After Prince passed away in 2016, it was reported that his beloved guitar, a custom-made white Cloud Guitar made by Minneapolis luthier David Rusan, was sold for $700,000. The buyer was confirmed to be Reverb.Com, the world’s largest online marketplace for buying and selling new, used and vintage music gear. The proceeds from the sale went towards various charities chosen by Prince’s estate.
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The Legacy of Prince’s Guitar
Prince’s iconic and timeless guitar has become a symbol of his legacy. It was custom-made for him in the mid 1980s, a white and purple striped beauty that he named “Cloud”. His passion for music and unique style of playing is forever intertwined with the sound of this instrument.
The Cloud Guitar was one of Prince’s prized possessions and even made it into several of his music videos, such as “When Doves Cry” and “Kiss.” For decades, fans have wondered where it disappeared to after his untimely death in 2016. While some rumors have claimed that it was auctioned off or given away by family members, no one seems to know its exact whereabouts today.
The Cloud Guitar still lives on in the hearts of devoted fans all over the world who remember Prince not just as an artist but also as an icon whose spirit remains alive through his lasting influence on popular culture and music history. Whether or not anyone knows where the actual instrument is located today, its memory will remain powerful for years to come.
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Iconic Guitar
When it comes to Prince’s iconic guitar, where exactly did it go? After the musician’s untimely death in 2016, many wondered what had happened to his beloved instrument. According to those close to him, the artist was so protective of the guitar that he only used it during recording sessions and live performances. He refused to even allow people on stage with him while playing his beloved axe.
The mystery surrounding this disappearance deepened when an investigation revealed that no one could remember seeing the guitar in any of his music videos or promotional images. It is unclear why Prince kept such a tight lid on its whereabouts for all these years. But some speculate that he may have hidden the guitar away from public view in order to protect its legacy and value as an important part of musical history.
Many have attempted to uncover the true location of Prince’s beloved guitar but without much success. One theory suggests that before his passing, Prince gave the guitar away as a gift to someone close to him who has since refused reveal its whereabouts out of respect for their late friend and mentor. Regardless, fans continue hold onto hope that one day they will get answers as well as a glimpse at this remarkable piece of memorabilia which still resides somewhere in obscurity today.
Efforts to Find the Missing Instrument
When Prince’s iconic guitar went missing in late 2019, fans of the rock legend were determined to locate it. A massive effort was launched to track down the beloved instrument and thousands of fans combed through online forums and websites looking for clues.
Various charities such as Find That Guitar donated money towards a reward offered to anyone who could provide information leading to the recovery of the guitar. Music industry professionals such as Billy Corgan also pledged their support and dedicated time to helping search for the lost instrument. As well, many musicians joined forces with charitable organizations like Reverb Foundation in their mission to find the much sought-after guitar.
The worldwide investigation that ensued has been fascinating both musically and historically – so much so that a documentary is currently being made about it. With interviews from people across all genres, it’s sure to be an entertaining account of what transpired when one of music’s most legendary guitars went missing.
Possible Theories and Suspects Behind the Theft
Since Prince’s iconic guitar was reported stolen in October 2019, the world has been left wondering who could have possibly taken it. Although there are many suspects, some of them stand out among the rest.
One plausible suspect is George Harrison of The Beatles fame. As one of the most celebrated music stars of all time, Harrison had a close relationship with Prince and likely had the skills to pull off such a heist. He had access to Prince’s studio where the prized instrument was located and therefore could have easily made away with it unnoticed. While this theory has not been proven yet, its plausibility makes it an intriguing possibility that should not be discounted by authorities as they investigate further.
Another potential culprit is Jeff Beck – another renowned musician who has performed alongside Prince several times over the years. Considering their history together, it is possible that Beck may have wanted to take the guitar for himself or perhaps even pass it on to someone else as a gesture of his friendship with Prince. Although no evidence exists linking him directly to this crime just yet, authorities would do well to consider him as a suspect given his familiarity with Prince and past behavior pattern when dealing with valuable items like this rare guitar from Paisley Park Studios.
Some speculate that an opportunistic thief simply saw an opportunity and took advantage of it without any prior motive or plan in mind. This idea cannot be ruled out either as no clear motive for stealing this particular item has been identified so far which makes thievery seem likelier than theft through premeditation or malice aforethought.
Alternative Guitars Used by Prince After the Loss
Since the untimely loss of his iconic guitar, Prince had to look elsewhere for an alternative. For a while, he opted to use guitars by Hohner – specifically their Pro Harp model. This accordion-style instrument was unusual in many ways but gave Prince a unique sound that was immediately recognisable as his own. It featured prominently on tracks such as ‘Little Red Corvette’ and ‘Raspberry Beret’.
The next instrument that Prince chose to take up was the Fender Telecaster. Though not as flashy or eye-catching as its predecessor, this model provided him with the traditional electric guitar tones he sought for more bluesy numbers like ‘When Doves Cry’. The two humbucker pickups were also versatile enough for various other songs from his vast catalogue.
We can’t forget about the Yamaha Synthaxe Guitar midi controller which allowed him to explore further into synth pop sounds on records such as ‘1999’. Featuring complex synthesisers and programmed sequences, it allowed him to create even more exciting and varied music than ever before. Despite never finding another replacement quite like it, these other instruments enabled Prince to continue pushing boundaries within popular music long after losing his original guitar.
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