Paul Reed Smith Explains the "Dead Spec" Silver Sky

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

Рет қаралды 142,062

Күн бұрын

Meet the “Dead Spec" Silver Sky - a 1000 piece limited run built exactly like the guitar John played on tour with Dead & Company. The instrument features a satin finished swamp ash body guitar that features a brass nut, a hold down bar at the headstock, a fixed bridge paired with a brass block in the cavity, and an Alembic Blaster Preamp. The Alembic Blaster Preamp provides an adjustable decibel boost controlled by a switch near the output jack. All of these components combine to create a truly unique tone that Paul and John are eager to share with the world.
The "Dead Spec" Silver Sky will be offered in a limited run of 1000 pieces.
For more information, visit: prsguitars.com/electrics/mode...
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro Playing
0:09 - Paul’s Thoughts on John Mayer in Dead & Co
1:14 - The Idea for the “Dead Spec” Silver Sky
1:30 - Paul Calls John About a Prototype
1:54 - "Dead Spec" Silver Sky Specs
3:17 - Paul Discusses the Tone
4:52 - John’s Reaction
5:37 - The Same Guitar John Plays

Пікірлер: 297

@nvlddmkm1282 8 ай бұрын

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

@belbol1547 8 ай бұрын

They should try to evolve their frets and tuners too...

@np8596 8 ай бұрын

@@belbol1547what's wrong with the tuners? Never had an issue with them, same with the fretwork. Finish fading and clouding are the - albeit rare - only issues that I would connect with PRS regarding possible flaws.

@belbol1547 8 ай бұрын

@@np8596 it's the year 2023. Stainless steel frets and locking tuners are a standard for mid-range guitars and even some low-end.

@np8596 8 ай бұрын

@@belbol1547 the tuners actually do lock ;-)

@dudebroguymate 8 ай бұрын

@@belbol1547 I agree. I'm not sure how much SS frets cost, probably not a lot, but SE guitars should at least come with locking tuners. Perhaps there is an argument to be made in the case of the vintage-y-looking models where one might prefer the standard tuners in terms of aesthetics but still...

@anotherstart1 6 ай бұрын

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.

@justethanol 6 ай бұрын

I think you're right and I've heard the se pickups sound more bland or flat than the regular model is that your opinion? I still think both guitars sound great!

@WEREWOLFCaT_STORIES 8 ай бұрын

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!

@JJSurma 8 ай бұрын

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

@5urg3x Ай бұрын

As Paul Reed Smith once said “they don’t make left handed pianos, so there”

@jimmyjames2022 8 ай бұрын

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

@troy8420 7 ай бұрын

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.

@Heavenreck 8 ай бұрын

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.

@JaredGunn-dp4iz 8 ай бұрын

So would I , but at the price point and only 1,000 units ...... good luck !!!!

@sheercerebralpower 4 ай бұрын

I tried one yesterday and bought it right away……

@BrandOdyssey 8 ай бұрын

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.

@cyclesgoff9768 8 ай бұрын

So your a dentist?

@Childofbhaal 8 ай бұрын

I mean yeah but overall PRS is overpriced af when it comes to guitars

@Thumbii 8 ай бұрын

@@Childofbhaal I'd say too expensive rather than overpriced. The SE Line is fantastic and I once had a CE24 and that's probably the best built guitar I've ever had. Now I have an Ibanez though.

@Childofbhaal 8 ай бұрын

@@Thumbii Idk I think PRS just isn’t for me lol my friend has one and I just don’t vibe with it. Give me my G&L ASAT all day every day. It’s weird though because so many amazing artists like Steven Wilson/Opeth etc use PRS and I absolutely love their tone

@sheercerebralpower 4 ай бұрын

I tried one yesterday and bought it instantly. A really great guitar…..

@13thAMG 8 ай бұрын

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

@christopherguzzi1316 8 ай бұрын

He took the specs. of a Fender and a Gibson and made something right in the middle of good quality when Fender and Gibson were not producing their best. Hard working business man, yes, genius, I'm not so sure.

