Back to CommunityCreate Free Account
Riff Tone
Purple Rain (7" Single Edit) [2017 Remaster]
Prince & The Revolution
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarRickenbacker (hot-rodded with G&L pickups, exact model not specified)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark I (studio recording; some sources mention Mark IIC+ in Prince's rig, but Wendy Melvoin specifies Mark I for the original recording)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984. Wendy Melvoin played the riff section on a hot-rodded Rickenbacker with G&L pickups into a Boss CE-1 chorus and a Mesa/Boogie Mark I amp. This is for the original studio recording, not live or later performances.
Tone Character(10)
clean and lushbright and articulateshimmering modulationsnappy attackairy and openclear chord definitionminimal breakupchorus-soakedstudio-polisheddynamic and expressive
Difficulty
The riff requires clean, precise chord work with syncopated rhythms and dynamic control to let the chorus effect shine. While not technically advanced, the feel and articulation are critical for authenticity.
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarRickenbacker (hot-rodded with G&L pickups, exact model not specified)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark I (studio recording; some sources mention Mark IIC+ in Prince's rig, but Wendy Melvoin specifies Mark I for the original recording)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984. Wendy Melvoin played the riff section on a hot-rodded Rickenbacker with G&L pickups into a Boss CE-1 chorus and a Mesa/Boogie Mark I amp. This is for the original studio recording, not live or later performances.
Tone Character(10)
clean and lushbright and articulateshimmering modulationsnappy attackairy and openclear chord definitionminimal breakupchorus-soakedstudio-polisheddynamic and expressive
Difficulty
The riff requires clean, precise chord work with syncopated rhythms and dynamic control to let the chorus effect shine. While not technically advanced, the feel and articulation are critical for authenticity.