Fender Player Series Strat VS PRS Silver Sky SE Full Disassembly 

The comment section is a wonderland ....

As a worker in the PRS factory, I am happy to see the level of quality that we achieve for the people who buy our product :)

I've always been a hard core Fender guy but I appreciate your review and telling it like it is. You have to compare things as they really are not as you'd like them to be. Nice job on your fair and complete review.

I bought the PRS Silver Sky SE and made one change to it. Installed a bone nut. I don't plan on changing anything else. I like pickups on it way more than on a Strat at this price point. Great comparison. At the price point the SE it's going to give the Strat a run for its money, that is for sure.

Purchased a Silver Sky recently. Right out of the box it was great. Loved the throaty sound of the pickups, not chimy like a Strat, but had its own thing. However, very soon I began to miss the chime I was hoping for in a Strat style guitar and I found that it became mucky on chord play despite EQing my amp to death. I also realized, and here's the kicker, that the body of the Silver Sky SE was so soft the entire guitar would bend ever so slightly causing the low E to go sharp whenever I'd place my forearm on the guitar body. I'm not a heavy handed player and I treat these guitars like babies, yet, I couldn't keep the Silver Sky from going out of tune by just holding it. It was ridiculous! Same thing happened with another guitar when I returned it for an exchange. So, after hours of trying I gave up and spent a little more money and upgraded to Fender Strat Performer series. And I couldn't be happier. Sorry PRS. I love your brand and generally love the SE line. But I can't recommend the Silver Sky SE. The wood is too soft and it bends like crazy. You'll have tuning issues all over the place.

I appreciate the electrical analysis of the pickups. I'm still learning towards the fender

I liked the tone of Fender pickups more, quieter for sure but they have that strat top end.

I have been a Fender Strat guy for 50 years, but I bought a Silver Sky and it's awesome. The SE is better than most non high end Fenders. For $850, it beats the same priced Strat . The pickups in the SE are really good. Great video.

Thanks for being literally the only person who's compared the SE to a similarly priced Guitar, everyone else is comparing it to Fender Strats that are WAY more expensive. Yeah, no crap the $850 SE doesn't sound quite as nice as the $1600 Fender Strat or the $2500 Core model... But if I have $900 and I want a Strat, do I get a Player series Fender or Silver Sky SE??? THANK YOU for being the ONE person who has helped me with this question! (For anyone who cares, I'd go with the SE from this video. PRS SE guitars really are something else for their price.)

I purchased a MOD Shop Strat a few years ago which is great. However, I have three PRS SE's guitar's now and their fret ends beat the daylights out of my Mod Shop Strat. Thanks for the video.

I don’t know, just because pick ups are strong they are not necessarily better, depends on what you like, I have a 59 custom shop Stratocaster with weak pickups but they sounds so sweet, don’t get me wrong they are both great guitars.

Good review/comparison. Thanks. I bought a PRS SE in Moon White. Got a crazy deal new at $619. Fantastic well detailed guitar. Consistency and attention to detail is the thing about PRS. I have an S2 Custom 24. Same quality in the workmanship.

I think the Player series Fender pickups are all kinds of awesome.

Thank you! This was best SE Silver Sky review I’ve seen.

I love your facial expression when you switched to the bridge on the Stratocaster…. Lol exactly my sentiments🤣

Awesome comparison. Thank you for doing this.

Your observations are why I bought the Vintera modified over the player for my son this Christmas. The VM is head and shoulders above the player from playing both and can be found new for around $950 with gig bag. Now I get to buy the PRS SE Sky for myself!! Cheers! 😎👍

Fantastic breakdown video. The guys from Thomann did a similar video on release (though just with sounds, and they did include a core Silver Sky), but you really broke it all down. Great video. Thanks.

Saying that the fret work is not as good on the player series is an understatement. To get it to match up with the PRS you would have to spend an extra 200 bucks plus what ever you need to spend on a case or gig bag.

Awesome review and very fair comparison!

I have a fair number of Fender Stratocasters and bought the Silver Sky SE out of curiosity. Playability wise, I believe the Silver Sky is up there with my Stratocaster Elite. Sound wise, I really like the tone of the Silver Sky. I think it’s punching above it’s weight class.

Thanks for uploading this video. I was about to buy a Fender Player Stratocaster, mainly because as you said, that's what we're used to. I'll check out the PRS Silver Sky. It does sound really nice.

