to/2FBCZjO
Monitor
amzn.to/2oUqXZc
Friction Arm
amzn.to/2OzzEUE
Gorilla Pod
amzn.to/2OvANMJ
GVM Motorized Slider
amzn.to/2V1YcIa
Follow Me On social media
Instagram
/ rhettshull
Twitter
Rshull07
Facebook
/ rshull07
THE GREEN ROOM SUPPORTERS
David Jellema
Ben Timms
Rich Asay
Keola Donaghy
Brent ODell
Zachary Zwirlein
Shane House
Bruce Collins
Regan Hines
Will Siegfried
Dustin Dailey
Cory Bustin
Anthony Best
Canaan Lawrence
Steven Drew
Stefan Dahl
Brien Carr
Michal Mikolaj
Jake Hall
Andy Lutes
Dennis Holmbec

[@RhettShull]

My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now! Check it out here. flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course

[@user-mp6sl7ut6u]

Sounds like profile is smoothe

[@bohanananza5443]

The PRS sounds like your drinking Fiji water while the Fender sounds like your drinking any other water but it's the middle of the night.

[@cwillis]

Lmao

[@ryanfrancis6092]

I love this. It’s perfect.

[@codythedoggo7671]

Spot on

[@BParker55]

Lmfao what an awesome comment. It's so true 😂

[@maddoxhallums4869]

Why is this so accurate

[@lepotedetonpote]

The strat sounds more like a strat 🤔

[@thiethie]

h m m m m m

[@tovarischkarno4390]

The floor is made of floor

[@sillyfarmerbilly8872]

It really does. I know that now.

[@seandcannon]

My faith in the human race (as far as the youtube community is concerned) has been restored, I have read opposing views in the comments section of this video, and people have said what they liked and what they didn't like about the Silver Sky and Fender, without bashing on each other or on the guitar companies for what they have built (yet), just like the good old days when people could have a civilized conversation with different opinions and not hate on each other... there is hope after all.

[@deep_cover1879]

DuDe YoU aRe So WrOnG, eVeRyThInG yOu SaId, FuCk OfF!.!.!.!.! just kidding I have the same thoughts on the matter, comment section elitism is like Jerry Springer, a shitshow that you can't look away from. I asked a guitar player what their opinion was on Epiphone vs Gibson for their signature model and some dude goes full mental bashing Gibson "they're going out of business cuz they suck" and was super salty to me (which btw is not true. yes there are quality issues but it stems more from the business end of the company and their unwillingness to innovate) needless to say these people are often projecting in what is seen as harmless whether it is or not. especially the guys who go on and on about guitar players that suck (according to them)

[@letsgooo1637]

Fuck you!

[@j_freed]

People can be shitty sometimes. But some people figure out being different than that has a payoff which is way more awesome. And fuck you too 4pie! :D

[@the80386]

good thing humanity doesn't depend on any individual's faith on it. recently too many people are losing their faith in humanity on the pettiest of non-issues.

[@seandcannon]

80386 , to each their own, I don't View people being able to, or not being able to communicate on social media, forums, Etc, or in general with each other in a civil manner, a petty issue, everybody has their own opinion and everyone thinks they're right, but we don't have to be nasty to each other, the petty issue is the guitar, and who makes said guitar and why. the issue I was talking about was how people treat each other and in my opinion, that's not Petty. I hope everybody has a lovely weekend.

[@imCurveee]

When "Vultures" switched to the strat I was like ouuu yeah, there's the tone

[@theomaddison8689]

didnt ask

[@vitofuca1037]

@@theomaddison8689 didn't ask you either

[@francisco.amorim]

The strat reminds his most successful work.

[@grummanf-14tomcat8]

PRS is clearer, with more definition. Fender has more character and depth to the sound.

[@timoxadeluxe5436]

Was about to say the same. I would prefer fender

[@American-Dragon]

Get both

[@EcDraven]

Fender>PRS

[@TonySop]

Was about to say the opposite. Both sound amazing though. However, I would take either compared to my MIM strat lol.

[@MegaGuitarplayer92]

g&l is better than both of them especially considering the price

[@FireGrizzlyy]

I love this kind of demo where you play back and forth between the two guitar with no gaps.

[@jesuscisneros5361]

right on i feel the same, all comparisons should be done like that to really tell the difference.

