My first criteria is how the neck feels and how the frets feel above all else. Electronics can be replaced per taste if necessary. Second is the weight and feel and last is how it looks. Admittedly though my subliminal first is finish and color. I think you made the right decision by keeping the Fiore.
I have a Fiore and a silver sky SE. The SE models are now phenomenal and brilliant value. I’m putting a SD Little 59 in the Bridge to make it a little more versatile. I can’t believe how ‘smooth’ the sounds are on the Silver Sky though. To my ears quite different to the Fiore.
I’ll take the Fiore with the SS neck. I haven’t spent much time with a Silver Sky, but it seemed nice. The Fiore floored me and I need one. It’s not great at anything, but it will do anything. It’s a guitar that allows you to focus on the music.
"We choose travel over living space". Are you sure you guys are not Japanese? That's exactly what most Japanese do. Small houses but they have been everywhere over the world.
The SS Trem can float with a few screwdriver twists :) , Try lowering the pickups just a touch, as someone who owns both but likes the SS better , I also run the amp really hot and turn the guitar vol down :)
I mostly shop online, so brand loyalty and prior experience are a large part of what I look at when buying a guitar. For that reason, all my guitars are made by Schecter - I know what I'm getting and I like it a lot. I've considered Jackson and Ibanez, but the fear of the unknown keeps me from pulling the trigger.
From Leo: I have a list of all my guitars. every week I pick a different one. When I don't feel like playing the last one left on the list, I skip it. If it gets skipped next time around, it gets traded. It has nothing to do with price, only if I enjoy playing it.
For me the most important thing is sound, because I'm buying it to make music. Second, feel. If it's not comfortable to play it's just gonna sit in the corner. Last for me is the look. LIke Dylan said, I want to be drawn to it because I'm more likely to WANT to play it. Anyway, that's my 3 rules for a guitar.
That Silver Sky is sweet. My first criteria is that it has to be different than any guitar or Bass I have. All my basses have different scale lengths, pickup configurations and string types/gauges. My Guitars have different scale, pickup types and only 1 has a trem (but building another with a Bigsby). I want variety. The older I get I find I get less picky I am and seek different feels and sounds. I like fat and thin necks, wide and narrow necks, high and low output pickups. I really don't have many preferences. Pick up a guitar and play it. Half of my guitars are home built and I love being able to tweak profiles and other aspects of the instrument.
Tough call. I have a red Fiore and just love it. The pickups are great especially the hb and so many combinations. I think i would have sold the 3 on the right and kept the silver sky.
First, the guitar has to stand out from the first time I see it. It has to feel "right" when I pick it up. If I keep thinking about playing it when I'm doing other things, like when you got something amazing for Christmas and couldn't wait to get home from school to play with it, I know it's the one. Whenever I am trying to make a decision between two options, I flip a coin. If I'm not satisfied with the first flip and find myself wanting to flip again or go best out of five or something, I have my answer.
My process is probably Cool Factor -> Brand Loyalty -> Feel (I’m big on neck profiles - big necks cause me hand pain) -> Shop Loyalty - I have a friendship with a shop owner. I tend to start my search with him. It usually ends with him. Then of course, gotta check with the wife 😂
In years past, I was never happy with stock guitars of any make. For years I experimented with woods and pickups, finally settling on mid-80s Ibanez AR-300 guitars and replacing the very good Super 58 pickups with great boutique pickups. I also built my own Frankenstrat, and yes, it’s alive. Nowadays, however, builders have upped their game and offer some great designs with great features and excellent pickups. I love that I no longer need to perform major surgery and grow my collections of parts. So it could be just a matter of figuring out what you want and then comparing the guitars that have “it.” No needs to spend a lot of time and money modding these days. It sounds to me like you should keep the Fiore. You prefer the HSS format and the tone of the pickups and the feel of the neck.
Get them for how they make you feel when you play one..and if you find one you’ll play more than one you’ve already had sitting around..just get rid of the dust collector….and maintain your limit….I’d keep the Maple fretboard sound….
Preferred things I look for in a guitar. Body style: curves and edges. (LP, Forest, A-1, N-HH-460, Avenger, S series) Neck joint: Set or through-neck. Fretboard: ebony with little to no inlays. Bridge: I don't like Trems. Pickups: I'm good with a single Humbucker, sidekick, or Novel-90. Extra pickups just kill sustain and there's not enough tonal difference that couldn't be covered by the role of a tone knob. Tuners: Locking. They're not only good for easy restringing. They improve tuning stability. Strap nuts: martini glasses suck. Locks reduce neck dive. My first guitar (and still favorite) is an AXL 1216 Badwater blue, that I've made several modifications to. • Locking Tuners • Roller bridge • Strap locks • SD Screamin'Demon w/ push/pull (bridge) • Lollar Novel 90 (neck)
I personally am pulled toward Godin, Reverend and PRS electric guitars, They are pushing Fenders out the door and Gibsons have never spoken to me. There is just something about the overall quality and sound of these guitars. I'm a very clean tone player.
