So, is that so, huh? I hear that "The Fender Telecaster" was the first guitar model/design he had and he had traded that one in for his first "Hohner"; of which, he wouldn't use any other alternative of a guitar model/design until later in his life of success in music when he could afford other guitars like "Clouds" and "Customized Symbols". What do you guys "THINK" (Key words. Oh, and if you know, by all means, don't be shy) might he have traded that first one in for? How could he have known how "The Hohner" would have a better choice for him in particular before purchasing in at a pawn shop?

You can find a lot of pictures with Prince playing that other guitar during the Rick James tour in the org gallery.
Don´t know if it was a Fender but it surely wasn´t the Hohner. I think he got that one around 1980/Dirty Mind, shortly before the album and tour.

I don't know if it was his first guitar, but Morris's mom ended up with his Stratocaster when Prince started working with Chris Moon in 1976. Source: DMSR

Genesia said:

Morris who? I, actually have seen him with that "Hohner" before "Dirty Mind". I had seen him with it, specifically on "The For You Tour".

FarrahMoan said:

Oh, wait. Maybe, I was wrong. Well, it looked like a "Hohner", whatever it was. Hey, what did he use before the "Hohner", then? Was it a "Fender Telecast". I wonder what made him feel like the "Hohner" (A cheaper brand than "Fender") would have been his best bet.

FarrahMoan said:

Morris who?! Are you serious?!

Genesia said:

Do you mean "Morris Day"? I was confused. I don't understand why "HIS" mother would have "Prince's Supposed Former Fender Stratocaster/Telecaster".

P played two Les Paul copies before he got with the Hohner. First, on his showcase dates during his first album and the animal skinned axe during his second album. He actually traded off from that one and his Hohner on the Dirty Mind tour.

A lot of this information is readily available if you search around

blackguitaristz said:

When you say "Les Paul", do you mean "Gibson"?

The story I heard from him is that he was on his way to a rehearsal and for whatever reason didn't have his guitar with him. He saw the Hohner for sale in a gas station/pawn shop along the way and bought it real cheap.

The rest is history.

HalluRain said:

He told you, personally, or is it all just misconstrued?

Prince - by Steven Ivory
Prince, Imp of the Perverse - Barney Hoskyns
Dance Music Sex Romance - Per Nilson
Possessed, The Rise and Fall of Prince - Alex Hahn
Purple Reign, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince - Liz Jones
My Time With Prince - Dez Dickerson
Prince, A Documentary - Per Nilson (My personal favorite)

These books (especially the last one) contain all the Prince info you'll ever need. And these links have many of the answers to the guitar questions you continually ask:

www.guitarplayer.com
www.vintageguitar.com
www.guitarworld.com
www.guitarplayertv.com

There are many more - you just have to look.
[Edited 8/3/07 20:08pm]

Oh yeah, there's also, Prince, The First Illustrated Biography - John W. Duffy.

JesseDezz said:

Alright, I'm gonna look. Don't worry. I'm not trying to be a thorn on anyone's backside.

I know that - those sites (and books) are really helpful. Sometimes, I forget I have them. I ate up everything Prince-related and guitar-related. And this was before the advent of the internet. I spent HOURS at different libraries reading up on music and Prince. Plus, I had subscriptions to the major guitar mags. There was no other way to gain that knowledge. Then came the internet...Now, there are so many cool sites, I like to refer them to other geetar lovers. The knowledge is just a click away - and it saves on bus and gas fare.

The internet is a godsend

I've never heard of Prince playing a Fender Tele prior to him owning his Hohner. I've seen him with some custom Telecasters since, which makes sense because of the relation of the Hohner to a real Tele.

The Hohner thing has always been a bit of a mystery to me, mainly because Hohner is not a brand I associate with quality guitars. Prince's dedication to that instrument, particularly for his rhythm guitar work, made me investigate further, and although I would like one for my collection, I think an American model Fender Tele would be a superior instrument.

I have seen Prince playing a Les Paul (yes, Gibson is correct, and I would hope that Prince wouldn't be playing an Epiphone version of that model). The Les Paul thing is funny because I always felt that Rick James made that his axe.

FarrahMoan said:

Cleveland soundcheck for the One Nite Alone tour. Someone asked him about it and he told the story I paraphrased.

HalluRain said:

Well, it might be more comfortable than his "Les Pauls" or something. I think I see what you guys are saying about that guitar not having the best sound quality. However, it looked/looks so much more comfortable when "Prince" plays than when I play this "Johnson/Fender Model Stratocaster". I also like it's dirty sound. Hey, one question I have for any of you guys. Have you ever played a guitar over a (What you may consider) a good consistent/persistent time period and wondered why it didn't feel and/or sound so natural to you?

I am no guitarfreak, but i always understood Prince played a cheap 'Fender Telecaster' in the early eighties.
You can hear that typical 'dry' guitarsound on songs like Dirty Mind and When you were mine.

