The PRS “Dead Spec” Silver Sky was designed for John Mayer’s prominent work with Dead &
Company’s last tour. Paying homage to Jerry Garcia’s iconic “Alligator” guitar tones, the Dead
Spec Silver Sky is a modded version of Mayer’s signature ax with significant spec changes.
The foundation of the “Dead Spec” Silver Sky is a lightweight Swamp Ash body (rather than
alder) finished in Moc Sand satin nitro that is thin and strikingly sinks into the ash wood grain.
The bridge is a modified PRS patented Gen III Tremolo that has been screwed to the body,
effectively rendering it a string-through hardtail bridge. Keeping the tremolo’s brass block in
the equation adds a musical warmth to the guitar. At the other end of the strings are a brass
nut and string retainer bar, which also contribute to the guitar’s resonance and tone.
Perhaps most notably, the Dead Spec Silver Sky’s jack plate has been swapped out for a
brass-plate Alembic Blaster preamp. This preamp can be used as a straight boost but has an
internal pot that allows players to add between 3 - 14 dB of gain to the guitar when turned
on. This not only gives the Dead Spec Silver Sky added punch while maintaining crisp note
separation, but it compensates for the capacitance that comes with long stage cables as well.
The circuit is bypassed when in the off position.
Only 1,000 PRS “Dead Spec” Silver Skys will be made. Shipping November 2023 – March 2024.