Jimi Hendrix's Gear Collection

One of Jimi's most famous guitars, used at the Woodstock Festival on August 18, 1969. Hendrix likely began using this guitar around late October or early November 1968. He continued using it throughout the 1969 North American tour, alternating between this white Strat, a black Strat, and occasionally some Gibson guitars.

In 1970, he gave the guitar to his drummer, Mitch Mitchell. From then on, it changed hands a few times before being acquired by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who established MoPOP in Seattle, where the guitar is now housed.

This Fender Stratocaster, known as "Black Beauty," was Jimi’s favorite guitar and the last one he was seen holding in photos taken by his girlfriend, Monika Dannemann, the day before his death. Hendrix began using the guitar in mid-October 1968, alongside the white "Woodstock" Strat, and continued using it until his death in 1970. The guitar stayed with Monika until her passing in 1996, then reportedly went to Uli Jon Roth of the Scorpions, whom she had married. It is unfortunately kept from public view almost entirely.

This Stratocaster was given to Frank Zappa by Hendrix’s roadie, Howard Parker, at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival. The story goes that Jimi burned the guitar either at the Astoria in March 1967 or possibly at the Ambassador Hotel in August, though it’s hard to prove anything beyond reasonable doubt. The guitar sat in Frank’s studio for years until he eventually decided to restore it. It now belongs to Frank's son, Dweezil.

This 1964 Fender Stratocaster was the only guitar Jimi brought with him when he traveled to the UK in September 1966. Since he hadn’t secured a work permit in advance, it’s believed that someone else - possibly Chas Chandler - brought the guitar over on his behalf. The Strat was a gift from Linda Keith, Keith Richards’ girlfriend at the time, and Jimi likely used it during the Are You Experienced studio sessions. It disappeared around March 1967, and its whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

Jimi used this guitar only twice, both at the Newport Pop Festival on June 20th and June 22nd, 1969. The guitar was assembled by luthier Neal Moser, who fitted a brand new Telecaster neck onto one of Jimi's white Stratocasters after its original neck broke. Since Fender didn’t have any Strat necks available at the time, Neal modified a Tele neck to fit the Strat body.

This was Jimi's first electric guitar, purchased by his father at Myers Music Shop in Seattle in 1959 for $89. Most notably, Hendrix played it with his band, The Rocking Kings. It was a Valco-made instrument with a simple design, a white finish, and a single pickup at the bridge. Unfortunately, the Supro was stolen from The Birdland Club's bandstand in 1960 and never recovered.

First seen around late 1968 at the Rhode Island Auditorium gig. From that point, it was used occasionally, most often on "Red House," up until the late 1969. It was a Custom SG model finished in white with 3 humbucking pickups, a large "batwing" pickguard, and a tremolo bridge. After Jimi's death, the guitar was sold and eventually ended up with the Hard Rock Cafe corporation. 

First seen in use around March 1967, this guitar was originally a stock Fiesta Red Stratocaster produced in 1963 or 1964, based on the headstock shape and logo design. Sometime in the summer of 1967, Jimi decided to paint the guitar himself, decorating it with floral patterns. In June of that year, he brought the guitar on stage at the Monterey Pop Festival, set it on fire, and then smashed it.

Jimi’s second electric guitar, acquired shortly after his Supro was stolen in 1960, was a dual-pickup Model 3022 Shorthorn finished in a bronze color. After joining the Army, Jimi had the guitar sent to him by his father, and at that point, he wrote "Betty Jean" on it as a tribute to his girlfriend at the time. He later sold the guitar to a fellow serviceman but continued borrowing it for a while after leaving the Army, until he saved enough money to buy a new guitar of his own.

This Flying V was first seen during The Monkees tour, but it didn't became one of Jimi's main go-to guitars until he returned to the UK in late August 1967. From then on he used it throughout the remainder of 1967 and into the early part of 1968. By March 1968, Jimi returned to playing Stratocasters almost exclusively, though he later switched things up by adding a Gibson Les Paul Custom to his collection. The Flying V was given to Mick Cox in 1969, and later sold at auction. Original paint is gone but it was at some point recreated by an artist.

