wow, i never knew the history of that guitar, was it really the same guitar he played all those years? I recall it looking the same in the 80's but can a guitar stand the rigours of that much touring for all those years or was it the same model? Only 50 dollars? that's amazing, i'm not a guitarist so i don't know much about that knind of gear.

PeteSilas said:

rogifan said:

PeteSilas said:

wow, i never knew the history of that guitar, was it really the same guitar he played all those years? I recall it looking the same in the 80's but can a guitar stand the rigours of that much touring for all those years or was it the same model? Only 50 dollars? that's amazing, i'm not a guitarist so i don't know much about that knind of gear.

I'm not sure if it's the same one but the one in the case is definitely beat up. It's clear the guitar on display is one he used a lot.

ok, thanks, some guy in another thread is saying the same thing pretty much. He's saying P was 21 when he bought it, why would a signed artist being buying a guitar from a drugstore? doesn't sound right.

Nice article Latin! Interesting how P even had to re-watch the show to make sure everything was 100%. And Lopez hoping P was coming aroung the corner to "see how many were in the club". Lil man was such the perfectionist

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

donnyenglish said:

donnyenglish said:

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

it is amazing, it's what the poor do though, take nothing and make something of it. I always thought of the scene in Eddie and The Cruisers where he goes to a junkyard and talks about a junkman who thought he could make a palace out of junk, it was a metaphor for him and his musical aspirations.

anangellooksdown said:

donnyenglish said:

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

I believe that God provided him with that guitar.

Whenever I go there, I get accused of being crazy, but that is exactly what I was trying to say.

donnyenglish said:

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

.
BS.

That is a handmade, very high quality instrument that couldn't have been $30.-, not even in 1979, when Prince bought his first one. $300 – MAYBE, but even at that price it would've been a steal.

And about him buying it "in front of a gas station" – well, perhaps the music store was in front of a gas station?

[Edited 5/30/17 8:34am]

anangellooksdown said:

MiceElfAgin said:

donnyenglish said:

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

.
BS.

That is a handmade, very high quality instrument that couldn't have been $30.-, not even in 1979, when Prince bought his first one. $300 – MAYBE, but even at that price it would've been a steal.

And about him buying it "in front of a gas station" – well, perhaps the music store was in front of a gas station?

[Edited 5/30/17 8:34am]

There is a guy that I believed worked on the guitar over the years and he stated it was cheap but Prince would just have it repaired. Also how old are you prices 40 years ago were much different than today. I have a friend who brought a guitar from Sam Goody in the 80s for $50.00 bucks.

PeteSilas said:

rogifan said:

PeteSilas said: I'm not sure if it's the same one but the one in the case is definitely beat up. It's clear the guitar on display is one he used a lot.

ok, thanks, some guy in another thread is saying the same thing pretty much. He's saying P was 21 when he bought it, why would a signed artist being buying a guitar from a drugstore? doesn't sound right.

He would not have he would have had an advance from WB to buy whatever he wanted. Also in the guitar book from Paisley Park there is a bass that he brough for Andre Cymone when they went to SF to record that Prince kept in pristine condition. Beautiful Guitars are in that book.

laurarichardson said:

MiceElfAgin said:

.
BS.

That is a handmade, very high quality instrument that couldn't have been $30.-, not even in 1979, when Prince bought his first one. $300 – MAYBE, but even at that price it would've been a steal.

And about him buying it "in front of a gas station" – well, perhaps the music store was in front of a gas station?

[Edited 5/30/17 8:34am]

There is a guy that I believed worked on the guitar over the years and he stated it was cheap but Prince would just have it repaired. Also how old are you prices 40 years ago were much different than today. I have a friend who brought a guitar from Sam Goody in the 80s for $50.00 bucks.

.
Laura, could you please stay out of at least a few topics? Seriously! Get a hobby ffs.

MiceElfAgin said:

laurarichardson said:

There is a guy that I believed worked on the guitar over the years and he stated it was cheap but Prince would just have it repaired. Also how old are you prices 40 years ago were much different than today. I have a friend who brought a guitar from Sam Goody in the 80s for $50.00 bucks.

.
Laura, could you please stay out of at least a few topics? Seriously! Get a hobby ffs.

Get a life and stop worrying about what I am doing. Tells me you have very little going on your life that you are worried about someone you do not know from Adam. I know it is hard when you are wrong.

laurarichardson said:

MiceElfAgin said:

.
Laura, could you please stay out of at least a few topics? Seriously! Get a hobby ffs.

Get a life and stop worrying about what I am doing. Tells me you have very little going on your life that you are worried about someone you do not know from Adam. I know it is hard when you are wrong.

.
Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not actually worried about you. I'm bothered by your constant flow of stupid posts so I'm simply ASKING YOU to stay out of at least a few topics. You'd do most of the org a huge favour.

BTW, decent guitars by the end of the 70's were priced at around $500-700.- so Prince's Hohner must have been priced near that, most certainly not at $30. So you're clueless as usual. Glad I could be of help.

And I have no idea who started the other BS about Prince buying it at a drugstore...

[Edited 5/30/17 10:17am]

MiceElfAgin said:

laurarichardson said:

MiceElfAgin said:

.
Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not actually worried about you. I'm bothered by your constant flow of stupid posts so I'm simply ASKING YOU to stay out of at least a few topics. You'd do most of the org a huge favour.