Maybe i am wrong, and that fender telecaster is a hohner?

Riverpoet31 said:

Yeah, I think that it was his "Hohner".

You know, I think this it for me. This is the end of the road. I made a trip down to "Guitar Center" and I didn't know what to ask, exactly. But, I asked them what I could. I really just asked a few of the employees, whether or not, my guitar was uncomfortable and they said that, for the most part, that it was alright and that it didn't need an adjustment. Then, I go to try out one other guitar and it didn't really feel any more different than any other guitar I've ever dealt with. So, you know what, if there isn't going to be a change, even with my effort, then I'm done. My life is over, from here on in. All I can do now is question "God's Love" for me. Life fucking sucks.....BIG TIME!!!! I juat want it all to be over. I just....I just....AH, FUCK IT!!! I'm out of here.
[Edited 8/4/07 15:51pm]

FarrahMoan said:

Asking musical advice from employees at Guitar Center -- you might as well go to Home Depot. You'll get the same responses. They're merchants.

jacobpb said:

But, I don't know. I mean, one guy was all like, "Yeah, it's alright. The neck seems pretty straight. The only thing you might want to do is adjust the bridge a bit by pulling the screws up, marginally. But, that's all," as he looked carefully ("OR", at least that's what it seemed.) Then, another guy was all like, "Yeah, the intonation is great. It sounds pretty clear. Yeah, it's seems pretty good," as he plucked the strings on my guitar. But, the only thing that could have me doubt that he couldn't know the half is that he didn't plug it up to an amp. He just plucked the strings on that electric guitar with it's dryness and all. Then, I go around and feel out a few of the other guitars that are already there, and, it's almost like, to me, there really is no difference of bodies and the comfort of different axes from a superfluous standpoint, in my honest opinion. I only played one of those other guitars that I felt out, and it was like, the same fucking outcome. I didn't feel like I could "EVER" work on the instrument. I had hope, walking in. But, let's face it. I don't think I was cut out for this shit, man! If I was, I would have already found comfort with it. Hell, I don't even know what comfort means in that aspect. I don't how anyone could associate comfort with the guitar or any other instrument, for the matter. I can't move around it, no matter how hard I have tried, and tomorrow ain't promised. So, I don't have time for that, "Dust yourself of and try again", bullshit. There's too many things to learn and not enough of it (Hell, not any of it since the first six months after I picked up the guitar, really) being grasped by me. So, I don't know what life holds for me in the future, and honestly, I don't care. I spent months on in, this year, and a bit of the previous, realizing that this was really all I had to believe in. This was all that I could master with joy. And, honestly, I've just been let down enough that I can't take it anymore. This is like, the brinking point for me. I don't mean to be be a bitch, but I can't help it. It's like having the best sex/love relationship you've "EVER" had...."EVER". Then, realizing that, while, it meant the world to you, to her, it was just a phase. It's time for me to face reality because, I can't even go through depression, appropriately. It's all too weird
[Edited 8/4/07 22:18pm]
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Okay, this is my last post on this subject. You're looking for a reason to quit. The musicians up here on the org, including myself, have given you advice and words of encouragement for weeks now. You should know by now that the majority of us have been playing for years and it didn't happen overnight for any of us, including Prince. We've told you this. I've given you links that could answer so many of your questions. There are countless sites on the 'net that will be more than helpful for any of your concerns. Yet, you keep posting "woe is me" mini-books about your frustration. I told you before, posting countless questions and hi-jacking threads with your countless questions is not gonna get you where you want to be. Only hard work and TIME will get you the results you desire. Not posting every moment of your frustration. To me, that's just a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If you keep saying, "I can't do it, I can't do it", after awhile you're gonna believe you can't do it. Hell, my first guitar was a $100 no name les paul copy. I didn't know jack shit about setups, pickups and all that stuff. I just wanted to play. The rest of that knowledge has come in the ensuing years. As I stated before, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Somehow, I doubt you're gonna listen...

JesseDezz said:

Valid points, people. This ain't a circus show, but I'd bet that a lot those reading are enjoying the meltdown of a psychopath. I guess I'm in a better mood. I've decided to tone my posting down on this subject, if not just delete the whole subject from my mind and your eyes because it makes me look like a "narc". Hey, I will be looking at the lot of your previous posts, "JesseDez", and all of those others who try their best to have the patience in dealing with my "UNHEALTHY OBSESSION". Don't rule me out as a dumbass, though. I'm still a cool person to talk to (Well, at least over the internet. All I do is mumble mostly, when I talk to a person, face-to-face.). I'm sorry for the burden, you guys. As I have said before, this is pretty much it....for what's it worth and at what level I can control it.

R u serious!... Do u have any common sense?! oh. lawd!

ocadv said:

Nope, I'm insane. I'm a basketcase. Didn't you realize that from the start or were you not listening?