[@stevengiordano6285]

Why did Fender fire their entire day shift ( American) if they are doing so well?

[@RhettShull]

UPDATE! After I shot this video, Righteous Guitars got their 2nd Silver Sky in and noticed that the pickups were set too high from the factory which was causing string pull. They spent time setting the height and it eliminated the output difference between the PRS and Fender. This tells me a few things, mainly that John Mayer liked what he had with Fender and wanted to recreate it as closely as possible with the Silver Sky. These two guitars really are extremely close in feel and sound.

[@AJbassist]

as i said to my buddy its like dating one super hot girl u were in love wit but she changed so u got a girl that looked the same but her personality fits you better to who you are now, reading this made me thinking i am right

[@TheDogPa]

You call that stealing in a decent world.

[@aaronwibr]

Shame guess we will never know?

[@tonychavalia844]

Leo Fender himself did it 40 years ago with Music Man and G&L. He stole his design that he no longer had rights to and made it better. Apple does it all the time. It drive competition which creates innovation which raises the bar. Only the headstock is trademarked on Strats, if you notice on the clones the headstock is always slightly different.

[@GIBKEL]

Fender won and I couldn’t give a shit!

[@6minus3minus2]

They both sound awfully similar, but I prefer the slightly fuller and brighter sound of the PRS. I find the thin frets really interesting too. Leland Sklar uses them and he's an absolute legend.

[@_NoDrinkTheBleach]

The Righteous guys are great. I bought a PRS from them last summer, and the setup they did on it was amazing.

[@gonzalooliveraalves]

The Silver Sky sounds like a perfect guitar for a session musician that loves strats but hates their inconsistencies. Balanced when switching positions, sounds kinda different to a strat but it gets the job done. I'd only wish that the pickups weren't so noisy, but I guess that it'd compromise the tone. BLACK1 sounds heavenly and like good strat should, but there is a considerable output drop when you switch positions (Just like most strats), the bridge pickup sounds too bright in the clean tones (Just like most strats), but when everything is right you just get TONE! Does anybody else think that John's choice on frets for the Silver Sky is extremely impractical? Or am I the only one who loves mega jumbo frets?

[@jackworthington5205]

The frets on the silver sky have a lower profile? I actually like that, makes the sliding more smooth

[@gonzalooliveraalves]

@@jackworthington5205 yeah, sliding on smaller frets is super smooth, but I struggle with bends because I feel like I'm lacking grip on the strings, and I can feel my finger rubbing against the fretboard.

[@riley.schmit]

The Black1 just feels like it has more character. Especially with headphones. Personal opinion of course.

[@gabrielsipos]

ButterSplat The fenders name is black1 xd

[@wj2454]

@@gabrielsipos ?

[@BigTunaaaaa]

Dawg, I’m tryna find the black one for a while now. Think you know where to look for one?

[@jfw1991]

@@BigTunaaaaa I think it was a limited run, the promo Fender did said there were only 500 made or something. Try the used market

[@BigTunaaaaa]

@@jfw1991 Aight Bet

[@guitarded222]

Both sound great to me! To be honest I probably couldn't tell the difference if I were to listen to it in a full mix.

[@uelude]

The PRS pickup signature very different to my ear. Clean and funk players would sound different on record.

[@mattwilliams3104]

What I always try to remember is 99% of people listening in the crowd couldn’t tell the difference so why should I stress over the minute tonal differences. Okay the ones that feel the best

[@WOTM8]

If you thought that way then you're correct. Contrary to the popular beliefs, electric guitars' tone mostly came from your amp, capacitors, and the string you use.. So if you wanna sound like John Mayer tone, you should get the right amp & settings, the right cap, and string. the tonewood itself makes virtually no difference at all on your tone..

[@tonyPJcheng]

Still love the fender better.

[@Max-dr6rz]

Same, I'm biased.

[@Baker.Matthew]

Im sure you can still find that brand out there if you look hard enough

[@gunkanjima3408]

I’m sure the PRS is super nice, but it’s still a high end knockoff

[@shhs1227]

@William Harvey Sarcasm went right over your head bud

[@gangnamstylegrandpa6352]

I have been playing Fenders since 1968 . I play clean without pedals thru Fender amps . Paul Reed makes some Beautiful , and super build quality guitars . The Silver Sky sounds great , but the Fender sounds warmer , and that is always my goal . I have one Fender with a 7 1/4 radius , which I consider the most comfortable radius on guitars .The 9 1/2 is also very comfortable . I would vote for the Fender !!!

