Reactions to the Silver Sky from across the web....

All what?



Does PRS make a John Meyer signature cell phone too?

I bet your right Tony Manhattan...John loves sexting in between songs to all his female fans on FacelessBook.:)

john_mayer_with_phone.jpg



;>)/
 
I remember when PRS hit the market in the '80s. I was very excited about them. They were, and are, a tremendously well-made guitar and I'd actually like to have one. Aside from the sheer quality aspect of them, I think it would be kind of cool to have a guitar that has the same last name as I do. So, there is an emotional aspect to my affinity for them, as well as having the satisfaction of supporting a guitar builder in the same state where I live. So, let me make it perfectly clear. I am not a PRS hater. Quite the opposite. I really do like them.

But, whereas I recall them when they first came out, I also recall seeing some of the Strat-ish designs they came out with and thinking, "What the heck?"

Now, to be honest, I don't really have a deep-seated issue with PRS making what are essentially Strat copies and chasing a John Mayer endorsement deal. It's a marketing decision that may pay off for them and I wish them well. That company employs people in my state and I want my fellow Marylanders to do well. I also don't think they "sold out."

But, I think part of the sideways reaction PRS is getting from folks across the web is sort of based in what PRS is and represents. As I said, I remember when they first came out in the '80s. Paul Reed Smith succeeded in doing what very, very few are able to do. He not only built a guitar so nice as to actually secure early endorsements (i.e., Santana) he accomplished something even more remarkable. He created a body and headstock shape that are uniquely associated with that brand name. If I saw a silhouette of a Les Paul or SG shape, I'd think "Gibson." If I saw a silhouette of a Stratocaster or Telecaster shape, I'd think "Fender." If I saw a silhouette of a Custom 24, I'd think "PRS". The "PRS Shape" is practically a household word in the guitar community. If that term is used on practically any guitar forum, it is understood what is meant. There are very few guitar makers who have achieved this degree of recognizability.

Consequently, due to it's quality and unique recognition, PRS are an elite guitar company. Many rank-and-file folks in the guitar community hold them to a higher standard. Sure, there are tons of companies making Stratocaster copies, and Les Paul copies, and Telecaster copies, and copies of copies. But, they've brought little truly new and fresh to the guitar world like PRS did. Let the others make their low-ball Strat copies. Big deal. No one really cares about them. What people DO care about are those who are the leaders. Call it a double-standard...or a higher standard. Either way, a lot of folks expect the leaders to behave a little differently.

When a leader copies another leader's model, it makes that leader look cheap in many peoples' minds. It makes that leader look less like a leader and more like another copy-cat.

That said, I do like PRS and would love to have one...but I'd get one that had the "PRS Shape."
 
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When a leader copies another leader's model, it makes that leader look cheap in many peoples' minds. It makes that leader look less like a leader and more like another copy-cat.QUOTE]
There it is.
Smitty figured out the backlash.
Fender doesn't make SGs and Les Pauls.
Gibson doesn't make Telecasters and Jazzmasters.
PRS should make PRS guitars.

I seem to remember this guitar earning a similar backlash.
Probably a fine guitar, but Gibson doesn't make Stratocasters.

th
 
There it is.
Smitty figured out the backlash.
Fender doesn't make SGs and Les Pauls.
Gibson doesn't make Telecasters and Jazzmasters.
PRS should make PRS guitars.

I seem to remember this guitar earning a similar backlash.
Probably a fine guitar, but Gibson doesn't make Stratocasters.

th

Hey, you know what?

You're right.

I think I have figured it out!

I'm a genius...or mildly intelligent...or frequently snarky!

I love ya, man!
 
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More John Mayer bullshit....


"The first thing I want you to understand is that I embrace the Fender thing. I've seen people kind of disregard the Fender thing where they should regard it. As a customer at heart, I want to see people play Silver Sky through the Fender amp. Because that's what makes the sound. I was watching someone play through like a Victory amp and going, 'Just play through a Fender!'

"And that's the first thing I wanna say, this guitar is made to coexist with Fender amplifiers, with Fender guitars, with Gibson guitars, with any other guitar out there in the world. It's not trying to revise history, it's just a new way forward."

He also said about the guitar:

"It's sort of a higher-definition Strat to me. I wanted to go in and take out a lot of those frequencies that you sort of have to work to roll off. They're not there now, they're just gone. So they're tuned a different way.

"And this is a part of a larger conversation about going into a guitar that's been around for 60 years and going, 'What is still valid and what's still vital and what can you sort of go in and modify?' And Paul Reed Smith and I went in and our saying was sort of this: 'You take 100 Strats and two or three of them are magic. The question is, what makes those magic and how do you replicate that so you get 100 out of 100 guitars that are magic?'

