PRS Silver Sky Headstock Fix

[sharatz83]

The headstock is the way John Mayer wanted it to be. John’s happy. No big thing if someone wants to change it for themselves, though. Now, the OP is (mostly) happy. PRS sold a guitar. Paul’s happy.

Don’t worry, be happy.

Actually, do you know how the PRS Silver Sky ended up with that headstock design? They really spent a lot of time, money and they even hired design engineers to come up with a design. They didn`t like any - as the Fender headstock design is hard to beat - and PRS could not use it because of copy right issues. John Mayer just photoshopped an existing PRS headstock in reverse, and came up with some not so convincing reasoning behind for the selection. I don`t have to deal with those issues.

 

[Huggy Love]

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

But the headstock issue...

By “headstock issue” I’m assuming you’re referring to the improvement in playability and feel that come with a 3x3 headstock vs the imbalance and higher string tension on the higher strings that comes with a 6 on one side.

Yeah, PRS already fixed that one for us. One of the high points of the design!

 

[dmatthews]

Well - do you remember the time when Silver Sky SE was released? There was a lot of excitement surrounding it. There were swanky ads, social influencers doing reviews. But, there were limited supply of guitars to be had. I wanted to see what this was all about. I ordered one, but was disappointed with the fit and finish of the neck. I had to send it back to PRS, and they acknowledged that the guitar was out of spec and they sent me a really nice one - set up in the US. The guitar itself is great, nice pickups, and the neck profile is super nice. But the headstock issue...

There is no issue with the headstock. It works just fine.

 

[Maxime Bousquet]

The important thing is to play the guitar!

I guess it's sometimes like loving the body but less the head, in your case you can change it Why not!

 

[RickP]

Actually, do you know how the PRS Silver Sky ended up with that headstock design? They really spent a lot of time, money and they even hired design engineers to come up with a design. They didn`t like any - as the Fender headstock design is hard to beat - and PRS could not use it because of copy right issues. John Mayer just photoshopped an existing PRS headstock in reverse, and came up with some not so convincing reasoning behind for the selection. I don`t have to deal with those issues.

Yes, I read several interviews where John wanted the lower section more out of the way, as the Strat has, for his playing style and large hands, and the reversing the headstock did it. Whatever the reason, he liked the result, which was the point with a signature guitar. It’s his thing. I didn’t like the tuners, for instance, but he did. I can always change them. Like I said, if you’re happy putting a strat-ish neck on it, I think you should do it! That makes it your take on it. Of course, that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the design as it was. You just like something else, and some might view your “issues” with the headstock as a not so convincing reasoning to change it. Does it matter? Not really. John got what he wanted and you got what you wanted, and everyone should be happy. I hope you are!

The Silver Sky is an undeniable hit of a design for PRS, but nothing’s perfect for everyone.

 

[dmatthews]

Yes, I read several interviews where John wanted the lower section more out of the way, as the Strat has, for his playing style and large hands, and the reversing the headstock did it. Whatever the reason, he liked the result, which was the point with a signature guitar. It’s his thing. I didn’t like the tuners, for instance, but he did. I can always change them. Like I said, if you’re happy putting a strat-ish neck on it, I think you should do it! That makes it your take on it. Of course, that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the design as it was. You just like something else, and some might view your “issues” with the headstock as a not so convincing reasoning to change it. Does it matter? Not really. John got what he wanted and you got what you wanted, and everyone should be happy. I hope you are!

The Silver Sky is an undeniable hit of a design for PRS, but nothing’s perfect for everyone.

Well said mate.

 

[Gtrbldr]

Looks gorgeous! Well done.

You can debate whatever you want about headstock design, but I do get the qualms with the SS design. This looks more "natural" to me, due to all the long term conditioning guitar folk received since the 50s, when strats started to look like "that". The only headstock I like better on a strat is the Suhr incarnation FWIW.

Curious how it sounds after you're done with the nut.

 

[JasonE]

I am all for making a guitar yours. You paid for it and can do whatever you want to with it. If you like it better, that is all that matters.

I am not a huge fan of the SS headstock. It just looks strange to me being upside down. I am also not a fan of the tuners. That is why I haven't bought one. At least the SS headstock isn't nearly as ugly as the Tyler headstock. I would choose the SS over that thing every day of the week.

 

[Prina]

I am not a huge fan of the SS headstock.

