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