PRS Silver Sky vs. My Fender CS Wildwood 10

I know the playing field is not even here, but I thought it would be fun to compare my #1 Fender CS Wildwood 10 Strat to the PRS Silver Sky. Both lovely instruments at very different price points - but both in the spirit of that glorious early 60s Strat we all hear is so good.

[@massimos6863]

Awesome playing Mark great Tone 👍

[@Dmvillano]

PRS sound sounds great. The Fender sounds more authentic, which is what I expected. I wouldn't change a thing, if I were you. Your rig sounds tremendous!

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Thanks David! I totally feel the same way. Took me years to save money and sell a bunch of stuff to arrive here - I am very grateful for the patience to get there haha

[@christopherlong8259]

Silver Sky is a great guitar, loved the look/feel/playability of it. The pickups do their thing really well but ultimately they just lack a bit of midrange for my taste. I had one and really enjoyed it but ended up going back to a CS Strat and am overall much happier. I may pick up another SS at some point, but if I could only have one I’ll take my CS Strat all day long.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Amen Christopher

[@Brianbo4]

Check out the ce24 by prs- has an amazing mid range. Still bolt on, but not a strat. Although, honestly I prefer the custom shop over the ce24 still.

[@llwonder]

When you plugged in the fender I was pretty impressed, then you plugged in the silver sky and it sounded just as good lol. Honestly I like both. I own a silver sky but not a CS strat. Silver sky would be my perfect guitar if I could change the radius to 9.5

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Both of them are crazy good - this was a lot of fun!

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

I can live with the 7.25 radius, I just wish the Silver Sky came with larger frets from the factory. Fret size is everything with a 7.25-inch radius.

[@GoofieNewfie]

I have both. CS strat and a 22 SS. the newer ones have different neck shapes ( rosewood only), pups, and I believe fret wire. If I blind fold anyone listening, they can't tell a difference. I can feel a difference, but they are very close sound wise. Get a SS on sale, it's a steal. Don't pay MSRP for either lol.

[@janvanzuilekom]

I have tons of strats (some pre cbs) i do have an old PRS 80ies custom and curious about the silver sky , great video

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Oh man that is so cool! Which Strat year has your favorite neck profile?

[@dr.stevenpennym.d.3241]

I just got my first PRS’s made in America silver sky John Mayer guitar. It’s epic. Do you run stringjoy stings on your guitars? What’s your opinion? Great video

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Nice!! I do use Stringjoy strings. It’s all I’ve used since 2015 and I’ll never go back muahahaha

[@onlyguitars]

I'm gassing for a PRS Silver Sky and was looking for info and it seems that since you first tried the SS with Michael P. and this one, all the details they changed are things I personally like. Don't quote me on this but what I've read is, now they are nitro, neck is a tad chunkier, frets are taller (seems like 6105, so maybe the same as your CS) and pickups are a bit lower output.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Yeah, frets definitely felt bigger. Overall I really enjoyed how the guitar played. Reminded me of my Suhrs a bit, which I no longer have so it was nice to get in that lane for a minute

[@onlyguitars]

@@markhopkinsmusic That's very interesting. I have a Suhr Classic Antique Pro, the guitar is amazing in every aspect except that I feel the neck a bit slim to my taste in the higher frets. (It's the Even medium C Profile). And the PRS in that aspect I know it's good to my liking. Just the radius is my doubt but seems they are very well built and so won't have fetting out issues, or won't be bad enough for me to not like it anyway.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@onlyguitars no issues at all with the radius. if the fret work is good it's a non issue. I actually really liked how it played all over the neck

[@onlyguitars]

@@markhopkinsmusic Nice!! You are not making my Gas easier. I actually own a Suhr Classic Antique, with the medium c profile. Suhr is just amazing, but my only downside of this one is that I feel the neck a bit slim to my taste, which sucks. But the PRS SS really beside the neck radius, checks all the boxes to me, but as you say, if it doesn't fret out and no issues there, then I'm totally sold on that one. Especially since I'm a Mayer fan, lol. Thanks for your reply!!

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@onlyguitars Treat yourself my friend!

[@kere92]

I think it’s down to preference but I liked your CS strat more. I like warm strats, and if I wanted bitey single coils, I go to my tele. Definitely lowered my GAS for a silver sky. What pickups are in your Strat Mark?

[@kere92]

Never mind! Read the pups in another comment.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Thanks for watching Kevin- yup the PUs are dope in the Strat! The Wildwood thing is a real deal.

[@benink5690]

Great playing first of all. Spunds great too. Unfortunately, All I heard was a lot of compression tbh. Didn't seem very clean. Maybe Iplay too much soft music. Maybe that's the guitar, amp, modeler, distortion compression or... compressor. Unfortunately all I heard was like a 7/10 squish. Still sounded cool and great playing. But I can't tell via this video what either guitar sounds like! Which means I'll have to BUY both, yes that's how I am making a decision

[@JakeWillis31]

I was rooting for the fender, but I will say that prs sounds pretty good.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

It's pretty dang good - I kinda want one any way.