"This has a lot to do with taking what my favorite '64 Strat is. Taking the overall sensibility and tone of that guitar and giving it to people so that it becomes not something that's impossible to get for most people. I just love the idea of bringing it down to a place of accessibility for people. And I think to a certain extent that's really happened. Paul is a scientist as much as he is an artist."
 
Well, I found an answer to my own question. Here’s the Silver Sky in red.

But, it’s still called the Silver Sky.

Hmph...

But, at $2299.00 I’d expect more than a gig bag!

In fact, if I had my heart set on a Strat-type guitar, at that price I’d probably just buy one of Fender’s higher end Stratocasters and avoid the PRS altogether, and still have money left over.

https://www.zzounds.com/item--PAUJMSS?siid=239541

Here is a USA Stratocaster Elite, with the S-1 switching system, for $250.00 less than the Silver Sky and it includes a hard case.

Fender American Elite Stratocaster - Tobacco Sunburst with Ebony Fingerboard

Ooh, the Elite looks really sweet. I haven't really looked a buying guitars until recently, cough, but 2 grand used to buy a Custom Shop Strat. I would want to play it before spending $2K.

I see there is one on Amazon, hmm, I get 5% off there....
 
;>)/[/QUOTE]
More John Mayer bullshit....


"The first thing I want you to understand is that I embrace the Fender thing. I've seen people kind of disregard the Fender thing where they should regard it. As a customer at heart, I want to see people play Silver Sky through the Fender amp. Because that's what makes the sound. I was watching someone play through like a Victory amp and going, 'Just play through a Fender!'

"And that's the first thing I wanna say, this guitar is made to coexist with Fender amplifiers, with Fender guitars, with Gibson guitars, with any other guitar out there in the world. It's not trying to revise history, it's just a new way forward."

He also said about the guitar:

"It's sort of a higher-definition Strat to me. I wanted to go in and take out a lot of those frequencies that you sort of have to work to roll off. They're not there now, they're just gone. So they're tuned a different way.

"And this is a part of a larger conversation about going into a guitar that's been around for 60 years and going, 'What is still valid and what's still vital and what can you sort of go in and modify?' And Paul Reed Smith and I went in and our saying was sort of this: 'You take 100 Strats and two or three of them are magic. The question is, what makes those magic and how do you replicate that so you get 100 out of 100 guitars that are magic?'

"This has a lot to do with taking what my favorite '64 Strat is. Taking the overall sensibility and tone of that guitar and giving it to people so that it becomes not something that's impossible to get for most people. I just love the idea of bringing it down to a place of accessibility for people. And I think to a certain extent that's really happened. Paul is a scientist as much as he is an artist."








Well said!!
 
More John Mayer bullshit....


"The first thing I want you to understand is that I embrace the Fender thing. I've seen people kind of disregard the Fender thing where they should regard it. As a customer at heart, I want to see people play Silver Sky through the Fender amp. Because that's what makes the sound. I was watching someone play through like a Victory amp and going, 'Just play through a Fender!'

"And that's the first thing I wanna say, this guitar is made to coexist with Fender amplifiers, with Fender guitars, with Gibson guitars, with any other guitar out there in the world. It's not trying to revise history, it's just a new way forward."

He also said about the guitar:

"It's sort of a higher-definition Strat to me. I wanted to go in and take out a lot of those frequencies that you sort of have to work to roll off. They're not there now, they're just gone. So they're tuned a different way.

"And this is a part of a larger conversation about going into a guitar that's been around for 60 years and going, 'What is still valid and what's still vital and what can you sort of go in and modify?' And Paul Reed Smith and I went in and our saying was sort of this: 'You take 100 Strats and two or three of them are magic. The question is, what makes those magic and how do you replicate that so you get 100 out of 100 guitars that are magic?'

"This has a lot to do with taking what my favorite '64 Strat is. Taking the overall sensibility and tone of that guitar and giving it to people so that it becomes not something that's impossible to get for most people. I just love the idea of bringing it down to a place of accessibility for people. And I think to a certain extent that's really happened. Paul is a scientist as much as he is an artist."


Wow ......Just admit your making "bank" on the thing and own up to it ....people would believe that .........(like they believe you earned those tatts there milk toast) nothing worse than a pretty boy trying to build "street cred" .......

Gibson/Epiphone all the Lee malia and Tommy Thayer and Ace Frehley and SLASH and any other BAZILLION "mega stars" that take a 300.00 guitar ....ENDORSE/sign it and charge 1000.00 for it.......good on ya. get that $

to quote JM "this has a lot to do with taking........" YUP--taking peoples $$$$ Bubba, thats all it's got to do with --- THAT I respect--- own it and move on. geesh.