Being lefty, I'd say 6 of my 10 guitars was bought sight-unseen. Therefore, lots were bought based on an emotional attachment. For example, my V was bought for my love of Mustaine. They stay in my collection, however, based mostly on how the neck feels in my hand.
For me, all my guitars have to have a purpose, whether it gives me a different sound or different tuning. For me neck shape and whether the neck is satin or gloss are the most important. I have to be able to use the guitar for the intended purpose. I like PRS, but I have found I don't like the pattern neck with gloss, it hinders my playing. I prefer pattern thin if the neck is gloss.
With what wasn't right about the Silver Sky, would PRS have to address & update the "flaws of preference" ? That's one thing that spins in my head when I go back after a same model. Were the flaws of preference that made me sell it fixed to be a keeper ? I'd be revisiting those on the next one for ownership. I guess I'm not a $ 2,700+ guitar flipper after a couple of years, unless the frets were just completely used up. And in that case, just wouldn't expect to breakeven.
Above all else, the scale must function. I bought a guitar where the fretboard was lifting off the neck, but it still played. Bit of epoxy, and we're back in business. 2: If I'm modding the guitar, expense has a much lower threshold. 3: Function: What sonic hole will this fill? I have three jumbo acoustics, a primary, spare, and an eirloom. This is my primary acoustic space; therefore, I pay the most attention to it. There's the 12-string, the resonator, the Dreadnought, the octave mandolin, the baritone, a classical, and a bajo-sexto. Acoustically, all I'm missing is a parlor guitar. I could drop maybe four of these instruments and replace them with one expensive instrument, but I haven't. The electric guitars follow a similar logic: I have the HSS, and four HH guitars, plus an SS. I'm currently looking at HSH and SSS. Neck-through, bolt-on, and set necks. They're all there. The neck cannot fight me. I stumble across this from time to time, but there are necks I struggle with. I could likely quantify those characteristics, but I haven't yet.
I could tell you were leaning towards the fiore as soon as you started talking about it. Honestly I agree with everything you’ve said and would have made the same decision.
When I picked on which guitars I wanted. It was by brand. All my guitar heroes used Gibson and Fender. I’m 56. Only been serious in playing for 4 years. But I bought my SG 10 years ago.
The neck very comfortable. Not wide so I can wrap my thumb around easily. 10 inch radius is not too flat not too round. The frets are medium. The finish is very smooth not at all sticky.
I choose by features that I want, styles that I want, and looks which is why I have an SE custom 24, an Epiphone LP 50s, a Nashville tele, a strat style, and a 7 string baritone. Currently gassing over a gold top dgt or LP or the blue McCarty... Currently weeding through options on those 3.
You need to do one with your pups in the Silver Sky. I didn't like the clean sound. Too tinny. I actually thought it sounded better with the gain. You might sell your design to PRS and retire. Of course that Mayer guy seems to like them, so who knows? Your pups sound better to me, but I'm not in a band situation trying to poke out the mix.
Sell BOTH, and assemble a Warmoth parts 'S' guitar with ALL Dylan pickups and harness and the hardware of your choice. Feature the build in future episodes and dissect/discuss tones and your electronics at length. This would be AWESOME!!!
Thought you did, my bad! The Fiore is the guitar thou! I bought a Deluxe Tonemaster last year and once the“honeymoon “ was over, just noticed it didn’t take pedals that well but it’s all subjective. Fender is definitely on the right track thou. Always a pleasure Dylan!
For me it's does it resonate and sound good unplugged, neck comfort, then does it fill a sonic hole in my current herd. Oh yeah, it has to sound good clean and secondarily at the edge of breakup. I don't buy guitars often and am pretty picky. I tried out I don't know how many LPs over the course of maybe 10 years before I found one I really liked.
I mean granted they were small nitpicks and overall you said you like it... you actually had quite a few negatives on the silversky vs only positives and "my favourite setup" points on the Fiore. Asthetically obviously the Fiore is a bit loud, but if you own a strat anyways and like slimmer necked guitars id say ditch the silversky.
generally speaking an absolute NO to the brand loyalty and if you don't need the cash then never sell a guitar if you like it or might grow to like in the future. I've owned guitars that I didn't initially like but grew to like in time. I totally get the space saving angle ... meaning that only you will know. Guitars are almost as individual as the player. Sounds to me after listening to your arguments, that getting rid of the Silver Sky is the right decision.
I would have made the exact same choice, and honestly figured you were leaning more toward the Fiore. It’s obvious how much you love it and how comfortable you are playing it. I’m a rosewood guy too, but I wouldn’t let that get in the way either. If it feels right, it’s the one.
I like rosewood too. I don't buy maple anymore because I know I just don't like how they look. If that guitar comes out with rosewood board I'd be really tempted.
