I recently embarked on a month-long tour across Western Canada, and for this adventure, I decided to bring along a guitar that has been generating considerable buzz in the guitar community: the PRS Silver Sky. This instrument, born from the collaboration between Paul Reed Smith and John Mayer, is a bold step into the familiar territory of the Stratocaster, yet with a distinct PRS twist. After playing the Silver Sky in diverse venues, from acoustically treated halls to less-than-ideal rooms, and clocking in countless hours of playing time, I feel confident in sharing my comprehensive review.
Before diving in, it’s important to note that this review will primarily focus on the practical aspects of playing the Silver Sky – its look, feel, and sound in real-world performance scenarios. While specifications like scale length, neck radius, and finish coatings are undoubtedly crucial, they often fade into the background when you’re on stage, night after night, focusing on the music. My aim here is to provide insights into what it’s like to live and breathe with the Silver Sky as a working musician.
Like many guitarists of my generation, John Mayer has been a significant influence. He’s made guitar playing feel relevant and exciting in a music landscape increasingly dominated by digital sounds. Inspired by Mayer, I, too, picked up the guitar and dedicated myself to mastering the instrument. For the past seven years, my go-to guitar has been Mayer’s Fender Signature Stratocaster. I’ve always considered it the pinnacle of guitar design and tone, even when compared to vintage instruments with eye-watering price tags. Nothing, in my experience, had surpassed the sonic and playability of my Mayer Strat—until now.
My initial reaction to the PRS Silver Sky announcement was one of skepticism. Having followed Mayer’s collaborations with PRS on the Super Eagle models and the J-MOD amplifier – both undeniably high-end and geared towards a different musical direction, seemingly aligned with his work with Dead & Company – the Silver Sky felt… different. When the first images surfaced, it almost seemed like a jab at Fender, a deliberate echo of the Stratocaster form. The online guitar community erupted with similar sentiments, and I confess, I initially joined the chorus of doubters, watching the commentary unfold with a degree of detached amusement.
It took nearly a year for the Silver Sky to arrive at my local guitar store. By then, much of the initial controversy had subsided. Thanks to a good relationship with the dealer, I managed to borrow one of the first Silver Sky Guitars before it even hit the sales floor. My first impression wasn’t overwhelmingly positive. The neck profile felt unfamiliar, and the overall sound, while good, didn’t immediately strike me as groundbreaking. However, a year later, revisiting the Silver Sky with a fresh perspective and shedding my initial biases, something clicked. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what changed, but I can certainly articulate what I now appreciate about this instrument.
The Aesthetics of the Silver Sky: A Blend of Familiar and Unique
When you first lay eyes on the Silver Sky, the Stratocaster DNA is undeniable. Yet, the PRS headstock immediately signals that this is not just another S-style guitar. Initially, the PRS headstock on this familiar body shape felt somewhat jarring. As I mentioned, it almost appeared to be a deliberate statement. However, after spending a month playing the Silver Sky daily, both in hotel rooms and on stage, the headstock has truly grown on me. It now feels like an integral part of the design, lending a distinctive PRS identity to the instrument. While a traditional Fender headstock might feel more instinctively “right” to some, the PRS version undeniably sets the Silver Sky apart.
It’s somewhat perplexing to me how much negative commentary the “PRS Strat” concept initially received online. Numerous guitar manufacturers have built successful careers crafting guitars heavily inspired by the Stratocaster. Brands like Suhr, for instance, are highly regarded for their S-style instruments, and yet, they rarely face the same level of scrutiny. Perhaps the controversy stemmed from Mayer’s long-standing association with Fender, making this collaboration with PRS seem like a more significant departure. Regardless, judging the Silver Sky purely on its aesthetics, it’s a beautifully crafted guitar.
The Frost finish of my review model is a stunning, creamy white, subtly different from the stark white of the pickguard, adding a touch of visual depth. The sparkle finish on the lower horn scoop is a unique and delightful detail, enhancing the guitar’s overall visual appeal. The fretboard is another highlight, adorned with PRS’s signature bird inlays, scaled down to perfectly fit the fret spacing. Throughout the tour, I consistently received compliments on the fretboard, with audience members often commenting on its striking appearance after performances.
Initially, the tuning pegs seemed like a potential point of concern. Their plastic-like material gave a slightly less premium impression at first glance compared to traditional metal tuners. However, in practice, these tuning pegs have proven to be excellent. Functionally, they are incredibly smooth and precise. Furthermore, and perhaps surprisingly, I’ve come to appreciate the material. As someone who is particular about fingerprints, the non-metallic finish of the tuning pegs is a welcome feature. It’s a minor detail, but it contributes to keeping the guitar looking pristine. Crucially, despite their appearance, these pegs feel robust and reliable, eliminating any worries about durability.
The Feel and Playability: Breaking In the Silver Sky Neck
The neck profile of the Silver Sky was the primary obstacle in my initial experience with the guitar. It was a departure from what I was accustomed to, and it initially made me hesitant. I’ve since learned that many players share this initial sentiment. However, the consensus seems to be that with time and consistent playing, the neck becomes incredibly comfortable and even preferred. This was certainly my experience. Over the course of the tour, the neck that once felt foreign now feels perfectly natural in my hand.
It’s akin to breaking in a new pair of ice skates or a baseball glove. There’s an initial period of adjustment, but once you “break it in,” it becomes an extension of yourself. The Silver Sky’s neck has reached that point for me.
