The PRS Silver Sky is the best sounding, best playing "Strat" I've ever owned...

[mad axe man]

Fender makes Strats, PRS makes Strat copies. It’s not a Strat if it was made by PRS, just like my Cooleycaster’s are not Tele’s.

absolutely perfect statement

 

[axejock]

I own 5 PRS guitars. I have a Core McCarty 594 single cut, a Core "Paul's Guitar". an S2 Custom 22, an S2 Starla (w.Bigsby). and now, an SE Piezo. They are simply impeccable IMHO. But I also own 15 Strats and 4 Teles, most of which I have upgraded or built myself. I do not have a PRS Silver Sky, but have played the SE and Core versions and both were very good as I remember. Maybe I should buy the one our local music shop has in stock (an SE)?

 

[FrieAsABird]

I can only say that the Silver Sky SE I played at a store for 15 minutes was pretty damn nice. Of course it’s not a fender Strat, but it’s a nicely built modern strat style guitar. Anderson’s in the UK had some insane deals on these, I might have gotten weak if they’d had a deal like that over here… maybe someday

 

[Bladesg]

Great guitars indeed. I heard many times that they’re the ‘best’ Strat yadadada and how many of those still own one? None that I’m aware of.

 

[Lewguitar]

I’m going to test drive one. I’ve been curious about them. I’m just curious about the neck, if it’s fatter than my American standard that might not work.

My Silver Sky SE seemed very similar to the Core model although the fingerboard feels a little flatter so string bending seemed easier. It has a 1 11/16" width at the nut, which is pretty normal. I don't like 1 3/8"...too narrow. And 1 3/4" usually feels too wide. So I'd say the neck feels pretty much in the same range as my Teles and other Strats. See if you can try both the SE and the Core model. They are not very different from each other and the SE goes for around $850.

 

[Lewguitar]

I don’t hate copies if they are well made. It’s still a copy. I make my own but I call them what they are Tele Copies or Strat Copies. My acoustics are copies of the old figure 8 body design and I call them Figure 8’s. My son makes vintage Martin Copies and if he builds a D-45 he calls it that, a JC Baxendale D-45. He doesn’t call it something like “Heavens Manna” or some dumb chit like that. If I make a Slope D, I call it a Baxendale Slope D.

There are a lot of things about the Silver Sky that are an improvement over a regular Strat. But you didn't see them as improvements last time around. But I don't think you've ever played one either. Or have you now?

 

[Della Street]

 

[Lewguitar]

Fender makes Strats, PRS makes Strat copies. It’s not a Strat if it was made by PRS, just like my Cooleycaster’s are not Tele’s.

There's no one at Fender named Fender. Company was sold in 1965 . So all the owners since then have just been making copies too.

Is a Strat made in Mexico, China, Korea or Japan a Strat or a copy?

Is having decal on the peghead that says Fender all that takes for it not to be a copy even it's made in Indonesia?

Get real.

 

[Stu78]

Hear all about it:

It ain't no Strat, S type at a push but not a Strat.

 

[arct]

Paul Reed Smith made himself a name and a product by building "not your father's guitar", while building nothing but copies of your father's guitar. There's nothing wrong with that, but a Strat or Tele is whatever Fender says it is, like a Les Paul or SG is whatever Gibson says it is. Not what Paul says it is. He makes great PRS guitars that are whatever he says they are. Some point in time from now somebody will be building better PRSii, you can count on it, like somebody has always built better <fill in the maker name>s. And the old school PRS guys will be doing exactly what old Fender poops like me are doing, sticking with what works because we never saw or felt or heard a need to change, based on our experience and use of our guitars.

Enjoy your Silver Skys and whatevers. I don't compare my guitars to other makers, I just use them and enjoy them. You should do the same. The imperial you, not you you anybody in particular. You don't have to be endlessly comparing them as "better" this or "better" thats.

rct

 

[crankmeister]

There's no one at Fender named Fender. Company was sold in 1965 . So all the owners since then have just been making copies too.

