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Here’s a quick rundown of the Prince gear featured in the article:

Prince’s guitars

Hohner HG-490

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The Hohner HG-490, unofficially known as the “Mad Cat”, is one of Prince’s most recognisable guitars. It resembles a Fender Telecaster but features Stratocaster-like pickups and a swanky leopard print pickguard – the perfect blend of tone and taste.

Prince used it extensively from the Dirty Mind tour through Welcome 2 America. Notably, it appears on almost all his studio albums from 1980, except Batman. Manufactured by Moridaira/Morris in Japan, only 500 units were made due to a lawsuit over the headstock design.

Prince’s affection for the HG-490 was so strong that it was often his preferred studio guitar over others like the Cloud Guitar. The original remains in the collection at Paisley Park.

Sadowsky Madcat

The Sadowsky Madcat is a high-end replica of the famous Hohner Madcat that Prince used throughout his career, especially prominent in performances of hits like “Purple Rain” and “1999”. This guitar features premium pickups that replicate the bright and full sound characteristic of the original Madcat.

Roger Sadowsky’s attention to detail in recreating the distinct tiger-striped maple top and the unique tone makes this instrument a prized choice for serious musicians. Several replicas of the Hohner Madcat were made for Prince, two of which mimic the original without the Hohner logo. Unique custom versions include one with a purple finish and another pink, both adorned with flower designs.

The purple guitar featured in the “America” video was later gifted to Sheila E., while the pink resides at Paisley Park. One of these guitars even squirted liquid over audiences during performances of “Baby, I’m A Star” on the Purple Rain tour.

Dave Rusan Cloud Guitar

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The Dave Rusan Cloud Guitar is perhaps one of the most iconic instruments associated with Prince, and its unique, curvaceous design became a symbol of Prince’s identity.

This custom-built guitar was crafted specifically for Prince during the production of Purple Rain, where it made its unforgettable on-screen debut.

Featuring a set of active humbucking pickups, the Cloud Guitar delivers a sound as distinctive as its appearance – crisp, clear, with excellent sustain, perfect for cutting through the mix on stage and studio alike.

Made for Prince by Dave Rusan, the “Cloud” quickly became iconic in Prince’s live shows from 1984 to 1994 and 1998 to 2002. Its name, possibly inspired by Prince’s outfit in the “Raspberry Beret” video, originated from a custom order dubbed “Customized Guitar” before being popularly known as “Cloud”.

Crafted from leftover parts of Jerry O’Hagan’s “Shark” model, the original was finished by Tommy Stinson. Replicas were later made by several luthiers and Schecter produced retail versions.

Auerswald Symbol Guitar

One of the most visually striking and technically innovative instruments that Prince ever used, the Auerswald Symbol Guitar, designed by German luthier Jerry Auerswald, reflected Prince’s newly adopted iconographic title.

Nobody is quite certain why Prince embraced such a radical name change, but “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince” needed an instrument that matched his odd, obscure, and alluring new moniker. Auerswald delivered with this perplexing yet enchanting design, loading it with the preferred EMG pickups and LED lights, continuing Prince’s love for blending technology with traditional music-making.

Used from the mid-’90s onwards, the “Symbol” appeared in the “Endorphinmachine” and “Gold” music videos, in addition to iconic live performances like the Super Bowl halftime show.

Auerswald Model C

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The Auerswald Model C is a lesser-known but fascinating piece of Prince’s extensive guitar arsenal.

Another Jerry Auerswald special, this model featured an eye-catching “sustain bow” meant to enhance its natural resonance and note decay.

Though it doesn’t look it at first glance, it’s a headless design, with the tuning keys located below the bridge. This gave the Model C greater tuning stability and nicely balanced weight, pairing with his usual EMG humbucker/single coil combo for powerful yet precise tones.

Gifted to Prince by Gloria von Thurn und Taxis in 1986, the Model C was prominently used on albums such as Lovesexy, Batman, and Graffiti Bridge, and was a staple on the Lovesexy and Nude tours.

It is renowned for recording the riff of “Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic” through a Leslie speaker, a sound Prince likened to “a car running over it”.

Schecter Habibe

The Schecter Habibe was the production workhorse version of the custom Aureswald Symbol. It served as a handy live tool for Prince, featuring slightly modded specifications like a Floyd Rose-style tremolo bridge with locking nut, and the iconic purple paint job.

The Habibe was played by Prince from the late ‘90s onwards.

Fender Stratocaster

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Prince’s use of the Fender Stratocaster throughout his career underscores the guitar’s status as a rock ‘n’ roll icon.

Particularly in the 2000s, Prince began customising his Stratocasters to suit his distinctive style. He favoured a setup with EMG pickups at the bridge and neck, entirely removing the middle pickup.

He’d also install a Floyd Rose tremolo to end up with something far more Super Stratty than a stock Fender.

