What Fender Should Learn from John Mayer and PRS

John Mayer has Just released his new Silver Sky Lunar Ice Guitar from PRS and is bringing current trends for marketing for selling his guitars at record paces. Fender could learn a thing or two and John is showing exactly why he left Fender to go team up with Paul at PRS.
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[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Josh Smith has a new signature Ibanez coming out and he said that Fender approached him but they wanted him to make too many compromises and Ibanez done literally every single thing he wanted them to do. Fender wouldn't do things exactly like John wanted and so he went to PRS.

[@terryshrk]

Mayer had a signature Strat with Fender for nearly a decade,.so at least in the beginning he was happy working with them. My understanding is that Mayer had a split with the Corporate head over some contractual issues ( like they wanted him to only use their amps or display only fender amp on stage) . For him going with PRS meant high quality and he could deal directly with the modern Leo Fender,.whom is Paul himself. Now,..truthfully i think most of this Signature guitar stuff is mostly for speculators trying to flip the instruments on reverb and boomers whom know they dont have 10,000 hrs to achieve those skill levels to they over compensate by buying gear with their hero's name on it. Knowing full well that the original gear ( like say Hendrix's mid 60s Strats, or SRV's early 60's Strat) where just regular, off the line instruments LoL. What made them sound good was talent and time,..not anyone name onto headstock.

[@phishphan5732]

@@terryshrk I too have read that Fender Corp only wanted him to have Fender amps on stage, this coming after the Two Rock Sig amp was his main tone machine. Add on Fender firing Mike Eldred at the Custom Shop (who was John's go to guy), it was time to move on from Fender. I like John's attitude with the Silver Sky...take the S design and modernize what you don't like about it, don't be forced into sunburst finishes and move on.

[@pierheadjump]

@@terryshrk huh?

[@terryshrk]

@@phishphan5732 Agreed,..I dont blame Mr Mayer for moving on from fender after all that. And who wouldn't jump at the chance to sort fo redesign and rebuild the Strat from the ground up and do it with paul Reed Smith. Arguably the modern Leo fender himself. Those are beautiful instruments. im curious to see what the resell prices will be on reverb

[@matthewf1979]

@@terryshrk they didn’t redesign anything. The only thing preventing a lawsuit is the PRS headstock. Even the fretboard radius is 7.25” like a vintage Strat.

[@subzero308]

As a fender fanatic and not really into PRS... Mayer is a good guitarist and fender is the biggest guitar company on the planet both fender and john r gonna be more then OK lol.

[@thislisa]

Love these vids. I feel like I am hanging out with guitar geeks like myself.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Thanks, We are guitar nerds and we are glad you are in the crew!

[@13setzer]

I couldn't agree more. If I lived in the USA I'd visit this store on a regular basis just to hang 😁

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

This channel has turned into my morning news on my drive to work 💯🎸

[@MrCaddySlash]

I seriously love your guys videos. Feels down to earth, like I’m hanging around some friends. Keep up the great work!

[@lordseph]

Really felt like that didn't it? It was just like two friends having some guitar gossip.

[@thislittleamp]

When that notification pops up for up for a new Casino video I know it’s time fore coffee and to relax! Love these

[@mrlowquality711]

This channel needs more attention. I would tell all my friends about this channel...but I don't even have a single guitar nerd friend :(

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I'll be your friend. LOL!

[@mrlowquality711]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 would be glad to be friends with you.

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

I'll be your friend! I too sadly don't have any guitar nerd friends either 😕

[@mrlowquality711]

Lonely guitar nerd gang unite!!!

[@traviselmoreguitars5662]

got room for one more? lol

[@rdmkeytohwy]

I have not seen this finish in person but I have played a Silver Sky with a maple neck and the necks are perfect! These guitars just play and feel better than any guitar I have played. Ever.

