BETTER Than FENDER?? - PRS Silver Sky vs Stratocaster! 

Did you guys prefer the bright punch of the Strat, or the fuller more rounded tone of the Silver Sky? Guitar links: Fender Player Strat- imp.i114863.net/vnvnPv SE Silver Sky - imp.i114863.net/BXYXK4 Enjoy :)

Have to be honest ... can't get over that strat sound!!! Its golden.. that chime ...gets me everytime. The se silver sky sounds very nice as well... I wouldn't be opposed to owning one .

Personally I like the warmer tones of the PRS, but it's not a replacement for the strat. It's a great addition to the strat, because there's a tone for certain songs you just need a strat for. And there's nothing wrong with adding another guitar!

I own the PRS SE Silver Sky ( Evergreen version ) and it is absolutely fantastic. The warmth and clarity really shines when chasing those ever important triad inversions. I will never doubt Fender ever because they’re guitar gods but the Silver Sky is CLEAN and you just want to stop in the middle of a great line and hug it.

Hi Darrell, I have watched a number of the videos you have posted, and enjoyed them all. Your knowledge, enthusiasm and sincerity are a huge part of what makes these videos what they are. It's refreshing to have a perspective that remains positive, even while critical. Nothing flashy, nothing over the top, just straight ahead, honest reviews, comparisons and assessments. Keep up the great work!

I bought a MIM Strat months before even knowing PRS was releasing the SE Silver Sky. Kind of wish I had that time back. The PRS body and features are better indeed. Sound wise, they're close enough for my tinnitus-riddled ears.

I love all of my PRS guitars--but I also love all of my Fenders. But my visual taste buds really love the Fender colors. Good demo. Rock on and Stay Well Groovy One!

I think the deal breaker for me is the silver sky routing configuration. I love the idea of dropping a different pickguard on a Stratocaster and going from single coil to humbuckers if I so choose to. Also aftermarket parts. The Stratocaster is king because it’s the Chevy small block 350 of guitars.

They are both fantastic guitars! I find my PRS guitars easier to play than Fender but that's just me. I love different things about each. I have not played a silver sky yet but I do have a Strat, a PRS SE245 and a PRS Starla I play them each for their differences. I'd really love to own a Silver Sky but a Revstar is next.

Surprised that I preferred every tone on the Strat. Thought 5 was better, then 4, then expected it to shift as we fot near the next but it didn’t.

I bought a SS SE a couple of months ago and can’t get over how good it is.

I've always been a PRS guy, myself. I recently got a Fender (first legit Fender strat for me) and as a couple of people said here it came pretty dreadful from the factory. In fact I had to return the first one and get a replacement because the solder job inside the first one was awful and I was having issues with not getting any sound in certain positions because of it. But even the second one I got has some pretty major issues with the fret work. Bend a little too far and the first string will get stuck under the 4th fret haha. I've never had an issue with a PRS. From their lowest level SE all the way to the ridiculously expensive core models they all come 100% ready out of the box. Meticulous attention to detail. BUT... I can see how some would prefer the twang of a classic strat. Sounds phenomenal. Silver Sky is no slouch either. It's a little fatter and warmer... more round. For me... Love the classic vibe of my Fender... It's iconic and just feels special in hand... but I wish I had a Silver Sky.

Both exceptional instruments 🎸 If pressed to choose one it would be the Silver Sky but I would love either one!

I actually prefer the screw in trem arm. I recently bought a US Pro Strat II which has a pop in arm and I'm fighting with it so so much. Sure the pop in mechanism itself works well, but it's always starting to loosen over time and then you have to re-adjust or re-tighten the set-screw knowing that in a couple of weeks, it'll start wiggle again. With the screw-in arm, imho, it is old-school, yes, but it's more stable.

Gotta be the Strat. I thought the tone of the Fender was superior. I know i can dial down the brightness of the Fender but can I dial up the rounded tone of the PRS? I give credit for the contouring of the PRS and the light weight however I think the wood in the Fender is superior. Finally I think the curb appeal of the Fender blows the PRS out of the water.

