| To most people the truth about when Jimi | | | | most likely is the reason the Fender |
| Hendrix got his first guitar and what types | | | | Stratocaster is the most important guitar in |
| of guitars he played throughout his career is | | | | the history of guitars and music. |
| somewhat of a mystery. Although, he was | | | | |
| unarguably the greatest guitar player ever, | | | | From then on he played Fender Stratocasters |
| and with his fertile musical mind, perhaps | | | | with large headstocks. One of his many |
| the greatest composer of our generation or | | | | unusual playing techniques was to play a |
| ever for that matter. No disrespect intended, | | | | right handed guitar backwards, or in the left |
| putting Jimi in company with Bach, Beethoven | | | | handed position, obviously because Jimi was |
| and the likes. True Genius. | | | | left handed. In order to do that one must |
| | | | reverse the strings and (bone) nut so the low |
| The path that will be described here is what | | | | E was still on the top. My understanding was |
| I would consider the most accurate, after a | | | | that he preferred the controls on the top of |
| lot of research and a little voodoo-magic. | | | | the guitar. Apparently he could work his |
| Realistically though, boiling down the | | | | magic easier with the voluminous amount of |
| mixture may leave some people to disagree | | | | tricks he performed, partly by messing with |
| with me, and I welcome the input. | | | | the volume control knob. Jimi was not much on |
| | | | tone controls or guitar setup. Mostly Jimi |
| The evidence and consistencies suggest that | | | | spent the bulk of time modifying his tremolo |
| his first guitar was a cheap acoustic his dad | | | | to do things like lower the pitch more than |
| gave to him, as early as eleven years old. | | | | usual and create trem sounds otherwise |
| The story goes as such, that even at a young | | | | unheard of. |
| age of six years, his school teacher | | | | |
| mentioned to his dad, Jimi obsesses over | | | | Naturally Jim Hendrix had purchased and |
| having a guitar so much that it may be | | | | played a tremendous assortment of guitars in |
| contributing to some mental health issues. | | | | his lifetime. During my fact finding mission, |
| Not to discount todays teachers, but that was | | | | this is the list of the other guitars Jimi |
| a very perceptive statement at that time. | | | | most likely owned and played; a Gibson |
| | | | ES-330, a Gibson Firebird, a Mosrite electric |
| His first electric guitar was bought from | | | | resonator guitar, a Guild 12 string acoustic, |
| Myers Music in Seattle in 1959. Professed to | | | | a Black Widow Spider acoustic, several |
| be a white, single pickup Supro Ozark. The | | | | Rickenbacker's including a bass Rick, a |
| next axe that Hendrix played was a red | | | | double neck Mosrite, a Hagstrom 8 string |
| Danelectro single pickup Silvertone, | | | | bass(it was the on played on Spanish Castle |
| nicknamed Betty Jean. In'62, while doing some | | | | Magic from the Axis Bold As Love album', a |
| gigs with the King Casuals in Tennessee, he | | | | '67 Gibson Flying V, a '67 Gretsch Corvette, |
| traded his Danelectro for an Epiphone | | | | a lefty Guild Starfire Deluxe, a Hofner |
| Wilshire, which had dual pickups and a glued | | | | electric, a '55 Gibson Les Paul, a Gibson |
| on mahogany neck with a solid mahogany body, | | | | Dove acoustic, a Martin acoustic, a '68 |
| as opposed to the bolt on Fender Stratocaster | | | | Gibson SG Custom and a black lefty Flying V. |
| guitar necks. | | | | Wow! |
| | | | |
| In 1964, Jimi would play rhythm guitar for | | | | It is not surprising that Jimi owned so many |
| the Isley Brothers. During this nine month | | | | guitars. The depth of knowledge and pure |
| gig, he finally got his first Fender guitar, | | | | unadulterated playing style was not limited |
| a blond'59 Duo-Sonic. He next played with | | | | to just electric guitars and Stratocasters. |
| Little Richard in '65, and briefly played a | | | | His unique abilities allowed him to play any |
| Fender Jazzmaster. However, he switched back | | | | guitar with the deep soul jarring vibes that |
| to a Dou-Sonic when he played with Curtis | | | | were all his. It would be unrealistic to |
| Knight and the Squires. Even though Jimi | | | | think he was limited to one style of guitar. |
| later returned to the Jazzmaster. | | | | Or for that matter, one type of music. Jimi's |
| | | | interest in music extended to the world of |
| A point of interest is that none of the gigs | | | | classical music as well. |
| he had with the bands mentioned above lasted | | | | |
| very long, because Jimi's guitar work stole | | | | Lost to many, is the fact that Jimi was one |
| the show. His unbelievable guitar abilities | | | | of the best rhythm guitarists ever, most folk |
| were noticed by all immediately, which took | | | | know him for his lead and solo guitar work, |
| the focus away from the musical-icons he | | | | he was also an adept bass player too. And |
| worked for. | | | | last, he was a master at the acoustic guitar, |
| | | | using chords in a manner unknown to mankind |
| Jimi purchased his first Strat from Manny's | | | | at that time. This combo of skills and |
| Music in New York in '66 in the summer. Early | | | | abilities produced the man who will be |
| on he would use a variety of CBS Strats with | | | | forever the patron saint of rock guitar. |
| rosewood fretboards. While he was staying in | | | | |
| Greenwich Village in late '66 and '67 he | | | | A long article to read indeed. A true joy |
| narrowed down his choices to a '60's era | | | | putting the info together. It turned out to |
| Reverse Fender Stratocasterblack or white | | | | be a long path to find the truth. Enjoy it. |
| Fender Strats using maple fretboards. Which, | | | | |