[@ctcards2636]

Ive been performing with members of the Dead myself since about 2005. Started touring with Vince (last keyboard player)and his band, but he passed away in 06 sadly (RIP Vince). But later in 06 my band had T.C. (original keyboard player) tour with us on keys until 2014. Ive also had Donna Jean sing with our band, Melvin Seals of Jerry Garcia Band we did some shows with in... 2012?, Buddy Cage of New Riders of the Purple Sage we did a few shows with before he passed away (RIP Buddy). And many many more. Ive been very lucky. THe music of the dead is my favorite to perform as it can be different every night and leaves room for everyone to get a moment to shine. The dynamics and energy is amazing with this band and the crowds are so into the music, ive never seen any other style of music have this devoted of fans. So it makes all the work of touring that much more enjoyable. I have not tried the Silver Sky, I use Jerry Garcia Wolf copies, G&L Legacy and my Travis Bean TB1000S for when im doing this material. But i have wanted to try the Silver Sky, but the tones ive been hearing are not what im looking for. Id rather stick with my G&Ls ive owned for 20+ years. I did see a picture of Mayer using a Travis Bean that is a TB1000A. His is a black older model without the Irmon paint. Mine has the Irmon paint. Thanks for the video guys and have you guys ever talked about Travis Bean and Kramer aluminum neck guitars ? Id love to hear your thoughts on them.

[@BobbyStrunk561]

Hey guys good morning! Still enjoying your videos and love the stuff you all talk about! Very seriously thinking about talking to the guys that own and run my local guitar shop about them start doing videos like you all do because I believe it would boost their fan base and sales and educate people in general!

[@nimabefrui8765]

So you are saying that other companies should take the hint and also sell highly restricted limited edition guitars that sell out within an hour but end up in the hands of scalpers demanding ludicrous resale-prices on Reverb instead of the guitars actually being played?

[@CasinoGuitars]

We are not saying its necessarily great to have these limited runs, but they sell fast and for sure it seems to be working for PRS, and maybe other companies could have a bit more forward thinking. All these sneaker heads with shoes in boxes heads might eventually end up buying guitars. Unfortunately in the short term it seems to be a lot of flipping/scalping on reverb.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

Ding ding ding. You said it much better than I could.

[@brockterry5840]

I feel like you guys are becoming the voice of us guitar nerds in the South!!!

[@tricornium]

The finish looks better than the Nebula IMO, but man, talk about market inflation on a paint job! 😂

[@msspi764]

Ok, I'm a PRS player. Not because Paul is out there marketing his butt off, not because John has connected to them, though it's interesting to watch how he walked away (kind of) from Fender. Because I love what they've done and how they play. Because they're well thought out and yet always changing and improving. Not just the core models, the S2s and SEs. I'll never drop that kind of coin on a paint job and a maple fingerboard. I'm also not going to run from one PRS to another just because it's new and improved. But my PRSs get played. The others not so much. Other folk have their own paths.

[@ob1knb3]

The silver sky SE is junk, yes has OK pickups and a PRS logo and some bird inlays but for that money any strat is better and will probably last longer. Walk into any store and pick up an SE silver sky and turn the knobs, show me a single SE where the knobs aren't wonky and rotate out of round. The pick guard scratches if you run your finger over it. I know because I got one and would not fork out triple the cost for a Core model, that's Fender Custom territory. I picked up a JM Strat a while back for less than a PRS SS SE and the strat is superior in every single way, subjective but it makes me pick it up when I walk past it, the SE reminds me of wonky knobs, shitty pickup selector and blocky fretboard and will unlikely pick it up. I'm sure the Core would be better but from what I see the plastics are the same, maybe better fretboard. None of the reviews actually shows the crappyness of the plastics because they all wanna sell sell sell.

[@JacobNNorton1982]

I love this channel. I’m so glad I found you guys. I feel like, (even though you can’t hear me interject in real time) we’re just some guitar/ music loving nerds having a conversation about all things music. Can we get a conversation about the best “ budget” guitars? Some of us can’t hang with you high rollers.

[@chrislestermusic]

If you’re into PRS the SE line is really, really a lot of bang for your dollar. Some Squier stuff is really good. Epiphone for me has been hit and miss but the new releases have been good. Reverend isn’t necessarily “budget” but they are very quality instruments.

[@edwright6994]

I love these videos, would you guys ever think about uploading the audio to spotify as a kind of mini podcast?

[@CasinoGuitars]

This is in the works, a long format podcast for sure and these mini ones as well.

[@georgedavidson2024]

@@CasinoGuitars long format podcast?? I can’t wait for that

[@ThatChicagoKid]

I remember when Jim Root played PRS, I believe that he only had one.

[@dancompton1728]

Fender should beat PRS to the punch and release an affordable version of the Silver Sky with a Fender headstock! That’ll show them.

[@sidneyadnopoz3427]

No Way anybody would buy a guitar that's a copy of another model especially one that is as niche as the silver sky ; )

[@dancompton1728]

@@sidneyadnopoz3427 You're right. What was I thinking???

