Prince’s vast collection of musical instruments and memorabilia continues to captivate fans and collectors alike. Now, one of his prized guitars, a 1985 Sadowsky T-style, is going up for auction. Julien’s Auctions is handling the sale, offering a rare chance to own a piece of Prince’s musical legacy.
The guitar, bearing serial number 179, is a standout with its metallic purple finish and intricate floral artwork by Wayne Jarrett. Prince acquired the instrument shortly after the Purple Rain tour, and it became famous for its appearance in the music video for “America” and its use during the Parade tour.
According to the official statement from Julien’s Auctions:
“In 1984, Roger Sadowsky began crafting six Telecaster-style guitars for the Purple Rain and Parade tours, based on the Hohner HG-490 ‘MadCat’ model that Prince was known for. Four of these guitars were MadCat replicas, including two ‘ejaculators’ equipped with copper tubing that shot out a white, soapy liquid, creating a dramatic effect during Purple Rain performances. The final two guitars featured floral-themed artwork by Wayne Jarrett—one in pink and the other in purple.”
John Woodland, a Prince historian, added:
“The pink guitar didn’t get much use and was eventually displayed at Paisley Park. However, the purple floral Sadowsky became iconic, appearing in the ‘America’ music video and frequently used by Prince and Wendy during the 1986 Parade tour. Of the six guitars Sadowsky made for Prince, the purple floral one was the most played and is also featured on the cover of Duane Tudahl’s book.”
Before being auctioned, this guitar was owned by Prince’s drummer Sheila E., who acquired it before the Lovesexy tour in 1988.
In terms of specifications, the guitar boasts a 25.5-inch Fender-style scale length, a maple neck, and 24 frets. Notably, the guitar’s position markers are hand-painted floral designs rather than standard inlays. The body is crafted from alder, and it prominently features Wayne Jarrett’s signature artwork.
This unique piece of music history is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000. As of now, the bidding has reached $50,000 after three bids.
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