Jimi acquired this guitar at Manny’s Music shop in New York sometime around 1966, with his girlfriend at the time, Carol Shiroky, reportedly purchasing it for him. Steven Roby's book Becoming Jimi Hendrix [p. 170] mentions that he broke the guitar following his breakup with Carol, which likely took place at Café Au Go Go in New York. At that point, he moved on to the Linda Strat.

Used for the first time at the Monterey Pop Festival on June 18, 1967. During this gig, Hendrix played the guitar on Killing Floor, Foxy Lady, Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone, Rock Me Baby, Hey Joe, Can You See Me, and The Wind Cries Mary. At the end of the concert, he switched to a red Stratocaster painted by himself and then set that guitar on fire after playing a cover of The Troggs' Wild Thing. This black Strat was used until October, when some accounts claim it was burned on stage at the Ambassador Hotel. However, that's just one version of the story, and the guitar's actual fate remains uncertain.

Jimi got this Duo-Sonic, his first actual Fender guitar, shortly before joining the Isley Brothers in 1964. The guitar was a gift from O'Kelly Isley. He used the guitar for a short while, as it was stolen just a couple of months after he received it. It was an early-to-mid-’60s model finished in white/cream color, featuring two pickups and a tremolo bridge, probably installed by Jimi himself. 

First seen at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on August 18, 1967. From that point, it was played on a few more occasions, but not as often as Jimi's main white Strat. This guitar seemed to be one Jimi used primarily at the end of his sets for his signature routine of smashing it against a Marshall stack. One such instance occurred at the Blackpool Opera House on November 25, 1967, which is also likely the last time this guitar was seen on stage.

Appeared in early 1967 and used throughout March, including the Marquee Club (March 2), Star Club, and likely the Astoria Theater on March 31, where Jimi first burned a guitar on stage, which was a different sunburst Stratocaster. This guitar was last seen on May 11, 1967, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, at which point it had a heavily worn finish. There is a slight possibility that this is the same guitar later given to Frank Zappa. 

This is the second of two red Fender Stratocasters Jimi used around May 1967 - the first one being the Monterey Strat. This one was primarily used during the May 1967 European tour, and it was smashed in Copenhagen on May 21, developing a crack across the body. It was later hand-painted by Jimi and completely destroyed at the Saville Theatre on June 4 after performing "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" in front of the Beatles.

Used by Hendrix around 1962, while he was playing with the King Casuals. It was among the first guitars he acquired after being discharged from the army, and he modified it by painting the pickguard white and applying tape to make it look like the guitar had block inlays instead of dot ones. He ended up selling the guitar to Reymond Ray, a local pawn shop owner, and then rented a different guitar from him instead. 

Jimi Hendrix began using a black 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom around April 1968, with the earliest known appearance at Symphony Hall in Newark on April 5. He likely acquired it from Manny’s Music in New York shortly before that date. The guitar was primarily used for performances of Red House. It appeared notably at Fillmore East on May 10 and the Miami Pop Festival on May 18 but was otherwise used sparingly. It is now owned by Hard Rock Café and displayed at their Chicago location.

Little is known about this guitar’s history. It surfaced at auction in 2008 after being kept for over 40 years by Jimi’s press officer, Tony Garland. The official story is that this is the guitar that Jimi set on fire at The Astoria in London, England, on March 31, 1967, but evidence is scarce. No photos exist of him playing the guitar, neither at the Astoria nor at any prior date, so it's hard to prove anything beyond speculation. 

First seen on April 25, 1970, at the Los Angeles Forum, and later on May 8, 1970, at the University of Oklahoma Field House in Norman. From then on, it was used several times until Jimi's death, most famously at The Isle of Wight Festival on August 30, 1970. It was a custom-made, left-handed Gibson Flying V given to Jimi by Gibson directly. Currently owned by Hard Rock International.

Jimi was seen using a 1960s Ibanez Jet King guitar during his time at Fort Campbell, with one confirmed performance at the Pink Poodle Club in Clarksville, Tennessee, in mid-1962. According to sources, Hendrix acquired the Ibanez at Collins Music in Tennessee; however, he often pawned his guitars between gigs around this time. After some time, he struggled to keep up with the payments and eventually returned the guitar to the shop.

