Jimi Hendrix’ 1960s Fender Stratocaster

This 1960s Fender Stratocaster was first spotted in a photograph taken on February 10, 1967, at Bristol Locarno. Unfortunately, none of the available photos show the headstock, making it impossible to determine the exact year of manufacture (an update on this is available in the comments section below).

The White Strat(s)

Interestingly, Hendrix played a different white Stratocaster on stage that night, suggesting that the newly discovered guitar might have been a backup or a replacement for a lost or stolen instrument. In fact, rumors suggest that Hendrix’s black Stratocaster was stolen on February 2, so this guitar may have been brought in as a replacement.

However, by March 1967, Hendrix had switched to using two sunburst Stratocasters, and this white guitar was no longer seen. There are two possible explanations: the guitar may have been kept safe at Hendrix’s home and only brought out for specific performances, or it may have been stolen or lost between mid-February and early March.

If you’re a guitar enthusiast and happen to find a photo of this second white Stratocaster from late February or early March, feel free to leave a comment below. It would be fascinating to uncover more about this mysterious instrument and its role in Hendrix’s performances. (Note: The image used in this article is a placeholder—we don’t know exactly how the guitar looked.)