Peter Guy Profile picture
Writer | @GetintothisHQ founding ed | @AIM_UK Independent Music Champion | lecturer | Prince fam | Paulie Gualtieri disciple | #MDANT | #DaBears 🐻⬇️

Sep 13, 2022, 19 tweets

One of my favourite pieces of Prince kit is his Auerswald Model C guitar built by luthier Jerry Auerswald.

Prince used it on the Lovesexy, Batman and Graffiti Bridge albums.

Here he is performing Purple Rain with it on the the Nude Tour in Tokyo. 🎸💜

His range of iconic guitars is remarkable.

From his beloved Fender Hohner Telecaster through to his custom Cloud guitars and Auerswald Symbol Guitars.

A sensational collection - which was your favourite Prince guitar?

Think my favourite is his Cloud guitar, custom built by Dave Rusan for Purple Rain.

It was Prince's preferred guitar for live performances from 84-93 and takes its name from the suit Prince wore in the Raspberry Beret video.

Copies came in peach, white, teal, black and yellow.

The Auerswald Symbol Guitar remains his most iconic resembling the glyph Prince changed his name to.

The original was gold with purple, white and black models also created.

But due to Prince's habit of throwing his guitars in the air only the original gold model survives.

Here's Prince playing that purple Auerswald Symbol Guitar during the unforgettable Superbowl half-time show.

Here's the range of Cloud guitars Prince used.

Perhaps the guitar most associated with Prince is his beloved Hohner Madcat.

Prince started playing it on Dirty Mind and he used it on later tours including the Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Lovesexy, Nude and Welcome 2 America tours.

It was his go-to guitar in the studio.

Prince famously used his Hohner when inducting George Harrison in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Many people regard his solo as the greatest of all time.

It's pretty spectacular.

Another fan favourite is the Blue Angel Cloud Guitar.

One of the original four Cloud models, it was used on the Purple Rain, Parade, Sign O' the Times, Lovesexy and Diamonds and Pearls tours.

It was previously thought lost but later resurfaced selling at auction for $563,500.

Here's Prince shredding on the Blue Angel guitar on the Lovesexy tour.

Also featuring the late great Boni Boyer who sadly died aged just 36.

One of Prince's most spectacular creations was the Auerswald Cleo. A custom bass used in the late 80s/early 90s.

Prince used it during Batman sessions and the Welcome 2 America tour.

It was restrung for left-handed NPG member Sonny T on Diamonds & Pearls and Love Symbol albums.

Here's Prince playing the Cleo bass guitar during the Batman sessions in the documentary Prince: Musical Portrait.

Play that funky music! 👌🏼🎶💜

A rare glimpse inside Prince's @PaisleyPark guitar vault.

Prince didn't just surround himself with extraordinary musicians - his techs were extra special too.

Oftentimes they'd have to catch a flying guitar when Prince tossed them 100 feet into the air! 🤣

The hollowbody Epiphone Emperor Thinline guitar was used by Prince on the Parade tour.

Prince had two models in sunburst and natural. He would use this guitar on and off until the Gold Experience era.

The sunburst Emperor remains in the collection at @PaisleyPark.

The Warwick Thumb bass was Prince's primary studio bass guitar from the 1990s onwards.

In 1994 he had one sprayed white and decorated with an eye designed by J C Munson.

Christened the One-Eye Bass it can be heard on Come, The Gold Experience and The Rainbow Children.

One of my favourite early Prince guitar solos on Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?

Using his Hohner MadCat which adopts the style of the Fender Telecaster.

Unbelievable this. 🔥🔥🔥

I'll add to this thread again but for now I'll leave you with his Vox HDC-77.

Used by Prince in the 2010s their AC30 amps typified the British Invasion sound. 3RDEYEGIRL's Ida Nielsen introduced Prince to the Vox and he played a black one for Obama at the White House in 2015.

Hope you all dig this thread featuring all manner of Prince guitars.

And as I posted earlier, send pics or videos of your favourite Prince guitar moments. 💜🎸💜

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