The man who made Prince’s last guitar

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  • čas přidán 25. 04. 2016
  • Prince’s last guitar was made by Simon Farmer, AKA Gus of Gus Guitars. He hand-made the custom Purple Special nine years ago, but only got it to Prince a few weeks ago. In a photo taken five days before his death, Prince is showing Gus’s guitar off to a select audience at Paisley Park. In this exclusive video, Gus talks to us from his small studio in East Sussex
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Komentáře • 246

  • @patrickfoster4586
    @patrickfoster4586 Před 8 lety +354

    I'm sure he would have told you what a great guitar it was. He would have never played it on stage if he didn't really like it. It's not as if he couldn't have any guitar he wanted so you should feel very honored. Congratulations on your excellent work, it is such a shame he was unable to use it longer than he did.

    • @jackals1982
      @jackals1982 Před 8 lety +8

      +Patrick Foster bravo i second that.

    • @shelbyblue61
      @shelbyblue61 Před 8 lety +15

      I hope to see this beautiful guitar when Paisley park is open to the public

    • @kanisaw3505
      @kanisaw3505 Před 7 lety +11

      It's on the Piano and Microphone stage in the soundstage room and it is absolutely STUNNING in person!

    • @officergregorystevens5765
      @officergregorystevens5765 Před 7 lety

      I wonder if Prince would have sounded better on a Rick Turner guitar (custom made like Lindsey Buckingham uses.. and also John mcVie, fleetwood mac's bass player uses some of their basses custom made).

    • @th4305
      @th4305 Před 7 lety +1

      KaNisa W you're not allowed to take pics are you? Would love to get a shot of it

  • @rickyvalenzuela4481
    @rickyvalenzuela4481 Před 7 lety +104

    Prince holding your guitar on stage man that's priceless.... wow!!!

  • @generalruckus
    @generalruckus Před 8 lety +287

    this man is a legend in his own right

  • @bambijay4121
    @bambijay4121 Před 5 lety +14

    I just came back from Paisley Park and the thing that caught my eye the most was this guitar, it's right there on display in the lobby, I bet he was so happy when he received it, what an amazing job you did, 💜

  • @aprilwelch6610
    @aprilwelch6610 Před 7 lety +10

    I was in the front when he held up your guitar, it was beautiful and we were trying to get him to play it just a bit for us. He said he was focused on the piano and practicing to get better for his tour. (imagine the best ever still striving to be better) I would have loved to hear him play it, it was clear he really liked it. He pretended like he was going to let us touch it then he pulled it back quickly like "this beauty is mine...for later"

  • @athenatheshewolf
    @athenatheshewolf Před 8 lety +271

    He should be making a lot more money for handcrafted guitars :(

    • @Guitarherochibi
      @Guitarherochibi Před 7 lety +25

      When they cost about $10,000 US plus and most people who play only dream of owning one or buy something within their means. It's hard for independent luthiers to make their craft full time. There is a niche market for it though, it's small.

    • @mipmipmipmipmip
      @mipmipmipmipmip Před 7 lety +3

      With a supply chain that involves delivery 9 years after completion of the fabrication, no wonder he's not having a huge business! ;)

    • @randymarzen6836
      @randymarzen6836 Před 6 lety

      Hawkeye Report

    • @jeffries1232
      @jeffries1232 Před 5 lety

      @@Guitarherochibi some of those guitars are around 25k

    • @jazzman688
      @jazzman688 Před 3 lety

      His passion is his payment rare statement

  • @skygazer6898
    @skygazer6898 Před 7 lety +17

    I remember reading about Simon making this guitar for Prince. Watching this makes me feel sad that Simon never got the chance to see Prince perform with it. Bittersweet memories thats for sure!!

  •  Před 7 lety +86

    The design is nothing short of amazing.

  • @prepstein
    @prepstein Před 5 lety +3

    I cry everytime I watch this. He was my close personal friend and colleague for eleven years and to this day I still feel like I am on a lonely cloud sometimes without him.

  • @MakeArtNotWar2023
    @MakeArtNotWar2023 Před 8 lety +13

    That is a beautiful work of art. I'm drooling over its design. I'm an artist, so I can appreciate the time it took for him to produce it. It's sad we didn't get to see and hear him play it live and Simon didn't get to have that talk with him.

  • @sixstringlove8242
    @sixstringlove8242 Před 8 lety +33

    Those are works of art. When he said that there is a certain joy about making guitars, he wasn't bullshitting. One of my passions is creating my own custom guitars. I don't have a wood shop, so I buy the bodies and necks from Warmoth, which makes stunning creations. I do the fretwork, finish, assembly and all the wiring myself. My hands are covered with solder burn marks. When I am finished and plug it in for the first time, it's like being there when your kid is born (not really, but you know what I mean. Nothing is like a person being born) And you hear that newborn for the first time...MAGIC! But what I do is nothing like this guy. These are just on a whole other level

    • @einarabelc5
      @einarabelc5 Před 7 lety +4

      Six String Löve Why would you burn by soldering a few electronic components? Ever thirty thought about taking a class for v that?

