Purple rain amp settings — Harley benton DNAfx Git Core

The Prince guitar tone for “Purple rain”, dialed in for a Harley benton DNAfx Git Core with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio album/First Avenue recording version (1984), iconic outro solo

Original rig

Hohner MadCat Telecaster into Boss DS-1 / SD-1, Boss BF-2 Flanger, Boss DM-2 Delay, Mesa/Boogie Mark II head into Bag End D12-M 2x12 cab

Saturated, singing 80s lead distortion with mid-range bloom, mild modulation, and ambient delay/reverb

Amp settings — Harley benton DNAfx Git Core

CHANNELMesa Mark-style Lead amp model (M-Boogie / US Lead) + 2x12 Mesa/V30 Cab IRBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	5
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01DS-1 style Distortion Block (DS Orange)

Engaged in front of the amp model to replicate Prince's Boss DS-1 lead saturation

Tone 5 · Level 7 · Dist 6

02BF-2 style Flanger Block

Subtle jet/chorus movement behind the lead notes

Rate 3 · Depth 4 · Resonance 3 · Manual 5

03Analog Delay Block (DM-2 style)

Warm analog repeats sitting behind the dry lead signal

Time 4 · Feedback 4 · Mix 3

04Hall Reverb Block

Replicates the lush First Avenue hall ambiance

Decay 6 · Tone 5 · Mix 4

Why these settings

The DNAfx Git Core replicates Prince's rig by chaining a DS-1 distortion block into a Mesa Mark lead model, providing the signature infinite sustain and compressed singing tone. Your Stratocaster's neck pickup provides the thick, fluty body Prince achieved on the solo, while rolling tone to 8 prevents top-end fizz on the modeler. The subtle flanger block is essential to mimic Prince's trademark Boss BF-2 movement.

PRO TIPPrince leaned heavily on wide, aggressive finger vibrato and deliberate pick harmonics to make long sustained notes bloom into musical feedback during the outro.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley benton DNAfx Git Core. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.