[@ericfarrell1625]

No no no, the SE Silver Sky is really where it’s at…….at least that’s what I’m trying to tell myself to save some $$$. That CS Strat sounds absolutely awesome.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Haha dude I know. I was scared for a sec

[@thomasmoore3822]

Both sound great! I did the same comparison in a store with a custom shop and a silversky and much preferred the silversky. I ended up buying a eric johnson mostly because of the deal. My Fiore just arrived from Ryan Fowlers and it’s awesome. The Fiore is way different and so many tone combinations.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Oh man! I gotta check that guitar out too!

[@conan218]

It was a good shoot out. CS won for me. It's warmer.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Just like you buddy!

[@jcrgtattoo333]

Custom shop strat would be my pick, great sounding rig!, you know, the prs is a great guitar in its own right, I just wish prs came up with a six in line headstock, not a fender copy, just something more like the original fender design..

[@markhopkinsmusic]

That would be cool!! Like a Trini Lopez type headstock.

[@TheSalMaris]

For what it's worth, the Fender definitely sounds more like a Strat than the PRS--not that the PRS sounds bad, just different. Could just be the difference between winds or magnets. So, it's down, once again, to what you or anyone else prefers, huh? Thanks for this.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Thanks for watching, I agree :-)

[@llwonder]

Fender pickups usually have more midrange which gives them their unique character which you either love or hate. Mayer during his fender days plus his prs days now he designed pickups to be mid scooped and that’s why the silver sky doesn’t sound like a strat exactly. Whichever you prefer is a personal taste bc both sound good

[@drewbybee4074]

custom shop wins for me, man. it just has that classic throaty strat sound.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

i'm with ya!

[@billgreen3629]

The guitars sound different, but you play them differently too and I suppose that says everything. SS sounds great but the CS Strat is everything I’m looking for in that type of guitar.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Yeah - the CS is more my jam for sure. that neck is magic!

[@chadkaneshiro3844]

Hey Mark! What brand strings and gauges do you use?

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Hey Chad! I use Stringjoy strings 11- 50

[@chadkaneshiro3844]

@@markhopkinsmusic thanks! If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the difference in say Ernie ball slinky’s that I currently use?

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@chadkaneshiro3844 i've tried every string under the sun and the Stringjoys are way more balanced and the life of the strig is ridiculously good. I'd try a pack so you can see just how amazing they are

[@chadkaneshiro3844]

@@markhopkinsmusic thanks Mark! Love your channel and playing thanks for the advice 👍

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@chadkaneshiro3844 Any time!

[@AtypicalPaul]

which guitar has shorter fret wire?

[@markhopkinsmusic]

They felt very similar to be honest - the SS updated to bigger frets which in my opinion was a huge Win!

[@jamwithjason3112]

which year silver sky is this ?

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Brand new at the end of 2021

[@zwip778]

There isn’t a PRS Silver Sky but 2 really, the pre-2021 and the new one are very different

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Yeah totally! When I played them when they first came out I actually did not like it as much as this newer version. For some reason whatever they did to the instrument just resonates with me more now.

[@zwip778]

@@markhopkinsmusic they increased the fret height and lowered the output of the pickup so the feel and sound is different. To my ears the voice of the pickup is basically the same but lower output in the new one. I prefer higher output but I’m not a strat player so the old one sounded fantastic for me and the new one not so much.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@zwip778 makes sense - i like bigger frets - the first one felt like micro machines haha

[@CT-mw7yu]

I own a couple of CS guitars and recently got a SS. Both my CS are better than the silver sky, except for the price, neck and frets. I’m not an aggressive player like JM, and honestly feel like the SS fights me on bends and up the fretboard, I just got the guitar and maybe I just need to float the tremolo and redo the setup, but so far CS is a better guitar.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Thanks for watching! Yeah, I dug the SS but I don’t think it’s as comfortable as my CS.

[@baileyva]

CS model sounds like a guitar, the Sky sounds like pure distortion… Sky has a unique Schiller, CS makes musical tone

[@otaviosmartins1]

Silver sky is probably equal or better of a guitar than the CS, but the lack of midrange really bothers me.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

I’ve been hearing folks say that a lot today

[@waywardsoul4918]

So its not better....

[@musiccreation1198]

When I got my Michael Tuttle "Custom Classic S" (master builder) guitar, I sold my Silver Sky. Oops!! I just placed an order for a 2024 Silver Sky. No reflection on the Tuttle in any way whatsoever....it's a stunner. BUT ...imo, the Silver Sky is its own beast and I miss it. At half the price of the Tuttle or a custom shop Fender, the Silver Sky is a BARGAIN. SS vs Fender Vintage II 61 Strat, I'd choose the SS. Just me :)

[@markhopkinsmusic]

I’ve been craving a Silver Sky lately. I’ve heard the SEs are pretty amazing guitars too!

