Jerry Auerswald has built the Model C and Symbol guitars, and bass. He's in Germany. HAs a website, just not much to see on it. $2500 per guitar US.

Awesome. I have a relative in Germany, although I've never been.

The story I remembered regarding the design of the cloud was that it was based on a Sardonix bass Prince played in the late 70s.

It was commissioned as a prop for Purple Rain, luthier company was Knut Koupee (sp?) of Minneapolis.

fuzzface1973 said:

The story I remembered regarding the design of the cloud was that it was based on a Sardonix bass Prince played in the late 70s.

It was commissioned as a prop for Purple Rain, luthier company was Knut Koupee (sp?) of Minneapolis.

Yeah it can the could bass can be seen in the video for "Why you Wanna Treat so Bad."

[img:$uid]http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab348/onlyNdaUSA/basscloudbodysm.jpg[/img:$uid]

and check out this cloud topic from not too long ago.

[Edited 1/31/11 8:41am]

0ne0n0ne said:

Does Prince design the "Cloud" and "Arrow," guitars by himself? I realize another person builds them but did Prince have anything to do with the concept?

Did Prince design the Black Piano that Prince has in the "Rave," show?

Didn't Prince also design some kind of keyboard?

Here's a strange question for any Piano experts out there...Are Piano's ever beveled? Can piano's be designed in a crescent form? If not, is it because of the way the pianist would have to reach to play the keys or because the keys would have to be shaped differently?

No, he didn´t. He bought it after he saw one in Cologne during the 1998 New Power Soul/Jam of the Year tour. Lenny Kravitz and Tommy Barbarella have the same piano. It´s a Schimmel piano...and just like the fake grand piano with the keyboard inside, I´m pretty sure that he also has a fake Schimmel piano because what I saw in 2002 at Paisley Park surely wasn´t the original Schimmel piano but just a case into which you can insert a keyboard.

I don´t get all the fuzz about that luthier from Chicago who claimed that he built the original Symbol guitar because it is a well known fact that that model was designed and built by Jerry Auerswald.

evreed said:

Jerry Auerswald has built the Model C and Symbol guitars, and bass. He's in Germany. HAs a website, just not much to see on it. $2500 per guitar US.

Hi, Jerry Auerswald has two web-sites:

http://www.auerswald-instruments.com

http://www.symbol-guitar.com

The instruments you mentioned "$2500 per guitar US." are Madarozzo Guitars:

http://www.madarozzo.com

All Madarozzo guitars have Auerswald designed custom hardware, Auerswald designed custom pickups, Auerswald custom designed electronics, and a unique 5-way sound selection system. Each instrument carries Jerry’s name on the side of the headstock. Virtually everything on the instrument is hand tooled and custom designed specifically for Madarozzo, right down to the laser inscribed ‘MAD’ control knobs.

Greetings from Martin Ritter

rubymoon53 said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

[img:$uid]http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx218/MMikeyBee/Prince%20and%20related/prince-welcom-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

Beautiful Instrument.

Isn't this bass the one that was played in Grafitti Bridge?

I don't know about Graffiti Bridge. But there is video of Prince playing this bass during one of the Batman recording sessions.

ravein2thejoy said:

hmm im sure he comissioned the making of the symbol guiter

however im not sure but i think he just started the using the cloud, honer and cloud mk 2 i dont think he designed them. I may be wrong though

The piano however he didnt design as quite a few artists have them but im he he asked specially for the symbol to be put on top

Here is the online story about the Symbol Guitar which was made by Jerry Auerswald:

http://www.finchsquarterly.com/features/the-princess-and-the-showguy/

Martin:)

Lammastide said:

We often mention the cloud and symbol guitars, but what's this one called?:

This is the model Anastasia designed by Jerry Auerswald. http://www.auerswald-instruments.com/

OnlyNDaUsa said:

fuzzface1973 said:

The story I remembered regarding the design of the cloud was that it was based on a Sardonix bass Prince played in the late 70s.

It was commissioned as a prop for Purple Rain, luthier company was Knut Koupee (sp?) of Minneapolis.

Yeah it can the could bass can be seen in the video for "Why you Wanna Treat so Bad."

[img:$uid]http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab348/onlyNdaUSA/basscloudbodysm.jpg[/img:$uid]

and check out this cloud topic from not too long ago.

[Edited 1/31/11 8:41am]

I just noticed this recently- Is there any clearer photo of that original Sardonix? I'm curious how close the cloud guitar regarding design. They look exact.

[Edited 2/9/11 18:42pm]