@Louis-ef4eb 7 ай бұрын

@@christopherguzzi1316 someone else didn't like CBS! 😂

@tonychen3368 8 ай бұрын

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. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@larrylambert2727 8 ай бұрын

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

@JohnnyP23 8 ай бұрын

Yes it did!

@Louis-ef4eb 7 ай бұрын

Sounded too thin !! Garcia put the strat down in 73!?

@trevorlindsey580 5 ай бұрын

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!

@jamestonguet1737 8 ай бұрын

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

@MelodyMaker218 8 ай бұрын

Super cool!

@JS-nf1sn 8 ай бұрын

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.

@Childofbhaal 8 ай бұрын

I would take my G&L ASAT over any PRS

@RJ_HTx 8 ай бұрын

The best guitar is the one that actually makes you to want to play more. For me it is the Fender Telecaster.

@DonaldMerrit 7 ай бұрын

In my humble opinion Ernie Ball music man is every bit as good as PRS if not better

@whoisthis5476 7 ай бұрын

PRS aren't the best guitars you can buy, but they are by far the best marketed guitars with the face of the company involved and at the forefront of said marketing which has resulted in an extremely passionate fanbase. There are corners cut at higher prices that small builders would never compromise on, such as Paul himself when he was really getting things started in the 80's.

@jfinester 8 ай бұрын

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.

@coldshotblues 4 ай бұрын

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!

@mrlozano 5 ай бұрын

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

@nicolasfaisant6445 7 ай бұрын

Awsome great new model 👍

@jerrymckenzie1858 8 ай бұрын

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

@0megalul309 8 ай бұрын

Nah, it just attracted fender fanboys and broke teenagers who wanted strats. The Silver sky is the cheapest full USA made guitar in the lineup cos strats are fundamentally cheap to build. It's like a cheeseburger vs steak in terms of building a strat vs a Les Paul

@starmorpheus 3 ай бұрын

@@0megalul309Spoken like a true moron

@SpartanLaserCanon 8 ай бұрын

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.

@stop736 4 ай бұрын

Same here…I’ve got several Fender Strats that are great guitars, but if I’m gonna play a Strat and I only have one choice, it would be a PRS 9 out of 10 times. That being said, I love Tele’s more than any other guitars and I’ve got several that I play everyday! The Kingfish, which is more Les Paul then Tele probably, and the John5 I got when they dropped this year, I play those everyday and still find new things I can get out of it. My favorite of the newer ones I bought is the Brent Mason Tele. That one is really my go to guitar when I’m playing with other bands that have a big range of different styles of music. That guitar can be made to sound pretty much like any guitar you’d want tone wise. And that Glaser B bender is so much fun to use and it’s not just some gimmick. It is really useful in the right places. So as much as I like these PRS guitars, I almost always play a Tele. It’s just what I’m comfortable with.

@marcorock101 8 ай бұрын

Paul is such a national treasure

@GregGolightly 8 ай бұрын

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.

@SilkenCloud98 8 ай бұрын

@@crosbycofod5052lmao the paradox in the last sentence

@theo59643 7 ай бұрын

Pretty sure it’s just for legal reasons. That’s why companies have to say “S Type” and “T Type,” cover up car logos and put stickers over computer logos. They’d probably be liable to pay Fender fees for whatever reason, or risk being sued.

@designer-acid 8 ай бұрын

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

@kanyelberg 8 ай бұрын

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

@igorhenrique835 2 ай бұрын

Art 👌🏽

@ticketless_applause7234 8 ай бұрын

Damn those are gonna go fast

@liorauf 8 ай бұрын

WOW!!!

@SteveMend 4 ай бұрын

Wrigley! Ready for summer!

@omdwillieturnip8840 8 ай бұрын

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

@ramonmoreno8014 4 ай бұрын

lulz

@zacate1983 8 ай бұрын

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!

@alecc9340 7 ай бұрын

That guitar is a masterpiece.