I thin in the end its how they inspire you to how you play them on the outside looking in humbucker = more tone choice/power to me its how and what it inspires me to play and how I play when its in my hands how it feels and how it sounds I have recipe for what I like wether its set neck..bolt on and tremolos
The first thing is the looks, other things like feel and sound can be easily manipulated, I'm not gonna buy a guitar and have it refinished, but you can always change pickups and adjust the setup to tour liking. Cheers and keep up the good work. Greetings from Croatia.
I know it’s subjective but having owned a DR Tonemaster, they do not take pedals well. Try a good tube amp. I play thru a 1968RK Supro and recently purchased a PRS HDRX 20 watt head which is great. Lower output pickups always sound better to me for edge of break up.
I went with the belief that I wanted blues & rock tones, I liked les paul so I bought myself a quality Epiphone Les Paul Classic, I then wanted more cleans and I grew out of the silver sky, despite liking the stratocaster and especially telecaster, I prefer es-335, can't afford Gibson and so the Sheraton is outstanding for the value, appearance and tone I felt the same way about dirty mayer pick ups, but I realized the guitar was sonically for clean blues but not being the versatility of a strat hss
You will probably have to get rid of a certain number of guitars for space and or get a bigger living space, but once you do don’t regret it. The next issue is …when and if are you going to gig with them? Are you giving guitar lessons to people? That is another reason to have guitar gear. Other than that it’s just acquisitions . The other issue is investment. Is that a factor?
I would choose fiore by your description of the guitars. You say you like smaller necks and my favourite guitar is an EBMM BFR Luke III with the dimarzio humbuckers. They now make their own pickups.
Silver Sky = sound like everyone ever. Fiore = sound like you. Plus difference in playability between the 7.25” radius and the standard PRS 10” radius is night and day. Same goes for Les Paul’s vs. 594 Single Cut. 594 neck is WAY more playable and the Low Turn pickups are amazing and articulate. I have a LP Custom and a Custom House Strat. The PRS’s are the clear winners. Not to mention both Fender and Gibson are woefully inconsistent. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the one. Pull any PRS off the rack and they are pure silk and tone. If you can flush the “it’s a Strat” or “it’s an LP” dogma out of your head for a millisecond, the winner is clear.
Great video man. I’m a Gibson apologist all day long. I’ve 6 Les Pauls a J45 and an SG. I’ll be buying an R8 this spring. About the Silver Sky. Completely agree. Mine sounds great clean. Plays great. Edge or Overdriven? I just put it down every time. I have a few Strats also and the 2 with noiseless pickups I’m not crazy about either. I think I might change them. My favourite pickups in any of my Strats are old Mexican ones. No idea what year or what they are, but they break up fantastic
Fiore sounds awesome! I like the Fiore a lot but I prefer rosewood fretboards and satin necks, while the Silver Sky doesn't interest me at all. I have a Fender so I've got the chime. As for buying, I never order guitars online. I always try before I buy whatever model new or used I am narrowing down to. I have to like pretty well everything from frets to resonance to go for it. If any one thing bugs me during a demo, no deal. Regretting a guitar purchase is like finding out your partner lied about their past, the cut is deep cause the hopes were high..
When i choose a guitar, first I gota like how it looks. And that's often based on what guitar hero used one, and did it look cool for them. After that I hope that it fits my playing style and feels good to play. If it doesn't play the way i like then i'm bummed, but I don't get the guitar. Example... always loved the SG... Angus, Clapton, Sister Rosetta... plenty of examples of it looking and sounding cool. But I couldn't dig the geometry of the guitar so I don't have one. And I'm sad about that. Love the idea of an SG, but it just doesn't work for me since I've been playing strats, teles, les pauls, jacksons, charvels, ibanezs for so long.
I personally would like the Silver Sky with flatter radius and a humbucker, cos I loved the Silver Sky neck and the single coils on the SS sound more straty to me, plus like the looks better of the SS. But its tough cos I havent played a Fiore but im sure must be fantastic.
