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Fender Player Mustang
PRS Silver Sky
VS
Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
74
Score
69
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
72
Value
63
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Player Mustang vs PRS Silver Sky

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Mustang over PRS Silver Sky

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Modern C vs JM635
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups
SS vs SSS
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 63
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS Silver Sky over Fender Player Mustang

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
JM635 vs Modern C
Thick neck that gives you a better grip
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs SS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Fender Player Mustang vs PRS Silver Sky

Bridge Pickup
Fender Mustang Single-Coil vs PRS 635JM
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Mustang Single-Coil vs PRS 635JM
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Player Mustang vs PRS Silver Sky

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Vintage
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the PRS Silver Sky is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Fender Player Mustang's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The PRS Silver Sky wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Player Mustang has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Player Mustang is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Player Mustang is the better choice.

The Fender Player Mustang meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS Silver Sky meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Mustang
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

PRS Silver Sky
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Player Mustang Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 Player series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Mustang Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Mustang Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Strat Hardtail with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Compare Specs >

PRS Silver Sky Overview

  • From PRS's 2018 Bolt-On series
  • John Mayer Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple or Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS 635JM (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: PRS 635JM (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS 635JM (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • PRS Steel Tremolo bridge
  • JM635 Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style, Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.75lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender Player Mustang

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Player Mustang has an SS configuration while the PRS Silver Sky has SSS pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The PRS Silver Sky gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Player Mustang gives you 3. This means that the PRS Silver Sky gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Fender Player Mustang pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Mustang's switch options
PRS Silver Sky pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
PRS Silver Sky's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: PRS Silver Sky.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Player Mustang
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
PRS Silver Sky
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Player Mustang compares to the PRS Silver Sky.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Player Mustang is built in Mexico while the PRS Silver Sky is made in United States.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: PRS Silver Sky

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Player Mustang has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the PRS Silver Sky comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Fender Player Mustang's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the PRS Silver Sky's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The PRS Silver Sky has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: PRS Silver Sky.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Mustang
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS Silver Sky
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Player Mustang
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57
PRS Silver Sky
Quality of materials 56
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Player Mustang Nut Width
Fender Player Mustang Nut Width
PRS Silver Sky Nut Width
PRS Silver Sky Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS Silver Sky has the wider nut with 42.1mm (1.656'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.1mm (0.002'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS Silver Sky, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Player Mustang's Scale Length
Fender Player Mustang's Scale Length
PRS Silver Sky's Scale Length
PRS Silver Sky's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The PRS Silver Sky has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Player Mustang is only 24" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Player Mustang Neck Profile
Fender Player Mustang's neck profile
PRS Silver Sky Neck Profile
PRS Silver Sky's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Player Mustang has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The PRS Silver Sky, on the other hand, has a Vintage neck. This means that it's thicker than most modern necks, and makes it a better fit for playing chords and slow solos. Some people prefer this type of neck because it gives them a better grip thanks to the extra mass. Still, the vast majority prefer a thinner, faster, and more ''modern'' neck.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Player Mustang Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Mustang's Fingerboard radius
PRS Silver Sky Fingerboard Radius
PRS Silver Sky's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the PRS Silver Sky's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Player Mustang's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Player Mustang.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the PRS Silver Sky favors large hands more than the Fender Player Mustang.

Fender Player Mustang:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS Silver Sky:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Player Mustang Frets Size
Fender Player Mustang's Frets Size
PRS Silver Sky Frets Size
PRS Silver Sky's Frets Size

The Fender Player Mustang has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS Silver Sky's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Player Mustang
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 77
PRS Silver Sky
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 100
Solo Playability 50
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Player Mustang vs PRS Silver Sky
General Fender Player Mustang PRS Silver Sky
Brand: Fender PRS
Year: 2018 2018
Configuration: SS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico United States
Series: Player Bolt-On
Colors: Gold, Sunburst, Blue Gold, White, Blue, Green, Brown, Red, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Strat Hardtail with Bent Steel Saddles PRS Steel Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Cast/Sealed Vintage-Style, Locking
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Maple or Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Small Birds
Scale Size: 24" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C JM635
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 7.25"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.1mm (1.656'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Mustang Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) PRS 635JM (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: PRS 635JM (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Mustang Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) PRS 635JM (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2