All his back peddling and double speak is crap ......

LOOK a 300.00 FLYING V for 900.00
preview.jpg


JOE aint making excuses............. it is what it is buy it or dont.......
 
If I spend that kind of money on a guitar that looks like a strat it will be an American Fender Deluxe ;)
I like PRS, but I don't want Strat copy made by PRS...
 
More John Mayer bullshit....


"The first thing I want you to understand is that I embrace the Fender thing. I've seen people kind of disregard the Fender thing where they should regard it. As a customer at heart, I want to see people play Silver Sky through the Fender amp. Because that's what makes the sound. I was watching someone play through like a Victory amp and going, 'Just play through a Fender!'

"And that's the first thing I wanna say, this guitar is made to coexist with Fender amplifiers, with Fender guitars, with Gibson guitars, with any other guitar out there in the world. It's not trying to revise history, it's just a new way forward."

He also said about the guitar:

"It's sort of a higher-definition Strat to me. I wanted to go in and take out a lot of those frequencies that you sort of have to work to roll off. They're not there now, they're just gone. So they're tuned a different way.

"And this is a part of a larger conversation about going into a guitar that's been around for 60 years and going, 'What is still valid and what's still vital and what can you sort of go in and modify?' And Paul Reed Smith and I went in and our saying was sort of this: 'You take 100 Strats and two or three of them are magic. The question is, what makes those magic and how do you replicate that so you get 100 out of 100 guitars that are magic?'

"This has a lot to do with taking what my favorite '64 Strat is. Taking the overall sensibility and tone of that guitar and giving it to people so that it becomes not something that's impossible to get for most people. I just love the idea of bringing it down to a place of accessibility for people. And I think to a certain extent that's really happened. Paul is a scientist as much as he is an artist."

I'll give Mr. Mayer the benefit of the doubt.

What this really telegraphs, even if John Mayer isn't thinking of it in these terms, is that in his mind, the Fender Stratocaster is his standard. Even if only a few of those Strats are "magic" to him, it is the Stratocaster that defined that magic...not PRS. PRS had to work to replicate someone else's (Fender's) magic.

If John already had the sound he wanted in his '64 Strat, why go through all the effort with PRS if he just had to pull out his '64 and play it? Why not just get Fender to to replicate that and give it, "to the people", as he put it?

If this article has any merit, the real reason behind the Mayer/Fender breakup is that Fender was starting to place unreasonable demands on him:

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-John-Mayer-discontinue-his-Fender-line

In a way, I actually admire John for standing up to "Big Fender."

So, I would have preferred that John just came out and said that Fender was putting demands on him that he wasn't comfortable with, so he's severed ties. But, he wants people to have a great, Strat-sounding guitar. But, since Fender is not being cooperative, PRS is stepping up to reverse-engineer the best sounds he likes.

Ahh well...where was that Les Paul, again?
 
BUt....cant he just PLAY A FENDER and NOT BE ENDORSED....(and NOT collect royalty checks for the sales of Fenders?) and not make all this hubbubb about a fake Strat thats LIKE a classic strat with a twist of lime and my income attached to it....??
yes....he could ......
HE COULD STFU and play the guitar he wants...or a HELO KITTY guitar...and leave it at that....but does he NO

I do own a JM CD (and a PRS which I LOVE) --- the exwife abandoned the CD along with some "best of bread and Barry Manilow" .....been meaning to throw it out........
 
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Wow ......Just admit your making "bank" on the thing and own up to it ....people would believe that .........(like they believe you earned those tatts there milk toast) nothing worse than a pretty boy trying to build "street cred" .......

Gibson/Epiphone all the Lee malia and Tommy Thayer and Ace Frehley and SLASH and any other BAZILLION "mega stars" that take a 300.00 guitar ....ENDORSE/sign it and charge 1000.00 for it.......good on ya. get that $

to quote JM "this has a lot to do with taking........" YUP--taking peoples $$$$ Bubba, thats all it's got to do with --- THAT I respect--- own it and move on. geesh.

All his back peddling and double speak is crap ......

LOOK a 300.00 FLYING V for 900.00
preview.jpg


JOE aint making excuses............. it is what it is buy it or dont.......



I am sure I can get that to fly eSGEe.
 
I notice Fender isnt really saying much about the whole thing ..............usually the GUILTY party in the divorce does the most YACKING and finger pointing----

Im gonna bet a DOLLAR -- JM wanted BIGGER cuts and Fender said ---simply--- NO


ANSWER to the question SMITTY---it looks like he can as recently as July of 2017

Wonder if the bass player has a Signature P bass?????
 
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