Solo Tone
Purple Rain (Live In Syracuse, March 30, 1985 (2022 Remaster))
Prince & The Revolution
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHohner MadCat Telecaster (custom, H.S. Anderson copy)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head
PickupsEMG SA single coil (neck), EMG 85 humbucker (bridge)
Amp Settings
gain5.5
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb4.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
delayBoss Boss DM-2 Delay
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
Notes
Live performance at Syracuse, March 30, 1985 (2022 Remaster). Prince's main guitar for this era was the Hohner MadCat Telecaster with EMG pickups, into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head. Effects were primarily Boss pedals. Cabinet likely Mesa or Marshall 4x12. Settings below are for the solo section of the live performance.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainsmooth, violin-like lead tonerich midrange presencecrystal-clear note separationtouch-sensitive dynamicslong, ambient delay repeatslush, atmospheric reverbslightly compressed attackexpressive bends and vibratobright but not harsh top end
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of sustain, expressive bends, and vibrato, as well as dynamic phrasing to match Prince's emotive style. While not extremely fast, the phrasing and control make it challenging.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHohner MadCat Telecaster (custom, H.S. Anderson copy)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head
PickupsEMG SA single coil (neck), EMG 85 humbucker (bridge)
Amp Settings
gain5.5
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb4.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
delayBoss Boss DM-2 Delay
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
Notes
Live performance at Syracuse, March 30, 1985 (2022 Remaster). Prince's main guitar for this era was the Hohner MadCat Telecaster with EMG pickups, into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head. Effects were primarily Boss pedals. Cabinet likely Mesa or Marshall 4x12. Settings below are for the solo section of the live performance.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainsmooth, violin-like lead tonerich midrange presencecrystal-clear note separationtouch-sensitive dynamicslong, ambient delay repeatslush, atmospheric reverbslightly compressed attackexpressive bends and vibratobright but not harsh top end
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of sustain, expressive bends, and vibrato, as well as dynamic phrasing to match Prince's emotive style. While not extremely fast, the phrasing and control make it challenging.
More Prince & The Revolution tones
- Purple Rain · riff
- Purple Rain · solo
- Purple Rain · riff
- Let's Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) [2017 Remaster] · riff
- Computer Blue · solo
- Computer Blue · riff
- Condition of the Heart · riff
- Kiss · solo
- Kiss · riff
- Let's Go Crazy · riff