To me the Silver Sky sound soo much better, the Fiore sound a bit 2 dimensional to my ears… I like the bigger, round neck over a flatter… when playing on the couch, I don’t like cable on the side .. but hey, you seem the opposite preference, so keep the Fiore I would say 😀
I do like the look of the silver sky more but the Fiore functionally is more what I'd be after. It is however super unfortunate that for the price the back plate isn't routed...but again that's just more to the looks and not how it functions as a guitar
If possible I just play the guitars I want and decise purely on how they feel when I play them. Besides that.... My highest priority is how much it inspires me and how much I want to play it. No point in buying another guitar if I rarely play it. I can always fix a setup or replace certain parts but if I don't connect with the "soul" of that guitar it's probably not for me. I used to value other things much higher when I was less experienced and haven't played that many guitars. One you have some knowledge and figure out what you like it's much easier. That only clicked for me when I first played a really good guitar. And I don't mean expensive. I mean good. I have played some amazing guitars at every price point (a 150€ jet guitar, squiers, PRS, fender etc.). I also really liked brands in the beginning and was a fan of Fender, but their quality and how consistent they are made me move away from them. I love their guitars but other options just offer much more value. A Schecter or Music Man or Sire for under a thousand really beats most fenders at that price point and even compete with higher priced Fenders. The Player series feels like a squier that's twice the price because of the name. Nowadays I only buy a new guitar if it connects with me, offers something new OR does something I like really well (that's why I got multiple S styles lmao) I feel like that way I focus much more on the individual guitar and it's feel rather than being concerned with flashy things such as branding I had a few situations where I bought a new guitar because I thought I wanted it and never really played it. So I sold it. It's just not worth my time or effort or money. I thought I will never buy a new guitar until I played a Silver Sky SE. Lovely guitar. I just wish modding it was easier ;)
I like my SE Silver Sky. I'd prefer that the John Mayer signature wasn't the only choice. Like you I prefer my bridge floated (I know you can fix that, and I've seen your video on that Dylan, thanks). I don't like the tuners either. I don't particularly like the colours either. I love the way it plays, but I'd just like them to do a regular one as well as the John Mayer version.
I used to only go for tonal capability/pickup configuration. Now, I do tend to lean into brand and looks a little more than I used to. My guitars do tend to have different pickups and specific design/component differences to meet specific playing/music styles though. (P.S. What's clean?)
Neck feel , low action, weight and no fret buzzing. Thats what i test on guitars and I also play it acoustically first, that tells me if I want it or not. As for your lucky dilemma of which guitar ? Fiore all day. Fender is best for sss no doubt about it. ( as long as you pick a good one )🤣
I love the Silver Sky, but I'm one of the small minority who loves to play clean with a little reverb. I feel like mine sounds good with AC 30 or a vibroverb both with a Klon style clean boost and a TS9 style with just a little dirty gain. I set it up kinda like an SG as far as amps go with just a little more gain. After listening to the Fiore though kinda makes me want to mess around with my HSS a little more with Dylan Pickups and try to get that sound haha nice playing.
I end up loving the guitar models that my guitar heroes played. So, for me, it's been the Telecaster and Les Paul (Jimmy Page) and the SG (Angus & Iommi). I want to love the Strat (SRV and Blackmore) because the body is so darn comfortable, but I never totally jived with the location of the controls. In your situation, I would actually both of the PRS"s, buy a Fender Strat, and make it sound exactly how you want it to with your own pickups. I know PRS makes excellent stuff, but if I were to ever end up with a Strat style guitar, it would have to be a real Strat.
My first criteria is how the neck feels and how the frets feel above all else. Electronics can be replaced per taste if necessary. Second is the weight and feel and last is how it looks. Admittedly though my subliminal first is finish and color. I think you made the right decision by keeping the Fiore.
I agree with everything you said!!!!👍
Yep I have one…GREAT guitar
That’s it exactly.
The clean sound of the silver sky is amazing.
The Fiore has become one of my go to guitars...keep it!!
Do u still own the Fiore? How is the neck? Is it thin or fat?
@@area859 It's on the fatter side of things
I have a Fiore and a silver sky SE. The SE models are now phenomenal and brilliant value. I’m putting a SD Little 59 in the Bridge to make it a little more versatile. I can’t believe how ‘smooth’ the sounds are on the Silver Sky though. To my ears quite different to the Fiore.
I would prefer the silver sky for my usual playing but that fiore just looks so amazing and has a bit more of a versatile vibe
I'm curious to see if we get a SE Fiore
Reasons that gravitate me to a particular guitar instrument is, it fits a unique sounds space, body weight and contour, hardware quality.
I'd suggest keeping the H-S-S. Lots of tone options. Great video!
I’ll take the Fiore with the SS neck. I haven’t spent much time with a Silver Sky, but it seemed nice. The Fiore floored me and I need one. It’s not great at anything, but it will do anything. It’s a guitar that allows you to focus on the music.
"We choose travel over living space". Are you sure you guys are not Japanese? That's exactly what most Japanese do. Small houses but they have been everywhere over the world.
The SS Trem can float with a few screwdriver twists :) , Try lowering the pickups just a touch, as someone who owns both but likes the SS better , I also run the amp really hot and turn the guitar vol down :)
I mostly shop online, so brand loyalty and prior experience are a large part of what I look at when buying a guitar. For that reason, all my guitars are made by Schecter - I know what I'm getting and I like it a lot. I've considered Jackson and Ibanez, but the fear of the unknown keeps me from pulling the trigger.
"I feel really comfortable with this guitar" (fiore)...that should tell you all you need to know right there.
I see plenty of wall space still. 😄
Keep both and ditch the Pepto Abismol tele. Done and done.
