Paul Reed Smith Explains the "Dead Spec" Silver Sky | PRS Guitars 

PRS is constantly working/evolving, even their SE line is consistently evolving - I appreciate that.

Great story of the "Dead Spec" Silver Sky genesis, and why Paul is so well loved.

As a lefty, I can't wait to wish I could play one of these.

Paul is such a cool dude, what an incredible mind that we as players have working and thinking 24/7 about improving this instrument we all play. Heck yeah paul!

The Silver Sky in my opinion is the best Musical sounding sss guitar made today. I had 3 and kept the SE in green and it’s my go to guitar.

Please make more of these at some point. There are a lot of people who would love to get one but weren’t able to at the release.

I love how Paul took the Garcia Alligator Strat that probably John got a hold off and did what Paul does best to make it a more refined instrument. Cant wait to try one.

Paul is such an amazing genius. Incredible visionary of our time. And we get to live in the same era to witness it. Respect!

I like how the single coil sounds with that pre amp on my god that's so clean and chimy, nicely done to both you and John. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Paul is so awesome. It has been a long and tough road at PRS to compete against established brands but they have done amazing things. It must be great to work with Paul at PRS. He sounds like the product and customer comes first and everything else including money comes from that. That’s the ideal business. Driven by ideas and passion that make people happy.

I was so hoping they would release this model when I saw Dead and Co this year- it sounded soooo good the whole show.

So glad to see you staying faithful to the original Alembic concepts of brass mounted well, and an actual Alembic circuit that is above and beyond anything else out there. Great job!

Super cool!

Bravo , a great compliment to the Super Eagle . Alembic Electronics are the pinnacle.

Paul is such a national treasure

Awsome great new model 👍

Mr Smith you are a living legend! The Silver Sky is tremendous.

I like the fact you can go from a single coil tone to an almost humbucker sound. The sound of these guitars are my favourite when it comes to the strat sound because it sounds warmer than a lot of other strats. I'm still more of a Tele guy.

That thing sounds great! I’ve known about the Alembic Stratoblaster preamp for decades-I’m from the Bay Area, grew up in San Francisco, and in the early-mid ‘70s I used to hang out at Stars Guitars, Alembic’s retail store. They worked on a ‘74 Strat for me, they put a 5-position rotary switch in it to replace the stock 3-position pickup selector. (Fender didn’t start installing 5-way switches until 1977-that’s how out-of-touch CBS/Fender was!) These Dead-spec Silver Sky guitars are too rich for my pocketses (eh, precious?), but this has got me thinking about getting an SE Silver Sky and installing a Stratoblaster in it! I’d never considered it before as I didn’t want to boost the output of a Strat too much; I thought that’s what the preamp was for, and I didn’t want to lose my clean sound. Thr Stratoblaster on a slightly-boosted setting sounds great, if this video is any indication.

Art 👌🏽

So I’ve been playing guitar for 40 plus years and own several guitars mostly Fenders strats and few Gibsons. Being a blues fan and a Dead Head I’ve been down the rabbit holes of SRV to custom Jerry guitars and chased the “tone” for years now. I had been eyeing the Silver Sky but never sat with one. Missing the day PRS released this guitar in the US (It sold out in a day of the initial offering). I kept my eyes on a few European dealers and when Anderton’s in the UK offered the guitar for sale I jumped on it. Two and a half months after purchasing it made its return journey across the pond to me. First off this guitar will be played and played often this is no closet classic! Being my first ever PRS I can honestly say the attention to detail on the guitar is impressive from fit and finish to sound and playability. A quality instrument for sure! Thanks to all involved in getting this guitar in my hands. From John Mayer to Paul and the builders at PRS, and from the guys at Anderton’s who made this guitars journey possible. I can’t be more pleased with it!

I feel like the partnership between John Mayer and Paul is what really put PRS on the next level.

Wrigley! Ready for summer!

Damn those are gonna go fast

I didn't hear about this guitar until it was sold out everywhere. I'd give my eye teeth for one if these.

PAUL C'MON! 1,000?!

Interesting!

LOVE IT! But I just bought the PRS Silver Sky in "Lunar Ice" ....

PRS doesn't get enough credit. The best guitars you can buy. People hate on them because the look so good, but the truth is they are the best made guitars as instruments that are available. They are better in every way. Play a custom 24, it's like the best Strat, tele, and LP you've ever played in one guitar. Light, stays in tune, versatile, clear but not thin, crazy good action, and playability.

WOW!!!

awsome Paul

This guitar sounds like heaven.

That guitar is a masterpiece.

God I WISH I could scoop up one of these, absolutely stunning guitar. But medical bills be expensive so I guess if I ever even get financially stable I'll have to settle for the other model since this is a limited run

love that you are doing a run of these. It was a brilliant instrument I saw 3 times this year. Only feedback is I wish you gave more respect to Gator and acknowledge and show a picture of it. It feels wrong to talk about the inspiration and not show it.

Saw this guy at the crossroads festival at the guitar center tent trying prs guitars with a soldano slo30, Making sure they were all good. He can play btw!

Best salesman in the business by a country mile. Reminds me of Steve Jobs a bit.

Leo Fender is proud!

Cant wait to see this on reverb

Waiting for the SE version in 3 years. Slap some moon inlays in there. Oooh baby!

Thank you and John for not giving this something iridescent like a Nebula finish. Now I CAN (barely) contain myself!

