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PRS SE Silver Sky Maple
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
VS
Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
60
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
74
Value
69
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster was discontinued. It was replaced by the American Ultra II Stratocaster. Check out our comparison.
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PRS SE Silver Sky Maple vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Specs Comparison
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
General
Brand: PRS Fender
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: SE American Ultra
Colors: Black, Blue, Purple White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Brown Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Alder
Bridge: 2-Point Steel Tremolo 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Small Birds Black Pearloid Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 635JM Ultra Modern D
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.846'' (21.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.949'' (24.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 8.5" 10" to 14"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.7mm (1.641'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: 635JM “S” (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: 635JM “S” (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: 635JM “S” (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None S-1 Switch
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple's switch options
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple over Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
635JM vs Ultra Modern D
Thick neck that gives you a better grip
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.846'' (21.5mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.949'' (24.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.641'' (41.7mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Avg. Weight
7.3755lbs (3.3kgs) vs 8.225lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
73 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster over PRS SE Silver Sky Maple

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Compound Radius
10" to 14" vs 8.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Ultra Modern D vs 635JM
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
S-1 Switch vs None
Modifies the pickups
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.846'' (21.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.949'' (24.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.641'' (41.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
635JM “S” vs Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
635JM “S” vs Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
635JM “S” vs Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple vs Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
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
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

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

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS SE Silver Sky Maple 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

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

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale

    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

    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.

    Woods Used in the PRS SE Silver Sky Maple

    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

    Woods Used in the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    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.

    Winner: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    Both pickup configurations are SSS. 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.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's online:

    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

    Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

    Only the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: S-1 Switch.

    An S-1 switch can do a lot of different pickup combinations. It can split them, connect them in series, parallel, add more pickups to each position, and more. Check out the diagram to know how it affects this model.

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

    Winner: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 60
    Versatility 72
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 74
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 60
    Versatility 82
    Tuning Stability 75
    Sound 79

    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 PRS SE Silver Sky Maple compares to the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The PRS SE Silver Sky Maple is built in Indonesia while the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is made in United States.

    Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

    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: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster

    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 PRS SE Silver Sky Maple 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 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.

    Both come with a similar bridge: 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 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: Fender American Ultra Stratocaster.

    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
    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 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
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in United States
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • S-1 Switch Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 55
    Quality Control 70
    Build Quality 60
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Quality of materials 51
    Features 80
    Quality Control 90
    Build Quality 74

    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

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple Nut Width
    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple Nut Width
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Nut Width
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 41.7mm (1.641''). This is a 1.1mm (0.044'') difference

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

    Scale Length

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple and Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Scale Length
    Both have the same 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.

    In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

    This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

    However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

    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

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple Neck Profile
    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple's neck profile
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Neck Profile
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster'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 PRS SE Silver Sky Maple has a Vintage type of 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.

    The Fender American Ultra Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

    Fretboard Radius

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple Fingerboard Radius
    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple's Fingerboard radius
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster's Compound Fretboard 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 Fender American Ultra Stratocaster is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

    Fret Size

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple and Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Frets Size
    Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

    Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

    Final Playability Scores

    PRS SE Silver Sky Maple
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 100
    Solo Playability 50
    Playability 70
    Fender American Ultra Stratocaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 70