[@tedruybalid2262]

@@dancompton1728 that's actually a pretty good idea! That PRS headstock just continues to be a distraction from an otherwise aesthetic shape.

[@kevinborchers3522]

@@tedruybalid2262 i love the headstock

[@tedruybalid2262]

@@kevinborchers3522 actually, I do too on their standard PRS models. It just doesn't look right to me on the JM. That scooped out treble side cutaway is about all I can take. I actually think they could have made the regular PRS headstock longer and put the tuning keys 6-in-line and that would have worked a bit better. Haha...maybe I think too much! I know the Strat headstock is a registered trademark, but still....3 on a side looks too traditional on a Strat style to my artistic (haha) eye.

[@martywilkinson6722]

Excellent discussion. Sadly, I think the primary driving force for this last batch selling so quickly is the fact that people are buying them to flip since the first special editions were bringing so much money in the secondary market. As far as Fender goes, there are so many variants and colors and neck types, etc, there are virtually a limitless combinations available at any time. I've been Tele shopping and my head hurts just looking at all the different versions and combinations. Or you can just custom order one like you want it. When I was younger, I'm 43 now, the exclusive color would have probably gotten me excited, but these days, the special editions are not as important to me. But' people do love the thought that the instrument they have is "exclusive" and "special". Not knocking that at all, but paying double for a certain color does not interest me. A common color Silver Sky would suit me just fine!

[@BoyitoEnnui]

They will all be on reverb doubled in price within a week.

[@autistichead8137]

Exactly, not made for playing.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Like the sneaker game no one is wearing those either. He’s using the buying patterns of the younger crowd and how they are marketed to. It’s a great influx of cash for PRS to continue to develop more within the Core line.

[@autistichead8137]

@@CasinoGuitars Casino is becoming the most fun comments section in guitar world. You guys spur great conversations.

[@63timfred]

I think a lot of it is the John Mayer pull, it will be interesting to see how the Mark Lettieri model goes.

[@geetarbube]

Fender is doing just fine.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

Most relevant guitar company on the planet can “learn” from Mayer... 🤣

[@nosferatu7325]

I mean really. I think 2020 was some sort of record for them. Honestly this guitar is just a Fender made by a different company. I am surprised the courts allow this sort of direct copy. With all of that being said I really like some PRS models. . . just not this one.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

@@nosferatu7325 the silver sky is just a snub at fender.

[@Panic42000]

@@nosferatu7325 In the guitar world for some reason you can still other companies designs and you can’t do anything about it. Just ask Gibson.

[@OldGrowthRedwood]

It’s not a Strat, it’s a Silver Sky. Mayer does make the best “I’m having a bowel movement” faces when singing though.

[@jon9536]

Kinda resembles a strat...........

[@Smart-Alex]

I just bought a Fender Jeff Beck surf green Strat, not a Silver Sky. Did people buy the SS to play and love it or to resell it on eBay?

[@Zeppelin180]

There are only 1500 of the 10s of thousands sold that can be sold on for a profit so I assume the vast majority are bought to be played.

[@jamescbender43081]

Does it matter? Resellers wouldn’t bother if they didn’t think there was a demand.

[@jimmysupafly1547]

It's very simple on why. Fender has a ton more lines that are available. I have custom shop strats and teles, I can honestly say I can't keep up with all the lines fender releases. When you look at PRS you think private stock, silver sky's, mcartys,Tremonti and anything I haven't listed is because I don't see marketing for as much. Great video though guys. Awesome stuff.

[@21sungalute.42]

What's the difference between a store flipping and an individual flipping? And BTW what's the difference between flipping & scalping?

[@cliffleblanc1939]

I still can’t get past those grey tuners....

[@rkoblues24]

Waiting for their Lunar Ice Silver AcoustasonicSky.

[@bensch8604]

4:45 i left school early in 5th grade for a slipknot concert they were playing with disturbed and dragonforce when through the fire and flames was on top - herman lee and the other guy were walking around during disturbeds show but i was a little 5th grade pus and didnt talk to them - disturbed singer got wheeled out on a stretcher in a straight jacket like hannibal lector to Down with the Sickness

[@morganghetti]

I bet most are scalping. There are some on ebay already for twice the price.

[@autistichead8137]

By most you mean all.

