Spike Lee sought Prince's signature on a guitar, only to receive an unexpected response
Prince's Iconic Auerswald Symbol Electric Guitar Arrives a Year Late for Spike Lee
In a surprising turn of events, filmmaker Spike Lee has received an Auerswald Symbol electric guitar, a instrument that Prince played extensively throughout the '90s. However, the guitar's provenance remains unclear, as it is unknown whether the one Lee received was the same one Prince used.
The Auerswald Symbol electric guitar was crafted by luthier Jerry Auerswald, who also built Prince's Model C and Cleo axes. The guitar, specifically a Gold model, features a maple body, locking tremolo, active single coil in the neck, and an EMG humbucker in the bridge.
The White model of the Auerswald Symbol electric guitar was prominently featured in the promo for Prince's 19th studio album, Emancipation. It is also worth noting that Prince had a penchant for Vox guitars, specifically the feature-laden semi-hollow HDC-77, and gifted one of these to musician Donna Grantis.
The Vox HDC-77 gifted by Prince to Grantis carries a hefty price tag of $350,000. Grantis had the privilege of performing the Purple Rain guitar solo with Prince watching.
In an unreleased documentary, it is suggested that Prince's While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was an "act of revenge." This act is believed to be a response to being snubbed by Rolling Stone.
Prince's unique taste in guitars also extended to Cloud guitars and a Sadowsky-made Telecaster. However, there is no documented evidence to suggest that he gifted electric guitars to people he respected, contrary to popular belief.
Spike Lee's interaction with Prince was mentioned on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, but the details of their relationship, including any potential gift exchanges, remain undisclosed.
Despite Prince's influence on countless guitarists, such as Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, the practice of gifting guitars as tokens of respect or admiration is not confirmed in the current search results. For more detailed or specific information about such occurrences, further targeted research may be needed.
The Auerswald Symbol electric guitar in question can be seen in the videos for Endorphinmachine and Gold. The guitar's history and significance continue to intrigue fans and music enthusiasts alike, offering a glimpse into the life and artistry of the late musical legend, Prince.
- Spike Lee recently received an Auerswald Symbol electric guitar, a model Prince was known to have played.
- The Auerswald Symbol guitar, specifically the Gold model, has a maple body, locking tremolo, active single coil in the neck, and an EMG humbucker in the bridge.
- Prominently featured in the promo for Prince's 19th studio album Emancipation, the White model of the Auerswald Symbol guitar is also worth mentioning.
- Apart from the Auerswald Symbol, Prince also had a preference for Vox guitars, specifically the HDC-77, which he gifted to musician Donna Grantis.
- Prince's unique taste in guitars extended to Cloud guitars and a Sadowsky-made Telecaster, but there's no documented evidence that he gifted guitars to his respected peers.
- Celebrities like Spike Lee and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram have been influenced by Prince's talent with the electric guitar, but the practice of gifting guitars as tokens of respect remains unclear in the larger context of pop-culture and music history.
