For a very limited time only you have an opportunity to see six very rare and special guitars, among them a very unique and historic one that Prince has played. This special Music Icons Public Exhibition will be on view at Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, 401 Gay Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37219, Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT.
After nearly twenty years, Prince’s legendary Cloud 3 returns to the auction podium, joining alongside some of rock’s greatest guitars ever to come to auction. Julien’s re-discovery of the Cloud 3 guitar marks a pivotal moment in its remarkable history and reinstates its rightful status as an iconic symbol of the seven-time, GRAMMY-Award-winning music artist’s titanic career and rock ‘n’ roll heritage itself.
The yellow Cloud 3 stood as one of Prince’s centerpiece instruments, gracing the stages of his iconic tours from the mid-80s to the early 90s, including, Purple Rain, Parade, Sign of the Times, Lovesexy, and Diamonds & Pearls. Julien’s verified Cloud 3’s provenance by conducting a CT scan and interviewing Dave Rusan, the luthier behind its creation. It remains fully playable and carries a Certificate of Authenticity from Paisley Park. Prince’s Cloud 3 guitar is conservatively estimated to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000.
Prince’s Cloud 3 guitar is on display along with John Lennon’s Lost 1965 Help! Album Framus 12-String Hootenanny Acoustic Guitar, which was recently found in an attic after 50 years; Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson’s Historic 1965 Fender Telecaster Guitar, played by acoustic folk icon Bob Dylan when he “went electric” in 1966; Randy Bachman’s “American Woman” 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitar, the axe that gave birth to one of rock and roll’s greatest songs of all time; Steve Jones’ Sex Pistols 1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar; Mark Knopfler’s 1987 Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Guitar signed by Chet Atkins himself.
Be sure to go by and see these legendary instruments before they head to New York for a week-long exhibition May 22nd to May 28th. They, along with hundreds of other instruments and memorabilia, will have their historic auction on Wednesday, May 29th, and Thursday, May 30th, at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Learn more about the auction at: juliensauctions.com/en and about the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at: musicianshalloffame.com.