[@vlajkomitrovic7419]

Always Fender! Original is original. But Silver Star is really great guitar...

[@heycaptjack]

The best review/comparison on this subject. Thank you! Very well done!

[@leofuenzalida9203]

That PRS sound... i don't know, it's too perfect.... way too perfect that i feel a little unconfortable xD

[@guyworthington6470]

LeoAutline! M

[@addisj]

For me its almost like the difference between airy single coils and humbuckers or noiseless Single coils. That PRS just has no soul

[@j_freed]

I feel like we know how to use a Strat sound but this new sound we haven't figured out how to use yet. Maybe try a lowering pickups, and/or mess with instrument controls. What if at 7-8 it gets more Stratty (yet still has more possibilities.)

[@hiro6406]

James Addison nah you just love fender so much that you disregard the sound and go for the name

[@jaskiniamestwa]

Thanks for putting my thoughts in a sentence. Exactly what I feel and hear...JUST TOO PERFECT.

[@dostacos1]

The PRS seems to take the classic strat sound and almost add the high end of a tele. Can’t go wrong with either.

[@Atomic1710]

It’s not for me but it does have its own tone! I don’t agree with Paul saying it’s identical to a 62 Stratocaster.. it really has its own sound

[@Hue_Nery]

Are you sure about that? High end as in treble? It seems to me,(and Rhett mentioned it) that the Fender is more piercing on the high end. The PRS sounds way more rounded. Less sharp than the fender to my ears.

[@goofmane747]

That’s such a good way of explaining it.

[@honeychilerider]

One interesting observation I'd make, when the guy tells him the setup is out-of-the-box and he says he's kinda shocked that he assumed they had done a full set up: When I got my SS I took it to a shop to get plek'd (I can't remember why) and the tech said it was as close to perfect everywhere as he had seen, that there was really nothing he could adjust, the margins were absurdly tight. To show me, he took a new Les Paul off the wall and ran it through the machine and compared the all the readings to the SS and the difference was startlingly obvious even to someone like me who had never seen them before. It's one of the reasons I have become such a PRS fan (though I don't disparage Fenders or Gibsons or really anything else and I own both as well), they are just made at a level I've never seen another production guitar made. I have three and all three feel like boutique guitars that cost thousands more than they do.

[@carlosangel9404]

I feel like the fact that they sound similar is a testament to how good they both are. They are both great guitars with great tone from 2 great companies, so as far as I'm concerned there isn't any problem. In a perfect world, I'd gladly buy both of them.

[@Fugettaboutit]

PRS sounds like you added a bit of compression/sustain to the Strat.

[@alexnelson8]

Yep

[@Ryan_Perrin]

I think JM was more concerned with some electronics and some ergonomics than Fender was willing to change about the strat

[@Robstrap]

He went with PRS because fender wanted him to only use fender gear

[@sinjon]

Robbie so now he only uses PRS gear lol

[@Robstrap]

@@sinjon No, they wanted him to use Fender guitars, fender amps, just fender everything. He doesnt only use PRS

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

Nah PRS paid more

[@maximalist5038]

Noel Sj nah dude he still uses Dumble, Fender, and Two Rock amps with the silver sky. I saw him live last year and it was one of the best guitar sounds I’ve heard

[@cookieeclipse]

Great review guys, very helpful to see an in depth comparison. Job well done!

[@southside8551]

I agree with you about the bridge pickup,the PRS sounds better.Could be because of the scooped mids? i mean the bridge pickup on a strat is already bright but if you scoop the mids that's just crazy.I heard PRS say that the 3 pickups are the same so no different winding or outputs.That being said i prefer the Fender to me PRS pickups in general have this high end quality that sounds almost digital ,like too perfect and polished .Could be just in my brain but feels like there's a compromise in the dynamic range specially when it gets louder or more aggressive. Great video

[@iTrove]

I own the SS, and have to agree with the folks using the word “sterile”. It is clean and easy to get used to as feel goes. In this video, the fender has a warm depth that hopefully will start to come through as the SS ages.