Is a Strat made in Mexico, China, Korea or Japan a Strat or a copy?

Is having decal on the peghead that says Fender all that takes for it not to be a copy even it's made in Indonesia?

Get real.

It’s a matter of propriety, intellectual property. Anyone not-Fender has to change some aspects of it. Therefore, there are Stratocasters, and then there are S-types. For real.

Obvs we consumers will casually call them all Strats. But that’s just out of ease.

I think Fender and PRS are both awesome. I’m unschooled with all the history of it, never knew a guitar player until college, so I’ve got no loyalties either way.

 

[Stu78]

Is a Strat made in Mexico, China, Korea or Japan a Strat or a copy?

If it's made by Fender/Squier it's a Strat, regardless of origin. A copy made by anyone else is just that...a copy!

 

[stratocarlster]

There's no one at Fender named Fender. Company was sold in 1965 . So all the owners since then have just been making copies too.

So all new Fenders, Gibsons, Guilds etc are mere copies. What a ridiculous argument. It's fine to be a fan of the silver sky but you lose credibility by being so absolute and dogmatic.

 

[Lewguitar]

Paul Reed Smith made himself a name and a product by building "not your father's guitar", while building nothing but copies of your father's guitar. There's nothing wrong with that, but a Strat or Tele is whatever Fender says it is, like a Les Paul or SG is whatever Gibson says it is. Not what Paul says it is. He makes great PRS guitars that are whatever he says they are. Some point in time from now somebody will be building better PRSii, you can count on it, like somebody has always built better <fill in the maker name>s. And the old school PRS guys will be doing exactly what old Fender poops like me are doing, sticking with what works because we never saw or felt or heard a need to change, based on our experience and use of our guitars.

Enjoy your Silver Skys and whatevers. I don't compare my guitars to other makers, I just use them and enjoy them. You should do the same. The imperial you, not you you anybody in particular. You don't have to be endlessly comparing them as "better" this or "better" thats.

rct

OK. I'll just suggest that ANYONE thinking about spending $850 or more for a Stratocaster should try a PRS Silver Sky SE along side that Strat you're thinking of buying.

Go back and forth between the two. Listen to them both unplugged and plugged in.

I think that person will end of buying the PRS because it's a better playing, better sounding guitar.

 

[Stratafied]

My Silver Sky SE seemed very similar to the Core model although the fingerboard feels a little flatter so string bending seemed easier. It has a 1 11/16" width at the nut, which is pretty normal. I don't like 1 3/8"...too narrow. And 1 3/4" usually feels too wide. So I'd say the neck feels pretty much in the same range as my Teles and other Strats. See if you can try both the SE and the Core model. They are not very different from each other and the SE goes for around $850.

Thanks.

 

[arct]

OK. I'll just suggest that ANYONE thinking about spending $850 or more for a Stratocaster should try a PRS Silver Sky SE along side that Strat you're thinking of buying.

Go back and forth between the two. Listen to them both unplugged and plugged in.

I think that person will end of buying the PRS because it's a better playing, better sounding guitar.

I have. I have never owned a Paul Reed, don't think I ever will. Don't like the necks. I'll suggest that ANYONE thinking about spending $850 or more for a PRS version of a Stratocaster be sure to play a few $850 dollar actual Stratocasters and decide what feels better to them. After that, take it out, have some fun, make some money, lather, rinse, repeat. That person doesn't have to prove to themselves or anyone else why what works for them works for them.

If you like Paul Reeds guitars better, have at it. No need to constantly compare them to Fenders and ensure that everyone knows they are better.

If the market is what the market will bear, this years survey shows that Paul has some improving and catching up to do:



rct

 

[Seamus OReally]

I didn’t like the neck.

 

[Lewguitar]

So all new Fenders, Gibsons, Guilds etc are mere copies. What a ridiculous argument. It's fine to be a fan of the silver sky but you lose credibility by being so absolute and dogmatic.

Yawn...

 

[Lewguitar]

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You think of that all by yourself?

 

[budglo]

Id like a maple neck strat. I’ve already got rosewood covered.