I have been to a few aftershows around europe over the years, But this was what I needed to see, I took a few friends to this and main show, the main show was really flat I felt and he seemed tired and going through the motions,so was a bit anxious about the aftershow.
I shouldnt have worried, that was the prince I have waited to see for sooo long. just a 3 piece and an amazing set list.

His guitar playing has changed so much over the years, what really blew my mind was his rhythmic playing while singing, loads of scating, crazy embellishments and the most funky of touches, His lead has always been tasteful, but he has grown into a true virtuoso on the guitar, every style, scale and technique was laid down,

for those who play guitar seriously, try and get a copy of this, on empty room, guitar and calhoun sq he went through 4 or 5 modes on each song,

my Prince favourite solos are usually major chord progressions ie purple rain or just my imagination, where you get that euphoric sound. buut although most of these songs the other nite where minor he just took them to another level.the only thing lacking was the sound on his fenders, they dont have the brilliance of the honer or the sustain of the cloud, and the amps needed more bite to me ie lovesexy live.

anyway would be great to hear from other guitarist there on the night

That was a cool post percy 28. As another fellow guitarist, I would have looked back & died seeing that aftershow's set-list if I hadn't chosen to go that night! I literally thanked God after that I was there! I was centre, about 4 deep from the stage, & I've never seen Prince play guitar that close...it was absolutely amazing. Like yourself, I could really appreciate the rhythm work
and all the little embellishments he plays, as well as the sick solos of course.

I must say I've come to love his custom Fenders, as he gets into all the whammy bar stuff a la Hendrix, which is a crazy, and has added a relatively new evolution to his playing. I thought his Fenders and amp sounded great, with some really interesting and incredible use of FX from his floor units, although I understand your comments. I will admit that my favourite Prince tones ever have come from the Cloud guitar tho!

I mentioned Hendrix above, & Prince's playing gives me the same spiritual feeling, but of course no one could seriously argue anymore that Prince isn't a completely unique player, & I don't think players at that level should ever be compared.

I've been to many an aftershow, but I know last Tuesday will now stand out
in my memory due to the power tio set-up and the fact that it was guitar song after guitar song. I just hope I get hold of a soundboard recording, as it would
sit alongside "The Undertaker" dvd in my guitar shrine!

Saturday 18th's aftershow was like watching a mixture of a young Stevie Wonder AND Sly Stone, and Tues 28th's was like going to see Hendrix and the Experience....but of course all in a style that is still uniquely Prince! Who elso could do that? No one! If he could summon the spirit of Bob Marley too he'd be my complete all rounder! (Sorry, just being silly now!)

Anyway, thanks for the guitar lesson Prince, and remember to slip the soundboard recording into the world of bootlegs for us! Cheers mate!

aaaaarrrrrggggg, stop talking about the 28th aftershow, makes me go green. i knew when i saw the main show that he would arrive after, but i totally dissagree that the main show was flat, i personally thought he was amazing that nite, and the version of purple rain was for me the best i have heard of the 4 nites i have seen (24th, 25th, 28th, 31st)

As for the unique guitar style, well, i have been saying that since i was 13 yrs old, and was always laughed out of it by the older Thin Lizzy, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore etc etc etc so called fans. Respect to them all, but i dont think any of them could make a guitar talk, like prince does and the most interesting thing is how he carries and holds a guitar, it is simply like an extra limb.

Finally, I have also got the notion that prince was heavily influenced by reggae be it BM or others, strange he never mentions it.

that is a thought nimbus, Prince and Bob Marley on the same stage

percy28 said:

yea, he uses mesa boogies now, i don't think he used to around lovesexy

the fenders still have emgs in, i don't really think they sound a world apart from the cloud or symbol guitar...just because the pick ups are so distinctive

as a guitar player prince is probably my fave, love vai/satch/zappa/neil young

but outside of prince's signature licks(ala lets go crazy climax) i find his playing really unpredictable...i never know what note he's going to play next...which is ideal from my point of view

would have loved to be at that aftershow, though i did see him do empty room in a sound check on the one night alone tour...and calhoun sq at an aftershow on the same tour!