    • @scotty362100
      @scotty362100 Před 5 lety +1

      Sorry, but you are assembling pre-made guitar parts, NOT creating Custom Guitars! And if you have burn marks all over your hands from a few little solder joints....you are doing something WRONG!!!

    • @MaJuice209
      @MaJuice209 Před 2 lety

      @@scotty362100 let him have his fun!

  • @batmanbill1
    @batmanbill1 Před 8 lety +77

    Beautiful guitar! I'm sure it will end up in the Paisley Park Museum.

  • @therealawakener7
    @therealawakener7 Před 7 lety +45

    That axe is the business, it oozes 'Prince'. Even the case is as ostentatious as he was. I bet he friggin' loved it. It's just a shame he never got to write some more fantastic music on it, gutting. R.I.P. Prince arguably the best musically gifted recording artist of the 20th century.

    • @monsieurboks
      @monsieurboks Před 7 lety +1

      LMA UK That last statement is very controversial. The 20th century was a long period of time.

  • @AmeliaAshley
    @AmeliaAshley Před 7 lety +4

    The guitar is breath taking! I'm sure Prince loved it.

  • @TheNinjagirl95
    @TheNinjagirl95 Před 7 lety +1

    It's on display now at Paisley Park. It's gorgeous. So unique.

  • @michaeljulien4274
    @michaeljulien4274 Před 8 lety +85

    It's a beautiful guitar! Would of so wished that Simon could have had that conversation with Prince. :( #PrinceGoneTooSoon Simon, your guitar creations are stunning, man!

  • @bones3988
    @bones3988 Před 4 lety +2

    My uncle who I've never met (my moms brother) Zeke Clark also built a guitar for him. He worked with Prince for awhile.

  • @oaktree313
    @oaktree313 Před 5 lety +1

    Who knows maybe the fact he's holding the guitar shows hes appreciating the guitar & maybe he was about to debut a new song at some stage with this guitar & he did love his guitars

  • @MrGordonGartrelle
    @MrGordonGartrelle Před 7 lety +5

    We saw your guitar displayed in the soundstage of Paisley Park this weekend.

  • @claudiasamuels9605
    @claudiasamuels9605 Před 8 lety

    Oh my!! You made a beautiful guitar for him, I know it is bittersweet now that he's gone and didn't get much chance to play it, but I bet he held, gazed, and played it a bit in the studio, I couldn't imagine him knowing he wouldn't get to play that beautiful work for his fans! The purple you used is so lovely, thanks for sharing

  • @buddhistarmy
    @buddhistarmy Před 8 lety +5

    keep up the good work!

  • @markd4768
    @markd4768 Před 5 lety +1

    Beautiful 🎸🎼

  • @AxiomApe
    @AxiomApe Před 5 lety +2

    Simon Farmer of Gus Guitars you are incredibly talented. That is an absolutely beautiful guitar.

  • @luizmaranhao4824
    @luizmaranhao4824 Před 8 lety +2

    Fantastic artist! Your guitars are amazing!

  • @ellisacklin514
    @ellisacklin514 Před 3 lety +1

    Beautiful instrument. He had so much music left in him to share and that guitar looks like it would have been a part of it. Just tragic in all ways 💜

  • @georgegeorgopoulos6014

    One of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen! Beautiful story!

  • @anuncolonizedmind6296
    @anuncolonizedmind6296 Před 4 lety +1

    Wow! That guitar is gorgeous! He is as talented at making guitars, as prince is at making music. He should be making a Fortune 💜

  • @MichaelMaxwell747
    @MichaelMaxwell747 Před 8 lety

    I love your passion for what you do!

  • @tuskbedro
    @tuskbedro Před 7 lety +1

    Beautiful,... What a talented man,... Like Wow,...

  • @vivelafrance7968
    @vivelafrance7968 Před 8 lety +13

    That's a beautiful guitar you designed and created for him. It's great you saw that picture of him holding it up proudly. He probably wanted to call you (as one artist to another) & to tell you how much he liked it & to ask you to do a specific feature detail on the next of many he'd order from you.

  • @Lalabean65
    @Lalabean65 Před 8 lety +6

    I wish you too could have spoke with him...

