Publication: Minneapolis Star Tribune [US]
Date: December 15, 1996
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Title: "Guitarmaker Says Prince Picked, But Didn't Pay"
Written By: Cheryl Johnson

If Ferdinand Pickett gets his way, Symbolina's gonna be singing the blues over his guitar. Pickett, a Chicago guitarmaker, said that he designed the symbol guitar that Prince Rogers Nelson plays in concerts and has been quietly pursuing the rock star in Chicago federal court over the matter. "I met Prince in 1993 at [a] Chicago theater. I gave him a prototype. I told one of his agents by the name of Gilbert Davison, that if he [Prince] was to use it, he was to give me $10,000. If not, he was to send it back." A year later, Pickett said he read a magazine article where credit for the guitar was given to somebody else. Among the copies of documents Pickett faxed me were a copyright registration on the sculpted guitar and a notation showing Judge Milton Shadur's denial last week of Prince's motion for summary judgment. A 1997 trial is scheduled, said Pickett. "Now they are trying to settle again," said Pickett. "I want it settled at my demand not his. We've been in court for three years. I love making guitars; this is what I do. That's mental cruelty to use something of somebody's for three years, display it and tell the world that someone else created it." Prince's NYC attorney Michael Elkin said, "We believe Pickett's claim to be invalid. In no way was his guitar copied. We believe we will be vindicated as the case goes forward. This is a sad, unfortunate, opportunistic attempt to extort money."