I have that exact SS SE and I'm in love with it, and that's a lot coming from a mainly Gibson dude. It's been hard to put it down since I got it last month. Great video!

Have to go with the Fender for that 'chime.' A small adjustment and you can get the darker tone of the PRS, but you can't get the PRS up to the Strat chime. The Indonesians are great craftsmen. I have an LTD I bought for grins, and the quality was just astounding. But, the Corona-Ensenada partnership keeps the Fender 'thang' going . . . all American . . .

I've never really gotten along with standard Strat pickups, as I find them too scooped and spikey. The SE SS sounded much fuller with the mids more forward and tone in all positions more rounder and smooth to my ears. SE SS would be the guitar for me for a S style guitar over the Fender players series.

I have that exact Strat... and it is just beautiful. For me it was closer to my perfect strat than anything more expensive in their catalogue... (Nice shiny maple board and original headstock with all the logos...) and that maple top 😍😍😍😍 My only real gripes? The fretwork is a tiny bit sharp, not a deal breaker, but you can definitely feel them. So a little fretwork with a file. And the bent steal saddles are not my style... Block saddles are on their way. The other thing i did was switch in Lace Sensors, (Red, Silver, Blue,) They're way punchier... but still have clear tones. So for less than $1500 Australian, it's just the perfect strat... in my eyes anyway 😍😍 The only other change i would have made, were it an option: Sting through body hardtail.

I feel like some things do not add up like Darrell describes them. For instance, versatility is a thing he mentions a couple times, but let's not forget that the Silver Sky was intended as a signature model, which for example may have affected how many colors PRS decided to put out there. 🧐 Great video regardless! ❤️

I thought they sounded very similar, but I thought the PRS sounded slightly smoother. For me, I thought the PRS had a more noticeable twang in the 2nd position. For the price point,I give the PRS a narrow win.

Having wound up with both examples this past year I can’t get past how much better the PRS in terms of thoughtful design… the volume knob for example is a stiffer feel than the two tone knobs… if you’re the type to accidentally smack the volume knob you will appreciate that. The pickups are so much more balanced and the slightly warmer tone is a nice touch (to me). The SE is a excellent instrument! I’m very pleased with mine 😁

Years back I made this same choice, Fender Player or PRS SE EG. I chose the PRS and now having played friends Fenders I'm completely satisfied that I made the right choice, I have an HSS EG in tobacco burst and I'd take it over any Strat I've ever played. Unlike the Silver Sky, mine has all metal tuners , I'm convinced that PRS does a better job of setting up the guitar before it's shipped to a dealer, with Fender it feels a bit hit or miss, some are good but others can feel just awful, especially the fret work.

Was looking for a strat to compliment a Gibson LP classic. Played 3 player strats and one silver sky, went home with the silver sky because the different tones, feel of the neck and it was already set up. Intonation was pretty much perfect not to mention a month later the thing just stays in tune. great guitar for the price!

Thanks Darrell, to my ears the PRS sounded a little more mellow.

great comparison, Darrell. loved the mellow sound of the PRS. Very soothing.

Would love to see you do a 3 way with a comparable G&L tribute... just saying that seeing some of Leo's last work might be very interesting as opposed to a more legacy stuff. Oh and the price point would be very similar as well.

For me it usually comes down to what comes better from the factory. In this PRS wins hands down. I've never owned a Fender that I didn't have to take to my tech for a setup and/or a fret level/dress. The same can be said for many brands and I'll usually send new guitars in to my tech anyway. However, I've never had to send a PRS or Hamer to get set up. They've always come pretty much perfect only requiring a quick truss rod adjustment as the seasons change. The truth is I'd be happy with either of these guitars but most likely I'd have to shell out some cash to get the Fender playing like I think it should.

Man, I just really love the bright tones of a strat. Each note feels more precise and defined to my ears

Kind of wish PRS would add a nice veneer and do a transparent finish on the Silver Sky like on that “Plus Top” Strat. (I have a Plus top tele in blueburst, it’s sweet).

