A 1985 Sadowsky Telecaster style electric guitar, serial #179, in metallic purple finish with floral artwork by Wayne Jarrett. Made for Prince during and delivered shortly after the Purple Rain tour which concluded in 1985. The guitar appeared in Prince’s “America” music video filmed in October of 1985 in Nice, France. The Purple Sadowsky Tele was then used onstage by Prince during the Parade Tour which began on March 3rd, 1986 and ended on September 9th of the same year. It can be seen in the hands of Prince as well as guitarist Wendy Melvoin in footage and photographs taken during the tour. The guitar is also featured on the cover of Duane Tudahl’s book Prince and the Parade and Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986.
In 1984, Roger Sadowsky began building the first of six Telecaster-style instruments for the Purple Rain and Parade tours based on the Hohner HG-490 “MadCat” model with which Prince was synonymous. Four of those were MadCat replicas including two “ejaculators” made with copper tubing which ran up the neck and spat a white, soapy liquid which made for a climactic moment during performances of the Purple Rain tour; the last two were floral-themed guitars with artwork done by Wayne Jarrett, one in pink and the other in purple.
Prince guitar historian John Woodland tells us, “The pink guitar really didn’t get used all that much and was eventually put on display at Paisley Park. The purple floral Sadowsky is the guitar Prince is playing in the 1985 “America” music video and one that both he and Wendy frequently used on the Parade tour in 1986. Out of all six guitars Sadowsky made for Prince, the purple floral one saw the most use, and is the same guitar featured of the cover of Duane Tudahl’s book.”
At some point prior to the Lovesexy Tour in 1988, the guitar ended up in the possession of singer and percussionist Sheila E. In a letter addressed to Sheila E. in 1995, Sadowsky confirms that serial #179 is indeed one of several that he made for Prince.
A 25.5” scale length maple neck with 24 frets on a painted fretboard, hand painted flower position markers, a graphite nut, two string trees, and six chrome Gotoh sealed gear tuners. Along with the entire neck, the alder body is painted in metallic purple and covered in floral artwork by Wayne Jarrett, who signed and dated his work ’85 on the lower treble side bout. The three ply pickguard is also painted purple with the floral motif, and a bridge pickup surround of the same material and finish is mounted around the bridge just like Prince’s Hohner MadCat. The guitar has a chrome DiMarzio hard tail bridge, a chrome control plate and knobs, a three way selector switch plus master volume and tone controls.
The guitar was originally equipped with two Seymour Duncan vintage-style staggered pole Stratocaster pickups, but the bridge pickup has been swapped for a Hot Rail, likely done at Prince’s request to match the output level of his EMG-equipped Cloud guitars. The guitar was also modified with an additional two-way on/off toggle switch which activates an on-board Demeter MB-2 mid boost, which requires a 9v battery to operate (not included). The back of the guitar has a cavity for Prince’s Nady wireless pack which was routed prior to finishing along with a matching cover plate. Includes a black hardshell case with black interior.
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