Object of the Day

Prince's Yellow Cloud Electric Guitar

February 23

Custom-made in 1989 by the Minneapolis, Minnesota, firm of Knut-Koupee Enterprises, this yellow-cloud electric guitar was designed and used by musician Prince.

Prince's Yellow Cloud Electric Guitar

Description
In 1983, Prince hired the Minneapolis, Minnesota guitar company Knut-Koupee Enterprises to build this, likely his first “Cloud” guitar, the bold shape of which was inspired by a unique bass guitar designed in 1972 by Jeff Levin of Sardonyx Guitars. Originally painted white, the guitar debuted in Prince’s breakout film, Purple Rain, and later was painted peach when Prince unveiled his 1987 album, Sign o' the Times. Like Prince’s genre-defying music, it features a flamboyantly fluid shape, with fretboard markers along the neck of the guitar (later added) that combine male and female symbols.
Data Source
National Museum of American History
user
Prince
maker
Haugen, Barry
Rusan, David
Knut-Koupee Enterprises, Inc.
date made
1983
Credit Line
Gift of Paisley Park Enterprises
Physical Description
paint (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
brass (overall material)
metal (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 38 1/2 in x 11 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in; 97.79 cm x 29.21 cm x 6.985 cm
Object Name
guitar
Electric Guitar used by Prince