[@michaelogden5093]

Could have something to do with PRS's commitment to quality. Signature guitars are one thing but other certain companies signature guitars are basically Firefly's with smoother fret ends.

[@bgocked]

The sneaker comparison is clutch here. The Silver Sky's paint job is polarizing, but clearly limited. It's one and done and you're not going to mistake it. But let's be honest look a custom shop or limited edition Strat - when you're looking at them on stage can you tell them apart from other Strats from 10, 15, 30 years ago? There's no urgency to buy, because you can find something exactly like it on Reverb -- or *just* order it from the Custom Shop.

[@mcfontaine]

I think it depends on the limited edition. When Fender released the 60th Anniversary Jazzmaster’s I just knew I had to have one. I had find the cash but a few months later I got one and within a month I wouldn’t have been able to find another. It’s been my main guitar for the last 3 years ... don’t touch any of my others.

[@TJjjjjjjjjjj]

The limited edition PRS’s are the only ones that seem to hold their value (and in some cases like the SSky go up) otherwise the resale on a PRS is rubbish. Why is that ?

[@MattyK-USA]

I think maybe another factor in the popularity of these special release SS's is that it's a combination of exclusivity and *regular* pricing? Paul isn't charging a premium for it. Fender, Gibson et al always charge more, even though the intrinsic value of the instrument may not be higher.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Great point, its an exclusive guitar at a price point thats not to crazy compared to a limited offering from say Gibson.

[@Memo146376]

Hey it’s you!! You’re on the flippity flop! What?

[@MattyK-USA]

@@Memo146376 I go wherever the promise of spirited musical congress takes me, and Casino Guitars is just such a place. Feast!

[@AsthamaticWarHorse]

It's working a lot like the "sneakerhead" market. A limited run of something is made which is just enough to create urgency. That way they sell out on release and after-market prices sky rocket. Nike does this the most. Even if the brand could make more money by producing more units, this strategy really positions the brand.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Exactly like the sneaker world

[@matthewking8944]

great video jhon & bax.

[@ronniewilliford3449]

Thank god somebody had the good sense to come out with another Strat copy. I thought that would never happen.

[@matthewbergvall2217]

A guitar loosely based on an “Alembic” with a stratocaster vibe with John’s specs for his playing with Dead and Company.

[@kapers5772]

Casino podcast is what I need

[@CasinoGuitars]

It's in the works. How long of a podcast is the question? like 45 min or Joe Rogan 3 hours lol

[@kapers5772]

@@CasinoGuitars I think about an hour long would be fine

[@lordseph]

Very true. Back in highschool, I started exploring his songs and tried to play them. I was able to play a lot on his first album "Room for squares" but then I tried Why Georgia. I was like "whoa, is he actually a good guitarist?" It was pretty difficult! Then I tried Neon. Long story short, couldn't play it. He definitely pulled a waikiki sneaky in between the cheeky when a few albums later he showed everyone that he was a sick guitarist and used Pop to get his foot in the door.

[@transfiguration8865]

The finish looks like the armor on Robocop 2.

[@nathonalexavier1505]

Fuck yeah!

[@guitrr]

The Silver Sky is a brilliant guitar, I’m not at all surprised they sell like crazy. I like mine so much I bought a second one a year later!

[@svensvensson6705]

Is it better than any fender strat you played?

[@guitrr]

@@svensvensson6705 With one exception: a ‘65 strat which belongs to a friend. That guitar, of course, would cost many times more than a new Silver Sky. My Silver Sky is better than the Fenders I’ve owned and others I’ve played, and I’d say it’s equal to the best from Suhr, Anderson, Grosh, etc

[@vedder10]

I'm holding out for a wood library guitar. PRS quality are so head and shoulders above the others. The tops and fit and finish makes them really hard to pass up or part with. They just still don't have that nostalgia that Fender and Gibson have.

[@beatmasterbossy]

Fender announces the new Fender MC flame top hollow body.

[@santi.444]

Talk about the taylor employee ownership!

[@CocoKoi321]

I'm confused y'all didn't post this after recording? Y'all said Christmas coming soon and prs SS being just released?

[@tedruybalid2262]

Haha! After that, he said "in about 350 days".

[@mar6164]

I watched a Lunar Ice sell for 20k within 1 hour on reverb :D

[@zackamodeo-thomson8010]

What song is tattooed on your arm?

