PRS Silver Sky Defender Portofino Red LTD

A Silver Sky Inspired by the Defender Universe

This PRS Silver Sky Defender Limited Edition brings together two worlds close to John Mayer’s heart: characterful guitars and historic Defender vehicles. Its Portofino Red finishing is part of a color palette developed from the Defender’s iconic colors, with a visual approach that favors bold, recognizable and timeless shades.

Beyond its intense red color, this edition stands out with its matching painted headstock, a finishing usually reserved for certain special models in the Silver Sky range. The specific Defender neck plate, engraved with the color name and the wording "1 of 500", highlights the instrument’s collectable character without changing what defines the Silver Sky’s musical identity.

It retains the design developed by PRS and John Mayer: a solid-body electric guitar inspired by major vintage references, modernized in its construction details, stability and playing comfort. This is a Silver Sky designed to be played on stage, in the studio or at home, while offering an especially distinctive finishing.

An Expressive Guitar for Vintage Feel Enthusiasts

The PRS Silver Sky Defender is aimed at intermediate guitarists as well as experienced musicians looking for a responsive, nuanced and immediately inspiring electric guitar. Its bolt-on maple neck, 635JM-R profile and vintage 7.25-inch / 184 mm radius prioritize an organic feel, particularly suited to expressive playing.

It is naturally suited to blues, pop, rock, funk, soul, indie and variété styles. Guitarists who enjoy bringing every note to life with a pick, their fingers, dynamic nuances or vibrato will find this to be a highly communicative instrument. The pronounced key radius contributes to this vintage feel, with a touch that invites open chords, detailed rhythms and singing bends.

Its vintage-style locking tuners and PRS steel vibrato offer a more reliable approach to using the vibrato while respecting the model’s classic aesthetic. The configuration remains versatile enough to move from a clear, percussive accompaniment to a denser sound for solos without losing the guitar’s bright personality.

The Clear, Articulate Voice of the 635JM Pickups

The alder body provides the sonic foundation of this Silver Sky. This tonewood is valued for its balance: clean lows, present mids and clear highs without excessive harshness. Combined with the bolt-on maple neck and rosewood key, it promotes precise attack, excellent chord definition and a dynamic response that faithfully follows the guitarist’s playing.

The three 635JM single-coil pickups were designed to deliver a vintage character rich in harmonics, with enough definition to retain presence in a mix. The neck pickup favors warm, singing tones suited to blues phrases and melodic lines. The bridge pickup provides more bite and edge for rock and funk rhythms or more incisive solos.

The 5-way selector switch considerably expands the tonal palette. The in-between positions offer more scooped, snappy and airy tones, ideal for funk rhythms, pop arpeggios or effect-laden accompaniment. With a master volume and two tone controls, the guitar makes it easy to quickly adjust the brightness and thickness of the sound according to the amplifier or musical context.

The PRS steel vibrato also contributes to the instrument’s overall resonance. It allows you to add subtle inflections, gentle vibrato or more pronounced effects, while the bone nut helps preserve a natural and balanced response from the strings.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To retain the playing feel intended for this model, it is recommended to use a set of 10-46 electric guitar strings, matching the original setup. This gauge suits the 25.5-inch / 648 mm scale length and offers a good balance between bending comfort, rhythmic precision and string tension. An electronic tuner, a soft cloth for maintaining the finishing and a guitar stand suitable for electric instruments are also useful everyday accessories.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	SSS	Body	Alder
Category	ST	Bridge / tailpiece	Tremolo
Left handed	No	Electronics	Passive
Strings	Steel	Electroacoustic	No
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Red
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Finishing	Glossy
Nbrs of frets	22	Hardware	Nickel

Type	solidbody electric guitar	Truss rod	PRS double-action
Made in	USA	Nut	bone
Limited edition	500 units in this color	Headstock	reversed PRS Silver Sky, painted to match with Signature logo
Construction	bolt-on neck	Tremolo	PRS steel tremolo
Neck	maple	Tuners	locking, vintage-style
Key	rosewood	Original strings	10–46 gauge
Neck profile	635JM-R	Pickups	3 PRS 635JM single-coil pickups
Scale length	25.5 inches / 648 mm	Controls	1 volume and 2 tone controls
Key radius	7.25 inches / 184 mm	Selector switch	5-way
Number of frets	22	Neck plate	Defender exclusive, with color name and “1 of 500” engraving
Inlays	Small Birds	Case	PRS ATA molded case with customized Defender badge