Prince's Sound
The most underrated great guitarist of the modern era, hidden behind everything else he could do.
Thin, biting funk clean tone and a searing, sustaining lead voice
The rig
The gear associated with the sound. Each item opens a live Reverb search — vintage examples where they exist, modern equivalents where they don't.
Guitars
- Hohner MadCat TelecasterFind on Reverb
- The 'Cloud' guitarFind on Reverb
- Symbol guitarFind on Reverb
- Fender StratocasterFind on Reverb
Amps
- Mesa/Boogie Mark seriesFind on Reverb
- Fender TwinFind on Reverb
- Marshall (later live)Find on Reverb
Effects
- Boss and MXR chorusFind on Reverb
- WahFind on Reverb
- Digital delayFind on Reverb
- Heavy compression on rhythm partsFind on Reverb
Pickups
- Single-coils almost exclusivelyFind on Reverb
Why it sounds like that
Purple Rain
Sustaining, mid-heavy lead with a long delay tail — clean enough to hear every bend land.
Kiss
Almost comically thin, compressed funk tone that only works because of the empty mix around it.
When Doves Cry
Hard-panned lead with heavy processing over an arrangement with no bass line at all.
Similar sounds
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