[@panzerlieb]

Drop some fender pick ups in it and see if it changes anything. I’d be curious to know.

[@sillyfarmerbilly8872]

Yeah, I have one too. It's like playing a really great strat with dead strings on it.

[@ElliotRose]

Great effort and editing. I wondered how close JM's new PRS was to a Strat.

[@therewasascene]

I was really impressed with the clean tones you were getting from the bridge pickup on both of them. No icepick 👌🏼👌🏼

[@michalmikolajmaslowski3994]

Thanks, Rhett! Definitely, more focused tone with the PRS, with better definition, and - what sounds like - higher output. I gather intonation-wise, it was spot on and oozed quality. They will be selling volumes of those.

[@ozotel]

PRS: more low end, Strat: more agressive attacks. There is no big difference in term of “fender-ish” sound.

[@TenPester]

Doesn’t matter how many comparisons I watch. The fender always sounds better to me. I just can’t shake the love for the quack

[@sinjon]

Old comment I know but I agree. I don’t mind the quack. The Fender let’s the notes sag and has more character. The PRS sounds almost too perfect and pristine

[@SeraphimMarcopoulos]

Great review. I haven't had a chance to play the Silver Sky yet but I do own a Black 1 so this was very helpful.

[@darioxricci]

The strat looks and sounds the best in my opinion...love it

[@thelonetwangster]

Both great. Buy the one you want and stop whining everyone.

[@gurumajuindonesia]

agree!

[@elmoblatch9787]

No

[@jeffsha5326]

as someone who has watched as many videos as possible featuring the silver sky and has been working towards getting one, this is actually the first video I've watched where another guitar beat out the silver sky for me. Still love the silver sky but damn that fender sounds phenomenal

[@longtrang5706]

So cool you got your hands on these guitars.

[@scottpeacher7495]

It may be just me but I can hear what John was describing about removing unwanted high frequencies in the pickups. Great video.

[@jakemguitarist]

When he threw the Mayer version of Aint No Sunshine in there...🤘🏼

[@markinthemix6055]

I appreciate the demo and such but I would always pick the Fender. It’s crazy how the Fender design is just timeless and great.

[@irockuroll60]

Mark I agree-unless I loved the neck better on the prs. That's the only thing that would make me choose the prs over the fender. I think the fender sounds better-has a little more pronounced top end-not harsh tho

[@SuperMetalAxxe]

I completely agree with you Mark. ...and what REALLY boils my piss, is that I know for a fact John Mayer would agree with you too if he was honest. There are many videos of him saying as much. The most notable being the one Fender released with him explaining the backstory behind Black 1 and how his #1 was manufactured (partly by JM himself at the Fender factory). I find it so annoying that he has thrown all of this in the bin and made himself look insincere (at best) or a liar (at worst). I wanted to believe that these new PRS guitars were something different, a change in his sound that would warrant a new guitar, a new manufacturer, but no, not at all. It's exactly the same guitar with a different shaped headstock and a bigger price tag (in the UK). Sad. There are hundreds of different youtube videos and blog posts, where guitar sellers, music stores, instrument collectors, JM superfans, etc - try to make out like this is something completely new and revolutionary, totally worth buying. When the truth is simply that PRS offered him more money, or Fender weren't offering what he thought was enough. Greed. Pure and simple, and the humble bedroom guitar player loses out again. Additionally the waters are further muddied by "internet experts" now claiming on guitar forums that PRS do Fender better then Fender, because JM said so.

[@robertp-i4065]

And you can get cheap strats man the PRS is costy, if they made a budget version I would be more inclined

[@theskywalker7474]

From my understanding, JM left Fender for more contractual reasons. Fender wanted him to only play Fender and nothing else (ie Fender guitars, Fender amps and nothing else). JM wanted to be able to play what he wanted (two-rock's, gibby's, whatever). This left the two parties sore, and JM got fed up and is basically giving them the middle finger for being twats.

[@jonathanpolcari3856]

Ive had both a fender custom shop and now own a silver sky. I have to say i didn’t want to, but i like the PRS more. The sound has more body and sustain. The PRS is a much better match than a Strat if you also play a Les Paul. Weirdly it is loud but doesn’t break up. How did Paul do that? Fender will never be dethroned but as for the PRS try it before you knock it.