I've had a Player Strat for a couple of years and IMO your review is accurate. I've replaced the pickups, dressed the fret ends and installed locking tuners. The frets are a little uneven but usable. I had to do a setup and it plays well with good intonation and action. Fortunately for me, I got it on sale and when it had a lower selling price than today.

Dylan, thank you so much for your frank and technical supported review. I ordered my SE today. I watched Paul and Jack on the PRS site the other day. It seemed to me they and John are all in on making this SE Silver Sky a solid take home.

Dylan, this is one of your best videos. Well done and thank you!

Nicely done. Calling out Fender for underperforming at this price point may help motivate them to raise their game.

Thank You, for the detailed exam of these 2 great guitars. Much appreciated... 👍👍 🎸🎶 🇺🇸.

Thanks @dylantalkstone Appreciate the breakdown. I usually buy Strats, but I'm interested in the PRS. I have a US Strat and 2 US G&Ls, but had to sell all of them a few years back. This is the comparison I've been looking for. Thanks again!

Very clearly explained. I am buying the Silver Sky, but totally understand why someone would buy the Fender.

Great comparison! I have a player, which I modded, and just bought a SS SE. everything you said is 100% correct. Even after modding, I still prefer the PRS.

Such a good vid thank god someone is doing this.

Really enjoyed the video! I love Fender/Gibson but PRS is closing in on them. Have a custom 24 and have the silver sky coming today. Fender is definitely on notice with the Prs. God Bless 🙏

Ok, I love Strats and have been playing them for over 40 years. This past week I was in Guitar Center in Ocean, NJ and saw this used PRS SE Silver Sky for.....$704!!!. I tried it out and bought it on the spot. It's a great guitar PERIOD! At this price it was a total steal! Love it.

Not sure if I got an odd duck or not, but I have a Fender Player Strat and the pickups are really great. I mean really great. The fit and finish are top notch. I have been pleasantly surprised. I have always been a Gibson guy but this Fender is one of the best guitars I’ve owned.

Last Saturday I tried a Silver Sky SE, yes those pickups are very good, position 4 has the magic.

Long time American Strat player, and I just recently purchased an SE Silver Sky because I wanted an SSS guitar as my Strat is an HSS. The differences from my Lone Star Strat to my new Silver Sky are somewhat noticeable in quality and play. The action is different with the nod to the Strat in being a little easier to play to a degree, but that could very well be me being so used to it, being it’s my primary guitar. The overall quality though absolutely goes from top to bottom to the PRS. There’s also no substituting the chime produced from the Tex Mex pups in the Fender. It’s pure blood Stratocaster, but I have absolutely fallen in love with the incredibly powerful pups in the PRS. It’s different in 2nd and 4th position, but it still has a real nice chime, and pushes through the mix compared to the Strat which I have to crank it louder to achieve the same result. All in all, I am falling more and more in love with the PRS at every passing day, and am super glad I made the purchase. It’s a really well constructed guitar that I know I will be playing for some time to come. I really don’t think you’re going to have any regrets. I don’t.

Thks a lot mate. Very objectively done comparison 🤘🏻

The PRS. I have never bonded with the PRS neck, but I also have never played a PRS that had sharp fret ends or a sharp shoulder on the edge of the neck. I have played many Fenders with sharp frets. I also love my Fenders, but they need some love on the fret ends. Just my opinion

this is what a real review of a guitar should look like. You are doing a great job. Its not just about looks and how it feels its also about technical aspects.

You really want that interview with Paul Reed Smith, don't you.

Incredible video mate. This is exactly what I've been looking for to help me make my decision. Keep up the great work.

I’m sure the PRS is probably a superior instrument, but I got that exact MIM strat for four hundred bucks used so I’ve enjoyed it. That being said, a couple months back I picked up a Contemporary RH Squier Tele that is an unbelievable guitar for the price, I haven’t picked up the Strat more than twice since I got it.

Thank you ! Really liked the video , you read my mind as I finaly short listed these two guitars as per my budget and you answered the question I was asking 😊

Really well done, comparison. The PRS is hands down the better guitar, by any objective measurement or analysis. That doesn't mean the time and effort you put into this won't immediately be attacked with emotional rhetoric, subjective opinions, and general trolling by people who struggle with adulting on the internet.

like the review went into it more then alot of others

Genuinely impressed at the quality of the pots and switches in the Player. Not sure that I buy the idea that a stronger magnet or higher output makes a pickup sound better. Some of us play jazz and R&B and it's an absolute struggle trying to tame the midrange "slam" of even a Seymour Duncan '59 or other such pickup.

