Prince fans will soon have the chance to get their hands on a piece of the late American singer-songwriter‘s world.

An acoustic guitar Prince played when recording his Diamonds and Pearls album is set to go to auction at Gardiner Houlgate in March. This Fender Gemini II acoustic guitar comes from the personal collection of two British fans who acquired it directly from Sylvia Massy. The American producer notably worked with Prince during the recording of his 13th studio album, Diamonds and Pearls, at Paisley Park Studios.

prince guitar auction
This Fender Gemini II acoustic guitar once played by Prince is now headed to auction. (Image: Gardener Houlgate)

According to auctioneers Gardiner Houlgate, Sylvia Massy rented a selection of guitars for one of her sessions with the artist, hiding her own modest Fender Gemini II in a corner. But that didn’t stop Prince picking the humble instrument to record tracks like “Walk Don’t Walk.”

“Prince used the Gemini II on several other songs, and at the end of the sessions he casually directed his crew to pack the guitar up into one of his road cases. I don’t think he realised it was mine and assumed the rental company would just charge him for it. I noticed what Prince was doing, and said, ‘Excuse me, you can buy one of your own for US$200 (S$267); they aren’t that expensive.’ He smiled at me, and said, ‘But I want this one,'” recalls Sylvia Massy ahead of the sale.

prince guitar auction
Sylvia Massey’s letter certifying the authenticity of the guitar. (Image: Gardiner Houlgate)

Collectors can bid for the guitar March 10 when it goes up for auction at Gardiner Houlgate, where it is estimated to fetch £40,000 to £80,000 (approx. S$72,600 to S$145,201). Still, this Fender Gemini II is unlikely to break the record set by the artist’s “Blue Angel” Cloud 2 electric guitar, which sold for $563,500 in 2018, tripling its initial estimate.

(Main image: Prince/ Facebook; Featured image: Gardiner Houlgate)