I think I’ll just settle for a pint of cherry Garcia.

I love a Hardtail Strat!

very interesting reinvention

Love me my Stratoblasters!!!

Interesting but I’m beyond happy with my Silver Sky set up for slide guitar.❤

I just bought one of the last Dodgem Blue with a rosewood boards available - I'm happy! But I like that you always keep innovating! Would you compare the preamp to adding active pickups like EMGs?

The fixed trem bridge with the tight fitting block is actually a good idea. Is Paul the first to make this? Because I bought a fixed bridge SSS Cort stratstyle and the body is ultra light but super resonant. The neck dive is annoying, so I thought of routing a cavity in the soft body (Meranti) and screw a brass block wich I have laying around, on the bridge plate. My idea was to let room for the block to vibrate freely, but could block it later if needed.

i wish you did direct from manufacturer pre-orders. after getting screwed by the local select vendor for the lunar ice, i dont see myself even being able to compete for a new one of these.

Dan Healy: “other than testing Jerry never used any ready made buffer, 3 db boost; or not”, “buffers with gain don’t make it”. Steve Parish: “no battery in Europe 72”.

Still looking for the Silver Sky in a left handed version. Maybe someday.

Is this the same this as a Clapton boost circuit or EMGSPC/EXG active?

He’s like the Steve Jobs of guitar

I don't know if anyone has ever told Paul this, but Sonzera is Brazilian slang for great tone, so he'd get a kick out of knowing the amp line's name have that going for them.

Can't wait to see a demo between a core US and that run...

It’s a cool guitar, and dare I say it, better than the other😂. I played one of the less expensive models, and I’m like damn! Another company too, is doing something like this. Both those are different, but have kinda that style, but good. I always to get one from the other guys, and I’m like fighting myself, why? The name logo? You like this better! Lol. Those prs are super cool.

The body finish is sick!!! but its a funny looking SS.

So the tremolo hole is just for show? Love that paintjob

Seems odd that it wasn't done with a Maple Neck as Alligator has a Maple neck. Saw John on tour in Chicago and it does sound great, although the Dumble doesn't hurt either.

nice strat

hell ya

❤️🎧🤘🇵🇭

Dear mister Paul reed smith please make more of that guitar is nowhere to found if you it went to 6000 dollars at least for a new one.i think you guys make the best guitars a man or woman could think about it’s refreshing to see how you approach the build and idea of a guitar.but I beg of you I will be forever grateful if we can make this happen..😢

I would like to know if prs would ever make an SE version or sell the Alembic blaster mod.

I'm sure that this is a sweet guitar. But if Jerry Garcia's tone is what you are looking for, why not look at the Tiger and Wolf models from Eastwood Guitar. These are based on two actual guitars custom made for Jerry Garcia and used heavily by him. They each have a preamp and an effects loop in the guitar. Eastwood is a Canadian company that makes various reissues from different vintage manufacturers. I ordered an R. G. Special, which is a copy of a guitar that a Japenese company made for Rory Gallagher. I love it.

Did the first prototype actually start out as a tremolo guitar and you guys filled the cavity?

I wonder if they'd do a bass version of the Silver Sky?

i want one so baf

Would finally buy a Silver Sky if I could get my hands on one of these and not pay double the price @ PRS MARKETING TEAM!

great guitar but i would do the head stock a little smaller and painted black and shange the machine heads

So can you utilize the tremolo? I see it has a hole for the bar.

new obsession

Cool Strat I like ur Gibsons too Can i get a acoustic in Koa?

hardtail st guitars are something

Please make this a standard model.

Lovely guitar but im sat here still waiting for left handed Silver Sky models to be announced. Just give us an SE at least!

Just waiting for one to show up on Tyler Larson's channel

I'm confused. If the bridge is fixed then why is there a hole for a trem arm?

Do PRS Guitars have a Custom Shop Masterbuilt Branch yet?

Why have a hole for a trem arm on a hardtail bridge??

I'd a had even more respect for John if he'd gone all in for the tour and got a curly perm😊.

It's a damn strat.

Surprised that PRS used the Alembic preamp rather than developing their own version

Here’s hoping you add the TBX boost to silver sky 2024

Was this based on Aligator?

Why is it a tremolo bridge, but fixed in the wood? Easier in production than the sensible other fixed bridges?

Goodie only 1000 so the day after they’re sold out to scalpers they’ll be 5x the cost for people who would actually use them thus making them unobtainable.

Paul forgot to mention "when he plugged it in it tore your face off!!!". ;)

It sounds less like a Strat with the preamp on if that is what they want.

I'd say good luck with it, but they're probably all sold already!

larry david: do you respect wood? prs: yes

That’s what he meant when he said fender couldn’t see his vision

I wish you made these in a lefty.

Is this based off of the alligator strat???

Damn - just take my money Paul

Want the whole premise behind the silver sky supposed to be that they were all like Mayers guitar but now its just this limited run that is huh? Hmmmm lol.

Looks great but I’m dome buying $3000 guitars. I’ve had a lot of them and they’ve all been great. But I’m going to follow the Jack Pearson philosophy. A good $500 guitar with upgraded pickups will do just fine.

I don’t know what the “dead sound” is, but Jerry Garcia didn’t have a “dead spec” strat; so couldn’t you get his tone with a regular strat and either pedals, or software sims?

john mayer upvote. Paul is also cool.

sounds like a regi strat