Purple Rain by Prince — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate Prince's iconic 'Purple Rain' tone, we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s and the Fender Mustang LT25. The Strat's single-coil pickups will provide the bright, articulate sound needed, while the Mustang's modeling capabilities will approximate the Mesa/Boogie Mark II's saturated tube crunch. We'll use the amp's built-in effects for chorus, delay, and reverb to capture the lush, atmospheric quality of the song.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | The neck pickup provides a warm, clean tone ideal for the intro. |
| Master Volume | 7 | Set to 7 for a balanced output without overpowering the effects. |
| Tone 1 | 4 | Dialed to 4 to keep the highs smooth and avoid harshness. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amplifier
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [08] SOLO MIDBOOST | This preset offers a mid-forward lead tone similar to the Mesa/Boogie Mark II. |
| Gain | 5 | Set to 5 to achieve a saturated tube crunch with singing sustain. |
| Volume | 5 | Balanced to maintain dynamics and responsiveness. |
| Treble | 6 | Set to 6 to ensure bright and articulate highs without harshness. |
| Bass | 4 | Set to 4 to keep the low end tight and focused. |
| Master | 5 | Balanced to allow for expressive dynamics and sustain. |
| Effects | Chorus, Delay, Reverb | Engage chorus, delay, and reverb for the lush, atmospheric quality of the song. Set chorus depth to 5, delay time to 450 ms, and reverb level to 6. Using the amp's Menu Button and Preset Select, open the effects list to reach it. Press Save Button to keep it in this preset. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Intro Clean
The intro features a clean and atmospheric tone, setting a soft mood.
- the pedal: Gain → 3
What Prince actually used
Prince's 'Purple Rain' was recorded live at First Avenue in Minneapolis on August 3, 1983, using his Hohner 'Mad Cat' guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier. The performance was captured by the Record Plant's mobile recording unit, and additional overdubs and mixing were completed at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles.
- Hohner HG-490 'Mad Cat' — main. Used for lead and rhythm parts
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ — main. Primary amplifier for live performance
- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble — modulation. Used for chorus effects
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah — expression. Used for wah effects
- UREI 1176LN Limiting Amplifier — compression. Applied during mixing
- dbx 160 Compressor — compression. Applied during mixing
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwcP76w2HDs
- https://guitarcloud.org/era/purple-rain
- https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-prince-and-revolutions-purple-rain-366056
- https://www.vintagedigital.com.au/classic-track/purple-rain/