Funk rock
Prince
The Revolution, 1982 to 1987
A Boss-heavy board used with unusual discipline. The flanger is on almost every clean rhythm part, which is what gives those records their metallic shimmer, and the distortion only appears when a solo needs it.
$40 for the 1 of 4 in stock right now
The chain
Shown in conventional signal order rather than the order the sources list them, so it reads the way it would be wired: guitar on the left, amp on the right.
- 1
Boss DS-1 Distortion
Drive / fuzzSolo gain, switched in rather than left on.
- 2ModulationNo photo available
Boss BF-2 Flanger
ModulationThe metallic swirl behind the clean funk rhythm parts, and the most identifiable single texture on the board.
Not stocked by any store we track
Search the site - 3ModulationNo photo available
Boss CE-2 Chorus
ModulationFor the wider, softer clean parts where the flanger would be too obvious.
Not stocked by any store we track
Search the site - 4DelayNo photo available
Boss DD-2 Digital Delay
DelayShort, clean repeats, mixed low.
Not stocked by any store we track
Search the site
Documented on
1999
album · 1982
- Little Red Corvette
- 1999
Purple Rain
album · 1984
- Purple Rain
- When Doves Cry
- Let's Go Crazy
Sign o' the Times
album · 1987
- Sign o' the Times
- U Got the Look
Editorial gear history, assembled from interviews, rig rundowns, live photography and liner notes. Prince is not affiliated with Gear Avail and nothing here is an endorsement. Rigs change between tours and between takes, so this one is scoped to 1982 to 1987 rather than presented as a career-long setup. In most cases what is documented is that a pedal was on the board during those sessions or that tour, not that it is audible on a specific bar of a specific take.