[@musicwithmaximo2328]

gotta love that strat sound. can't beat it

[@Gore171459]

Obviously a great strat is a great strat but I really enjoyed the little bit of the silver sky I played once. Felt great in my hands and I loved how clear it sounded, especially in those 2 and 4 positions.

[@kevinmaclean8935]

I've not played either guitar but it just struck me how wonderful it is to be alive and a guitar player these days. To have such beautiful precision instruments to choose from and them only the tiniest fraction of what is available from all vendors. The future is looking very bright indeed.

[@jamarwright]

Cool vid Rhett. Thanks for posting this. Just out of curiosity, how new are the strings on your personal black one strat? When comparing similar style guitars, I've found it very helpful to eliminate the variable of new strings vs old strings. I honestly prefer the PRS in your vid, but I suspect some of that may be fresh strings versus played in strings.

[@bitebetsy]

Beautiful visual nature to the Fender - the color blend is A+++. The PSR sounded more pure, the fingering seemed so effortless to reach the goals of those bending strings. I'd take the Fender to the Ball - a little more flash, but, I'd take the PRS to the bed, and play it all night!

[@neilsouza9076]

Best comparison I've seen on youtube!

[@uuutooob9]

Thanks Rhett for the review. I am a PRS owner (live near the factory) and got to touch a pre-release red Silver Sky a few weeks ago. Nice neck and typical PRS attention quality. The modified PRS headstock design (done for John's comfort) may draw fire, but certainly less than an inverted Fender design or similar silliness. Less of a fan of the contrasting paint on the lower bout -- seems like an unneeded complication. The Fender sounds richer to me on this, and most, of the KZbin videos out so far. We may some day hear more about the reason this guitar even exists, namely an apparent lack of support at Fender for his particular desires, as he recently posted. The Strat shape may simply be his departing poke in their eye. And Righteous Guitars is now on my agenda when I visit my folks in Georgia. Better leave wallet at home, however.

[@kiefeha6293]

I'd be happy to have any of the two

[@philippedubern4650]

Totally agree !

[@alancastellon9225]

Fantastic video! And amazing playing brotha

[@jackson8374]

First of all. Great video intro. Loved hearing the two styles interchange like like. They are both great. Fender sounds like a 60 gto. PRS sounds like a viper if you remember vipers. Drive the gto down a canyon road in the morning and take the viper down the strip at night. Best of both worlds. Great comment thread by the way.

[@grangerousdesigns4678]

They both sound amazing.The Fender sounds like a Stratocaster and the PRS sounds like a SilverSky.

[@sillyfarmerbilly8872]

Yes, but the question remains... What would you use a silver sky for? I'm being genuine. I bought a silver sky and have come to terms with the fact that it's a beautiful instrument but not a Stratocaster. So what is it?

[@markuyehara7880]

​@@sillyfarmerbilly8872 What can't it be used for and a Strat can? I haven't found anything that absolutely requires scooped mids and tons of quack.

[@sillyfarmerbilly8872]

@@markuyehara7880 I wrote that comment at a strange time in my life. I would take a silver sky over almost any strat in the world

[@recordatron]

For all the hate, you've gotta hand it to the silver sky. It does sound great. I'd say I prefer it to the Fender. I play a Fender btw so I'm not biased.

[@Atomic1710]

You jus want something new

[@wcmacster]

I just gots to say; I like how the PRS looks and feels but that is why a strat will always be on top, the SOUND!!!

[@4211welderman]

Awww. That PRS. Love it so much had to get one to go with my fender. And I do play the PRS more.

[@mikerinehart]

I like the sound of the PRS with a pick but the strat for fingerstyle.

[@cdsoto777]

Thank you Rhett for the "apples to apples" comparison of the John Mayer Signature guitars in terms of him being an active part in the design process of both. In my humble opinion, the PRS sounds very good and it comes from a great company that has been doing a great deal of innovation in the guitar world. However, the Fender JM Strat in my opinion really has better tone and that overall ambience and openness of sound that the majority of society has heard on John Mayer's albums. Maybe if he would have made his mark with the PRS, things would be totally different, but he chose the Strat; and that's the sound that we all like in terms of his music and in countless classic tones ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, SRV, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour and countless professional artists that enjoy the Fender sound. Also, most of the tone comes from your heart and soul, translated through your fingers and then via your choice of guitar pedals and amplifier. Again, this is just my humble opinion and everything is subjective...