[@OliverAmberg]

I am waiting for the PRS Slash Custom Models ;)

[@autistichead8137]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dsan3516]

Rofl, the shower curtain got me. Lmao!

[@mikeadams4605]

The only similarity between Fender and PRS is that they both make guitars....that is it. The John Mayer limited Silver Sky fits in with the style and approach that PRS has for all of the US made Core guitars. There are some overlaps in their customer base but the person who is going to buy a PRS core or multiple PRS guitars is probably not a Fender die hard. It's not a bad thing but PRS has marketed itself to the Doctor/Lawyer crowd....that is their core customer. The Mayer limited fits their customer base to a T. I'm not saying it's doesn't work at Fender it's just different.

[@colintraveller]

What Fender and other brands should learn is ,make more of there models available to Left Handers . .

[@jon9536]

If they have small frets and a small radius fingerboard, like I heard, I'd be flipping it too.

[@davedavid7061]

man, you know your KZbin channel has become successful when the comments are no longer about the hair and the beard

[@georgedavidson2024]

I never see the “What’s going on with the dude on the lefts hair?” anymore

[@joeykelly5642]

I thought Nebula looked a lot better than Polar Ice, but it seems like any limited run with John Mayer’s name on it will sell out instantly. It’s a smart marketing strategy. I think part of the reason PRS is able to sell these limited runs so well is because Paul is still at the helm. With Fender and Gibson, new limited runs feel pretty insignificant, because those companies have histories that date back so far. With PRS, the modern limited runs are a more significant part of the company’s history, and have collector’s value immediately after release. When’s the last time someone got jazzed up about a modern anniversary Strat or Les Paul? With the latter, I’ve actively avoided buying them, because they often come with ugly inlays or silkscreens.

[@Theylieohio]

I'm just a little fish in a big pond, so two years ago I purchased the Silver sky tungsten. $2,299 , I love this guitar. But us little fish could barely afford that , so nebula and lunar ice will have to stay in galaxies far away.

[@guitarbygus]

Is that a Mayer lyric?

[@ph0kused]

Correction* what fender should learn from ibanez, 2021 line ...T-series teles with roasted maple and stainless frets for under 3k. That is way sicker than anything prs has done with strats imo. Fender did it with the ultra lux, but they dropped the ball on the finishes i think. Prs still has no stainless options on any models, which i think is backwards thinking and dumb.

[@Scott__C]

Yeah, I thought the PRS custom design is a nice, unique design with a combination of good features. I played a SilverSky at GearFest in 2019 and bought a semi hollow Mira. I just wasn't impressed with yet another Strat in the world. And a color is the "new" one? Yawn.

[@Fugettaboutit]

Me: Can you do my hair up so it looks like I just woke up, and it stays that way all day? Stylist: I'm....not quite getting you. Me:

[@CarsInDimension]

I wonder what John Mayer's cut is of the $240,000 retail price of those 1,000 guitars. That seems to me to be relative pocket change to Mayer, his watch collection is worth a lot more than that. This is more of something he wants to do than something that earns him a lot of money.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

He's a modern-day Mother Theresa.

[@CarsInDimension]

@@allthingsclassicrock Not saying he's a saint, just that this is more of a legacy thing than a money thing.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

@@CarsInDimension my reply was too snarky on reflection sorry about that. I get what you’re saying.

[@CarsInDimension]

@@allthingsclassicrock Apology accepted, but no harm, no foul.

[@legalsolutions07]

Many of the PRS buyers are simply in a different economic bracket than many of the Fender buyers. Releasing a 1000 is not really a limited edition. I doubt these models will increase in value over time (or even hold their value) because there is very little about these guitars that is unique or functionally different. IMO it does not have the sexy look of the Fender Stratocaster. For $2700 I'd buy a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster that will hold its value.

[@fearandloathing668]

Didn't the Marc Bolan Les Pauls sell super fast?

[@chopper4484]

I wonder did all 60 of Mike McCreadys $15,000 signature strats pre-sell?

[@erickmo1188]

I agree, a shop should never do it (the flip)... unless the shop owner is also a collector like Norm... who has done the whole private warehouse thing. To me, Norm was just like any other player with GAS, bought way to much at different times, and just so happened to have built a sweet business in the mean time. Casino on the other hand, is the perfect model of what a small town guitar shop that offers premium products should be. Norms and Casino are both at the top of my list. As for the silver sky. I’ve played only one; sounds great, feels great, looks killer... but I can’t get on with the 7.25 radius. The one I played did choke a little contrary to what Paul exclaims in every video about it.