From Leo: I have a list of all my guitars. every week I pick a different one. When I don't feel like playing the last one left on the list, I skip it. If it gets skipped next time around, it gets traded. It has nothing to do with price, only if I enjoy playing it.
For me the most important thing is sound, because I'm buying it to make music. Second, feel. If it's not comfortable to play it's just gonna sit in the corner. Last for me is the look. LIke Dylan said, I want to be drawn to it because I'm more likely to WANT to play it. Anyway, that's my 3 rules for a guitar.
For me, it's a combination of type, scale length and pickup types. Solid, semi, archtop, nylon, 25½, 24¾, HB, SC, P-90, etc.....
That Silver Sky is sweet.
My first criteria is that it has to be different than any guitar or Bass I have. All my basses have different scale lengths, pickup configurations and string types/gauges. My Guitars have different scale, pickup types and only 1 has a trem (but building another with a Bigsby). I want variety. The older I get I find I get less picky I am and seek different feels and sounds. I like fat and thin necks, wide and narrow necks, high and low output pickups. I really don't have many preferences. Pick up a guitar and play it. Half of my guitars are home built and I love being able to tweak profiles and other aspects of the instrument.
Tough call. I have a red Fiore and just love it. The pickups are great especially the hb and so many combinations. I think i would have sold the 3 on the right and kept the silver sky.
before you decide I think you should look up the video PRS released that is a guide on how to float the silver sky trem.
Mmmmm that's a tough call... I agree with you on the satin finish on the back of the neck on the Fiore....
I say sell the Silver Sky....
@Dylan...sell the Silver Sky, get the SE later if you wish and keep the Fiore. I have both guitars and I must say the Fiore is BETTER !
First, the guitar has to stand out from the first time I see it. It has to feel "right" when I pick it up. If I keep thinking about playing it when I'm doing other things, like when you got something amazing for Christmas and couldn't wait to get home from school to play with it, I know it's the one.
Whenever I am trying to make a decision between two options, I flip a coin. If I'm not satisfied with the first flip and find myself wanting to flip again or go best out of five or something, I have my answer.
I've never sold a guitar. I make sure I'm deliberate.
I'd love the Silver Sky. It's the most refined Strat, American made and super quality control.
I'd pick the Fiore simply based on the neck. When you consider the flexibility of the electronics, it becomes even more of a no-brainer.
My process is probably Cool Factor -> Brand Loyalty -> Feel (I’m big on neck profiles - big necks cause me hand pain) -> Shop Loyalty - I have a friendship with a shop owner. I tend to start my search with him. It usually ends with him. Then of course, gotta check with the wife 😂
The Fiore is phenomenal. I only wish they had some natural wood finishes for it, rather than the solid colors.
The other three colors are transparent in person… tough to tell in internet pics, but this blue is the only real solid one.
I'd keep the Silver Sky. Depends on how it feels to play. You make a connection with it. 👍👌💯🎸
In years past, I was never happy with stock guitars of any make. For years I experimented with woods and pickups, finally settling on mid-80s Ibanez AR-300 guitars and replacing the very good Super 58 pickups with great boutique pickups. I also built my own Frankenstrat, and yes, it’s alive.
Nowadays, however, builders have upped their game and offer some great designs with great features and excellent pickups. I love that I no longer need to perform major surgery and grow my collections of parts.
So it could be just a matter of figuring out what you want and then comparing the guitars that have “it.” No needs to spend a lot of time and money modding these days.
It sounds to me like you should keep the Fiore. You prefer the HSS format and the tone of the pickups and the feel of the neck.
Fiore🤙
Get them for how they make you feel when you play one..and if you find one you’ll play more than one you’ve already had sitting around..just get rid of the dust collector….and maintain your limit….I’d keep the Maple fretboard sound….
Preferred things I look for in a guitar.
Body style: curves and edges. (LP, Forest, A-1, N-HH-460, Avenger, S series)
Neck joint: Set or through-neck.
Fretboard: ebony with little to no inlays.
Bridge: I don't like Trems.
Pickups: I'm good with a single Humbucker, sidekick, or Novel-90. Extra pickups just kill sustain and there's not enough tonal difference that couldn't be covered by the role of a tone knob.
Tuners: Locking. They're not only good for easy restringing. They improve tuning stability.
Strap nuts: martini glasses suck. Locks reduce neck dive.
My first guitar (and still favorite) is an AXL 1216 Badwater blue, that I've made several modifications to.
• Locking Tuners
• Roller bridge
• Strap locks
• SD Screamin'Demon w/ push/pull (bridge)
• Lollar Novel 90 (neck)
Personally, I would go with the Fiore. More my style.
Were the Fiore single coils noiseless?
Very nice video!
I personally am pulled toward Godin, Reverend and PRS electric guitars, They are pushing Fenders out the door and Gibsons have never spoken to me. There is just something about the overall quality and sound of these guitars. I'm a very clean tone player.