This helped me make my mind. For the features , playability and tone I prefer the Silver Sky. Great video 🎸

You definitely have more choices with the Fender, and frankly I love that. On the other hand the PRS is super sweet and overall I really appreciate what it has to offer. That said, i wish PRS had not gone the "cheap looking" route for certain aspects of the Silver Sky. The gray plastic tuner buttons and truss rod cover REALLY detract from the looks. And yes, looks matter. If they had went a bit "nicer" it would have really improved the looks and therefore increased interest (IMO). So for me, I wish they had a Silver Sky with the choices the Fender has, and the LOOKS that it has as well. You can go "modern" without looking cheap, but I don't think PRS and "your body is a wonderland" got that memo. It is one of the things that really made me tilt my head when reviewing PRS's complete lineup. The Silver Sky simply looks.... cheap. It's a GREAT guitar though, so that is frustrating. Now for sound... simply put, it's not an issue. Both sound great, and both can be MADE to sound damn near the same. We all know that all strats don't sound "the same" anyways, and your sound is determined by many factors. What amps are you using? What settings are you using? What effects are you using? And on and on. That all said, I would take either, and recement either. I don't think you lose either way. Cheers!

There’s a reason there’s been so little change from the first strat to today’s strat. Leo got it real close to perfect from the start. They need to bring back rosewood on the MIMs. No hate on PRS. Ima ascared of burds.

For my ear, only the Strat has that trademark jangle and spank its famous for. The Sky appears better made, has more sustain and richer, smoother tone but sounds less "Strat like". Bottom line, if youre playing blues, country, classic 50's thru 70's vintage rock and want an axe that retains value, get the Strat. Want a more modern tone? Get a Sky.

Hi Darrel! Huge fan, just one observation on your comparison, the fender you can get it with different pickup configs, Hss being my fav. Love your channel!

Since the Silver Sky se was announced, it has been “on the way” at Sweetwater and on order at Guitar Center. I just bought a player strat and couldn’t be happier. The lack of availability made the choice easy.

In the single coil pick up comparisons I thought the silver sky had a little more body in the first three comparisons. The last two comparisons were almost identical. Really hard to tell the difference.

I personally like the Silver Sky for weight and all the nice neck features, since I am tiny any weight loss is good for me.

As always, great video and great comparison! Thank you, Darrell!

I like the PRS a little better. The Strat sounded better in all positions to my ears except position 3 where I thought the PRS excelled. The Strat, arguably has better hardware and I like a maple fretboard better on a Strat-type guitar rather than rosewood. Still, there is something sexy about the PRS in its simplicity that I like. :)

The Silver Sky pickups just sound more refined, it's got the Strat tone but with the rough edges smoothed out ever so slightly.

I'm going to be honest with you, tonally, I prefer both for different positions. I think the thing that really pushes it over the top for me is its intonation. It's pretty clear that the Silver Sky keeps the tuning pretty spot on all over the neck while the strat had some clear intonation issues (assuming that the guitar was in tune to begin with).

Thanks for this comparison Darrell... I bought a fender player just a few weeks ago and I'm ❤️ing it. I agree completely with you. The fender neck isn't as finished as my other PRS SE (245)... But man... it just plays and sound like a fender... I think the silversky sounds a bit muddy for a strat (though they are very close, and the ss sounds great as well) The PRS plastic tunners are a definite turn-off for me (looks sooo cheep), even on the full blown silver sky.

I have a Player Series Strat and I love it! For me, I don’t really see the point in buying a very similar Strat knock-off design for the same price as the official thing. The PRS headstock looks very weird to me. The fact that the Player has a Fender logo on it will mean a lot to people which will effect resale value.

I honestly thought the Strat sounded just a bit better but it was so close that you should just buy whichever you liked better and be happy you got a killer instrument.

Not sure about the SE models, but I bought the USA Silver Sky and returned it within hours. Nothing wrong with it, just wasn't for me. Unlike so many signature guitars, the Silver Sky is a very specific guitar made for a very specific person, and I am not that person :)

The strat has the better tone, IMO. At least on the settings you used. It was a huge difference for me there.

