What guitar did Prince use on I Wanna Be Your Lover?

Prince used a Hohner MadCat guitar, which was one of his signature instruments. The MadCat was a Telecaster-style guitar with single-coil pickups that provided the bright, funky tone heard on the track.

How to get Prince's guitar tone on I Wanna Be Your Lover?

Use a Telecaster-style guitar with single-coil pickups through a Roland JC-120 amp or similar clean amp with high headroom. Add a Boss CE-1 chorus pedal or similar vintage chorus effect for the shimmery width. Blend DI and amp signals for clarity and presence.

What chorus pedal did Prince use in the late 70s?

Prince used a Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, which was one of the first chorus pedals available. The CE-1 provided the wide, shimmering chorus effect that became a signature part of his early clean guitar sounds.

What amp did Prince use for clean tones?

Prince frequently used the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amp for his clean tones. The JC-120 was known for its pristine clean sound, high headroom, and built-in chorus effect, making it perfect for funk and pop guitar parts.

Where was Prince's I Wanna Be Your Lover recorded?

The song was recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles with engineer David Rivkin. Prince produced the track himself, maintaining creative control over the sound and arrangements.

rhythm guitar from "i wanna be your lover" by prince

i wanna be your lover

prince

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A clean and funky guitar tone with a chorus effect, providing a shimmering and slightly psychedelic sound, sitting perfectly in the mix without overpowering.

Shop This Rig

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Hohner MadCat(instrument)
Roland JC-120(amp)
Boss CE-1(processing)

The Story

Prince's clean rhythm guitar sound on 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' was achieved using a Hohner MadCat guitar through a Roland JC-120 amp with a Boss CE-1 chorus pedal. The track was recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, with the guitar likely captured using both a direct input signal and mic'd cabinet to maintain clarity while adding warmth.

Production Credits

Producer: Prince

Engineer: David Rivkin

Recorded at: Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hohner MadCatShop on Reverb

Amp: Roland JC-120Shop on Reverb

Processing: Boss CE-1Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a clean guitar signal from a Hohner MadCat style guitar.
Use a Roland JC-120 amp model or similar clean amp.
Apply a chorus effect such as a Boss CE-1 or a similar chorus pedal to add width and shimmer to the sound.
Blend a direct input (DI) signal with the amp signal to maintain clarity and presence.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player TelecasterShop on Reverb$750-$850

Alternative to: Hohner MadCat guitar

Single-coil pickups deliver the bright, crisp attack needed for this funky clean tone

Roland JC-40Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Roland JC-120 amp

Modern version of the same Jazz Chorus circuitry with built-in chorus and pristine clean headroom

Boss CE-2W Waza CraftShop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 chorus

Recreates the vintage CE-1 chorus sound with both standard and vintage modes for that shimmery width

Neural DSP Archetype PliniPlugin Boutique$100-$150

Alternative to: Roland JC-120 amp

Includes high-quality clean amp models and chorus effects perfect for funky clean tones

TC Electronic Corona ChorusShop on Reverb$100-$130