Solo Tone

Let's Go Crazy

Prince & The Revolution

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarLate-'70s Hohner/H.S. Anderson MadCat (Telecaster copy)

Amp1981 Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB

PickupsStrat-style single-coil pickups (bridge pickup, closer to bridge than usual)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass5

mid6

treble7.5

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion

wahColorsound Colorsound Wah

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger

Notes

Studio recording, 1983-1984, Purple Rain sessions. Used bridge pickup. Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB set clean, pedals provided distortion and effects. Custom Bag End 4x12 cabs with JBL D120F speakers. Settings from Guitar World are for studio, not live.

Tone Character(9)

aggressive treble bitesinging sustainbuzzing, fuzz-like overtonescutting lead tonemidrange claritytight, focused attackwah-inflected phrasingflanger swirl for dramacompressed, high-output solo sound

Difficulty

The solo requires advanced control of fast picking, expressive use of wah and flanger, and precise articulation, making it challenging for most players.

Sources

The secrets behind Prince's tone on Let's Go Crazy - Guitar World Prince & Prince – Purple Rain - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Prince Let's Go Crazy Solo Effect?? - The Gear Page

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