Note: This is a review from someone who buys blind, without research usually. Someone fairly new to the PRS experience. This is my second PRS guitar. I bought my first PRS guitar just a few months ago.
Intro:The Silver Sky SE (Maple Neck Version) is a very interesting instrument. I wouldn’t say that it feels or sounds like a Stratocaster - but it doesn’t sound like something John Mayer would play either. Over the course of this review, I'll try to break down my personal experience of this particular guitar, whilst promising to keep it all as honest as possible. Bare in mind, that even though this is my personal experience and perspective on this particular product, I went through great legnths to judge the Silver Sky SE wholly and fairly.
Let's start with the tuners!
There has been many talk on the tuners feelings cheap because they are lightweight but don't let that fool you. The "feel" of the material makes it easier to grip than traditional/standard metal tuning heads. The proprietary design in the plastic molding and whatever special formula they use causing a rigid yet smooth plastic feel and looks causing it. They are oversized a bit but respond very well and seem to be reliable. Durability is yet to be calculated as the guitar is still fairly new, how would the new plastic versions of PRS tuning heads handle a fall? Is unknown at this time. I find myself prefering the new PRS tuning heads over the usual plain Jane metal tuning heads that we always see. I always appreciate unique and stylish. The guitar stays in tune and the tuners feel great to me.
Let's move on to the body.
The body is indeed Stratocaster-like and as far as comparing it to the Stratocaster, this is the only thing that makes sense. The body shape is familiar to Fender-fans and the control and pickup layout is obviously identical to that of the standard SSS Fender Stratocasters. What's different? The bottom bull-horn (as Paul likes to call it) features PRS's signature half-way carving (also how Paul likes to call it), or half-a$$'d carving (as I like to call it hehe) The body itself, being made with Poplar wood, makes the Silver Sky SE consistently light, easily comparable to the Squier guitars made of the same wood. The wood is not light but durable and easily obtainable. There are times when I've prefered Poplar over Alder, Ash and Mahogany - I believe there is more of an airy chime to the tonewood (think laminated Maple).
"How about that neck?"
While we know that the radius and shape are the exact same as a standard Fender Stratocaster on paper, this couldn't be further from the truth in reality. So the neck feels like a baseball bat-styled Gibson type neck. This majorly surprised me, since I've never known John Mayer to be a Telecaster player - and maybe he's not. He started on wider, thicker neck traditional Acoustic guitars and classical style guitars so maybe that's where this comes into play. The headstock, of course, is the same you know and love from PRS! The bird inlays are there to stay and the dry maple look is something comparable to that which I found with my Squier Sonic Hardtail Stratocaster.
And finally, the pickups...
The pickups are a harder thing to judge or review - and perhaps my favorite part. It's difficult to judge from a foundation standpoint because it truly matters on your style and choice of amp/amps. So with that in mind, I tried the guitar through several amps and when compared to the Stratocaster, I found the Silver Sky SE to be "fuller" sounding. Why is that, exactly? The pickups have a wider bass sound, bass frequencies that are usually filtered out or absented in Fender or Seymour Duncan pickups. The sound is somewhere between a Strat and a P90 or maybe they are more of a variable P90 in a way, but in the size of a single coil. There's a Blues Driver/OD-3 effect that happens when on the neck pickup, that farty type of monster bass frequency and yet it's hard to hear this on the youtube videos because of mic's filtering and through-through YouTube compression. Lowering the bass on your amp can help tame the bass characterics of these pickups BUT won't get rid of them.
As for the pickups, I am still doing a lot of thinking on whether to replace them or not. While the flubby bass hair-like response makes the pickup less usable or identifiable in the mix, it's also another crucial part that gives this guitar it's unique character. So I'm not sure what I'll do in terms of swapping out pickups or not. The stock pickups are a great sounding set full of character, I have some unused great sounding sets that are also great sounding and full of character.
The bridge and hardware are exactly what you'd expect from PRS, I don't think I need to go there nothing but positive vibes here. I can't speak of anything on the wiring because I haven't opened the guitar, the sound is pristine and the pots have a great sweep and aren't scratchy.
The conclusion: I'm so glad I picked this guitar up, it's not close to a strat in any traditional sense (besides the body shape). First glances can be very deceiving. The thick neck and full sounding pickups make for a monster guitar that makes this PRS it's own thing. Colour me impressed, once again, with PRS making something that can stand out from the crowd. There are many videos that make it seem like it's a strat clone but on closer inspection, I've found it's nothing like a Stratocaster. If you're like me and have an assortment of strats, don't be afraid to pick up a Silver Sky SE. Even better if you buy blind - without trying it at a store because it will surprise the hell out of you. I am impressed, again, it's my second PRS guitar. Both my PRS happen to be SE models. My other is the Santana SE, which grew onn me and I'm very fond of. In that one, I did upgrade the pickups to the ultra rare Frampton signature pickups.