  • @LM-fb4kj
    @LM-fb4kj Před 2 lety +1

    Absolutely Stunning.🎸🎸💟💜☮️

  • @BiRDiEHere
    @BiRDiEHere Před 6 lety +2

    I'm happy for this guy to make Prince's last guitar. Good work man! :)

  • @DJkevinvega
    @DJkevinvega Před 7 lety +1

    great looking guitar!

  • @CraigMansfield
    @CraigMansfield Před 7 lety

    Ohhh respect to you.
    The guitar looked amazing.

  • @RandomNest
    @RandomNest Před 8 lety

    Wow! What an honor it must have been for the maker to his work in Prince's hand in the last photo taken of him live on stage. Wow!

  • @SteveV74
    @SteveV74 Před 7 lety

    Beautiful guitars!!

  • @p1nesap
    @p1nesap Před 4 lety

    Neat interview.

  • @YardenZada
    @YardenZada Před 5 lety

    the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen!! unbelievable craftsmanship, truly a time piece much like hand build swiss watches, never seen such craftsmanship
    stunning!

  • @veerchasm1
    @veerchasm1 Před 5 lety +1

    Losing Prince was devastating. The fact that this guitar maker will not be able bless Prince with more tools of creation is sad 😢

  • @carrrexx7190
    @carrrexx7190 Před 5 lety

    Gorgeous 🎶

  • @willisjr12169
    @willisjr12169 Před 5 lety

    So heartbreaking Prince I miss you so much brother. God bless sir!!

  • @nv1493
    @nv1493 Před 5 lety

    Beautiful craftsmanship by a very nice person.

  • @meloneymoore8856
    @meloneymoore8856 Před rokem +1

    Myself who is a long time skilled rock guitar player, I've had some Amazing custom built guitars myself. I often refer to my electric guitars as my best friends, intimate companions and my life long partners.

  • @davesgrowboxesuk7568
    @davesgrowboxesuk7568 Před 6 lety

    Outstanding workmanship.

  • @kelleydavis873
    @kelleydavis873 Před 5 lety

    I believe he really enjoyed your craftsmanship, he could have used any one of his guitars - it was yours he chose to use. I miss him so very badly, he was my all time favorite musician and he will remain my favorite until I am finished walking this planet. Blessings to you and congratulations on making it into his hands!!!

  • @heavystarch100
    @heavystarch100 Před rokem +1

    We lost a LOT💔💜💜💜

  • @BetoAzamar
    @BetoAzamar Před 7 lety

    So cool but so sad at the same time. Beautiful Guitar...

  • @africanhistory
    @africanhistory Před 8 lety

    Sad story about a beautiful artist and a beautiful instrument

  • @tdalb8985
    @tdalb8985 Před 6 lety

    A piece of art.

  • @AxiomApe
    @AxiomApe Před 5 lety +1

    Wow. What an interesting story. I am glad he at least got the guitar as well. A bit bittersweet.

  • @kakaited
    @kakaited Před 6 lety

    a humble man ... with great job

  • @nyabinghidjehutti8855
    @nyabinghidjehutti8855 Před 8 lety

    Wow! I would love to have a guitar like that!

  • @joanmilton9986
    @joanmilton9986 Před 7 lety

    That guitar is beautiful. I'm sure he loved.

  • @piijay14
    @piijay14 Před 3 lety

    Whatta awesome story!

  • @brianangeht
    @brianangeht Před 6 lety

    Very humble guy

  • @vanderson5226
    @vanderson5226 Před 8 lety

    that guitar is beautiful. wow.

  • @angelomelville9084
    @angelomelville9084 Před 4 lety +3

    Give this man a Lifetime Pension and a street with his name.

  • @mungogerryjnr
    @mungogerryjnr Před 2 lety

    He did get the guitar ❤️😎

  • @paulvanduivenbode2112
    @paulvanduivenbode2112 Před 8 lety

    Prince's own purple cloud is now for sale on ebay! incredible!!

  • @katkal3
    @katkal3 Před 8 lety

    great craftsman

  • @MichaelSmith-ow9rw
    @MichaelSmith-ow9rw Před 6 lety

    Beautiful guitar. :)

  • @walterharris4681
    @walterharris4681 Před 8 lety

    If he was still alive, I would have wished that he did a photo shoot with it like he has done with his other guitars. Now we only have 1 picture - a back view of him with it (showing it to his fans) at one of his last concerts.

  • @patrickmanning2591
    @patrickmanning2591 Před rokem

    💜I got to hold this guitar at Paisley Park on my ultimate tour.Bruno Mars now owns the matching Bass

  • @pippipster6767
    @pippipster6767 Před 6 lety

    He was a great guitar player - and that guitar was right up his street.
    Sad loss.

  • @Whosthatgirly
    @Whosthatgirly Před 6 lety +1

    cette guitare est d un raffinement et d une beautée !...........