A little over a month ago I bought the Schecter Nick Johnson instead of the PRS SE Silver Sky. I tried both in the store and preferred the Schecter for comfort in the neck and body. But after a few days I realized that the sound of the Strat and other Fender models is not equaled by any brand. Everyone wants to copy them but just like a Gibson Les Paul they are unique.The I love Schecter NJ because it has its own sound and in construction it is impeccable, without any factory flaws. Better than any Fender.

I owned a vintage 1960 Strat for 20 years. I had to sell in hard times, but when I eventually went looking for a replacement in 1994, I found a new USA G&L Legacy. I have never regretted that purchase. G&Ls are the best!

I preferred the PRS in single coil positions, and the Fender by a mile in the in between positions. Great time to be a guitarist, as there are multiples of great options in every price point.

I was hoping that silver sky so would sound better be but man That bright sound and vibe of that strat sounds soo good.

I own a 2003 MIM standard strat (modded with a Tex-Mex loaded pickguard)and though I have never played one , to me the PRS just sounds better. more balanced through the lows, mids and highs.

Darrell tiptoes around the fire 🔥 lol ! You ROCK thanks for another great video 👏👏

Just went to my guitar store with the intention of walking out with a Silversky SE under my arm. However, I decided to try out the fender player just in case. I ended up buying the strat. Personally, I found that the SE felt much lighter and "cheaper", with loose knobs and tuning pegs. I preferred the tone on the strat as well as the playability. The SE has a thicker neck, which I personally dislike, as it will make it unnecessarily hard to play songs such as neon (which is ironic, considering it's sponsored by Mayer). Sorry PRS fans, but the strat's the goat. Always has, always will be

When is Darrel doing a review of the Ibanez AZES?? I've been waiting for months now, I'm so sure he'll love it

I’ve owned both and the fit and finish especially on the frets and neck on the SE were just better and the instrument just felt and sounded like it was better quality and the setup on the SE was way better as well out of box so I knew the guitar had been inspected by PRS in the US which fender I don’t think does on imports.

Biggest tonal difference seems to be the middle pickup. The SSSE middle is definitely warmer in the middle. The neck and bridge pups are pretty close. I am still waiting for my local GC to get some SS's in stock. I've played a core model, and it was an awesome guitar, but it was essentially a Strat. I'd rather have a Fender.

Sound wise…I prefer the Silver Sky. I also like that headstock “look” a little better and I like a darker non lacquered fretboard. The rolled fretboard edges and nicer fretwork is a big win for me as well. The PRS designed trem also gets my vote. I prefer to see the wood grain on my guitars so I would want a translucent finish. If I was trying to decide on one now….. I would not be choosing either of these today. I would wait for the new colors on the new PRS or maybe an SE Fiore if that’s introduced next and gets a rosewood fretboard. As things really stand in my guitar closet… I love my G&L Legacy…. Even with the maple fretboard. Never thought I would have liked it as much as I did when I picked it up. The best Strat that I have ever played!

Both really nice. I have a 2018 player modded with Fender lockers, tort guard , bone nut, brass trem block and brass roller saddles. Wish it was a little lighter but used to it. I am an old Strat guy so there is so much there to overcome. Probably all in my head but Strat's forever. But then my music is all in my head too so just seeing the word Fender conjures all sorts of fingerboard wanderlust. If could afford more guitars, I would/will probably still get a Silver Sky too. edit, and a really long trem arm and cream plastics.

I have a lot of guitars all kinds of brands. I love this SE Silver Sky so much I sold my USA model. I see no need to keep it. I like the radius better on the SE and the pickups are slightly hotter than my USA which I like. The Trem is just a better design also. I love Fender, but PRS is killing it with these. I think the smartest business move is PRS - Maryland inspects and sets up every one of these SE guitars. This is the game changer. When the player gets it, it is right. Fender just sends them out I suppose. Kudos to PRS for that, and I hope they never change that operation. It sets them apart in quality. Also I appreciate Darrel Braun, super informative, and a great channel.

I prefer the strats sound. Be sure to put that small spring in the trems screw in cavity to keep it from spinning. Sure the PRS has nice contours but Clapton Beck Blackmore had no problem with the square heel

Definitely I like the PRS best , loved the sound. Fender pickups sound like cheap , tinny.