[@musiccreation1198]

@@markhopkinsmusic Fwiw, in my comparisons, I thought the SE DGT was shockingly good vs the Core DGT. The SE SS was certainly a great value but not the stellar value the SE DGT represents compared to the Core. I'd love to hear your thoughts and impressions.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@musiccreation1198 I’ve never played either but I can certainly try to get one on loan to demo.

[@musiccreation1198]

@@markhopkinsmusic That would be awesome !

[@user-bj5cy9uk3s]

Shout out to Ryan Fowler’s Guitar Experience! Every Silver Sky I have played has had a very similar sound and playability profile. I also own three: a 2018, 2019, and a 2020 Maple version. All three have their own character however. 2018 is the warmest, 2020 maple sits in the middle, and the 2019 has a different treble or presence of the bunch. the production year certainly could have something to do with it. Just my experience, subjective as that is! Great playing! Cool content!

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Thanks K!!

[@codygoins8832]

The fender custom shop hands down. The silver sky is just less stratty lol. I have no doubt it plays and feels great but sound wise it's not there for me

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Love my CS, forever.

[@codygoins8832]

@@markhopkinsmusic yeah sometimes you find a magical strat on any level. I'd say yours has that edge that only some do. I really dig it. You actually changed my mind on the studio signature amp. It was that or a reissue super reverb. I decided to just blow more on the studio signature.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@codygoins8832 you won’t regret it my man!

[@therangersinger]

Ahhh hell they are both great. I will give one big credit to PRS. They are the only company that can take a design that has been perfected for years and perfect it even further. And catch endless amounts of shit for it. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@markhopkinsmusic]

Totally! I mean I’m not gonna lie, even though I feel my Strat is a superior instrument I kind of want one of these because it’s marginally inferior and it plays and feels amazing!

[@jamesnelson1443]

Fender Strat was never perfect!!! Seymour Duncan made a fortune replacing lousy fender pickups!!!! Fender never stayed in tune!!! Suhr fixed that!!! Etc……..

[@therangersinger]

@@jamesnelson1443 not true. You may look at your kid and see perfection. I look at your kid and see a gap tooth, money stealing, vape huffing, armpit stanking little redneck kid. It's all perspective.

[@AbcDino843]

Just bought a used 2021 SS for $1,500, it's a best strat for the money :).

[@markhopkinsmusic]

It’s a great feeling instrument, that’s a great deal too!

[@AbcDino843]

@@markhopkinsmusic taking advantage of the cork sniffing nature of the used PRS guitar market :). Their prices drop disproportionately with more dings they have. Last year I got a gold top DGT for $2,000. Both amazing instruments, so solidly built, immaculate necks.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@AbcDino843 how is the neck on the DGT? Is it fatter than the normal PRS Pattern neck?

[@AbcDino843]

@@markhopkinsmusic I don't have a pattern neck around to A/B it with. Silver Sky's neck feels slightly fatter to me than the DGT, but I think it is mainly because of the shape.

[@zaprodaju1661]

Sorry guys, but CS sounds like THE STRAT.

[@markhopkinsmusic]

🙏🏻

[@samnewton5959]

If the Silversky is too bright on the bridge pickup, I am pretty sure there is a knob, I think it is called Tone. If you turn it counterclockwise, it will affect the amount of brightness.

[@soofitnsexy]

not even close.....

[@watchtheflow3880]

From a European point of view a wildwood ten is an unobtainable guitar. A unicorn. It would cost 10k. I can have a silver sky for 2.7. So that’s it. The strato is better but can fender give me that at 2.7k? I sincerely doubt it even tough they are trying with the American vintage 2….

[@markhopkinsmusic]

I 100% understand that point of view. I sold three guitars to get this one guitar, but I’m glad I did. No regrets at all.

[@watchtheflow3880]

@@markhopkinsmusic I feel you mate. I’ve been dreaming about a wildwood ten since I was a teen 😂 the thing is, I think, that is not a normal strat, that’s a dream Strat. I’d choose one of those over probably everything. But I think it must be said that what prs is delivering globally at that price point is just amazing ❤️. I love the new 61 American vintage in fiesta red but I believe I’ll end up with a silver sky. I don’t think a production line fender Strat can be on pair with the silver sky…

[@markhopkinsmusic]

@@watchtheflow3880 yeah, it’s hard to beat that guitar. I really loved the feel of it after I played it for only a few minutes. They have that throaty quality I love in an S style guitar.

[@watchtheflow3880]

@@markhopkinsmusic thanks for your insight. You are a great guitar player by the way 🙏

[@kcd2120]

I think that Wildwood ship internationally so they can be had in Europe or the UK - the 10s are usually around $4,500 or so, a bit more if relic’d. Shipping might be $250? There shouldn’t be any risk in buying a guitar from Wildwood, I’ve done it 5 times now lol😂

[@baileyva]

The Sky is a fuzz machine, CS is musical in tone and sound character…

[@jamesnelson1443]

Other way around

[@EM-km8em]

Fender for life.