Jimi began using this Olympic White Fender Stratocaster in early July 1967, first seen at Whisky A Go-Go on July 2 and again at the Rheingold Central Park Music Festival on July 5. He played it regularly throughout his U.S. tour that summer, continuing to use it as his main guitar after returning to the UK in late August. It appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, Olympic Studios, and on Dutch TV’s Hoepla in November. The Strat remained in use through January 1968, last seen at Fillmore West on February 1. After that, he switched to a newer Strat, and the original disappeared.

This 1967/68 Fender Stratocaster, finished in what looked like Fender’s Blue Ice Metallic, was used by Jimi Hendrix for a short period in mid-1968. It was first seen at the Monsterkonzert in Zurich on May 31 and appeared again, with half a headstock missing, at the Lagoon Opera House in Salt Lake City on August 30. Despite a broken headstock and body crack, Hendrix or a crew member reassembled it, and it was seen in Seattle on September 4 with half a headstock. The last known sighting was backstage at the Hollywood Bowl on September 14. Its fate after that is unknown.

Jimi Hendrix played this modified 1960s Fender Stratocaster at a few shows, including The Saville Theatre in London on October 8, 1967, L'Olympia in Paris on October 9, and in Gothenburg on January 4, 1968. The guitar had three toggle switches instead of the usual three-way selector, letting him turn each pickup on or off. It may have been a test or experiment, possibly made by swapping parts from another Strat. Hendrix didn’t keep using the guitar after these shows. What happened to it later is unknown.

Jimi Hendrix reportedly used a black Fender Stratocaster on February 2, 1967, during a show at the Imperial Hotel in Darlington, England. According to some sources, the guitar was stolen shortly after the performance and later sold to a local musician for £20. Although several guitars were mentioned in the theft, only the black Stratocaster was confirmed missing. Hendrix was said to be more concerned about a white Strat, likely the 1964 model gifted to him by Linda Keith. The black guitar has never been recovered, even though some locals believe the guitar is still out there and have actively called for the current owner to return it.

Jimi Hendrix used a sunburst Fender Jazzmaster during the Isley Brothers’ tour in late 1964 and while performing with Little Richard in early to mid-1965. It was also seen during a May 1965 TV appearance on Night Train, where Hendrix played in the backing band for Buddy & Stacy. The guitar likely dates from 1959 to 1962, based on features like the pickguard and veneer fretboard. It was last seen in late 1965 when Jimi was playing with Joey Dee and the Starliters. After that, he switched to other guitars, and the Jazzmaster was no longer seen.

Jimi Hendrix owned a Mosrite double-neck guitar, reportedly purchased at Manny’s Music in New York. According to the EMP Museum (now MoPOP) in Seattle, he used the guitar during the recording of “Spanish Castle Magic” for the Axis: Bold as Love album in 1967. The guitar had one six-string and one twelve-string neck, with high-output single-coil pickups. It was displayed at a Hendrix-focused exhibit at the museum, though several original parts, including the tremolo system and 12-string bridge, were missing.

According to roadie Tappy Wright, this 1965 Fender Jaguar was given to Jimi Hendrix by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones on June 8, 1967, just before the Monterey Pop Festival. The guitar, originally strung for a right-handed player, was later restrung for Hendrix and reportedly used in October 1967 at Olympic Studios to record “Experiencing the Blues” and “Hound Dog.”

It remained with Tappy until shortly before his death and was eventually sold for $125,455.99. The guitar’s authenticity is, however, debated due to a lack of any photographic evidence of Jimi actually using it.

Jimi Hendrix began using this Olympic White Fender Stratocaster in early 1968, with its first confirmed appearance on February 2 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Visually similar to his earlier white Strat, it featured less wear but already had a small cigarette burn on the headstock, suggesting prior use.

Hendrix used this guitar extensively throughout 1968, including at major shows like Fillmore East on May 10 and very likely during the Electric Ladyland sessions recorded between April and August at Record Plant Studios. The last known sightings date to late October 1968. Possibly exchanged for the Acoustic/Bartell "The Black Widow". 

Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing a dark-colored Fender Jaguar, likely black or dark blue, on August 24, 1967, during a performance at Lime Grove Studios for the Top of the Pops television show. The guitar was strung for a right-handed player, indicating it was probably borrowed for the occasion. Also, all known photos of Hendrix with this Jaguar appear to be from that single day, so that was indeed most likely the case. 

Jimi played a sunburst Fender Duo-Sonic during several performances with Curtis Knight in late 1965 and early 1966. According to Jimi Hendrix Gear by Michael Heatley, the guitar was reportedly a gift from Knight. After this period, the Duo-Sonic was no longer seen, and its fate remains unknown. It was likely pawned before Hendrix left for London in late 1966, as he brought only a white Stratocaster with him to the UK.

This white Fender Stratocaster was first seen in a photo taken at Bristol Locarno on February 10, 1967. From the photo, the only thing we see is the color and the fact that the guitar had a small headstock, but beyond that, the guitar is a mystery. That night, Hendrix performed with a different white Strat, suggesting this one may have served as a backup or replacement, possibly due to the reported theft of his black Strat on February 2. By March 1967, he had moved on to sunburst Strats, and this white guitar was nowhere to be seen.

This 1955 Gibson Les Paul Custom, featuring a Bigsby tailpiece and a replaced P90 neck pickup, was reportedly bought by Jimi Hendrix and Larry Lee in 1963 while playing with Bob Fisher and the Bonnevilles. According to Lee, Hendrix gave him the guitar in 1969, just before Woodstock, when Lee joined Gypsy Sun and the Rainbows and didn’t have an instrument. Lee used the guitar during Hendrix’s Woodstock set. The guitar was later sold through Sotheby’s in 1991 and is now held by the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle.

However, its use by Hendrix before 1969 remains unverified because a gap of 6 years makes no sense. We likely would've seen it in Jimi's hands during that period. 

Jimi Hendrix used this 1967 Guild Starfire V only once, during a jam session on May 19, 1968, at the Wreck Bar in the Castaways Hotel, following the canceled second day of the Miami Pop Festival. The guitar was seen in a single known photo from that night. It’s unclear whether Hendrix owned or borrowed the instrument for the occasion. The body was covered with stickers, though their origin is unknown. Afterward, the guitar went to Jimi’s father, Al Hendrix, and remained with the family until it was auctioned in 2017.

Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing a 1960s Gibson SG Custom during a jam at Ungano’s club in New York in January 1970. This is the only known instance of him using the guitar. According to a former club employee, the instrument may have been a gift from the venue’s owners, as Hendrix was a frequent guest and often performed impromptu sets there.

The SG had a walnut finish, three pickups, a white batwing pickguard, and possibly a Bigsby tremolo. Its current whereabouts are unknown, and no other confirmed appearances have been documented.

Jimi Hendrix used this Fender Jazzmaster briefly in spring 1968. It was first seen at the University of Toledo Fieldhouse on March 30 and last photographed at Symphony Hall in Newark on April 5. It may have also been present at the Miami Pop Festival on May 18, seen in the background behind Hendrix next to a sunburst Strat.

According to a 1968 diary entry, Hendrix bought a Jazzmaster and a practice amp in late March, likely in New York. The guitar is now reportedly owned by actor Steven Seagal, who acquired it from former roadie Tappy Wright.

Jimi Hendrix was seen playing a Fender Jazzmaster during a performance with King Curtis & the Kingpins in May 1966. This is the only known instance of him using the guitar, suggesting it was likely borrowed. The strap button had not been moved for left-handed play, supporting this theory. Based on visual details, the guitar was likely made before mid-1965, as it lacked neck binding and featured the newer-style knobs introduced around that time. 

This tobacco-burst Gibson Flying V was the second Flying V Jimi Hendrix used publicly, though it remains the least documented of the three, which is how many he had in total. The first confirmed photo of this one dates to May 18, 1969, backstage at Madison Square Garden, though some sources suggest he may have used it earlier that year. Another known image appears on the cover of Two Great Experiences Together, an album with Lonnie Youngblood.

