PRS launches John Mayer guitars with Land Rover Defender colors

PRS Guitars and guitarist John Mayer have launched a special collection of the Silver Sky guitar with the colors of the Land Rover Defender. Named the Silver Sky Defender Color Collection and developed in partnership with the automaker, the line uses original paint codes from the British utility vehicle in eight finishes, divided between the version manufactured in the United States and the entry-level SE line.

The inspiration came from the musician’s garage. Mayer has had a 1997 Defender 90 painted in Arles Blue, the tone that heads the American series, for almost two decades. “Joining forces with Defender to offer the Silver Sky guitar in its legendary 4×4 colors is a dream come true,” said the guitarist in the release statement.

American series will have 2,000 units

The line made in the USA bets on four historic colors of the model: Arles Blue, Willow Green, Portofino Red and Sandglow Yellow. Production is limited to 500 copies per color, totaling 2,000 guitars worldwide.

The instruments have a white shield and buttons, in reference to the versions of the Defender with a white roof, and a headstock painted in the same color as the body. They come with a hard case with the Defender emblem and a custom plate at the junction of the neck with the body. According to the specialized website GuitarBomb, the price in the US is around R$ 16,6 thousand (US$ 3.200).

The SE line adopts four current shades of the utility: Petra Copper, Sedona Red, Carpathian Grey and Woolstone Green. For the first time in Silver Sky’s history, the models feature a black shield and buttons, which refer to the black roof of the Defender.

The production of the SE is not numbered, but PRS will end orders in mid-2027. Buyers receive a padded cover with the logos of the two brands and a plaque with the Defender emblem. The price in the US is around R$ 5,2 thousand (US$ 999).

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Car paint on guitar comes from the 1950s

The use of automotive colors in guitars is nothing new. In the 1950s and 1960s, Fender and Gibson already used car paints on their instruments, in shades such as Lake Placid Blue and Candy Apple Red. According to Guitar World magazine, however, it is the first time that official Defender paints have been applied to a guitar.

The official preview took place during the Destination Defender event, held between September 11 and 13 in Temecula, California. In addition to the commercial models, PRS produced a small batch of guitars in the classic British Racing Green color, which will not be sold. These copies will be used in fundraising actions for the Defender Service Awards and for The Heart and Armor Foundation, John Mayer’s entity dedicated to the health of war veterans.