At least not on a SS.

 

[László]

All that counts is the OP is happy with what he or she has done. Enjoy that thing!

I've always been immune to the Fender headstock design. It's supposed to be a violin scroll, but it's turned on its side in an ungainly way similar to what was done (and fixed) on the early Martin/Stauffer guitars, and of course, it was a literal copy of the original Bigsby guitar's headstock.

Then again, I've always felt the pointy/swoopy PRS headstock was a little over the top. That didn't stop me from buying a whole lot of 'em over the years. For me, it's just not very important.

My favorite headstock design was the one on the Steinbergers. Cut the damn thing off.

 

[SoCaliJ]

@sharatz83

I'm curious about the asymmetrical neck profile on the custom neck, is it at least chunky-ish like the stock SE SS neck, or is it thin like the Gibson Modern Studio LP asymm neck?

For me, I was sold on the SE SS's neck alone, couldn't get anything like that profile on any MIM or run of the mill MIA Fender Strats.

Otherwise, enjoy your guitar!

J

 

[Faded]

You didn’t fix anything, you just put a Fender clone neck on it. It’s a parts caster now.

 

[Rider1260]

Congrats for having the skill to make a new neck , yes the fender headstock is a classic look.
If I was going to that much work I like the lefty headstock better but that me.

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

Congrats for having the skill to make a new neck , yes the fender headstock is a classic look.
If I was going to that much work I like the lefty headstock better but that me.

Think of the SS headstock as the lefty version of the standard PRS headstock. ;-)

 

[Floyd_Argus]

Well - do you remember the time when Silver Sky SE was released? There was a lot of excitement surrounding it. There were swanky ads, social influencers doing reviews. But, there were limited supply of guitars to be had. I wanted to see what this was all about. I ordered one, but was disappointed with the fit and finish of the neck. I had to send it back to PRS, and they acknowledged that the guitar was out of spec and they sent me a really nice one - set up in the US. The guitar itself is great, nice pickups, and the neck profile is super nice. But the headstock issue...

Well - do you remember the time when Silver Sky SE was released? There was a lot of excitement surrounding it. There were swanky ads, social influencers doing reviews. But, there were limited supply of guitars to be had. I wanted to see what this was all about. I ordered one, but was disappointed with the fit and finish of the neck. I had to send it back to PRS, and they acknowledged that the guitar was out of spec and they sent me a really nice one - set up in the US. The guitar itself is great, nice pickups, and the neck profile is super nice. But the headstock issue...

But you would have minimally seen photos of this guitar and its headstock before you placed the order. So you were already aware that the headstock shape was something you disliked alot. Again, why buy this guitar then? It's not like this was a relatively inexpensive SE series guitar. Core Silver Skies cost close to $3K.

 

[Black Plaid]

Are you selling the original neck?

 

[frankencat]

The neck is the best part of the SE Silver Sky imo.

 

[Slo-mo]

I think the most amazing part of this thread (to me) was the fact that I never actually noticed it was different from standard PRS headstock. When I first read the original thread about this "issue", I took mine out and looked at it. I laughed to myself when I noticed it was indeed upside down. In the 2 years I've had this guitar, and even swapping the original tuners to Phase III w/plates, I never noticed it was reversed. It's just that unimportant to me.

I play my guitars, I don't put them on the wall and admire or complain about the design.

I have to agree with those commenting that if you didn't like the headstock enough to swap the entire neck, why not just buy a strat-style body and build your own. Seems like an awfully expensive path to take to get to this state.

 

[Floyd_Argus]

I think the most amazing part of this thread (to me) was the fact that I never actually noticed it was different from standard PRS headstock. When I first read the original thread about this "issue", I took mine out and looked at it. I laughed to myself when I noticed it was indeed upside down. In the 2 years I've had this guitar, and even swapping the original tuners to Phase III w/plates, I never noticed it was reversed. It's just that unimportant to me.



I play my guitars, I don't put them on the wall and admire or complain about the design.

I have to agree with those commenting that if you didn't like the headstock enough to swap the entire neck, why not just buy a strat-style body and build your own. Seems like an awfully expensive path to take to get to this state.

+1000 on the last part - if the headstock is such a deal breaker, mod an inexpensive vsn of a Strat like an SE series Silver Sky, a Squier or a partscaster, not a $3K one.

Apparently the OP has money to burn.