Ever the fan of whammy dives, Prince used these Floyd Rose Strats at a myriad of live shows, including the legendary 2007 Super Bowl halftime event where one was damaged in the (purple) rain.

Sigma SE-19

A standout in the Prince’s acoustic catalogue is the Sigma SE-19 – notable as a kind of Japanese-made Martin sub-brand at the time. Despite their relation to Martin, the SE-19 was a totally unique Sigma design that must have resonated with Prince, as he used it in a few live performances and the music video for “Glam Slam”.

Known for its solid build and crisp acoustic tones, the Sigma SE-19 featured a combination of quality woods like mahogany and rosewood, with a Barcus-Berry piezo pickup to give its amplified tones a rich and natural quality.

For those interested in an acoustic guitar with a rich, expressive sound, check out our Sigma SDR-28S, which provides a similar blend of playability and tonal quality.

Epiphone Emperor

The Epiphone Emperor is a classic that aligns with the jazzier side of Prince’s musical explorations, particularly during his more experimental phases. Renowned for its deep, mellow tones and smooth playability, this “archtop” style jazz guitar featured a slimmer design, unlike the classic full-size hollowbodies.

The Emperor Thinline first appeared with Prince on the Parade tour. Its distinctive sound can be heard on the track “Everybody Wants What They Don’t Got” from the Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition. Prince owned two versions of this model, one in sunburst and another in a natural finish. He continued to use this elegant guitar intermittently up through the Gold Experience era.

If you want to capture these sophisticated sounds for yourself then check out the newest Epiphone Emperor.

Prince’s amps

Mesa Boogie Mark II

The Mesa Boogie Mark II amplifier is a powerhouse that played a significant role in Prince’s setup during the early 1980s. This amp is renowned for its rich distortion capabilities and versatile sound, making it a perfect match for Prince’s clean rhythm tones and his soaring lead solos.

It prominently featured in both live performances and studio recordings, including iconic albums like Purple Rain. Initially used on the Prince tour, there is evidence suggesting earlier studio use. Prince’s typical setup included pairing the Mark II with a Marshall 1960a 4×12″ cabinet initially, later transitioning to Bag End D-12M 2×12″ cabinets.

Soldano SLO-100

The Soldano SLO 100 became a fixture in Prince’s gear lineup during the 1990s. It was a favourite due to its reliability and the massive punch of tone it could deliver, ideal for his powerful live performances.

Prince slotted the Soldano SLO-100 into a sophisticated rack system in the early ‘90s. chosen specifically for delivering powerful, dirty guitar tones. This setup was complemented by a Soldano/Caswell X99, which was used for cleaner guitar sounds, and he continued to use this rackmount setup well into the 2000s.

Mesa Boogie Lone Star

The Mesa Boogie Lone Star is loved for its rich tube tones and versatility. As a Class A 30W boutique amp, it’s a powerhouse unit that can capture a wide palette of vintage sounds. Prince used it in the latter half of the 2000s, in particular during his Saturday Night Live performance of “Fury”.

Fender Bassman

On the One Nite Alone tour, Prince incorporated the Fender Bassman amplifier into his setup. Renowned for its rich, deep sound, the Bassman likely served as a complement to Prince’s elaborate rack amplification and effects system.

This combination allowed Prince to achieve a layered, full-bodied sound created by classic tones blended with modern technology.

Peavey Delta Blues

The Peavey Delta Blues amplifier played a pivotal role in the recording of Prince’s Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic album. Known for its rich and warm tube-driven sound, this amp features a 15-inch speaker and EL84 power tubes, delivering both pristine cleans and deeply saturated overdrive tones.

Prince notably used the Peavey Delta Blues for its straightforward, unembellished quality, often plugging directly into the amp for a pure and powerful sound that worked well on tracks that needed clarity and rawness. It also has a built-in tremolo and reverb, which was great for adding layers of texture and depth to Prince’s sound.

If you’re after the Peavey Delta sounds then consider the Roland Blues Cube – which can capture those vintage voices and bluesy breakups with crisp clarity thanks to its solid-state construction. It lacks the tremolo circuit, but that’s easily remedied through a pedal or two!

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Prince’s effects

Boss BF-2 Flanger

The Boss BF-2 Flanger was a staple on Prince’s pedalboard from the 1999 era all the way through to 2016. This versatile flanger pedal made its mark on numerous tracks across Prince’s discography, demonstrating its ability to enhance more than just guitar sounds.

Notably, it coloured the guitar parts on songs like “Paisley Park” and “She’s Always in My Hair”, added flair to the bass line of “17 Days”, and even modified the snare drum sound on “If I Was Your Girlfriend”. For such a simple pedal, it contributed a lot to Prince’s sound over the years.