Intro:The Silver Sky SE (Maple Neck Version) is a very interesting instrument. I wouldn’t say that it feels or sounds like a Stratocaster - but it doesn’t sound like something John Mayer would play either. Over the course of this review, I'll try to break down my personal experience of this particular guitar, whilst promising to keep it all as honest as possible. Bare in mind, that even though this is my personal experience and perspective on this particular product, I went through great legnths to judge the Silver Sky SE wholly and fairly.
Let's start with the tuners!
There has been many talk on the tuners feelings cheap because they are lightweight but don't let that fool you. The "feel" of the material makes it easier to grip than traditional/standard metal tuning heads. The proprietary design in the plastic molding and whatever special formula they use causing a rigid yet smooth plastic feel and looks causing it. They are oversized a bit but respond very well and seem to be reliable. Durability is yet to be calculated as the guitar is still fairly new, how would the new plastic versions of PRS tuning heads handle a fall? Is unknown at this time. I find myself prefering the new PRS tuning heads over the usual plain Jane metal tuning heads that we always see. I always appreciate unique and stylish. The guitar stays in tune and the tuners feel great to me.
Let's move on to the body.
The body is indeed Stratocaster-like and as far as comparing it to the Stratocaster, this is the only thing that makes sense. The body shape is familiar to Fender-fans and the control and pickup layout is obviously identical to that of the standard SSS Fender Stratocasters. What's different? The bottom bull-horn (as Paul likes to call it) features PRS's signature half-way carving (also how Paul likes to call it), or half-a$$'d carving (as I like to call it hehe) The body itself, being made with Poplar wood, makes the Silver Sky SE consistently light, easily comparable to the Squier guitars made of the same wood. The wood is not light but durable and easily obtainable. There are times when I've prefered Poplar over Alder, Ash and Mahogany - I believe there is more of an airy chime to the tonewood (think laminated Maple).
"How about that neck?"
While we know that the radius and shape are the exact same as a standard Fender Stratocaster on paper, this couldn't be further from the truth in reality. So the neck feels like a baseball bat-styled Gibson type neck. This majorly surprised me, since I've never known John Mayer to be a Telecaster player - and maybe he's not. He started on wider, thicker neck traditional Acoustic guitars and classical style guitars so maybe that's where this comes into play. The headstock, of course, is the same you know and love from PRS! The bird inlays are there to stay and the dry maple look is something comparable to that which I found with my Squier Sonic Hardtail Stratocaster.
And finally, the pickups...
The pickups are a harder thing to judge or review - and perhaps my favorite part. It's difficult to judge from a foundation standpoint because it truly matters on your style and choice of amp/amps. So with that in mind, I tried the guitar through several amps and when compared to the Stratocaster, I found the Silver Sky SE to be "fuller" sounding. Why is that, exactly? The pickups have a wider bass sound, bass frequencies that are usually filtered out or absented in Fender or Seymour Duncan pickups. The sound is somewhere between a Strat and a P90 or maybe they are more of a variable P90 in a way, but in the size of a single coil. There's a Blues Driver/OD-3 effect that happens when on the neck pickup, that farty type of monster bass frequency and yet it's hard to hear this on the youtube videos because of mic's filtering and through-through YouTube compression. Lowering the bass on your amp can help tame the bass characterics of these pickups BUT won't get rid of them.
As for the pickups, I am still doing a lot of thinking on whether to replace them or not. While the flubby bass hair-like response makes the pickup less usable or identifiable in the mix, it's also another crucial part that gives this guitar it's unique character. So I'm not sure what I'll do in terms of swapping out pickups or not. The stock pickups are a great sounding set full of character, I have some unused great sounding sets that are also great sounding and full of character.
The bridge and hardware are exactly what you'd expect from PRS, I don't think I need to go there nothing but positive vibes here. I can't speak of anything on the wiring because I haven't opened the guitar, the sound is pristine and the pots have a great sweep and aren't scratchy.
The conclusion: I'm so glad I picked this guitar up, it's not close to a strat in any traditional sense (besides the body shape). First glances can be very deceiving. The thick neck and full sounding pickups make for a monster guitar that makes this PRS it's own thing. Colour me impressed, once again, with PRS making something that can stand out from the crowd. There are many videos that make it seem like it's a strat clone but on closer inspection, I've found it's nothing like a Stratocaster. If you're like me and have an assortment of strats, don't be afraid to pick up a Silver Sky SE. Even better if you buy blind - without trying it at a store because it will surprise the hell out of you. I am impressed, again, it's my second PRS guitar. Both my PRS happen to be SE models. My other is the Santana SE, which grew onn me and I'm very fond of. In that one, I did upgrade the pickups to the ultra rare Frampton signature pickups.
