funkyhead said:

For those of you ordering the Elite models, be advised that it doesn't come with a case, which is DUMB! However, I was able to get the same case that comes with the Artist version.

airbak said:

I guess the number 1 question is which of the two has that classic P sound, is the Elite worth paying the extra for?.

funkyhead said:

It really does depend on the player. Although the Artist is supposed to be close to his sound, I couldn't really tell. P has a distinctive feel/interpretation of the notes when he plays and he also used effects to help create his sound I believe. I think as much as we want to, we can play his exact same guitar and never be able to do what he does. The guitar is funkier sounding than my PRS but since I'm more of a jazz player, the sound just comes out being jazzy with a funk tone. I couldn't conjure the classic P sound! Of the two; the Artist and the Artist Elite, I do prefer the Elite because it just sounds better to me, but that could be a personal preference or the more expensive price tag! LOL Photos below:

Verrrrry nice!

Question: For those of you who bought or are buying this guitar, did you do it to actually play the guitar or just as a collector's Prince item?

Why is the Elite/more expensive version less accurate to Prince's original than the cheap one. Shouldn't the expensive one be closer to P's and the regular one just be an approximation?

Volitan said:

seriously great point and if anyone could answer then it would help all us budding guitar Prince wannabe's!. Would be great though if the cheaper version was the one closest to P's guitar. Still love the 'Black Prince' though. If anyone's got pix of that thing of beauty then please send.
[Edited 8/7/08 4:02am]

airbak said:

I have several guitars so this one is going up on the wall in the studio, strickly as ART.

Volitan said:

That's a good question. In a rush to get them to market, it seems like there's been a lot of confusion and second guessing with these guitars. The look of the headstock and pickguards changed (thankfully), the more expensive one does not have the P sound but is better made and I thought we would get the original promo ad that said "Purple Reign" on it with the guitar. That would have been a cool add-on from a collector's perspective. Then the black one seems to be totally unrelated in my opinion. I read somewhere that it was more country twang in sound...huh?

airbak said:

Cool I asked about them at Jack Stores earlier in the year but they did not respond but now I have a lovely helpful person who is sorting it all out - due to be shipped tomorrow so hopefully should have it next week - just hope I don't have to pay duty on it - so looking foward to it - seen the Elite one as a friend of mine has one - looks lush but says that there are some features on the Artist that play better - strange but will have to just wait and see - thanks for the info

airbak said:

I have 2 clouds so this one I intend to play and keep

LittleNicci said:

Cool. I have a cloud too. I was trying to post a photo of 4 of the six guitars that I own but since I'm at work, they have photobucket blocked, so I can't upload it!

can someone please post a small sound sample of the korean build Artist guitar? Interested to hear to hear the difference to the Elite model.

soainst said:

BTW, it is made in China, not Korea.

Mars23 said:

It's funny because there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there concerning these guitars. In the initial press, I was told by a guitar rep that they were made in Korea. Also on the video he said that it's the exact same as Prince's with the exception of headstock. However, I read that the pickups were NOT exactly like Prince's. I wish there was more consistency in the information being released.
[Edited 8/7/08 13:32pm]

Mars23 said:

now seriously folkx, who wouldv'e thought that this guy could be THAT funky!,never judge a book and all of that!!!.

That man aint got no funk !

funkyhead said:

Maybe I need 2 get another one 4 playing.....

Graycap23 said:

I had both models but sold the Artist, now I think I better sell my TE Prinz so that I can buy it again. LOL I'm torn though, because that black one is sweet too. I just need to hear it played first because it's sound was described as "country twang by an Ebay seller so I'm confused???"