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

An essential overdrive pedal that’s a permanent feature on FX boards across the land, the SD-1 Super Overdrive was used by Prince from the 1999 era to the Diamonds and Pearls era. Known for its low-gain overdrive, it was typically paired with Prince’s Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier, a combination that facilitated the high-gain sounds characteristic of Prince’s style during this period.

As Prince transitioned away from Mesa/Boogie amplifiers in the 1990s, his use of the SD-1 also dwindled. You can hear the pedal’s impact on the guitar tracks of songs like “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain”, as well as on the drum parts of “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker” and “Hot Thing”.

If you want the girth and growls that the SD-1 imbues, try out the Anniversary Edition that launched a little while back – it has the same yellow casing and classic tones that graced Prince’s pedalboard.

Boss OC-2 Octave

The Boss OC-2 Octave pedal was a longstanding fixture in Prince’s gear, used extensively from 1982 to 2016. This OC-2 is legendary for its ability to add a full, rich lower octave to the original signal that adds a satisfying thump to the notes played.

It distinctly shaped the guitar sound in “Darling Nikki” and was creatively used to modify drum parts in songs like “Hot Thing” and “Forever In My Life”. Additionally, the unique bass solo effect in “Crystal Ball” was produced by a glitching OC-2 that created a discordant and ethereal backdrop.

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Prince’s keyboards/synthesizers

Yamaha DX7 Synthesizer

The Yamaha DX7 featured heavily in Prince’s setup from the Purple Rain sessions through albums like Around The World In A Day and Sign O’ The Times, which is no surprise, given the DX7’s ubiquitous status in the ‘80s music scene.

It offered a vast array of sounds, from percussive to metallic, that were previously hard to achieve with analogue synths. To an exploratory artist like Prince, it became an invaluable tool with a variety of presets for quickly achieving a variety of tones.

Prince primarily used its presets, notably the Koto setting for the song “When Doves Cry”. Ultimately Prince sold his DX7 in the ‘90s, with the synthesizer cropping up again at auction in 2020 – where it reached the princely (honestly, no pun intended) sum of $73,000!

Roland D-50 Synthesizer

An almost seminal synthesizer, the Roland D-50 appeared on countless pop songs in the eighties – despite only launching in 1987.

Prince joined the likes of Sting, Michael Jackson, and the Pet Shop Boys in using the D-50 for his music, featuring it heavily throughout the Lovesexy and Batman albums. It formed a crucial part of his live and studio setup, loved for its true digital build and huge range of sounds and complex textures.

Notable Roland D-50 songs include “Eye No”, which uses the “Soundtrack” patch, and “Alphabet Street”, featuring “Steel Pick”.

Oberheim OB-Xa Synthesizer

A fully polyphonic and powerful analogue synthesizer, the OB-Xa was a go-to instrument for Prince and his band members. Used by Lisa Coleman, Dr. Fink, and Boni Boyer as well as Prince himself, the OB-Xa’s tones can be heard on many albums.

From 1999 to Sign O The Times, Prince used the Oberheim to layer sounds and create dense, textured musical landscapes.

Roland JD-800

An important part of Prince’s toolkit throughout the ‘90s, the JD-800 offered distinct sounds to its D-50 predecessor, in addition to a whole heap of analogue-style controls. It was launched in 1991 and was soon picked up by Prince to feature on the song “Letter 4 Miles”.

It quickly became an essential component of his sound and went on to appear prominently on albums such as The Love Symbol Album, Come, Gold Experience, and Emancipation.

Fairlight CMI IIx

This legendary digital workstation formed a crucial part of Prince’s arsenal throughout the ‘80s. A truly massive piece of equipment, it combined synthesis, sampling, and sequencing functionalities in one place. This versatility and tactile user interface featured heavily on the Parade and Sign O The Times albums.

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FAQs

What guitars does Prince use?

Prince famously used a variety of guitars, including the Hohner Mad Cat, Fender Stratocaster, and his iconic custom-made Cloud and Symbol guitars. These instruments helped define his unique musical style.

Which was Prince’s favourite guitar?

Prince’s favourite guitar was the Hohner Mad Cat, a Telecaster-style guitar that he used extensively throughout his career, especially during his iconic albums and tours in the 1980s.

What did Oprah do with Prince’s guitar?

Supposedly Oprah Winfrey was gifted one of Prince’s Mad Cat guitars by his tech, Takumi Suetsugu, after the climax of Prince’s solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards. Oprah eventually gave the guitar back to Paisley Park.

Final thoughts

If this lengthy (but not exhaustive) list of gear proves one thing about the venerable virtuoso, it’s that he wasn’t afraid to experiment. That much is obvious from the appearance of his “Symbol” guitar alone!

After combing through the assortment of musical equipment he used, it’s clear that Prince was an artist with a strong sense of identity and one that managed to marry visual style with sonic substance more so than perhaps any other.

If you enjoyed this article then check out our other gear breakdowns, like that of Jack White and Jimi Hendrix!