Superb comparison. Thank you.

Nice job Dylan! As a guy with back issues I’m quite aware that 11 ounces is just 5 short of a pound. I own plenty fenders from Master built to squires, (My Squire Mascis Jazzmaster was a fantastic “platform” to park Mastery components and Frailin pickups in!!) I’d spend my bread on the SE if it were between those two but… I went Reverend 390 and ain’t looked back.

Oh, loved the video, subscribed because of your honest review.

I’d take the Fender Strat everyday of the week! 🎸. (Yes I’m a Fender Fanboy & for good reason)

Finally!!! I have been looking for this! Great work!!!!

glad to have spotted this one... I was looking into one of those PRS on the used side.

I just bought a HSS player last week and it is awesome for me, I upgraded from a Cort, and I wanted the HSS version so I'm very happy with it. I'm not into PRS guitars but if I had to buy one, It wouldn't be an strat, I'd be the traditional PRS body shape. Great video, thanks for this content!!

Totally agree that this is THE comparison that matters. With Sweetwater marking then both up at identical price. In the UK though the PRS is a substantial mark up over the Fender

Great comparison. I personally prefer a maple fretboard, as the one on my Mexican Stratocaster is amazing. But I'll have to try the PRS. I almost bought a SE semi-hollow, as the fit and finish, weight, and playability was superb. If I was in the market for a PRS SE, that's the route I would go.

Best detailed Ressource on the youtubes

Awesome breakdown, Dylan. Thank you for doing this. I found the Fender pickups to be nicer sounding (in this and other comparison videos), except for the bridge pickup on its own. It was to be expected the fit and finish on the PRS would be better. I always mod my guitars, so I would still pick the Fender (but then HSS) and deal with the fretwork.

Although I haven't played one in person, in the many, many RU-vid video demos of the Silver Sky SE the clean pickup sounds, particularly the neck pickup, remind me a lot of my G&L ASAT Special with the Jumbo MFD pickups. Big, hollow-almost-ambient, scooped, bass and treble, deep, fat, clear, hifi.

The sound of the Player Strat is more pleasant to my ear. The PRS sounds a bit boomy on the low end, not balanced. But yeah, its been my experience Mexican made Fenders need minor fret work from the factory. Fender needs to improve on this to keep up with current overseas quality.

Nice job on this review. I will always love my Fender Strat's and Tele's and Squires. I will also always love my PRS Core, S2 and SE guitars. I'm looking forward to receiving my new Silver Sky SE from Sweetwater!

Excellent video. Thanks for the analysis. I wonder if the SE Silver Sky might push Fender to improve their MIM Player. The MIMs always come with a caveat to upgrade the pickups -- hopefully Fender will up the quality there a bit to better compete w the PRS.

Nice job. You put a lot work into this video.

Fender really needs to up their game, their competitors are offering more for the same price, especially in the 800 to a 1500 category, maybe they’ve relied on their name a little too much and lost the actual craft of making a good instrument, why aren’t the frets filled down or smoothed out on any fender product? seems like the mim products offer not much over a higher end squire at this point

First, thank you for using thousandths instead of metrics measurements for this Old F@rt (been fortunate enough to be on this great planet for right at 3/4 of a century so yes, I'm old and set in my ways.)! Thank you for not only doing, but being the first I've seen doing an in depth Player SSS / PRS SE side by side comparison video. (In all fairness, there may have been some I haven't seen, but I'm pretty sure they didn't do all the in depth discovery Dylan does.) This video has been very informational for me. I already own 2 MIM Player Strats SSS and HSS and 1 MIJ Fender Modern Player Strat HSS all 2 to 4 years old. I mentioned that to say for the record my fret ends did not and still do not look like the ones on your new Player Strat. (That alone is speaking volumes to me.) This helped me decide to go ahead with my back-order on my PRS Silver Sky SE, even though I "HATE" Gigbags and have to immediately spend another $ 200 for a "good hard case" so the Fender comes out ahead for me in that department. Yes I have PRS GigBags and they are on the same stack as all the rest of the GigBags I've been sent (Reference my earlier comment about being set in my ways and too old to change). I know that for younger players the PRS GigBag may be the cherry on top!!! I was on the fence about my backorder on the PRS SE until I saw this video. Great Video and please keep them coming!!!