Being lefty, I'd say 6 of my 10 guitars was bought sight-unseen. Therefore, lots were bought based on an emotional attachment. For example, my V was bought for my love of Mustaine. They stay in my collection, however, based mostly on how the neck feels in my hand.
For me, all my guitars have to have a purpose, whether it gives me a different sound or different tuning. For me neck shape and whether the neck is satin or gloss are the most important. I have to be able to use the guitar for the intended purpose. I like PRS, but I have found I don't like the pattern neck with gloss, it hinders my playing. I prefer pattern thin if the neck is gloss.
I feel like the Fiore makes you smile more. That's my two cents.
With what wasn't right about the Silver Sky, would PRS have to address & update the "flaws of preference" ? That's one thing that spins in my head when I go back after a same model. Were the flaws of preference that made me sell it fixed to be a keeper ? I'd be revisiting those on the next one for ownership. I guess I'm not a $ 2,700+ guitar flipper after a couple of years, unless the frets were just completely used up. And in that case, just wouldn't expect to breakeven.
Watching your videos for years I think you like the fiore more.
Above all else, the scale must function. I bought a guitar where the fretboard was lifting off the neck, but it still played. Bit of epoxy, and we're back in business.
2: If I'm modding the guitar, expense has a much lower threshold.
3: Function: What sonic hole will this fill? I have three jumbo acoustics, a primary, spare, and an eirloom. This is my primary acoustic space; therefore, I pay the most attention to it. There's the 12-string, the resonator, the Dreadnought, the octave mandolin, the baritone, a classical, and a bajo-sexto. Acoustically, all I'm missing is a parlor guitar. I could drop maybe four of these instruments and replace them with one expensive instrument, but I haven't. The electric guitars follow a similar logic: I have the HSS, and four HH guitars, plus an SS. I'm currently looking at HSH and SSS. Neck-through, bolt-on, and set necks. They're all there.
The neck cannot fight me. I stumble across this from time to time, but there are necks I struggle with. I could likely quantify those characteristics, but I haven't yet.
I noticed the guitar player on "name that tune" plays a Fire, and I was like, "hey, that's a Fiore!" And my wife was like, "what?"
I could tell you were leaning towards the fiore as soon as you started talking about it. Honestly I agree with everything you’ve said and would have made the same decision.
When I picked on which guitars I wanted. It was by brand. All my guitar heroes used Gibson and Fender. I’m 56. Only been serious in playing for 4 years. But I bought my SG 10 years ago.
I have a 64' Strat, Suhr Modern, several Telecasters and Strats but my number one the last year is a PRS Fiore.
How is the neck?
The neck very comfortable. Not wide so I can wrap my thumb around easily. 10 inch radius is not too flat not too round.
The frets are medium.
The finish is very smooth not at all sticky.
@EmilioConesa Is it a thinner type neck? I've never played one but I want to order one. I have 3 Suhr but this Fiore has amazing sounding Pickups
I choose by features that I want, styles that I want, and looks which is why I have an SE custom 24, an Epiphone LP 50s, a Nashville tele, a strat style, and a 7 string baritone.
Currently gassing over a gold top dgt or LP or the blue McCarty...
Currently weeding through options on those 3.
i just want the fiore in the shape of a tele 🤩
Keep the Fiore
I'm gonna go with the fiore.
You need to do one with your pups in the Silver Sky. I didn't like the clean sound. Too tinny. I actually thought it sounded better with the gain. You might sell your design to PRS and retire. Of course that Mayer guy seems to like them, so who knows? Your pups sound better to me, but I'm not in a band situation trying to poke out the mix.
I would 100% take the fiore
A PRS CE24 will fulfill anyone's needs
Sell BOTH, and assemble a Warmoth parts 'S' guitar with ALL Dylan pickups and harness and the hardware of your choice. Feature the build in future episodes and dissect/discuss tones and your electronics at length. This would be AWESOME!!!
Thought you did, my bad! The Fiore is the guitar thou! I bought a Deluxe Tonemaster last year and once the“honeymoon “ was over, just noticed it didn’t take pedals that well but it’s all subjective. Fender is definitely on the right track thou. Always a pleasure Dylan!
For me it's does it resonate and sound good unplugged, neck comfort, then does it fill a sonic hole in my current herd. Oh yeah, it has to sound good clean and secondarily at the edge of breakup. I don't buy guitars often and am pretty picky. I tried out I don't know how many LPs over the course of maybe 10 years before I found one I really liked.
The Fiore seems to be an extremely versatile instrument that covers a lot of ground !
