The thread title pretty much sums it up. When did he last use a cloud in a live setting? I know a lot of people don't like the sound of that guitar, but I always thought it was so cool looking.

[Edited 6/3/11 6:32am]

I actually prefer the tone of the Cloud guitars over the "symbol" guitars... I unconditionally love the recent years' use of the Hohner and Fender Strats. Ironic how the "Symbol" guitar failed so dramatically during the Super Bowl gig, after he tore it up big time on both the Hohner and Strat previously, although it hurt to witness...

Good question. I'm tracking back in my mind to the last time I saw him use it live and that was at the Wembley Stadium concert in 1993. Surely he must have used one since then...

If that Orange cloud photo was genuine just before the Superbowl in 07 that would have made that performance even more iconic IMHO. Aqua and Orange outfit with an orange cloud guitar

[Edited 6/3/11 7:52am]

I nearly said The Grammys with Beyonce for a sec as again that would have been even more iconic with a white cloud for Purple Rain, but I think that was the Hohner Tele all the way...

One Nite Alone tour, Vegas (the show on the dvd) wasnt it?

The symbol guitar hasnt been around since the o2 shows iirc

Giovanni777 said:

I actually prefer the tone of the Cloud guitars over the "symbol" guitars... I unconditionally love the recent years' use of the Hohner and Fender Strats. Ironic how the "Symbol" guitar failed so dramatically during the Super Bowl gig, after he tore it up big time on both the Hohner and Strat previously, although it hurt to witness...

The symbol looks great but I don't think it is a well built guitar from a sound standpoint.

I really don't like the Symbol Guitar, it doesn't look great and the sound isn't the best.

The Cloud guitar on the other hand is really nice, I hope it shows up soon again at the concerts

But to be honest, I think Prince's guitar choose is great over the last few years,

the hohner rocks and I also dig the Red/Purple/Orange/BabyBlue stratocasters,

the gold one.... nhaaaa.

The Vegas dvd for One Night Alone, prince laid the Cloud down and put the hanky on it as if it died.

That was the last time I remember seeing any version of it used live ever again.

It's an iconic guitar and I thought the tones were great. His strats are superfunky and the Hohner is dirtyfunk. Maybe if he changed the hardware in the Couds and beefed them up a little, maybe he might have an interest in pulling them out again.

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Good point, it isn't like his signature, I even got a red Fender upstairs

2003.

I think it was the Las Vegas dvd as well.....and believe me.....I've been looking! There was a little bit of buzz around the Superbowl a few years ago with the rumors of him using the mysterious orange cloud but it never materialized on stage to my knowledge! I though I would eventually run out of stuff for my blog but I've been amazed on the amount of fans and cloud guitars out there! From the originals to the Schecters and some amazing homemade clouds not to mention all the cloud artwork as well! I've been waiting patiently for a cloud comeback and i think it will happen eventually but in the meantime I'll keep on digging for all things cloud!

http://cloudguitarcentral.blogspot.com/

[Edited 6/3/11 16:30pm]

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Same here. I've seen a lot of people here say they didn't like the sound of the cloud. I went to a lot of shows 91-93 when he was using it a lot and loved it much more than the symbol guitar...and his best solo ever was done on a cloud, Just My Imagination.

I think the Schecter Symbol (HABIBI) Is clearly inferior to the Auerswald Symbol (Gold Experience tours) in tone. The sound of the Original symbol at those Glam Slam gigs is amazing

Also I've never heard him play Habibi clean whilst he was always doing the chicken grease licks with the Auerswald, Leads me to suspect he knows the limitations of the copy and hence the return of the Hohner.

However the last apearence of the cloud I can remember is the superbowl advert where he is silhoueted. But on stage it was The Aladin DVD performance for the ONA tour

If you check the Superbowl promo commercial, the one where Prince is walking down the tunnel to the field and you can only see his silhouette, he is holding a Cloud.

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Some of my best friends are river carp.

Yeah, they don't have much personality but at least they laugh at my jokes.

RodeoSchro said:

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Some of my best friends are river carp.

