I misspoke when I said "revolutionary". And I'm not suggesting that all new models should be, or need to be. What I meant was that I personally don't get this as being "new and exciting" Don't mean to offend anyone. It's just that, to me, the PRS "take" on the Strat seems like a copy. Right down to the bent-steel saddle, 2-pt trem... to me a step back from the PRS trems
Yes, plenty of companies have used the S and T model formula to make high end instruments that their customers love. Personally, I've always preferred a partscaster supplemented by Warmoth parts that I can build exactly the way I want. YMMV
Personally, I got more of a Charvel vibe from the Fiore - which I know is a 'strat' like guitar but what you have with the this, is a more modern 'Super Strat' than the more classic '63/64' spec Fender style Strat with the 7.25" radius. It may not be revolutionary, new and/or exciting (at least to you) in terms of aesthetics and where you think it fits in the spectrum of ALL makes/models of guitars ever built, but its still quite a unique and new model in the PRS line up. No doubt it also has the typical PRS attention to 'every' detail - and that was intimated by the fact that the red prototype was sent back, body carved a bit more to get it 'perfect' for Mark Lettieri - after all its HIS signature guitar.
The intro video and the PRS website doesn't give me all the details I really want - like what is the Fretboard radius? What is the Nut width? how does the Fiore neck carve compare to any of the other Pattern necks?What do the two push/pull tone pots actually do - especially as it only has one humbucker which I assume (rightly or wrongly) that it can be split/tapped. Maybe the other enables ALL pickups to be active but I am only guessing. I could go on but needless to say, there is numerous ways that this guitar could be vastly different from their Silver Sky and maybe more appealing to some - especially those that don't like the 7.25" radius and low frets of the Silver Sky and/or want something more modern.
I think the expression is '
Don't judge a book by its Cover'. There are a lot of unknowns - primarily because there is a LOT of new specific to this model - the pickups are unique to this model, the body is unique to this model, the neck carve is unique to this model and we don't know what all the electronics do either. The Radius could be PRS's standard 10", but it could still feel, play and sound very different to anything else in the PRS line-up.
I will admit that I personally have no interest in the guitar at all but as PRS only offer 1 flavour of 'Strat' type guitars, I really do not see any reason to be 'disappointed' that PRS have worked with another exceptional artist to create a very different flavour in that 'stratty' ballpark. Its not that different from creating the 408, 245, 594, McCarty etc - all different flavours of that classic 22 fret 'double humbucker' guitar. In general, the only innovation over those was the Pick-ups, experimenting with the width of the field and the pursuit of getting usable split/taps with minimal volume drop. If you look at the range of 22 fret double humbucker guitars, you have a range of different flavours with little/no innovation - the 594 (and Silver Sky) appear to be copies of guitars that launched in the 1950's - albeit with a few 'PRS' touches like the headstock and scoop on the lower horn. Of course there are other things too but both of these have been extremely popular.
The Special was originally only available for PRS Experience 2018 and only accepted orders from retailers for that year - but it proved popular enough that they were still making some into 2020 to fill those orders. The Studio may well be returning but again, its not been available with these pickups - reworked Narrowfield where before it was basically exactly the same as a 57/08 but in a narrower form and of course, the 58/15 LT's are extremely popular too. These guitars also were not made with the TCI process or the CAB finish so whilst they may not be 'new' in terms of the visual look, they are different from their predecessors and I think its great that many more people can now get a Special - a very special instrument.
I can understand maybe being a bit disappointed by just a new Limited Edition colour option on the Silver Sky - unless of course you are a scalper and hoping to turn a quick profit. Last year, the Nebula seemed very 'exciting' but at least they also brought out 4 new colours and the all maple neck version too. The Zach Myers may not be too exciting - seems very little has changed apart from aesthetics too but both are great guitars and some may well like these aesthetic changes a lot more than the options they had before. They are still 'great' guitars. The same can be said for the SE Custom 24 changes too - the carve and the colour options - and of course, the 35th Anniversary Cu24-08 (both SE and Core) is going to remain available rather than disappear. Personally, I am a little disappointed by this with regards to the Core as I prefer the previous Cu24-08 layout with the Blade switch as its easier for me to access when playing - I am not such a fan of having the switch that far back on the body - but it keeps consistency with the SE version and other models (both Pauls and Cu24-08 have the same layout on both SE and Core versions). I cannot get excited about a Bass guitar either - but I am not a bass player - I will admit though, its a nice looking bass...
I can honestly say that not one of the 'new' announcements are likely to be purchased this year by me. I already have a Ltd Edition Special semi-hollow and none of the other models fill a gap in my collection that I feel I want/need. I don't even need the Clip on tuner as I have the clip on TC Electronics Polytune but its cool that its USB rechargeable and I do like the fact the 12th fret Eagle lights up to indicate you are in tune - but I don't really need it. Its not a big disappointment to me though as I am OK with PRS not bringing out something that I feel I really want/need in my collection and that my collection is more than adequate to suit my needs. Considering the current Global situation right now, I am almost relieved that I don't feel like I must have something to fill a hole in my collection I didn't realise I needed but that would be very different IF I didn't already have my Special - I know I would have serious GAS for one of those otherwise. I also know that we have Summer NAMM coming up later in the year and it would surprise me if PRS didn't have more announcements throughout the year too - Covid affected both the Experience and Summer NAMM but they still did an Experience MEv and added the SE Hollowbody Piezo to go with the other SE Hollowbodies they released earlier - as well as SE Starla & Mira. Apart from the 35th anniversary model, I don't think they added any 'new' models to the Core or CE line - a revised Dusty Waring. Most new models were SE or S2 (McCarty models) and of course a few PS models like the Dragon and 1985 but so limited and expensive, out of reach for the vast majority.
Overall, I think the line up adds more variety to the line up despite the loss of the Custom 22 - the Special is basically a Semi-hollow Custom 22-08 with a Narrowfield to offer even more tonal variety and there are other 22fret models in the line up. The Bolt-on line is expanded by the addition of the Fiore and both the SE and S2 line are as strong as they were before as the world is still struggling with the pandemic - not just manufacturing, but financially too...