[Edited 8/8/08 10:20am]

The guitar is a COPY of a telecaster..Sly and freddie Stone/stewart both played Tele's often back in the days..
along with many other funk Masters ie; Tony Maiden of Rufus..and pops staples of the staple singers..(all huge Prince influences)
There aint nothing better than a funk guitar with a nice twang...
If you are a master musician I apologize. but, It sounds like you need to worry about playing more than guitar models or descriptions..
I promise you if you told Prince that any Telecaster styled guitar had a nice Country twang..he'd jump on it and tear that shit up in a heartbeat !

airbak said:

CosmicDancer said:[quote]The guitar is a COPY of a telecaster..Sly and freddie Stone/stewart both played Tele's often back in the days..
along with many other funk Masters ie; Tony Maiden of Rufus..and pops staples of the staple singers..(all huge Prince influences)
There aint nothing better than a funk guitar with a nice twang...
If you are a master musician I apologize. but, It sounds like you need to worry about playing more than guitar models or descriptions..
I promise you if you told Prince that any Telecaster styled guitar had a nice Country twang..he'd jump on it and tear that shit up in a heartbeat !

I've been listening to those artists you named for years - in some cases, longer than P's music. As stated before, I'm more of a jazz guitarist not a funk guitarist nor am I like the massive contingent of Prince fans who exist only to sound/play like him. Though he is a major influence, he's not the only one that I listen to and I have my own sound. So him being excited to play a guitar with a "country twang" has nothing to do with me and my style of playing nor is it an indication of how skilled you are as a player. I've been playing for about 15 years now and I collect guitars. My main guitar is a PRS, not a Hohner/Telecaster, because I prefer the smooth sustain and buttery tone of it. I ask questions because since I'm spending my hard-earned money for something that I will either play or simply collect, I want to make sure I know what I'm getting. I don't have the guitar in my hands so that I can play it and hear it for myself and there aren't any audio samples online, so I have to rely on the descriptions or available information, which has been either incorrect, scarce or different from one person to the next. In the future, try not to make assumptions...

I think I very clearly stated "If you are a master musician I apologize."
In my previous post...
But that aside...
I hear where you are coming from.


airbak said:[quote]

CosmicDancer said:

I think I very clearly stated "If you are a master musician I apologize."
In my previous post...
But that aside...
I hear where you are coming from.
Its hard to judge who actually has any musical ability in forums like this from people that just want to stand in the mirror pretending they are Prince.
Sorry.


airbak said:[quote]

CosmicDancer said:

Man.....I just unpacked mine.
I love the look and feel of this axe.
I've been waiting a long time 2 get my hands on this.

Beautiful String Machine
The name of my next song.

Graycap23 said:

I am still waiting and the waiting is killing me. It arrived in the UK on Wed but is stuck in Customs. I asked for it to be delivered to me at work now worried that they will try and deliver it tomorrow and our security guards will nick it !!! oh well hope it come on Monday - I had booked next week off work but coming in just to wait on delivery of this beast, I just can't wait. I have inspired 4 guys in my office to take up guitar !!!

LittleNicci said:

It's worth the wait.
I'm trying 2 decide which one I like better....
The , the Cloud or The Hohner.

The Elite sounds sweet for sure, though it is a bit bright and buzzy. From that clip that Artist sounds closer to the funky Prince tone than the Elite, though the Elite sure is funky. The only real thing that bugs me about the Artist HTA490 is the way the top half of the body doesn't curve up to meet the neck at the 17th fret but continues down to the 19th. If you see what I mean.

To those of you who have got your HTA490's, how does the colour and pattern of the pickguard look? I find it quite hard to tell from photos.

Hey LittleNicci, hope you get yours soon (Oi behave, I was talking about the guitar missy.)

airbak said:

A small bit of attention to detail here. It looks like the pickup selector switch on your model is the more cylindrical shaped switch, closer to that of the original and found on the HTA490's. Most of the Elites now are being made with a bulkier rectangular shaped switch. Oh man, I think I need to get out more.
[Edited 8/15/08 20:36pm]

I love the look of the black Prince guitar.I don't even play,but when I hear him play I really want to learn.
[Edited 8/15/08 23:28pm]

Oh my God the waiting is killing me - trying to be cool but losing it big time now. I had this week booked off work but in work still waiting for the arrival of the beast - every day it seems to be getting closer. Yesterday it left customs today it arrived at the postal depot, so thinking it won't come today but maybe tomorrow, God I can't wait - I had booked the week off thinking it would be here so I could just play all week, and can't have next week off so if it doesn't come soon gonna be just a little peeved but still happy. Oh God please come soon I am too excited !!!!