Yeah, they don't have much personality but at least they laugh at my jokes.

Se7en said:

If you check the Superbowl promo commercial, the one where Prince is walking down the tunnel to the field and you can only see his silhouette, he is holding a Cloud.

Yes! this was the last time the cloud made an appearance (well almost).

I havent seen the symbol guitar since the Super Bowl and I hope he has retired it for good.

What is interesting is the reappearance of the model C guitars from the Lovesexy/Nude Tour era. He posed with the white guitar for Ebony magazine last year and the bass has been used lately on tour.

RodeoSchro said:

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Some of my best friends are river carp.

Yeah, they don't have much personality but at least they laugh at my jokes.

Digifuwill said:

I think it was the Las Vegas dvd as well.....and believe me.....I've been looking! There was a little bit of buzz around the Superbowl a few years ago with the rumors of him using the mysterious orange cloud but it never materialized on stage to my knowledge! I though I would eventually run out of stuff for my blog but I've been amazed on the amount of fans and cloud guitars out there! From the originals to the Schecters and some amazing homemade clouds not to mention all the cloud artwork as well! I've been waiting patiently for a cloud comeback and i think it will happen eventually but in the meantime I'll keep on digging for all things cloud!

http://cloudguitarcentral.blogspot.com/

[Edited 6/3/11 16:30pm]

Great website dude, I'm looking to get together a fender custom shop like the ones he is using now ( i started a thread...)

This is next on the list --- reallly want a cloud. Most likely the white and a blue one. Thanks for all the info..Bookmarked yo site

Love the Cloud, but last time I saw him playing the Cloud was on Vegas DVD and the Symbol on Superbowl.

I love the sound of his Strats, and the Hohner is funky, but the Cloud guitar is so much HIS guitar that it´s hard not to miss it. And I liked the sound too. Very unique.

Hard to explain, but I have a feeling that the Symbol guitar was more for visual impact than sound (the guitar itself served to represent the "" when performing on various stages and venues).

Now that he has a beautiful, and HUGE -shaped stage, the need for another one (in the form of a guitar) would seem redundant.

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Oh I agreed with everything you said until that last sentence !!

FunkyStrange said:

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Oh I agreed with everything you said until that last sentence !!

Not in love with the whammy? He's no Hendrix on the wigglestick, but a dive bomb here and there from our Yoda is always welcome to my ear holes.

chopingard said:

I think the Schecter Symbol (HABIBI) Is clearly inferior to the Auerswald Symbol (Gold Experience tours) in tone. The sound of the Original symbol at those Glam Slam gigs is amazing

Also I've never heard him play Habibi clean whilst he was always doing the chicken grease licks with the Auerswald, Leads me to suspect he knows the limitations of the copy and hence the return of the Hohner.

However the last apearence of the cloud I can remember is the superbowl advert where he is silhoueted. But on stage it was The Aladin DVD performance for the ONA tour

I second this

FunkyStrange said:

squirrelgrease said:

I wish he'd use the Clouds again. Works of art and great sustain. Those Strats have all the personality of a river carp. I do like that he embraced the whammy bar, though.

Oh I agreed with everything you said until that last sentence !!

do. not. disparage. the. whammy. bar.

http://prince.org/msg/7/88319?pr

Digifuwill said:

I think it was the Las Vegas dvd as well.....and believe me.....I've been looking! There was a little bit of buzz around the Superbowl a few years ago with the rumors of him using the mysterious orange cloud but it never materialized on stage to my knowledge! I though I would eventually run out of stuff for my blog but I've been amazed on the amount of fans and cloud guitars out there! From the originals to the Schecters and some amazing homemade clouds not to mention all the cloud artwork as well! I've been waiting patiently for a cloud comeback and i think it will happen eventually but in the meantime I'll keep on digging for all things cloud!

http://cloudguitarcentral.blogspot.com/

[Edited 6/3/11 16:30pm]

My Favorite

BlackandRising said:

FunkyStrange said:

Oh I agreed with everything you said until that last sentence !!

do. not. disparage. the. whammy. bar.

http://prince.org/msg/7/88319?pr