Whatever happened to this wild-beast guitar? The gnarly looking one he played on the Nude tour - I've only ever seen it played on the Tokyo Nude tour concert video and (many years ago) the Madrid Nude tour concert video. (also seen on the '88 Alphabet St video)

It had a killer sustain that went on forever and the rawest, dirtiest, nastiest, sexiest sound I've ever heard come from any of his guitars. It fucking rocked!

Anyone have anymore info on the use of this guitar in his career? Has anyone actually ever seen him play this on any other tours (or seen photos of such)?

Any info on him recording any studio tracks using this guitar?

As much as i love the cloud, the hohner, and even the banjo-esk looking Symbol axes, the Model C had the ballsiest, raunchiest sound of the pack - when he played it, it was almost like it was about to break out uncontrollably at any moment and just explode all over the crowd!

What's the reason why it never came to the fore again?...

FlamingRaindrop said:

The Model 'C' guitar was built by German luthier Jerry Auerswald

For around £4000 you could get Jerry to make you a Model C of your very own. That's the price he quoted for one of his 'sustain bow' instruments.

Don't know why he stopped using it, but he goes through phases with his guitars. He could pull it out again one day, who knows. But there was some post about it during the Lovesexy tour, him not being happy with it during a rendition of "Anna Stesia", chatting to someone and passing it off backstage.
[Edited 3/8/08 4:29am]

So he played it during the Lovesexy tour? Cool.
Nice pictures. It's such a cool looking guitar too, even when he's playing it while wearing pajamas!...

The italic quote below the photos is like a mastercard commercial:

your very own Model C guitar: $4000
getting the 1 true mutha-fucka capable, to play it: PRICELESS

FlamingRaindrop said:

I would probably kill someone right now for one of that muthafucker's guitars.

That is very cool. I've been paying attention to guitars a lot more lately...It is amazing to have been a Prince fan for so long...and not really notice the guitar itself because I was always watching Him play it....

But there was some post about it during the Lovesexy tour, him not being happy with it during a rendition of "Anna Stesia", chatting to someone and passing it off backstage.
[Edited 3/8/08 4:29am]
[/quote]

I have this video of the Lovesexy Tour specifically the closeing number "Anastesia" All who have heard the song know the wicked building excitment at the end of Ana where he launches into the solo.

I remember this one, you can see him for the sake of drama building the moment as he does, only to strum the guitar and have nothing come out of it... you can see how let down he feels... he speaks to one of the players on stage... telling them something in their ear... probably that "my guitar is fucked up (or sound is) so we will just have to play the drama out as a chant." then drags the guitar behind him sadly as he raises hands and chants love is god and so on.

It is quite funny. Not as funny as the conveyor belt "i forgot to plug in my guitar [normally i am wireless] before I got on it only to get to the end of the belt and strum my guitar and nothing comes out so now I have signal to go to go backward [by pushing on a pedal designed for this] ham it up as I go backward on the conveyor belt then when i get there turn plug in then have them make it go forward the belt so i can seemingly glide to the front magically and strum that first note." That was funny!

Barbefunkoramaque said:

So he was playing the Model C during that performance?
.
[Edited 3/8/08 21:45pm]

Yes, during the one his guitar would not work... the conveyor belt video is from the era where he had that (endorphine machine) sound mixing booth.

FlamingRaindrop said:

Yes, during the one his guitar would not work... the conveyor belt video is from the era where he had that (endorphine machine) sound mixing booth.

FlamingRaindrop said:

I played that guitar (not his but one similar) at a NYC guitar show years ago. As cool as it was it didn't sound that great. It had a very thin sound..thinner than a Tele. P probably had his running thru banks and racks of effects at that time to make it sound thick.

But I always thought he looked cool with that guitar. Charlie Singleton from Cameo played one too every now and then. I think the name of that company is called "Auserwald".