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

What are you talking about? The silversky IS a Strat, just made by PRS. If there's any difference in tone it's just the pickups, that can be swapped in any guitar

[@jordanbrazinski8260]

I've always loved Strats and that's always what's caught my eyes and ears. I've owned a '59 AVRI Strat for a hot minute and love it to pieces. I have the black with mint, just because I always loved the look of the JM signature, and have always loved him. Just yesterday I had the chance to buy a Silver Sky online after demoing one in a local shop, and I am so excited to get it in. I've had some people tell me to now sell my Fender, but I don't think I'll ever have the heart to do it. There's just something about a Fender's imperfections and quirks that just make it so wonderful.

[@davideyskens8720]

Sounds like one has nickle strings other stainless steel. PRS stainless making it sound sterile compared to JM. There is a big tonal difference here with the JM sounding more musical, clearer, defined, less springy with string noise than JM..JM little more compressed in good way.

[@zacwatsonmusic]

How great is it that we have choice! For some people the PRS will hit the mark, for others it will be the Fender. Both are sick guitars and deserve a thumbs up. Cool video Rhett!

[@modergav]

Both souds like strats. PRS sound like it has a set of pickups that are great with mid and high ranges and the fender is balanced towards a little bit to the low side. Both are strarsm both sound great.

[@smkh2890]

I think of a Strat as a 'treble' guitar, in that its most characteristic tones are in the upper registers. A PRS has a lot more bass resonance.

[@diegotobar6839]

The hero we didn't know we needed

[@rexsolomon6325]

Great and highly objective review - which is very rare. Excellent video!

[@garycoates4987]

the fender sounds so so damn good just has "more" of everything just to be sure I closed my eyes and just listened still the strat

[@Guireles2007]

Fender all the way! In fact, a PRS dealer who went to a friend of mine's guitar store to promote the SilverSky tried it, head to head with a Fender Strat, and everybody in the store (including the PRS dealer) agreed that the Fender sounded MUCH better.

[@energybeing9151]

That was a great vid. Well done!

[@SixStringShorts-gv5ni]

Love the video just because it's you playing guitars! I have to say these comparisons are so subjective. There is so much going on... the player's connection with the guitar, how new the strings are, what you expect to get out of the guitar... all have an effect on the way you feel and play.

[@spicybison]

The prs sounded like a digital program to me. The fender just has that mojo. Its sound had more character. It is timeless and cemented in guitar history. Above all, the silver sky never would have existed if it weren't for the strat. Period.

[@DannyBrooks1]

Your point about the Sky would not exist without the Strat could also be true about Charvel, G&L, Suhr, Tom Anderson etc....... we could go on on on with a list. PRS is just another option for guitar players. I don’t get all the controversy over the PRS Sky.

[@flowgoi1741]

Danny Brooks Probably because it's a straight up clone of a Fender. Out of all PRS guitars I've seen, they all looked unique, even with the dual cutaway bodies, they still look unique. This one doesn't, it just tries to look too much like a strat.

[@BrentODell]

It's no more a clone that any other Strat clone, though. So, people are mad that PRS made a guitar that looks less PRS? Fender and Gibson haven't updated designs in a long time, which is why so many companies make strat and les paul style guitars. People like the overall look/vibe/etc. but want some tweaks that Fender/Gibson don't have

[@flowgoi1741]

Brent O'Dell Because it's not just some chinese brand, it's a PRS. And they didn't just make a guitar that looks less PRS, they made a guitar that looks 90% like a Fender. That's the issue here.

[@BrentODell]

@@flowgoi1741 so why aren't Suhr, etc. an issue? They're high-end guitars that are also 95% Strat, and no one seems to care. I don't have a dog in this fight, I'm just curious why everyone has an issue with PRS making a Strat company when pretty much every other guitar company has also done it.

[@P37_28]

The strat has got much more soul and character...

[@energon_productions205]

Would you mind to elaborate

[@besirnakiboglu6037]

ENERGON_PRODUCTIONS because the fender has a twang, it sounds like a strat, which makes it have soul and character but in my opinion the warm clean sound of the prs is muuuuuch better

[@panzerlieb]

ENERGON_PRODUCTIONS the PRS is a tad lifeless, a little to neutered. The Strat just has a kind of sparkle to its sound. They always have. I’m not sure what’s lacking in the PRS. Could be the pick ups or how the bridge or the neck is made, idk. It would be interesting to hear the PRS pick ups mounted in a Strat and vise versa. It would answer a lot of questions.