@RobVanDam1591 5 ай бұрын

This guitar sounds like heaven.

@mahatma_gandalf 8 ай бұрын

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

@markuyehara7880 7 ай бұрын

$5000 on the resale market will probably do it.

@aravindvinayakan 8 ай бұрын

PAUL C'MON! 1,000?!

@joakimflinck8208 8 ай бұрын

awsome Paul

@landoctor94 8 ай бұрын

Interesting!

@OneMoreGrave 8 ай бұрын

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

@DennyBob521 8 ай бұрын

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?

@SilkenCloud98 8 ай бұрын

Interesting, sad to hear they’re discontinuing the Dodgem Blue with Rosewood combo, that’s the first one I picked up in 2020, my first USA made guitar

@docdaytona108 8 ай бұрын

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

@johnstack7283 8 ай бұрын

Cant wait to see this on reverb

@lone-wolf-1 8 ай бұрын

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.

@TavisAllen 7 ай бұрын

Perhaps not quite the same, but YAMAHA, back when they were courting Carlos Santana, added brass to the SG to increase sustain. I'm curious, why would you want space between the insert?

@lone-wolf-1 7 ай бұрын

@@TavisAllen Interesting! Did not know about that. Brass is a good alloy for instruments. There is a reason for bells and wind instruments to get made out of brass and bronze. My idea for the free mounted trem block is to get a sort of sympathetic feedback into the bridge plate and thus into the strings due its vibration, wich I imagine influences tone and probably enhances sustain. The weight alone will help to prevent also the loss of low end. And if it’s mounted free it will vibrate different than if it were enclosed in the wood. Kinda like a decked strat trem, but without springs. I will test also wich effect a blocking of it will have. I like to experiment. Chhers!

@jcsk8 7 ай бұрын

Leo Fender is proud!

@Redhotchilipprs 8 ай бұрын

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

@S-T-E-V-E 8 ай бұрын

I love a Hardtail Strat!

@LysanderLH 8 ай бұрын

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

@mattmanley7118 8 ай бұрын

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

@nickp440 7 ай бұрын

Seems like a waste of money for just slide guitar, but you do you

@andyinwards2119 7 ай бұрын

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”.

@joefeinstein6804 8 ай бұрын

very interesting reinvention

@Joshua.M.S. 8 ай бұрын

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.

@darthsensei3838 8 ай бұрын

Sweetwater online still has a few. Theirs ship first week in dec.

@johnhudak6267 8 ай бұрын

Love me my Stratoblasters!!!

@TheBurdenOfModernLife 7 ай бұрын

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

@jmtab 8 ай бұрын

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

@fatsuperfly 8 ай бұрын

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.

@ayeapprove 8 ай бұрын

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

@gbenselum 8 ай бұрын

So you could buy another one

@ayeapprove 8 ай бұрын

@@gbenselum you could build one yourself :)

@drzecelectric4302 7 ай бұрын

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

@petethedutch 8 ай бұрын

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.

@AdventJustice 8 ай бұрын

He’s like the Steve Jobs of guitar

@ramonmoreno8014 4 ай бұрын

eew

@cobravinci 8 ай бұрын

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

@glennmattison3180 8 ай бұрын

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.

@giipatrick 7 ай бұрын

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

@MultiDreamer1979 6 ай бұрын

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..😢

@FreeRansom101 4 ай бұрын

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

@marvinrichmondtv 8 ай бұрын

❤️🎧🤘🇵🇭

@nicolasrivera5310 8 ай бұрын

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

@Mexxx65 8 ай бұрын

Do PRS Guitars have a Custom Shop Masterbuilt Branch yet?

@rovidelarosa 8 ай бұрын

Isn't that what PRS Private Stock is?

@dasprucegoose 6 ай бұрын

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!

@rcnyoplait 7 ай бұрын

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

@caknut 8 ай бұрын

nice strat

@drivin69 8 ай бұрын

hell ya

@leonardsmith2170 7 ай бұрын

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.