That tone comparison put me squarely in the PRS camp. Great demo, Darrell!

Gotta go with Fender. It wins on all fronts for me. And that PRS headstock… ugghh. A note about the screw in trem bar; if you have the tension spring in and use the bar a lot the screw in design isn’t that bad. Leave the bar in and point it toward the input Jack when putting the guitar in a case.

You will always find a great review here! One big note: this PRS is a signature guitar which makes it different than the Fender. Its not meant to have tons of options other than color. It's a great take on a Strat like guitar though and this price point I heard it's comparing heavily to the price point of the PRS USA model of the Sky, making the SE more of a choice. I am shopping for one thinking that is a great guitar to owe. Last the one thing I noticed is the tuning of the Sky when playing all over the neck intonates better meaning chords sounded more in tune than the strat. Not by much but that's very import to me. Thanks Darrell you really helped my decision!

Definitely not a guitarist, but I always enjoy checking out this channel. For this one? I preferred the PRS tones overall, but I found I liked the Fender tone for position 2. Otherwise, if I suddenly decided I needed one of these 2 guitars, I'd take the PRS hands down. Keep up the great vids Darrell!

I did NOT expect them to sound so different! The PRS did not sound very “Stratty” all. It almost sounded more “hi-fi”. It reminds me of comparing a Carvin Bolt to a Strat; despite the fact that you can make it visually look like a Strat, it still sounds high fi. The PRS by no means sounds bad, just quite different.

Both are great guitars, but for me it's the Strat! I just don't understand the grey plastic on the tuners and trust rod cover on such a beautiful guitar. You do have to spend a bunch more cash to get a rosewood neck on a Strat now. Tough choice...

John Mayer was a big user of the Fender Stratocaster until recently. On his current tour he is using the PRS Silver Sky almost exclusively. Both guitars sound good.

I'm a Strat fan all my life. The SS looks like a fine guitar, but if I want a Strat it's likely to be a fender. If I wanted to step outside of Fender I would probably go for a Sire S7 long before a Silver Sky, in this price range. If I wanted a PRS there are a lot of original design PRS guitars I would look at long before a Strat knock off.

Loved the video. Have seen numerous Player vs. Silver Sky SE comparisons, but I would like to see you do a comparison of the Silver Sky with the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT-50. The Cutlass is now selling, I believe at $550. I have one and just love it and would like to see how it stands up against the Silver Sky.

Not sure who greenlit those tuning knobs and truss cover on the PRS, but they need to be fired. How about no truss cover? It would be cheaper AND look better.

It's hard to mark one up to being better than a Strat. I'm a Fender fan going back to when I got my first Strat at 14 yrs old. That said, the tone on that PRS is pretty slick.

This is the comparison I needed! I sorely want a Strat, and Fender is my dream Strat, but when the Silver Sky SE came out, and it's been so hyped, I was thinking maybe I would go that route. But, I want a maple fretboard on it. I don't like any other material on a Strat fretboard. Tye Fender sounded way more lively and bright to me as well . Just the way I like it! The PRS was lifeless and dull. Thank you so much for this video Darrell! I made up my mind. I'm definitely getting the Fender!

I just bought the Silver Sky in Stone Blue. I really wanted a Strat, even played it against the Pro II, Performer, JV 60 & Player Plus, but just found the tone and playability of the PRS more to my liking & almost half the price of the American Performer (2nd choice). But it’s a personal thing. Agree with Darrell on the tuning knobs and truss cover.

The PRS sounds quite a lot better, is better quality and looks better.

I think a LOT more went into the production of the PRS. It's designed with players in mind.

Fender, no question.

I just can't believe PRS left the volume knob so close to its original, obnoxious position. So painful...which is exactly what led me to the Schecter Nick Johnston Strat, which is killer!

Still can't believe they stuck a PRS neck on a Strat and sold it as their own thing.

I would go for the Silver Sky SE at this price range. But if i had more cash to spend I would move up to the Performer series from Fender.

I like the look of the regular PRS guitars a lot more than copying the strat so much, but this PRS sounds great, also sounded like it stayed in tune better. I like the warmer tone of the PRS, but if you want the classic strat tone, the fender is the right choice I think.

