Prince’s iconic Cloud guitar is going under the hammer

More than a handful of specimens from rock history will come under the hammer this June in Julien’s Auctions’ Music Icons 2020 event. Most notably, Prince’s custom-built 1984 Cloud guitar – which sits with a presale estimate of between $100,000 and $200,000.

According to Premier Guitar, the first Cloud guitar was built by Dave Rusan, who – then-based in Minneapolis – worked at Knut-Koupée Music, a store which Prince would frequent as a highschooler. Later on in his career, Prince would ask Rusan to build the iconic instrument – inspired by the design of a bass guitar referred to as the F Bass by its builder, Jeff Levin, formerly of Sardonyx Guitars.

The full catalogue of items that will be auctioned at the Music Icons 2020 event arrives later this May, but will include lyrics to Maxwell’s Hammer, penned by Paul McCartney; Door’s frontman Jim Morrison’s historic “Paris Journal”, which is “filled with handwritten thoughts and poems by [Morrison] shortly before his death”; and Johnny Cash’s Yamaha baby grand piano.

Last month, a televised Grammy salute to Prince was broadcasted to mark the fourth anniversary of the musician’s passing (21 April). The musical director of the evening was Sheila E., and featured an all-star lineup which included Earth, Wind and Fire, Beck, and St. Vincent.

If you’re not ready to drop that much money on a cloud guitar, fret not, as Schecter’s replica will run you $1,750.

Learn more about the Music Icons 2020 auction here.

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