Jimi Hendrix Guitars: Complete Fender Marshall Setup Guide

Marshall and Fuzz Face: The Instruments That Created the Psychedelic Sound of the '60s

Jimi Hendrix remains the absolute icon of electric guitar, a virtuoso who forever transformed how the instrument is conceived. His revolutionary approach masterfully fused traditional blues, psychedelic rock, and sonic experimentation through the masterful use of Fender guitars, Marshall amplifiers, and a selection of effects that defined the sound of the '60s and '70s.

Hendrix's legend is built around his symbiotic relationship with the Fender Stratocaster, an instrument he exploited in ways never seen before. His innovative technique included using his teeth, controlled feedback, and techniques like extreme bending that redefined the expressive possibilities of electric guitar.

The American guitarist made famous the use of the Fuzz Face, a distortion pedal that created that saturated and aggressive sound characteristic of his style. The combination of fuzz distortion and tube amplifiers pushed to their limits generated previously unheard sonorities, paving the way for psychedelic rock and hard rock.

Hendrix demonstrated how controlled feedback could become an expressive tool rather than mere noise. His ability to manipulate feedback through body and guitar positioning relative to amplifiers created sonic effects that became an integral part of his musical language.

Hendrix's instrumentation wasn't just a means to produce music, but an extension of his artistic personality. Every vintage effect used, from the Cry Baby wah-wah to analog delays, contributed to creating soundscapes that anticipated future musical developments.

His influence on musical culture goes beyond instrumental technique: Hendrix transformed live performance into a multisensory experience, where distortion and special effects became part of the show. The famous Woodstock performance in 1969 represents the pinnacle of this philosophy, where technology and art merge into a single creative expression.

Legendary Discographic References

Jimi Hendrix's discographic legacy is immortalized in recordings that redefined rock standards. "Purple Haze" (Are You Experienced, 1967) showcases his innovative use of the Fuzz Face and extreme bending techniques. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (Electric Ladyland, 1968) highlights his mastery in controlling feedback and using wah-wah expressively.

"All Along the Watchtower" demonstrates how he could reinterpret existing songs through his unique sonic approach, while "Machine Gun" (Band of Gypsys, 1970) represents the pinnacle of his experimentation with effects and controlled feedback. The Star-Spangled Banner performance at Woodstock remains a masterpiece of sonic manipulation and creative feedback.

Jimi Hendrix's Complete Instrumentation

Main Guitars

Fender Stratocaster 1968 White - His most iconic guitar, used at Woodstock
Fender Stratocaster Sunburst - Used for many studio recordings
Fender Stratocaster Black - For specific live performances
Gibson Flying V - Occasionally used for more aggressive sounds
Epiphone FT-79N - Acoustic guitar for tracks like "Hear My Train A Comin'"

Amplifiers

Marshall Super Lead 100W - Main stack for characteristic sound
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet - Cabinets with Celestion G12M speakers
Fender Twin Reverb - For cleaner recordings
Sunn Amplifier - Used in some recording sessions

Effects and Pedals

Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face - The fuzz pedal most associated with his sound
Vox Cry Baby Wah-Wah - Iconic '60s wah-wah
Univibe - For rotating and modulation effects
Octavia - Octave up effect created specifically for him
Various Fuzz Boxes - Different fuzz models for various textures

Accessories and Technical Setup

Heavy Picks - Preferred thick picks for attack
Fender Strings - .010-.038 set for bending maneuverability
Strap Locks - For stage acrobatics
Coil Cables - Characteristic spiral cables of the era

Curiosities About Jimi Hendrix

Why did Hendrix play guitar backwards? Hendrix was left-handed but played right-handed guitars flipped upside down, creating a unique attack angle on the strings and contributing to his distinctive sound. This technique also affected control and pickup placement.

Which amplifier made Hendrix's sound famous? The Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi" is the amplifier most associated with his sound. Hendrix pushed these amps to maximum volume to achieve natural distortion and controlled feedback.

What is the Octavia effect that Hendrix used? The Octavia was a custom pedal created by Roger Mayer that added an upper octave to the signal, creating that "alien" sound heard in "Purple Haze" and "Fire."

How did he achieve those controlled feedback sounds? Hendrix used body and guitar positioning relative to amplifiers to control feedback, often approaching speaker cones to generate specific frequencies.

Which wah-wah pedal did he mainly use? The original Vox Cry Baby from the '60s, which had a different response than modern models. He used it for both rhythmic effects and expressive leads like in "Voodoo Child."