“Only one option on the neck” not anymore! Haha Darrell you should get your hands on one of the maple models, especially in that purple 😍

"Hello, we are going to look at two single coil blues machines" *Epic humbucker heavy distortion shredding channel theme song plays*

You should put your notes on both sides of the camera so when you reference them it looks natural. Great channel, great video.

Intonation on the PRS is far better than the Strat. Smoother transitions in sound with the PRS as well from PU to PU because they are three of the same pickups which is what I like in any T style guitar.

I'd say the Silver Sky has a *slightly warmer* more scooped out tone that fills out the frequency spectrum, to the point where it is indeed noticeable. The Strat is a bit more bright and jangly with more mid frequencies. I'd say the PRS edges it out sound wise, but you just can't beat the strat's customisibility (if thats a word).

I sold my mim strat, and bought the se silver sky a month ago. Very happy with the change and it feels like an upgrade

To me the big factor is the wood. Where the Fender is made of ALDER, the Silver Sky is made of POPLAR. Poplar is amongst the softest of all hardwoods. Therefore dents easily. It also absorbs moisture more easily cause its very porous. Definitely you can never use it for a neck cause it will expand and shrink. It also requires more primer cause it absorbs more easily. Therefore, it may affect its resonance. You may notice that Xaviere guitars switched many of their guitars to alder instead of the poplar wings.

IMO, the Player Series and Ameeican Pro II/American Standard models are essentially the modern interpretation of Fender's traditional designs. They're basically traditional with a few modern tweaks that are likely to appeal to modern players. This is why the squared off neck attachment and screw-in tremolo arms remain whither these "higher-end" features can be found on Deluxe/Ultra models. Funny thing is that you can find these or similar features on lower priced competitors........or even certain Squuer models. Either way, as long as it's properly executed, these old school features aren't a make or break issue for *most* people.

Heyy Darrell great video bro! You should definetly do a video of the Nick Johnston Schecter guitar it rocks!!

Hi Darrell great video like always , one question what ist the finish of the prs?

My current instruments are a MIM Standard Strat and a PRS CE, both from 1997. I love both for different reasons; the Strat works when I'm in the mood for a "Stratty" tone, and the PRS works when I need more than 21 frets and/or humbucker tones. Playability between my two is a toss-up. As far as the two instruments in this video, I suspect I'd be fine with the playability of either. True, the classic Strat neck block is not optimal ergonomically, but if you spend enough time playing it you get used to it. Tonally, I prefer the Silver Sky in positions 3-5, but only by a little. Between these two specific instruments, I'd take the Strat hands-down. For one, I like the look of a maple fingerboard, and for another, that flame veneer looks absolutely gorgeous.

SE is a much better choice at that price, if we are talking about USA made expensive strat, I would go for a fender custom shop

I have an Silver Sky SE and I have a Fender strat with DiMarzio pickups. I have to say the SE in terms of build is SMOOTH. It plays and feels supreme. The pickups are great but, compared to a set of premium single coils they are just different. My strat sounds better on some things and the SE sounds better for others

Hey Darrell, when I purchased my Player-plus-top, Fender only provided one fretboard option for each, the Aged Cherry has the (maple), and for the Tobacco they offer the (Pal Ferro) fingerboard respectively. I was initially interested in the ACB, but later decided on the TBB after viewing one of Sweetwaters online offerings...

I have a player series strat from the early 2000’s and I probably played 40 or 50 guitars seeing what sound I wanted and that Mexican strat really impressed me. Sounded as good as some higher cost guitars. I’ve been recently wanting a premium guitar and have been looking at les Paul standards, sg standard, American strat or PRS guitars, and the SE looks like a more premium guitar than the price tag would assume.

Poplar is a very stable wood. It’s less affected by changes in humidity or wet conditions.

Another point to consider:I own two PRS SE, one with a FR and a single cut Mark Tremonti. And what I can say is: very hard to sell , pricing for a used one is dropping dramatically. Selling a Fender Strat: no problem! Just a comment, has nothing to do with the quality of the SE, it‘s great!

Great demo. I am saving up for the SE right now