John Mayer speaks out to defend his PRS Silver Sky signature model
Mayer's signature model has caused a lot of controversy since its announcement - here's his take
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That new John Mayer PRS Silver Sky signature model has certainly placed the cat amongst the pigeons – so much so that John himself has addressed the fans and critics directly.
Silver Sky
The PRS Silver Sky supposedly took two and a half years to develop and John Mayer is very proud of what he and PRS have achieved. On both sides of the Atlantic, however, guitar forums, YouTube channels and ‘guitarists down the pub’ are arguing about the model, with some polarised views on the guitar.
The general gist is that some people are berating the guitar as just a Fender Stratocaster with a reverse PRS headstock and bird inlays. If that was the case I’m sure Paul Reed Smith could have made this guitar years ago, so hearing Mr Mayer’s opinion clears up the reasons why and how this guitar came into being.
PRS John Mayer Silver Sky · Source: PRS
From the ground up
John states that having a direct line of conversation with Paul Reed Smith was a huge part of why he went with PRS in the first place.
This makes perfect sense. What artist would not want direct access to the main man designing a guitar? The two spent their time, John says, building the Silver Sky from the ground up taking nothing for granted. Yes, John is familiar with the Strat body shape and so this is where they started, but things took a turn towards rectifying things that he wanted addressing, from the ‘scoop’ at the front and the design of the control knobs. The SIlver Sky is based on John’s favourite early ’60s Stratocasters represents improvements on aspects he thought needed changing.
This includes simple things like the finishes on offer, which are based on Tesla car colours (a homage to Leo Fender’s custom car colours of the ’60s). The video is an interesting watch and comes in at around 40-odd minutes long, but stick with it as it covers a lot of bases. You get to hear John play the guitar whilst giving a good overview of the reasons why he decided to work with PRS.
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17 responses to “John Mayer speaks out to defend his PRS Silver Sky signature model”
Any difference between the maple neck and rosewood
Johns string gauges on the demo?
Dude didn’t even have the sense to move the volume knob or just go two knob. What a waste of time.
Just get a YJM Strat or an are O’Brien Strat. I mean, instead of ripping off Fender.
All about the money….period !!! They have been changing out parts on Stratocasters since day one and every single Strat I have sounds different but still sounds like a Strat. There is not another manufacture that makes a wanna-be Strat that plays and sounds like a strat. Not a PRS, Not a Gibson, not Yamaha,,,,Not anybody !!! John jumped ship for the money…nothing else. Like John said, PRS could have made one years ago and so could have Gibson. But Why didn’t they ??? For the main reason you buy a Strat or Gibson or PRS. Because they are what they are..very different guitars. I could give a rats ass what the artists are playing because they are paid to represent the company that supplies them their guitars. The PRS Silver Sky is a nice guitar but it’s still not a Strat….period !!! It’s a “Look what I built with PRS and please buy it” guitar from an artist. When you take someone like John that has been a model spokesperson for Fender his whole life and then he jumps ship to have his PRS wanna be built shows no loyalty to Fender for his long career(except your are to play his new guitar thru a Fender Deluxe) To get the right sound. Everybody else just uses a Strat to get the real sound that naturally comes with a Strat. One more problem with his guitar….. It has a 7.25″ radius like a old Telecaster which in my opinion really sucks. Your string height has to be real high to do any string bends without fretting out. They haven’t used that radius since the early sixties. Thumbs down for PRS and John. I’ve seen other artist change guitars midway thru their careers with dismal results and a lot of confused fans that spent good hard earned money to buy the guitar they play only to be thrown aside and betrayed when a guitar company offers them more money to play their guitar with hopes of great big guitar sales sky rocketing at the factory. Like I said…. It’s all about the money and not the guitar. His comments are apologetic and border lines excuses… not reasons for his jump to PRS. I knew about this move a long time ago and was very disappointed. Kinda like somebody driving a Ferrari their whole life and then they jump ship to another manufacture for more money. If you breath and bleed Farrari and your driver moves to Fiat….well bye bye to that driver……..same feeling for John……He blew it !! Some people just don’t know when they have it so good….sad. PRS isn’t going to see a dime from me on this one…… not even a little bit interested in the Silver Sky….Sorry.
You don’t have to be sorry for having an opinion. However my friend, it’s obvious that you didn’t watch the video. The very things you feel to be true, were addressed by JM therein. At least watch before expounding.
PRS did build a strat, years ago. Research before you make your pro PRS claims.
They weren’t really Strats though were they. I’ve played quite a few EG3 models over the years and they are definitely inspired by Leo’s creation though. Plus, they are in my opinion really great guitars in their own right.
EG3 and DC3, both great axes!
Always be original. Never play a recreation of another guitar players guitar! You owe it to yourself to be yourself!
Is it really any better then a Fender or G&L?
I am a fender guy through and through I own an American elite and MIJ strat and play often In a bar band, grew up on fender and love them for the history, no question in my mind PRS makes a better product for an ever increasing price.
Leo Fender often customized guitars for big name player while continuing to mass produce guitars of varying quality. I have a fairly large collection of Strats and my favorites are those that have been modified to get all of the characteristics I enjoy. The main benefit here is consistency! My favorite Strat is my 1969 that I bought new. Added Schecter dual taps in 1982 with toggles to switch between dual adn single coil. Added an Alembic Stratoblaster in 1983 for crystal clear boost. I would buy the PRS simply for the consistency. Played too many bad strats in my day.
I have many Fenders, Gibsons and PRS that I enjoy, I have collected guitars all my life, I’m 69 years old. This John Mayer guitar to me is just plain ugly, I would never buy it. Just does not appeal to me at all. Sorry Paul.
Hey, if you can play like John, feel free to comment. Otherwise, just be quiet.
I’d like to know if you, John, really prefer PRS to Fender Strat. I certainly do. As a mater of fact I’ve purged myself of all Gibson’s and Fenders. I’m really into Reverend, Godin and of course PRS these days. Thanks for the vid.
Great video, John. If I like a guitar, none of the other stuff (most especially, opinions) really matters to me. If it helps my guitar journey in any way, I am a big fan.
I can’t believe anyone still cares what this guy thinks about anything.
I guess the fake blues will never die.
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