@leemeyer7629 8 ай бұрын

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

@user-qv6to2yh7i 5 ай бұрын

i want one so baf

@edisonbulb 8 ай бұрын

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

@sonicaids 8 ай бұрын

im guessing they just used what they had laying around for johns prototype.

@TheEchelon 8 ай бұрын

Because it’s basically a blocked trem strat

@ultramatthewc2818 8 ай бұрын

new obsession

@tonynoon8693 8 ай бұрын

Was this based on Aligator?

@jakobmorningstar 8 ай бұрын

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.

@jakobmorningstar 8 ай бұрын

@@StopTheRot yeah if you’ve got $3,350 just laying around

@darthsensei3838 7 ай бұрын

@@jakobmorningstarI did. And I bought one. No scalping here 😁

@richardlucascronley5128 7 ай бұрын

You can make this guitar much cheaper

@zz-.- 6 ай бұрын

resellers are terrible humans. “oh gee someone else wants it? Let me scoop it up so they can’t have it and I can sell it to them for more!” - despicable people, shameful

@austin33785 5 ай бұрын

Yeah mod a SS to dead spec yourself.

@joeocchipinti1934 8 ай бұрын

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

@waranghira 7 ай бұрын

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

@markuyehara7880 7 ай бұрын

Actually, this is MUCH more difficult to manufacture. Getting the bore for the trem block to fit snugly is not a simple thing. I think they wanted the tone of the block which is very different from a thru-body design.

@waranghira 7 ай бұрын

@@markuyehara7880 Yeah. trem tones are better with the decreased sustain. Then no tuning issues of the trem.

@H43N 7 ай бұрын

larry david: do you respect wood? prs: yes

@SouthpawSatch 8 ай бұрын

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

@ZephyrRandD 8 ай бұрын

Please make this a standard model.

@whiteyshred4330 8 ай бұрын

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

@mohitrahaman 8 ай бұрын

hardtail st guitars are something

@SexyplexiGT 7 ай бұрын

It's a damn strat.

@christopherguzzi1316 8 ай бұрын

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

@donnix1192 8 ай бұрын

Is this based off of the alligator strat???

@mattcarnevali 8 ай бұрын

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

@nintendonut100 8 ай бұрын

Well, if you want that tone then the Alembic preamp is the way to go, so not much point in sinking the time and money into developing their own one.

@jasonbaines3371 6 ай бұрын

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

@OldeDog_NewTricks 2 ай бұрын

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?

@30smsuperstrat 8 ай бұрын

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

@gregmelville2051 8 ай бұрын

Damn - just take my money Paul

@telefrk49 8 ай бұрын

I already went to my local shop and put my name on one of the two they are getting!!!

@revelationsoundstudio Ай бұрын

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

@user-cf7bt9jw2p Ай бұрын

Paul got the touch. Very funny that we dont see the owner of the guitar gigantic brands play themselves

@scottakam 8 ай бұрын

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

@michaelmarino2571 8 ай бұрын

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

@ronsiegel1084 8 ай бұрын

If it’s such a great guitar why only make 1000?

@Ottophil 8 ай бұрын

You think you can run the company better, start your own.

@GerryBlue 8 ай бұрын

They need to sell them as exclusive, limited edition whatever, most interesting is that people will buy them

@thebaneofyourexistence.3377 8 ай бұрын

@@Ottophilstrawman

@TheEchelon 8 ай бұрын

@@OttophilHe raises a good point and is merely asking a question. Not sure why you’re so butthurt.

@edwindude9893 8 ай бұрын

Probably a sales generator. I’m sure they’ll sell fast.

@BradRocker 8 ай бұрын

Is the Trem usable on this Spec ??

@SimonMittermaier 8 ай бұрын

No, the bridge is locked in multiple places

@BradRocker 8 ай бұрын

kinda what I thought. THx @@SimonMittermaier

@jonnyhammerstix1535 8 ай бұрын

I wish you made these in a lefty.

@moose5206 8 ай бұрын

john mayer upvote. Paul is also cool.