An HSS Silver Sky prototype exists – but John Mayer plays down hopes that it might see the light of day
The PRS Silver Sky is one of the top-selling electric guitars of the past 10 years, so it makes perfect sense that John Mayer and Paul Reed Smith would constantly be looking to find ways to make the model appeal to new customers.
In a left-field collaboration announced in September, PRS partnered with Jaguar Land Rover to create a limited run of Silver Skys outfitted in finishes inspired by classic Defender colourways. Why? Good question. Because the Silver Sky’s namesake, John Mayer, is a huge Defender fan, and owns several of his own.
Still, that collaboration had somewhat niche appeal, but the next thing PRS and Mayer are cooking up might get the masses’ pulses racing even more: an HSS-configured Silver Sky…
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However, calm yourself, because while John Mayer reportedly has an HSS Silver Sky in his possession, it doesn’t look like it’ll see the light of day any time soon.
Speaking to Guitar World, Mayer explains why he and PRS have no plans to release the model in a limited run, saying it would be “too much of a tease”.
“I’m not out to frustrate people. I’m out to excite people,” he explains, acknowledging the fine line between generating excitement and leaving fans disappointed when a guitar is available in extremely limited numbers.
Mayer stresses that any new iteration needs to be developed at the right pace, rather than being rushed out to capitalise on hype. “It’s got to be right,” he says.
He also highlights the challenge of fitting a humbucker alongside two single-coils without disrupting the guitar’s aesthetic or tonal balance. “You have a geometry puzzle on a design level,” Mayer said, explaining how the bridge pickup needs to complement the others rather than overpower them.
He described these as “design-based timelines”, suggesting that an official release isn’t simply a matter of deciding when to put a guitar on sale.
The HSS configuration is one of the most popular modifications among Silver Sky owners, with players including Neal Schon having their guitars retrofitted, so the prospect of an official version was always likely to get fans talking.
For now, the best hope of seeing the HSS in action may be Mayer’s solo residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas next year.
While an official release remains uncertain, the prototype’s existence suggests that a humbucker equipped Silver Sky is firmly on the table. Whether Mayer decides to take it on stage, or eventually make it available to fans, is still an open question.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