[@Daveymallon]

What he means is there is a really lovely body across the whole sound of the Fender whereas the PRS seems a bit monotone in its depth of colour. It’s not a bad sounding guitar, far from it but the Fender has the X factor, The PRS doesn’t!

[@remoevans2793]

ENERGON_PRODUCTIONS What he means is he always has been and always will be a Fender Strat guy 😂

[@maxhawkins3217]

finally a silver sky demo that doesnt have the guitar super clean for the entire video

[@Can.M.]

I think this is a very useful comparison. Thanks brave man!

[@d24isDURIAN]

Thought I'd try a Silver sky at the music store. Played it and never let go, Came home with me that day. For those who aren't a fan, I'd insist you try it out at the store. You'll come to realise how great the neck feels. PRS are excellent guitars!

[@dannyb4826]

I was just at a music store in Ottawa they had 3 !! i tried all of them and walked out with the blue ...... had to buy a prs hard case too..... didn't like the soft case that came with. I love it !!!!

[@jpienaar5631]

PRS sounds a bit cold/sterile. And... I can't get used to the headstock on a strat shaped body. It just looks off. Love the birds though!

[@jakecal6802]

J Pienaar yeah I love PRS but the fender plays way better.

[@jakecal6802]

I mean- compared to a silver sky. An American standard PRS that’s a whole other beast.

[@Atomic1710]

I cant stand the PRS headstock

[@jakecal6802]

slayer- ye Just on the Strat shape PRS or all PRS head stocks in general?

[@Atomic1710]

Jake Cal In general, it’s really the shape of the headstock doesn’t do it for me . An example of a different type of headstock that I think is well done is the musicman - cutlass

[@OfirOrlinsky]

I recognize this room 😀 righteous guitars! These guys are amazing.

[@RhettShull]

yes they are!

[@PhilAlbinus]

I played a Silver Sky for about 10 minutes at my local music store yesterday and it was lovely. The pickups sound very warm and defined and th neck was amazing. I don't have the money for it but it feels like very fine guitar. I would love one.

[@rommelladiao7741]

My vote goes to the Fender Black1. It sounds better (not by much), but the aesthetics on the Fender is beautiful. PRS headstock on a strat body doesn't seem ideal. Great review and demo.

[@randykelsoe7191]

Thanks, Rhett. Another fair and objective video. To me, the PRS sounded better and had a little fatter tone and more clarity. It also seemed like the Fender's neck pickup had a lot more hum than the PRS. Both sounded great, but the PRS won the shootout IMO.

[@boucharding]

find me a fender you dont have to roll the tone knob off a bit, very much a fender thing.

[@darood77]

The amber neck!! So beautiful.

[@michaeltaylors2456]

The PRS is a corrected EQ to my ears . The fender sounds nice as they do of course . The PRS just sounds more modern and tweaked less quirky, a little boomy on the bottom and looser on the top , which many would find pleasing .

[@ghostblock1]

Two guitars I would be proud to play. I see the PRS being a little hotter in the mids and a bit more aggressive. The Strat has more quack and to my ear is prettier ... The PRS head stock doesn't turn me on ... I have other strat type guitars (Reverend Eastsider S ) which has a "Almost tele /Strat head which doesn't bug me while the PRS does. . As a reference I have a 74 Strat with the huge head and I like it . I will share that I have tried the new American Pro Strats and love their new pickup and taller Frets --- I wish someone would compare the newer Strats to the PRS.. Like them both - lean towards the strat

[@ZackSeifMusic]

After OWNING many American and import strats and hating something about each one, I picked up a Silver Sky and bought it on spot. I won't own a Fender again after having played multiple SS in the past few weeks.

[@richardrust9532]

Great comparison demo! I have a Fender Strat Plus and also a PRS SS and I like both because each one has their own distinct sound or voice and feel. The PRS headstock doesn't bother me in fact it's as though Paul is making a statement of it's his version of a strat under his trademark and It does stay in tune very well.There are vintage Fender tele's out there with a snake head type of headstock with the 3 x 3 tuners also. No big deal... it's something different.