  • @LEBARRON2009
    @LEBARRON2009 Před 8 lety

    ...BEAUTIFUL GUITAR !

  • @richardvictor9597
    @richardvictor9597 Před 3 lety +2

    I read somewhere that next Prince´s guitar would be a Harley Benton Dullahan. Not sure though.

  • @ABN6565
    @ABN6565 Před 7 lety

    Man I miss my brother. never thought he'd effect me like this

  • @officergregorystevens5765

    Props for using a Roland Cube to do the testing :)

  • @desmusiqabouttheebass9600

    Cool!

  • @fixxtorque4157
    @fixxtorque4157 Před 5 lety

    What magic this man creates

  • @user-pz1ib2qt8v
    @user-pz1ib2qt8v Před 7 lety

    futuristic, elegant guitar....

  • @fenno1979
    @fenno1979 Před 8 lety

    Awesome

  • @KOPunch-xb3tp
    @KOPunch-xb3tp Před 7 lety

    man, your work is bad ass !!! I would love to pay you to make a bass for me !!!

  • @mance02
    @mance02 Před 6 lety

    I need that black and gold joint.

  • @cyberghost4043
    @cyberghost4043 Před 3 lety

    This man made the most epic guitars that screams beautiful notes

  • @tonydanza5495
    @tonydanza5495 Před 7 lety

    what an incredible human being

  • @MusicMikeRay
    @MusicMikeRay Před 8 lety

    Nice!

  • @rickyvalenzuela4481
    @rickyvalenzuela4481 Před 7 lety

    True genius

  • @davidpinto8520
    @davidpinto8520 Před 3 lety

    I've lost mobility on my left leg. The pain is excruciating.

  • @thetruckersmanifesto3873

    There’s no doubt now.

  • @tristanambrester
    @tristanambrester Před 6 lety

    *woop ditty scoop*
    And cool guitar

  • @rmarielael4683
    @rmarielael4683 Před 8 lety

    What great craftsmanship Gus...simply a work of art. Where can we get one. How can I contact you. Keep up the great work...Prince maybe gone but thank you. God bless you.

  • @timenswijtink
    @timenswijtink Před 8 lety

    genuine

  • @richierich4604
    @richierich4604 Před 7 lety

    he had it at his last concert in Atl

  • @carmenarms4617
    @carmenarms4617 Před 8 lety

    Prince would have told you that is is a great guitar. You can tell he likes it very much because he is showing it off. It is a beautiful guitar Guss.

  • @johanndaart7326
    @johanndaart7326 Před 5 lety

    I'm a fan of more traditional style guitars, but this one is exceptional. In the context of other Prince guitars it's much slicker, streamlined and simple... While it's not simple at all, it's a complex, but elegant guitar. Amazing.

  • @ashpar21
    @ashpar21 Před 8 lety

    that guitar is sweet, glad Prince got to jam with it..

  • @michaeldavis2585
    @michaeldavis2585 Před 5 lety

    Sad for sure

  • @Whosthatgirly
    @Whosthatgirly Před 5 lety

    3 years ago...

  • @bolder2009
    @bolder2009 Před 5 lety

    Prince probably recorded with it in the short time he had it. Might have just noodled around, or jammed in the studio, and recorded to see what it sounded like on playback. That wouldn't surprise me.

  • @Lucait
    @Lucait Před 4 lety +1

    so sad :(

  • @omarm7969
    @omarm7969 Před 6 lety

    This is pretty intense..

  • @legoshi6531
    @legoshi6531 Před 5 lety

    Not even Dime knew this guy seriosly i just came here for that cool looking guitar

  • @KleyDeJong
    @KleyDeJong Před 8 lety

    Anyone know or have a link to that performance of Purple Rain that is played a few times in this video?

    • @funyun000
      @funyun000 Před 8 lety

      yeah thats from 1 of his old arsenio hall performances.

    • @LandingNow
      @LandingNow Před 8 lety

      its his most viewed purple rain preformance

    • @shemeciahaskell322
      @shemeciahaskell322 Před 8 lety

      +Heavy Gauge actually Prince's Superbowl Purple Rain performance is the most viewed.

  • @kiuakakirstine8257
    @kiuakakirstine8257 Před 5 lety +2

    Prince had so many differed guitars. Some acoustic, some electric, some really nice and a bunch of awful guitars.
    💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜❤️ may he play in peace!

  • @eeshsinger
    @eeshsinger Před 5 lety

    the dude makes cool guitars where can i buy one

  • @GregRickard
    @GregRickard Před 6 lety

    Looks amazing. Anyone know what the price was?

  • @bda2317
    @bda2317 Před 6 lety

    Beautiful Guitar