Another feature that significantly contributes to the Silver Sky’s playability is the slightly shorter fret distance. As someone with relatively slender fingers, I found that this enhances my fretting accuracy and overall ease of playing. While players with larger hands might have a different experience, for me, the fret spacing is a definite advantage.
The pickup selector switch also deserves mention for its robust construction. It’s firm enough to prevent accidental position changes, which is particularly beneficial for players with a more energetic playing style. This solidity inspires confidence, knowing that your pickup selection will remain consistent even with vigorous strumming or movement on stage.
Finally, the weight of the Silver Sky is a notable positive. Having recently traded a PRS McCarty 594 for this guitar, the lighter weight was immediately apparent and appreciated. The Silver Sky is remarkably light, yet it retains a solid and substantial feel, dispelling any notion of it feeling cheap or flimsy. For extended sets, the reduced weight is a significant comfort, especially for musicians who, like myself, experience shoulder strain. Slinging the Silver Sky over my shoulder for hours on end is noticeably less taxing than heavier guitars, making it a welcome relief during long performances.
Sonic Transparency and Versatility: Unpacking the Silver Sky Sound
Now, let’s delve into the heart of the matter: the sound of the PRS Silver Sky.
My initial impression of the Silver Sky’s tone was that it was very “transparent.” In guitar gear terminology, “transparent” often describes overdrive pedals that boost your amp’s natural sound without adding significant coloration of their own. Applied to the Silver Sky, this meant that it initially struck me as lacking a distinct “character.” It sounded like a high-quality Stratocaster, but without a uniquely defining sonic signature that immediately jumped out. In comparison, my Fender Signature Strat possesses a noticeable “scooped” midrange character that lends itself beautifully to blues and certain styles of playing. Side-by-side, the tonal differences were apparent. The Silver Sky wasn’t worse, just less overtly distinctive in its voice.
However, after playing the Silver Sky extensively in a band context, night after night on tour, I’ve come to appreciate this “transparency” as a significant advantage. The predictable nature of its tone makes it remarkably adaptable in live settings. For a touring musician, this translates to significantly easier soundchecks. I can set my amp and pedals to a baseline setting and trust that the Silver Sky will consistently deliver a tone within the desired range, regardless of the room’s acoustics. Instead of wrestling with amp and pedal tweaks each night to compensate for varying room dynamics, the Silver Sky maintains a surprising consistency. This has saved valuable time and reduced stress during often rushed soundchecks.
The true strength of the Silver Sky’s sound lies in its pickup versatility and the effectiveness of its tone controls. Each of the five pickup positions offers a genuinely usable and distinct voice. This might seem like a given, but in my experience, it’s far from guaranteed, even on high-end guitars. Many Stratocaster-style guitars, including my own Fender Signature, often have pickup positions, especially towards the bridge, that become overly harsh or “honky,” limiting their practical application. The Silver Sky avoids this entirely.
Position 1 (neck pickup) delivers the classic warm, rounded tone that makes Strat-style guitars so beloved. It’s perfect for rhythm playing and for solos that require a smoother, less aggressive edge. Position 2 captures that quintessential “in-between” Strat quack, reminiscent of iconic tones like “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” offering a unique flavor ideal for expressive solos. The middle pickup is brighter and more articulate, excellent for cutting through in denser mixes or bass-heavy songs. Positions 4 and 5, leaning towards the bridge, surprised me with their unexpected warmth and usability. Position 5, the bridge pickup alone, produced a surprisingly BB King-esque tone, perfect for slow blues and soulful leads. Even the brightest positions remain musical and controllable, never becoming excessively shrill.
The tone knobs on the Silver Sky are exceptionally responsive and versatile. On most guitars I’ve played, tone knobs often feel like on/off switches, offering only extreme dark or bright settings. The Silver Sky’s tone controls, however, provide a much wider and more nuanced range of sonic possibilities. You can certainly achieve both very dark and very bright tones, but the spectrum in between is incredibly rich and usable. This expanded tonal palette unlocks far greater versatility from each pickup position, encouraging exploration and the discovery of tones I wouldn’t typically access on other guitars.
Final Verdict: A “Super-Strat” Worthy of the Hype
To reiterate, I was initially skeptical of the Silver Sky. The resemblance to a Stratocaster, despite being a collaboration between John Mayer and PRS, made me question its originality. However, after a month of intensive touring and playing, I am thoroughly convinced of the meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful design that went into creating what is, in many respects, a “Super-Strat.” The Silver Sky seamlessly blends everything I love about the classic Stratocaster design with PRS’s renowned build quality and aesthetic sensibilities. The fit and finish are impeccable, and the sound has been a revelation in live performance settings. Even on nights when tour fatigue set in, picking up the Silver Sky reignited my enthusiasm to perform and connect with the music.
My only minor critique, particularly given its price point around three thousand dollars, is the inclusion of only a gig bag instead of a hardshell case. For a guitar of this caliber, a more substantial case would feel more appropriate.
Scores:
The Look: 10/10
The Feel: 9/10
The Sound: 10/10
The PRS Silver Sky is undeniably one of the finest instruments I have ever played. While it took a little time to fully appreciate its nuances, I now consider it an indispensable part of my musical arsenal. I can’t imagine hitting the stage without it.
