If you’re looking for a double cut electric guitar with three single coil pickups then you’re pretty spoiled for choice. You can go for an iconic Fender Stratocaster, or one of the many alternatives with a very popular choice being the PRS Silver Sky. But what is the difference between them? Here’s the quick answer.
The PRS Silver Sky sounds warmer and fuller in comparison to the Fender Stratocaster. In general, the Silver Sky has a thicker neck and smaller fretboard radius. The Silver Sky also has an additional lower horn contour and bird inlays on the fretboard compared to dots on the Stratocaster.
There are two versions of the Silver Sky, the American-made PRS Core model and the Indonesian-made PRS SE version. There are several different Fender Stratocaster models too, so I’ll be distinguishing between them throughout this article.
Contents:
- Pickups and tone
- Neck design
- Body design
- Hardware
- Headstock
- Cosmetic differences
- Similarities
- Price Comparison and Models
- PRS SE Silver Sky vs Fender Player Stratocaster Features
- PRS Silver Sky vs Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster
Pickups and Tone
Both these guitars of course have three single coil pickups, but they are voiced different from each other so they certainly do not sound identical despite their similar looks.
The pickups on the PRS Silver Sky (and PRS SE Silver Sky) sound warmer with more mid-range in comparison to the pickups on the Fender Stratocaster which definitely sound brighter and more crisp.
With the Fender Strat you get the choice of a lot of different pickups, some which are traditional single coils and some which are noiseless. With the PRS Silver Sky, the pickups are just traditional single coils and there’s no noiseless option.
Check out this tone comparison between the PRS SE Silver Sky and Fender Player Stratocaster.
Neck Design
I’ve broken this category down into the following sections:
- Neck profile and depth
- Fingerboard width
- Fingerboard radius
Neck Profile and Depth
On average, the PRS Silver Sky has a fuller feeling neck in comparison to the Fender Stratocaster, but it does depend on the exact model in question.
The PRS Silver Sky has two different neck profiles. The John Mayer Silver Sky with the rosewood fretboard has a 635JM-R profile which feels fuller in comparison to the version with a maple fretboard which has a slimmer 635JM profile. The 635JM-R has more of a D-shape compared to the 635JM which has C-shape.
There are many different shapes and sizes of Stratocaster necks including C-profiles, D-profiles, and V-profiles. However, most Fender Stratocasters have a “modern C” shape neck which feels slimmer than the PRS Silver Sky.
The only Strats with a thicker neck than the Silver Sky are the American Vintage II 1957, American Original ’50s and Vintera models which have a soft-V profile.
Here is a table comparing the measurements of these neck profiles.
| Neck | 1st Fret Depth | 12th Fret Depth |
| PRS Silver Sky Maple | 0.83” | 0.96” |
| PRS Silver Sky Rosewood | 0.86” | 0.97” |
| Fender Stratocaster Modern C | 0.83” | 0.91” |
| Fender Stratocaster Soft V | 0.90” | 1.00” |
If you’re looking for more information, check out my complete guide to Fender neck profiles.
Fingerboard Width
The fingerboard width at the 1st fret (nut width) on the PRS/ PRS SE Silver Sky is 1.63″ on the maple version and 1.65″ on the rosewood version. The nut width on Fender Stratocasters varies between 1.65″ and 1.685″ (depending on the exact model) making it slightly wider on average compared to the PRS Silver Sky.
Fingerboard Radius
- The PRS Silver Sky have a fingerboard radius of 7.25″ whereas the PRS SE Silver Sky has a fingerboard radius of 8.5″.
- Fender Stratocasters have a fingerboard radius ranging from 7.25″ to 12″ depending on the exact model.
The smaller the fingerboard radius is, the more curved the fretboard is, compared to a larger fingerboard radius which causes the fretboard to feel flatter.
A smaller fingerboard radius makes it easier for most players to hold chords, however a larger radius will make it easier to bend the strings and means the guitar can have a lower action without causing fret buzz.
Here’s a link to my comparison between 7.25″ and 9.5″ fingerboard radiuses for more information.
Body Design
Both these guitars look incredibly similar at first glance but there are a few notable differences between them…
The PRS/ PRS SE John Mayer Silver Sky has an additional contour on the lower horn which is not found on any Strat models and does help to make the guitar a bit more comfortable to play with.
Both the PRS and PRS SE versions of the Silver Sky have a contoured neck heel to aid upper fret access, however this feature is only found on the Fender Player Plus, American Ultra and American Ultra Luxe versions of the Stratocaster.
Most Fender Stratocasters have an alder body, although some have ash and mahogany bodies. The PRS Silver Sky also has an alder body, but the PRS SE Silver Sky has a poplar body. Poplar is typically considered as a poor man’s alder, as it is cheaper to source and doesn’t sound or look as good.
PRS Silver Sky (and SE Silver Sky) guitars are typically 0.5-1.0 lbs lighter than Fender Stratocasters, although there is some variation in weight from model to model.
Hardware
If you compare the more affordable versions of these guitars, the Fender Player and PRS SE, the bridge is better on the Silver Sky compared to the Strat. The PRS SE Silver Sky has a pop-in tremolo whereas the Fender Player has a screw-in tremolo. On other more expensive Fender Strats you do get a pop-in tremolo.
The quality of the tuning machines on the Fender Stratocaster and Silver Sky are very similar but you can only get locking tuners if you go for a Fender Player Plus, American Ultra, or American Ultra Luxe Strat, or the USA PRS Silver Sky.