BTW, decent guitars by the end of the 70's were priced at around $500-700.- so Prince's Hohner must have been priced near that, most certainly not at $30. So you're clueless as usual. Glad I could be of help.

And I have no idea who started the other BS about Prince buying it at a drugstore...

I am sure it was not in the hundreds of dollars at no fucking drug store but you were there so you know no better than Prince. You do not get to tell people what post they can respond to if you think this you need to get a life and you are worrying about it.

.
My last post in this topic as I'm really tired of your bs, but just for you, Laura:
https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000746086-Archived-Fender-Price-Lists-1968-2010-

Feel free to download Fender's price list from 1979 and see for yourself that $30.- in 1979 got you a single PICKUP, not a freaking guitar. Even a guitar CASE carried a $135.- list price. An empty case.

Have a nice day.

At Celebration, Prince's guitar tech Takumi repeated much the same story, but with a few more details. Prince was on his way to rehearsal at a warehouse, had forgotten his guitar, and bought the MadCat off of someone selling it out of their car for $30.

Whether it is true or not, no one but Prince knows. But that guitar was his one true love!

MiceElfAgin said:

MiceElfAgin said:

donnyenglish said:

It is so amazing to me that he purchased his guitar for $30 in front of a gas station. That to me is just the essence of Prince. In many ways, that guitar represents who Prince was as a person and an artist. Came from nothing, but he his fate, talent and work ethic made him truly great. I get so proud of him when I think of things like this. So many musicians rely on the state of the art instruments and tools and Prince played better solos than anyone in the history of the world with a used $30 guitar.

.
BS.

That is a handmade, very high quality instrument that couldn't have been $30.-, not even in 1979, when Prince bought his first one. $300 – MAYBE, but even at that price it would've been a steal.

And about him buying it "in front of a gas station" – well, perhaps the music store was in front of a gas station?

[Edited 5/30/17 8:34am]

The guitar tech said he bought it in front of a gas station for $30 at the Celebration this year. He forgot his guitar and needed one for rehearsal. He said some guy was selling it from a van. I tend to think the story has been corroborated enough for me to believe it.

[Edited 5/30/17 11:05am]

donnyenglish said:

MiceElfAgin said:

.
BS.

That is a handmade, very high quality instrument that couldn't have been $30.-, not even in 1979, when Prince bought his first one. $300 – MAYBE, but even at that price it would've been a steal.

And about him buying it "in front of a gas station" – well, perhaps the music store was in front of a gas station?

[Edited 5/30/17 8:34am]

The guitar tech said he bought it in front of a gas station for $30 at the Celebration this year. He forgot his guitar and needed one for rehearsal. He said some guy was selling it from a van. I tend to think the story has been corroborated enough for me to believe it.

[Edited 5/30/17 11:05am]

Of course it has. You always have people on this board disputing everything Prince did and said even with people to corroborate the story or back up. I think if part of the sky fell and hit some of them in the head they would still run around screaming it was not occuring.

We were all so lucky to be Prince fans. I think to myself, what if I became a Michael Jackson or Rick James fan when I was 8 years old? My life would literally be different. But, this little dude in panties and that $30 guitar put me under a spell and my life changed as a result. It is weird, because I'm this macho dude, but that skinny motherfunker with the high voice had that impact on me. He basically raised me. No other artist could have done that.

Latin said:

George Lopez posted the following on Instagram regarding his recent visit to Paisley Park: https://www.instagram.com...si1f_ByfD/

It was great to read about George's experience at PP for the first time and his reminiscences. Thanks for post.

donnyenglish said:

We were all so lucky to be Prince fans. I think to myself, what if I became a Michael Jackson or Rick James fan when I was 8 years old? My life would literally be different. But, this little dude in panties and that $30 guitar put me under a spell and my life changed as a result. It is weird, because I'm this macho dude, but that skinny motherfunker with the high voice had that impact on me. He basically raised me. No other artist could have done that.

MiceElfAgin said:

laurarichardson said:

There is a guy that I believed worked on the guitar over the years and he stated it was cheap but Prince would just have it repaired. Also how old are you prices 40 years ago were much different than today. I have a friend who brought a guitar from Sam Goody in the 80s for $50.00 bucks.

.
Laura, could you please stay out of at least a few topics? Seriously! Get a hobby ffs.

The thread is not about laura so could you please not make it so? Unless you are yet another banned reuser you just joined a few months ago whereas laura has been around here for well over a decade. Who are you or any other noob to censor her?

Secondly, there is nothing unusual about buying a guitar the way Prince did. I doubt he had hundreds of dollars to spend on instruments back in the day. People buy things off the street all the time for a fraction of what they are worth, including instruments. You sound like you think that custom ordering from the factory is the only way to get a guitar......it's not.


Finally, as you have seen, the story has been confirmed by more than one associate so there you have it.

ON TOPIC, thank you for sharing that touching story, Latin. I know I will crumble when I visit PP but I want to pay my respects there soon.

Aww, awesome story! And if I remember correctly, Prince really liked George Lopez. Good article!

I'm surprised George Lopez never visited PP before, being that he was such good friends with Prince. Cool story about the guitar--that was his baby, good luck charm, oldie but goodie. Your first guitar is always special