[@sgbowers1]

I have an AM Pro 2 Tele and an SS, with a Boogie California Tweed. I would say that in this video the Fender sounds much warmer, but that's maybe without much tone adjustment between the two which I think is required. It's not apples to apples. Thanks for your video, you're a great player and it makes it more fun to enjoy these instruments.

[@jocontv93]

Both sounds great .. but fender has this sweet distinct sound that i really like...

[@fender4brad]

I’m sure the PRS is amazing, but I really like the sound of the Fender.

[@bengalvin9932]

HEY RHETT! the BLACK1 is such a pretty guitar the black with the gold hardware and the off white/green scratchplate B.E.A.U.tiful!!

[@00xanawolf00]

Liked and subscribed! Great video. Lovely playing from both of you. Honestly, it's a no-brainer to me; you can own, essentially, an amazing boutique, Custom Shop-worthy guitar... for a fraction of the cost... by getting a Silver Sky. AND it's a Paul Reed Smith! AND it's a John Mayer PRS! Beautiful birds on the neck, the awesome headstock, those stellar pickups and the way they're wired... Knowing the quality and extreme attention to detail that goes into every PRS American-made guitar, it's an absolute STEAL for the $2k price tag. If I weren't so destitute, I'd be playing one of the Titanium Silver Sky guitars right now.

[@jekempton62609]

Another vote for the Fender.

[@rrichards146]

The Fender seems to have a better tone to my ear.

[@erikkassner9324]

We have a contrarian

[@ronm2099]

Agree. Fender has a warmer better balanced tone. Treble too sharp on the PRS.

[@robhamilton5057]

I like them both, subtle differences but whats not to like, very similar in my opinion, great playing too:)

[@Nikoo033]

Nice review. One thing noticed by the guys at Andertons TV is that the pole pieces of the pickups follow the curvature of the neck, unlike their asymmetrical arrangement on a standard strat.

[@martenmanna]

The Fender has much more depth and thickness in the sound, which I really love

[@warren8464]

best John Mayer signature guitar is a Jackson Soloist in pink.

[@Bamagolfandguitar]

KZbin comparisons are great for starting conversations which lead to arguments but that’s about it. So many variables make up a particular tone that’s it’s almost impossible to make a decision on the better sounding instrument via a YT video. One thing I wish more people would mention is their particular settings of the tone and volume knobs which make a HUGE difference. We can use terms like, “bright” and “hotter” and “smooth” to describe a particular guitar in a certain pup position and then, with a turn of a knob, it changes completely. Comparisons like this are fun to watch and discuss, but that’s about it.

[@profoundsamurai745]

Both sound pretty good to me. Different horses for different courses.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

Every time it switches back to the fender, the headstock looks more and more like a banana. Lol

[@raditkurniawan2280]

I choose fender

[@albertplaysmusic]

Great video. I think I'd prefer the Fender after hearing this demo.

[@abadgunman6838]

Was not expecting to hear Who Knows by Hendrix haha, great choice

[@colaboytje]

The Fender sounds open and more vintage. The PRS sounds compressed. I should hear them through my own amp.

[@kylemccloud9197]

The PRS sounds “new” while the Fender sounded old and broken in. Which it is I guess

[@boucharding]

great review dude, one day I will get a silver sky when my 335 addiction ends.

[@MitchRossMusician]

A very good video Rhett. I appreciated that you kept an open mind about this, because so many people haven't. It would have been interesting though for you to talk about the price of the guitars, and whether or not you feel they are worth the money being asked for each of these, realizing of course the the Fender version has not been in production for quite some time now.

[@RhettShull]

Hey Mitch! I do think these guitars are worth the money. Don’t get me wrong $2,300 is a lot of money especially for a working musician, but it’s still a fair price for a premium American made guitar.

[@MitchRossMusician]

I can agree with that. btw. I'm in Canada, and Silver Sky is just south of $3,000 here at the moment. I just watched the video you did with Rick Beato and Dave Onorato about Fender. I've been playing for over 40 years now, and I'm way more interested in buying Squiers, Epiphones and other price conscious guitars to make mods on than a $3k guitar that I would never bring to a club gig. But that's just me. And that's today. Next year could be totally different. Thanks for the response Rhett. Great playing.