[@robalexwar]

I wish PRS would do a SE(Asian) version of the Silver Sky. I’d love to have one but I reckon I’ll end up with a Fender.

[@GUIGUI139]

I was about to say. That would just be a Mexi strat or Squier classic Vibe

[@TommiChong]

I just found his YT Guitar Music Pro and yea....enjoy it a lot. Now I'm a fan boy at almost 50...fml I'm lame.

[@joeleo078]

Post a John Mayer thumbnail and they will come.... 👍🏽

[@haus05]

if it weren't for Fender PRS wouldn't exist ... Paul should be grateful !

[@TheTrollMastah]

I just want thin unplasticized nitro finishes

[@georgedavidson2024]

I just want nitro that feels like real nitro

[@silverfr3ak]

PRS fans are not that enthusiastic by nothing. I bought a Custom 24 one month ago and I'm absolutely in love. I had two Gibson LP before, one of them is a LP Custom, which was always my dream guitar and it's a tone machine, but the PRS feel is amazing! I just sold the other gibson to get a mccarty 594.

[@patrickshortt8792]

"John is showing exactly why he left Fender to go team up with Paul at PRS." It's a Strat copy, hardly pushing the envelope. Still, each to his own.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Maybe not in design but he's said in the past he wants to bring the influence of the youth into the guitar market. For better or worse i guess. But hey maybe we can have another Jimmy Vaughn or Kenny Wayne Sheppard signature Strat.

[@patrickshortt8792]

Casino Guitars That's an interesting observation, although I'm not sure a re-iteration of the Strat will attract younger players. As for signature models, yes to more KWS and JV, but my favourites will always be the Hendrix and Trower models, a sign of my age!

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@CasinoGuitars I have to say that new KWS Signature Start just looks amazing. That is coming from someone who can’t fretboards that are not maple and who does not like blue guitars. Two big dislikes for me just came together to make something I would seriously consider buying.

[@72fresh92]

Scalpers on Ebay selling them for over 10 grand, I don't see the point in ltd colours, the guitar is exactly the same.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

Don’t forget PRS and Mayer are geniuses... 🙄

[@mrbyle1]

Considering that Grover Jackson only makes 400-500 Friedman's a year, 1000 pieces is not really limited...

[@MrSupraman15]

Mayer is the hendrix or stevie of our generation...enjoy them while we got em.

[@alangreenway6695]

Looking at the amount of videos on it, most Silver Sky’s were bought by KZbinrs.

[@shanewalton8888]

Tell Fender to make a lefty Malina Moye signature model!

[@DoctorBiobrain]

Why do people act like scalpers somehow disprove how popular these guitars are? If people are so confident they can resell these guitars at a huge profit that only makes the guitars even MORE popular.

[@KM-dk1xn]

These are up now for 10 grand, crazy

[@nathonalexavier1505]

PRS excels in innovation and “tweaking” the wheel in ways you didn’t know or realise it needed to be tweaked in. Fender accepts the wheel as it is and doesn’t dare to tweak it.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

I disagree. Fender invented the wheel and is constantly tweaking it. If they didn’t, how would they be the most relevant guitar company in the world right now? From top to bottom - professional to amateur- they offer more than any other company to all consumers.

[@nathonalexavier1505]

@@allthingsclassicrock no company is the most relevant company at the moment. Every company is finding it’s niche, it’s gap in the market and excelling there. Fender has the most entry level guitars at an affordable cost but innovation wise, only endeavours to mix up what they already created (parallel universe). The reason why John jumped ship to PRS is because Fender refused to keep tweaking their design to fit with his requests. He had every company throwing guitars at him wanting him to sign with them and he chose PRS because they excel in innovation. Hence the silversky.

[@zombieprivates]

Alright guys, this is starting to sound like payola running amoke...This has nothing to do with PRS/John Mayers supposed master marketing, Lets call it guitar scalping, it is the new way profiteers can jack up the price on Reverb.

[@CasinoGuitars]

These were reserved for only a hand full of big PRS dealers, some places got 10 some got 1 or 0 of these.

[@jameskrys5286]

Check the Reverb price guide on EVH guitars after Eddie died. They went way up.

[@KAIOabstrct]

The inherent problem with building momentum through limiting supply (like prs), is that the company has to keep their supply limited to keep demand high. So as a company you are simply shooting yourself in the foot.