Headstock
The PRS Silver Sky has a more tilted headstock compared to the Fender Stratocaster. Which design is better is definitely up for a debate so there’s no real winner here. The Fender Strat has a 6 in-line headstock whereas the PRS Silver Sky has a 3+3 headstock. Again, this is a personal preference.
Cosmetic Differences
Both these guitars look incredibly similar, but there are a couple of cosmetic differences.
- The PRS Silver Sky has bird inlays on the fretboard whereas the Fender Stratocaster has traditional dot inlays
- The PRS Silver Sky has a truss rod cover unlike the Fender Stratocaster
- The PRS Silver Sky has more curves on the pickguard and only 8 screws whereas the Fender Stratocaster has 11 screws
- The pickup selector blade on the Silver Sky is chunkier compared to the Strat
- The Fender Strat has slimmer tone/ volume pots with labels on them unlike the Silver Sky
When it comes to color options, the Fender Stratocaster is the stand out winner with a huge range of different finishes available. The Silver Sky is much more limited in this respect as there are only 4 colors available for the SE, and 7 for the USA-version.
Similarities
Here is a list of features that the PRS (and PRS SE) John Mayer Silver Sky and Fender Stratocaster share:
- Double cutaway body
- SSS pickup configuration
- 5-way pickup selector
- 1 x volume and 2 x tone controls
- Maple neck
- Bolt-on neck construction
- 25.5″ scale length
- 22 frets (most Fender Strats)
- Tremolo bridge
Don’t forget to check out my comparison between the PRS and PRS SE Silver Sky.
Models Available and Price Comparison
Here is a list of the main Fender Strat and PRS Silver Sky models available and their average prices in the USA at the time of writing.
| Electric Guitar | Average Price |
| Fender Player Stratocaster | $850 |
| PRS SE Silver Sky | $850 |
| Fender Vintera Stratocaster | $1100 |
| Fender Player Plus Stratocaster | $1100 |
| Fender American Performer Stratocaster | $1400 |
| Fender American Professional II Stratocaster | $1700 |
| Fender American Vintage II Stratocaster | $2100 |
| Fender American Ultra Stratocaster | $2150 |
| Fender American Original Stratocaster | $2250 |
| Fender American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster | $2600 |
| PRS Silver Sky | $2550 |
PRS SE Silver Sky vs Fender Player Stratocaster
The PRS SE Silver Sky and Fender Player Stratocaster are the exact same price from most distributers, making them very good models to compare.
Here is a table comparing the key features of both guitars.
| Feature | PRS SE Silver Sky | Fender Player Stratocaster |
| Body Wood | Poplar | Alder |
| Neck Wood | Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard Wood | Rosewood | Maple/ Pau Ferro |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On | Bolt-On |
| Neck Depth | 0.86”-0.97” | 0.83”-0.91” |
| Nut Width | 1.63” | 1.65” |
| Neck Finish | Satin | Satin |
| Fingerboard Radius | 8.5” | 9.5” |
| Scale Length | 25.5” | 25.5” |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fretboard Inlays | Birds | Dots |
| Contoured Neck Heel | Yes | No |
| Contoured Lower Horn | Yes | No |
| Truss Rod Cover | Yes | No |
| Headstock | 3+3 | 6 In-Line |
| Bridge | 2-Point Tremolo | 2-Point Tremolo |
| Tremolo Arm | Pop-In | Screw-In |
| Locking Tuners | No | No |
| Nut | Synthetic | Synthetic |
| Hardware | Nickel | Nickel |
| Pickup Selector | 5-Way | 5-Way |
| Tone Controls | 2 | 2 |
| Volume Controls | 1 | 1 |
| Strings | 10-46 | 9-42 |
| Gig Bag Included | Yes | No |
| Average Weight | 7.25 lbs | 8.0 lbs |
| Made In | Indonesia | Mexico |
| Average Price | $850 | $850 |
PRS Silver Sky vs Fender American Vintage II Stratocaster
The most comparable American versions of these guitars are the PRS Core Silver Sky and the Fender American Vintage II 1957 Strat. Here is a table comparing the key features of both guitars.
| Feature | PRS Silver Sky | Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster |
| Body Wood | Alder | Alder/ Ash |
| Neck Wood | Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard Wood | Maple/ Rosewood | Maple |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On | Bolt-On |
| Neck Depth | 0.83”-0.96” OR 0.86”-0.97” | 0.90”-1.00” |
| Nut Width | 1.63” OR 1.65” | 1.65” |
| Neck Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose | Gloss Nitrocellulose |
| Neck Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose | Gloss Nitrocellulose |
| Fingerboard Radius | 7.25” | 7.25” |
| Scale Length | 25.5” | 25.5” |
| Frets | 22 | 21 |
| Fretboard Inlays | Birds | Dots |
| Contoured Neck Heel | Yes | No |
| Contoured Lower Horn | Yes | No |
| Truss Rod Cover | Yes | No |
| Headstock | 3+3 | 6 In-Line |
| Bridge | 2-Point Tremolo | 2-Point Tremolo |
| Tremolo Arm | Pop-In | Screw-In |
| Locking Tuners | Yes | No |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Hardware | Nickel | Nickel |
| Pickup Selector | 5-Way | 5-Way |
| Tone Controls | 2 | 2 |
| Volume Controls | 1 | 1 |
| Strings | 10-46 | 10-46 |
| Gig Bag Included | Yes | Yes |
| Average Weight | 7.25 lbs | 8.0 lbs |
| Made In | USA | USA |
| Average Price | $2550 | $2100 |