I mean granted they were small nitpicks and overall you said you like it... you actually had quite a few negatives on the silversky vs only positives and "my favourite setup" points on the Fiore. Asthetically obviously the Fiore is a bit loud, but if you own a strat anyways and like slimmer necked guitars id say ditch the silversky.
generally speaking an absolute NO to the brand loyalty and if you don't need the cash then never sell a guitar if you like it or might grow to like in the future. I've owned guitars that I didn't initially like but grew to like in time. I totally get the space saving angle ... meaning that only you will know. Guitars are almost as individual as the player. Sounds to me after listening to your arguments, that getting rid of the Silver Sky is the right decision.
I would have made the exact same choice, and honestly figured you were leaning more toward the Fiore. It’s obvious how much you love it and how comfortable you are playing it.
I’m a rosewood guy too, but I wouldn’t let that get in the way either. If it feels right, it’s the one.
I have have both as well. Golden Mesa and Amaryllis. But I’m keeping both!
I like rosewood too. I don't buy maple anymore because I know I just don't like how they look. If that guitar comes out with rosewood board I'd be really tempted.
I thin in the end its how they inspire you to how you play them on the outside looking in humbucker = more tone choice/power to me its how and what it inspires me to play and how I play when its in my hands how it feels and how it sounds I have recipe for what I like wether its set neck..bolt on and tremolos
The first thing is the looks, other things like feel and sound can be easily manipulated, I'm not gonna buy a guitar and have it refinished, but you can always change pickups and adjust the setup to tour liking.
Cheers and keep up the good work.
Greetings from Croatia.
I know it’s subjective but having owned a DR Tonemaster, they do not take pedals well. Try a good tube amp. I play thru a 1968RK Supro and recently purchased a PRS HDRX 20 watt head which is great. Lower output pickups always sound better to me for edge of break up.
Hmmm… I didn’t use the Tonemaster for this video.
I went with the belief that I wanted blues & rock tones, I liked les paul so I bought myself a quality Epiphone Les Paul Classic, I then wanted more cleans and I grew out of the silver sky, despite liking the stratocaster and especially telecaster, I prefer es-335, can't afford Gibson and so the Sheraton is outstanding for the value, appearance and tone
I felt the same way about dirty mayer pick ups, but I realized the guitar was sonically for clean blues but not being the versatility of a strat hss
You will probably have to get rid of a certain number of guitars for space and or get a bigger living space, but once you do don’t regret it. The next issue is …when and if are you going to gig with them? Are you giving guitar lessons to people? That is another reason to have guitar gear. Other than that it’s just acquisitions .
The other issue is investment. Is that a factor?
You can get a Silver Sky with a maple neck with a satin back.
Would you talk about NAM plugin? It’s like a huge thing right now❤❤❤
For me it depends on the weight, the feel of the neck, and what guitar would be easiest to modify to my hearts content!!!
I want to know if the Fiore neck fits the Silver Sky
Jaysis those Fiores are 3700 up here in Canada new! I think it sounds infinitely better than the Silver Sky in this video
I would choose fiore by your description of the guitars. You say you like smaller necks and my favourite guitar is an EBMM BFR Luke III with the dimarzio humbuckers. They now make their own pickups.
Silver Sky = sound like everyone ever. Fiore = sound like you. Plus difference in playability between the 7.25” radius and the standard PRS 10” radius is night and day. Same goes for Les Paul’s vs. 594 Single Cut. 594 neck is WAY more playable and the Low Turn pickups are amazing and articulate. I have a LP Custom and a Custom House Strat. The PRS’s are the clear winners. Not to mention both Fender and Gibson are woefully inconsistent. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the one. Pull any PRS off the rack and they are pure silk and tone. If you can flush the “it’s a Strat” or “it’s an LP” dogma out of your head for a millisecond, the winner is clear.
both are sweet but the blue one can have more tones...
imagine "true" coilsplitting and a gilmour switch on the cavity cover...sliders yay yaa!
Great video man. I’m a Gibson apologist all day long. I’ve 6 Les Pauls a J45 and an SG. I’ll be buying an R8 this spring.
About the Silver Sky. Completely agree. Mine sounds great clean. Plays great. Edge or Overdriven? I just put it down every time. I have a few Strats also and the 2 with noiseless pickups I’m not crazy about either. I think I might change them. My favourite pickups in any of my Strats are old Mexican ones. No idea what year or what they are, but they break up fantastic
Fiore sounds awesome! I like the Fiore a lot but I prefer rosewood fretboards and satin necks, while the Silver Sky doesn't interest me at all. I have a Fender so I've got the chime.
As for buying, I never order guitars online. I always try before I buy whatever model new or used I am narrowing down to. I have to like pretty well everything from frets to resonance to go for it. If any one thing bugs me during a demo, no deal. Regretting a guitar purchase is like finding out your partner lied about their past, the cut is deep cause the hopes were high..
Yes.
You should do a video with your Silver Sky pickups.
You _ need_ to do a video about your Silver Sky pickups.
...and your new P90's...
The only guy who doesn’t like the pickups ,gee I’m a pickup maker
The Fiore is just so cool!!! That would be my pick.
