Riff Tone
When Doves Cry
Prince & The Revolution
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarPrince custom-built H.S. Anderson Mad Cat (Telecaster-style)
AmpMesa/Boogie Coliseum 300 (heavily modified, used on Purple Rain sessions)
PickupsSingle-coil (likely stock or Seymour Duncan replacements, Tele-style bridge and neck)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass5
mid7
treble7.5
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
modulationBoss Boss OC-2 Octave
Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984. Gear confirmed for Purple Rain sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section. Pedals confirmed for studio use, not live.
Tone Character(10)
bright and cuttingtight and percussivesynth-like octave doublingminimal sustaindry, almost reverb-lessaggressive staccato pickingharmonically richcompressed attacksingle-coil snapnot fuzzy or saturated
Difficulty
The riff is moderately challenging due to its syncopated, percussive picking, the need for tight muting and articulation with an octave pedal, and the exposed, dry tone that leaves no room for error.
Sources
Prince & Prince – Purple Rain - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | EquipboardHow Eddie Martinez ended up with Prince's Purple Rain amp | Guitar WorldPrince Let's Go Crazy Solo Effect?? | The Gear PagePrince and Octave pedal on rhythm parts, am I hearing it correctly?Prince's Drum Machine: How His Use of the Linn LM-1 | Reverb News
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarPrince custom-built H.S. Anderson Mad Cat (Telecaster-style)
AmpMesa/Boogie Coliseum 300 (heavily modified, used on Purple Rain sessions)
PickupsSingle-coil (likely stock or Seymour Duncan replacements, Tele-style bridge and neck)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass5
mid7
treble7.5
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
modulationBoss Boss OC-2 Octave
Sources
Prince & Prince – Purple Rain - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | EquipboardHow Eddie Martinez ended up with Prince's Purple Rain amp | Guitar WorldPrince Let's Go Crazy Solo Effect?? | The Gear PagePrince and Octave pedal on rhythm parts, am I hearing it correctly?Prince's Drum Machine: How His Use of the Linn LM-1 | Reverb News
Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984. Gear confirmed for Purple Rain sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section. Pedals confirmed for studio use, not live.
Tone Character(10)
bright and cuttingtight and percussivesynth-like octave doublingminimal sustaindry, almost reverb-lessaggressive staccato pickingharmonically richcompressed attacksingle-coil snapnot fuzzy or saturated
Difficulty
The riff is moderately challenging due to its syncopated, percussive picking, the need for tight muting and articulation with an octave pedal, and the exposed, dry tone that leaves no room for error.
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