[@natashanyxx9486]

❤️❤️❤️

[@javierservigon]

I used to say what PRS needs it's a few good endorsements... and then they landed John Mayer.

[@shanewalton8888]

For famous players taking over guitar companies, isn't The Edge still on the board at Fender?

[@Lean6]

I had a Silver Sky in the herd for a while. It was nice guitar, but it just wasn’t worth the money. I got rid of it on Reverb and bought a couple of nice Jazzmasters. Silver Sky is a Strat in my book, and I still have half dozen American Strats in the herd. Maybe one day I’ll pick up another SS if the price is right. But, I’m not hard pressed. I don’t think Fender needs to learn anything from PRS and Mayer either. Fender has stepped its game up considerably as of late too. The Ultra Strat is a lot more value than a SS, in my opinion. Fender also has been putting out some nice Signature models too.

[@christophercasey3255]

not a fan of this color or the nebula. maybe if I was the easter bunny playing hair band licks in 1986, but until I find a Delorean, I'll stick with the other colors its offered in. Also prefer a darker stained maple neck than is offered. But, you know, thats me.

[@imannonymous7707]

yes i agree fender does it too and no one cares....but when fender sells a limited sig model quickly.....they turn around and make it a regular run....gibson too. so...maybe we should wait n see what prs does next

[@kdrake777]

Here’s an idea. John Mayer is a lot like Steve Jobs, he’s all about the experience and then they try to engineer that vision. A Silver Sky is the Apple product of the guitar world. Steve spent hours in a Zen garden just thinking and getting inspiration and ideas. John and Paul are all about making ideas happen. Leo Fender was like that too. When at look at the 2021 releases by guitar manufacturers, ask yourself if you see any inspiration in the designs. Or to use the new catch phrase from a popular book, does it “spark joy”? The Silver Sky has obviously sparked joy for a lot of people.

[@autistichead8137]

Only Joy in the wallets of reverb flippers

[@Scott__C]

I get your point, but sorry, Mayer is no Steve Jobs.

[@kdrake777]

@@Scott__C But he thinks he is 😂🤣.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Fender by Fender is just a Fender ..A Fender by PRS is not just another PRS

[@patrickkellyguitar8300]

And when Fender releases something limited it usually costs a shit tonne of money 😂 The Silver Sky is priced reasonably well.

[@tapilaha]

they also lost Josh Smith more recently who now has a sig model with Ibanez

[@trickfall8752]

Just a guess, but it seems to me like Mayer and PRS fans tend to be on the upper end of the income scale.

[@frederickthompson8686]

Fender's problem is that the brand's image is "muddy." They keep changing models in an effort to squeeze a few more bucks from consumers, but the model names don't stand for anything. The brand personalities for each line are vague and seem to overlap. I'm a branding guy and a guitar player, and I could help them out... when I have some time. Oh, yes, I also own two PRS guitars, and just sold my last Fender.

[@ericheine2414]

They only get so good

[@guguslive]

I mean, the Silver Sky is very new and we already have 2 limited editions... if they keep releasing a limited edition every year in 5 years won't be special at all... I do agree Fender makes a lot of limited editions, but it keeps the catalog fresh...

[@Scott__C]

And limited edition means a color not a feature.

[@guguslive]

@@Scott__C yeah... is not like it has improved pickups or special wiring or different neck profile....

[@KrlosRodz]

They should release the Nebula as a regular color...that’ll bring the price down for sure!

[@kissfan1701]

That’s why they won’t.

[@Scott__C]

Nah, then the people who have them will gripe that it's not the same etc.

[@jaorte10]

My John Mayer Fender strat is already worth more than the PRS version. I've seen them going from $2800- $3400. They have gone up at the same rate as my 1965 Gibson 125 tdc. If I were going to purchase a PRS guitar, It would be a DGT without a 10 top and no girly birds on my fretboard.

[@randallcolthorpe6149]

Guess I will just have to settle for a watch! Good thing I am happy as a bottom feeder in the guitar world.

[@bob733333]

Silver is used to control the weather hence silver sky and it's been overcast for 2 weeks straight.

[@jimherleva4541]

The first thing Fender should learn is to copyright their designs.

[@Scott__C]

Well, in a judgement against Gibson, it was concluded that the headstock was the unique shape that couldn't be copied, so I'd imagine that's the same thing applying to them.