When i choose a guitar, first I gota like how it looks. And that's often based on what guitar hero used one, and did it look cool for them. After that I hope that it fits my playing style and feels good to play. If it doesn't play the way i like then i'm bummed, but I don't get the guitar. Example... always loved the SG... Angus, Clapton, Sister Rosetta... plenty of examples of it looking and sounding cool. But I couldn't dig the geometry of the guitar so I don't have one. And I'm sad about that. Love the idea of an SG, but it just doesn't work for me since I've been playing strats, teles, les pauls, jacksons, charvels, ibanezs for so long.
I personally would like the Silver Sky with flatter radius and a humbucker, cos I loved the Silver Sky neck and the single coils on the SS sound more straty to me, plus like the looks better of the SS.
But its tough cos I havent played a Fiore but im sure must be fantastic.
To me the Silver Sky sound soo much better, the Fiore sound a bit 2 dimensional to my ears… I like the bigger, round neck over a flatter… when playing on the couch, I don’t like cable on the side .. but hey, you seem the opposite preference, so keep the Fiore I would say 😀
I do like the look of the silver sky more but the Fiore functionally is more what I'd be after. It is however super unfortunate that for the price the back plate isn't routed...but again that's just more to the looks and not how it functions as a guitar
If possible I just play the guitars I want and decise purely on how they feel when I play them.
Besides that.... My highest priority is how much it inspires me and how much I want to play it. No point in buying another guitar if I rarely play it. I can always fix a setup or replace certain parts but if I don't connect with the "soul" of that guitar it's probably not for me.
I used to value other things much higher when I was less experienced and haven't played that many guitars. One you have some knowledge and figure out what you like it's much easier. That only clicked for me when I first played a really good guitar. And I don't mean expensive. I mean good. I have played some amazing guitars at every price point (a 150€ jet guitar, squiers, PRS, fender etc.).
I also really liked brands in the beginning and was a fan of Fender, but their quality and how consistent they are made me move away from them. I love their guitars but other options just offer much more value. A Schecter or Music Man or Sire for under a thousand really beats most fenders at that price point and even compete with higher priced Fenders. The Player series feels like a squier that's twice the price because of the name.
Nowadays I only buy a new guitar if it connects with me, offers something new OR does something I like really well (that's why I got multiple S styles lmao)
I feel like that way I focus much more on the individual guitar and it's feel rather than being concerned with flashy things such as branding
I had a few situations where I bought a new guitar because I thought I wanted it and never really played it. So I sold it. It's just not worth my time or effort or money. I thought I will never buy a new guitar until I played a Silver Sky SE. Lovely guitar. I just wish modding it was easier ;)
I’d keep the fiore
I like my SE Silver Sky. I'd prefer that the John Mayer signature wasn't the only choice. Like you I prefer my bridge floated (I know you can fix that, and I've seen your video on that Dylan, thanks). I don't like the tuners either. I don't particularly like the colours either. I love the way it plays, but I'd just like them to do a regular one as well as the John Mayer version.
I used to only go for tonal capability/pickup configuration. Now, I do tend to lean into brand and looks a little more than I used to. My guitars do tend to have different pickups and specific design/component differences to meet specific playing/music styles though. (P.S. What's clean?)
So you basically don't like the silver sky. hahaha. You pretty much dislike everything about it. Seems like an easy decision.
Sell both!
Neck feel , low action, weight and no fret buzzing. Thats what i test on guitars and I also play it acoustically first, that tells me if I want it or not. As for your lucky dilemma of which guitar ? Fiore all day. Fender is best for sss no doubt about it. ( as long as you pick a good one )🤣
Weak pickups don't saturate as well as higher output pickups...at least to my ear.
I choose by the shape,brand and rarity.
Personally never liked the look of the Fiore model. Looks good in black though.
What’s opinion on JM saying the Silver Sky is designed to play through a Fender amp?
I love the Silver Sky, but I'm one of the small minority who loves to play clean with a little reverb. I feel like mine sounds good with AC 30 or a vibroverb both with a Klon style clean boost and a TS9 style with just a little dirty gain. I set it up kinda like an SG as far as amps go with just a little more gain. After listening to the Fiore though kinda makes me want to mess around with my HSS a little more with Dylan Pickups and try to get that sound haha nice playing.
I would absolutely keep the Fiore of those two.
sell both and get a setneck with comfey handshake, ...D'Angelico?
I end up loving the guitar models that my guitar heroes played. So, for me, it's been the Telecaster and Les Paul (Jimmy Page) and the SG (Angus & Iommi). I want to love the Strat (SRV and Blackmore) because the body is so darn comfortable, but I never totally jived with the location of the controls. In your situation, I would actually both of the PRS"s, buy a Fender Strat, and make it sound exactly how you want it to with your own pickups. I know PRS makes excellent stuff, but if I were to ever end up with a Strat style guitar, it would have to be a real Strat.