Unlike his other Flying Vs, this one saw limited use and was likely played for only a few songs per show. The guitar is now owned by the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

This 1970 Fender Stratocaster was reportedly used by Jimi Hendrix during the opening party of Electric Lady Studios on August 26, 1970, according to Noel Redding, but no photos from the performance exist. The next day, Hendrix left for London, and the guitar was not seen at any of his final shows, suggesting it remained at the studio.

The Strat was later signed by Redding and appeared at multiple auctions, including Christie’s in 2009 and Julien’s in 2010, where it sold for $187,500. The original purchase receipt, dated July 1970, was signed by Hendrix’s road manager, Eugene McFadden.

Jimi Hendrix was seen playing this mid-1950s Gibson Les Paul Special on two known occasions: live at the Hallenstadion in Zurich on May 31, 1968, and during the studio sessions for South Saturn Delta. The guitar featured two pickups and a TV yellow finish, typical of Les Paul Specials from that era. No additional confirmed appearances are known, and details about the guitar’s origin or history remain unknown.

In late 1969 or early 1970, Jimi Hendrix ordered two left-handed Fender Stratocasters, a black one and a white one, both with rosewood fretboards, from Manny’s Music in New York. Following his death, the guitars remained unclaimed. In early 1970, Steve Miller acquired both instruments through his longtime connection with store owner Henry Goldrich. The black Strat was later stolen and never recovered, but Miller kept the white one and used it extensively in the studio.

Jimi Hendrix acquired the Acoustic-labeled Bartell “Black Widow” guitar in October 1968 during a visit to TTG Studios in Los Angeles. The guitar was brought by Harvey Gerst of Acoustic Control Corporation, who was assisting Hendrix with newly purchased amps. Hendrix took a liking to the guitar and reportedly traded one of his white Fender Stratocasters for it.

The Black Widow featured a black finish, body and neck binding, sharp contours, and amp-style knobs. It was mainly used in studio sessions and appeared on the track “Mojo Man.” The guitar was later involved in a legal dispute over ownership.

Jimi was seen playing a red Fender Stratocaster with a broken headstock at the Masonic Temple in Detroit on February 13, 1968. The guitar had a rosewood fretboard and a dark red finish, likely Dakota Red. The broken headstock suggests prior use, but no earlier appearances are documented. So it’s unclear when the damage occurred.

Jimi Hendrix purchased a left-handed black 1968 Fender Stratocaster with a maple neck from Manny’s Music in New York and later gifted it to his friend Richard “Deering” Howe. The two were close in the late 1960s and reportedly traveled to Morocco together in 1969. Howe kept the guitar until 1988, when he sold it through Sotheby’s. The sale details and current ownership are unknown.

Fun fact: Duane Allman once played this guitar. strung for right-handed use, during a visit to Howe’s apartment at One Fifth Avenue in New York, as recalled by Gregg Allman.

In late 1969 or early 1970, Jimi Hendrix ordered two left-handed Fender Stratocasters from Manny’s Music in New York, one black, one white, both with rosewood fretboards. After Hendrix’s death, the guitars remained unclaimed at the store. In the early 1970s, musician Steve Miller acquired them through store owner Henry Goldrich. Miller had the guitars restrung and used the white Strat extensively in the studio.

The black Strat appeared on the cover of Fly Like an Eagle but was later stolen and never recovered. This white Strat remains in Miller’s possession.

Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing a sunburst 1967 Fender Stratocaster at TTG Studios in Los Angeles during recording sessions in October 1968. While most images from these sessions show him using his favorite guitar, the black 1968 Strat, one photo captures him with this lesser-seen large-headstock sunburst model. A guitar claimed to be this same Strat surfaced recently on auction, according to the listing, Jimi’s U.S. manager Bob Levine retrieved it from Hendrix’s New York apartment after his death.

The guitar was strung for left-handed use, but wear patterns suggest right-handed play, raising doubts about its authenticity. 

Jimi Hendrix was photographed with a 1967/68 Fender Stratocaster in Hawaii on October 6 and 7, 1968. The guitar featured a large headstock, consistent with models from that period. Available footage suggests he did not use it during the Honolulu International Center concert but only during this photo session, which was on the following day. After Hawaii, Hendrix was never seen with the guitar again, which means that he either left it behind or gave it away, or it wasn't even his.