I hope fender sees this

Thank you, I’m a Fender guy (8) and adding a Strat that I’m not afraid to drag around so from your video, I have a stone blue Silver Sky on order now.

RE: pickup output - I have heard Dylan say he prefers stronger output because he likes to play without pedals and wants to "push" his amp into distortion. Paul Reed Smith has stated that he makes his pickups with a lower output because he believes they have a more even tone, especially the midrange. I don't see a problem either way. It is just a preference.

Dylan, you are Awesome!! A+++ Buddy Thanks for the great reviews

Good video! I agree with you about the differences save one thing...and I know Fender is starting to do this as well (very upsetting) but, I don't like Poplar or basswood bodies. I think they feel cheap (and are a lot cheaper to buy for a large profit) and honestly, I don't care if you can't hear the difference. I just prefer (and always will) alder or ash bodies on my strats. I myself went through a phase and had around 7-10 P.R.S. guitars not including the silver sky, and at first I really like them, but then after a couple months (when I am unable to return them) I hated them, and could not get used to the feel of them or the tone. I even upgraded all the pups in them, but no! These days (for the last ten years), due to the outrageous cost of name brand guitars, (Fender,Gibson etc...) I just assemble, paint and relic my own. In conclusion, guess I am a strat guy through and through. Thanks again for the vid. Peace

First time on your channel, great video thank you so much for the help, this is exactly what I needed

I found this very interesting. My feelings after trying both was that the PRS is a much better built guitar, but the ones I tried the Fender sounded significantly better. So that's what I bought. I wonder if maybe there are a couple of variations with different pickups? Either that or they are just quite inconsistent. Mine sounds like it has exactly the same pickups as the American strat (I tried both and they sounded pretty identical). I think I'd still recommend the PRS to most people - I'm happy fixing the frets on mine (and like in this case, it was definitely needed), plus I was wanting to replace the tuning machines anyway with locking tuners and I loved the neck feel on the Fender but disliked it on the PRS. But out of the box the PRS is a way better quality guitar, IMO.

Thank you! Perfect for what I needed to know. You’re great at this!

This video hasn't gone live yet, so I don't know what your conclusion will be, but I have to say that I appreciate your boldness in making this comparison. My guess is that a lot of Fender-heads will be unhappy if you favor the PRS. Funny how no one seems upset that at least a hundred other companies make a strat-like guitar, only Paul Reed Smith.

Such a great rundown of the guitars, Thank you❗I'd love a PRS for sure, Best wishes, Pete (Aus)

It will be interesting in a couple years to see what the eBay and Reverb used listings will be for the SE compared to the Player. I still believe if PRS had used the same 10" radius fretboard he uses for most of his guitars, he could have tripled sales. Poplar is cheaper and lighter wood than Alder and the SE's electronics routing is more extensive than the Strat so it's going to be lighter. Pickup sound is subjective and even Dylan said (different video) he was going to change the SE's. The fabulous Jack Pearson has lots of YT vids. He has purchased at least 5 "Squire" Strats and he explains how much he likes them. NO mods, he only adds a jumper wire on his switches to get an independent tone control for the bridge pups. When you hear him play it makes you wonder why you would ever pay more than $300 bucks for a guitar.

Good one Dylan. My sentiments exactly having owned and played both I'm stuck on the PRS.

I cant get on with the PRS headstock. It should come with a headset mic. Lol. At these prices I would just put together a parts guitar.

Thanks for taking the time to compare these Dylan! I own an American Original Start (actually 2, 50s and 60s) and would love a silver sky USA comparison to those ! As for the SE, I agree that Fender has never been challenged at this price point before- at least Strat wise- I personally would choose the Players - especially after seeing the necks are so similar. Only thing I prefer on the SE - other than gigbag- is the rosewood fretboard. That’s really cool that you get rosewood for under 900 bucks!

Interesting video, I liked the comparison, especially the back to back playing. I thought the neck PU on the Fender sounded better, but the bridge PU on the PRS was better. I would have liked to have heard a distorted tone, because that is where you can hear the quality of the PUs. One think you didn't mention was that the Fender's intonation was much better than the PRS. It is probably easy to fix that, but it was very noticeable that the PRS had problems, especially on the upper frets. Great job on the video!

