gringopig's guitars
2023 PRS Silver Sky Dead Spec
A limited edition version of the Silver Sky featuring hardware reminiscent of Jerry Garcia's Alligator Stratocaster played during Grateful Dead's tour of Europe in 1972. John Mayer asked Paul Reed Smith to make him a custom version of his Silver Sky signature model to mark the 2023 summer tour which turned out to be the last.
A few obvious differences can be seen: the Alembic Blaster, previously known as the Strat-o-Blaster but changed after Fender moaned, a PRS Gen III bridge but blocked off to remove tremolo function and a brass nut with string bar retainer.
It was announced as eagle-eyed Mayer fanatics had spotted him playing an unusual version of the Silver Sky he plays with what looked like a built in pre-amp unit. This was announced to be a limited edition version released from 2023 to March 2024 in quantities of 1000 worldwide - just like the Lunar Ice.
I had put an email in to GuitarGuitar in anticipation and then forgot all about it.
Suddenly, I got an email and I didn't hesitate!
Click on gallery for larger version
So is it different? Is it worth the extra over a normal Silver Sky, especially if you can find a Roxy Pink for a significant discount across the retailers.
I think it is. I love the sound of the Alembic Blaster.
You can buy them from Alembic from $225 true but I am also a Grateful Dead fan and Jerry Garcia in particular. I think his playing is so distinctive as to make him one of the greats.
The Blaster adds not only volume but a very sweet mid range boost that suits this guitar. It is adjustable from 3dB to 14dB via the wee adjustment trim pot accessible via the hole under the switch but I'm leaving it is as as it's perfect.
You also get an ash body, which is a first as the regular ones have an alder body and given the very thin nitro finish it has, the grain looks very nice.
I love the way they have installed a tremolo bridge and then encased the tremolo block in a rout which makes it a hardtail. Still got a tremolo bar in the hard case though!
The Silver Sky guitar is just as good as a Fender custom shop. I have played so many expensive custom shop Strats that sound dead with playability issues and horrible thin necks. The Silver Sky has a perfect Strat neck. Quite chunky and if you like bigger necks, you would love it. Everything about the PRS is great. Great tuners and buttons which feel nice to the touch and they stay in tune unlike Fenders sometimes.
I did a demo where I play the Dead Spec and then compare to the regular ones: a 2023 Moc Sand with a rosewood fingerboard and a 2020 Limited Edition Lunar Ice with a maple board.
Have a watch in 1080p and see if you think the differences are audible. Without the Blaster on, the Dead Spec sounds very like a regular one despite the ash body, which is a first for the Silver Sky but switched, it's a different guitar. Growl and grunt with a very vocal midrange but not like a Clapton boost circuit. It's more subtle and musical.