Exactly, I have the players series and I'm thinking of getting the SE.

I totally agree with you that you can not compare the core model with the SE version. I tried them both and the core plays in a different league. BUT the SE is a great instrument especially for those who are not looking for a highend premium instrument.

Good review. Very helpful. Very fair and fact based comparison .

I'd honestly still be torn if I was in the market for a strat. I think it would ultimately come down to being able to have a full size humbucker in the bridge without routing the guitar... but I really do like a lot of the upsides of the PRS.

Thanks Dylan, I’m looking at getting this for Xmas/Birthday from my wife. The deal is that I have to stop growing seedlings in my “playroom” (where she now has her nail workshop). I have to admit that all that soil is a bit smelly and this is a great opportunity for me to improve my playing as I currently only have an acoustic. 🎸🍾❤️

I have always felt like the PRS SE models are better guitars in the sub-$1000 category than most. They are starting to distance themselves price-wise from squires and the mid to low range epiphones which introduces budget into the decision and budget is lots of times the priority. But a PRS SE in the same price-point (like Dylan is comparing) in my opinion is just going to be a better guitar - most of the time.

Dude - you know your stuff - thank you

Great detailed comparison. I am totally a Fender fan boy but the build quality of the SE and the fretwork is always impeccable. Saying that in that price point EVH, Charvels (also FMIC), Schecter and Ibanez make some amazing guitars and the quality, fit, finish, Electronics and parts are better than a Fender. The video was very informative and agree that if you are looking to mod the Strat with custom hardware and electronics then the Fender makes logical sense.

Great video Dylan. Thank you for taking the time to really dive into the differences and the quality of the builds. I really want to get one and probably will one day.

Great video, I tried one of those Strats a while back and was severely underwhelmed, and I'm a huge Fender fan.

Great video, this is what I've been waiting for! My only s-style guitar currently is theGnL s500 tribute my parents got me for christmas like 17ish years ago, if I get the SE I can have 2 strats made by the same company but from different brands while still having no strats. Now thats an Idea.

I’ve bought enough Fenders the last few years that this is pretty much what I expected. You’re paying to have Fender on the headstock, other brands have been killing them on fit and finish for awhile now (and price too). The only thing holding me back from the Silver Sky is the pickup routing, I’d at least like the option to throw a humbucker in there without having to route out wood.

You're being so productive, very nice!

Interesting vid. I bought two PRS SE Customs last year and they were both nice guitars, but they also both had quality issues with them. I sold them both. I just picked up a fender player and besides needing a setup (for the things you mentioned), the fender is an overall better guitar compared to the PRSs I had. I think all guitars at this price point have their quirks.

I’ve had a lot of strats that I’ve sold and never missed. They’re great guitars, and they fit pretty much everywhere. But…I just didn’t connect with them. The only strat that I wish that I hadn’t sold was an early ‘90s MIJ strat that I owned in 1995. The SE Silver Sky is something different. It takes a minute to get used to, and I had to put some time in with it. But, I love it. Absolutely love it. And, it’s very familiar in feel to that MIJ strat. But, in my opinion, has a “fuller” sound.

Dylan now put your pick ups in both and see how they each sound!

Fantastic. Very technical approach. Great information. 🎸🎸🎸

I know I am being a picky and I'm probably in the minority, but the PRS headstock on a strat body just doesn't do it for me. The strat bodies have so many beautiful curves and then the PRS had stock is pointy. Fender head stock is perfection. Does anybody agree or disagree? That being said, I prefer a lighter body and the pickups are so important I might have to go with a PRS. I'm buying a sterling by music man cutlass ct50.

Now that’s a very useful review. Please continue Well done!

Great comparison video. The breakdown was very objective and although I grew up and still play strats, I've always wanted to look into a prs for the very reason of the things you pointed out. Fit and finish as well as quality of components. Most of the fenders I picked up and shops in the past few years just don't wow me with the way they feel. Maybe I need to pick up one that costs $2,000:-) Love your videos and all the knowledge you pass on to us.

Since you can easily change pickups, but not the poplar body, I would definitely go for the Fender if I had to chose only one of them... However, since I already got the Fender, I hope to get the PRS one day, I really love theirs stuff. Great video, and thanks for sharing. sharing.