Jimi Hendrix’s 1965 Fender Jaguar (Black)

According to Tappy Wright, Jimi’s roadie, this guitar (Serial Number: L65163) was given to Hendrix by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones just before the Monterey gig on June 8, 1967.

When I flew across from London to Monterey to bring Jimi over, Brian Jones came with us, as did one of the Animals. As we got there, Jones had the guitar with him and then gave Jimi that Jaguar guitar. […] It’s still in good condition. After Jimi left the guitar with me, I kept the guitar in the main office, so I had it re-strung. It was almost mandatory that you had a guitar lying around the office for the Rock n-Roll junkies. They automatically would pick up the guitar and start playing it. Hilton Valentine, Soft Machine, and other Rock Stars strummed this Fender.

From Tappy Wright’s letter of authenticity

Based on the information given by Tappy, Jimi couldn’t use the guitar right away because it was strung up right-handed. Tappy re-strung it lefty after returning to London, and Jimi used it at Olympic Studios in Barnes, England, sometime in October 1967, to cut Experiencing the Blues and Houndog.

The Jaguar Auctioned

Tappy sold this guitar shortly before his death, based on the information online, to HollywoodMemorabilia.com (or they simply served just as a middleman). They again sold the instrument, and it was bought by an anonymous buyer for $125,455.99. [Jimi Hendrix Used Guitar Given To Him By Brian Jones-Provenance Roadie Tappy Wright – page now taken offline]

What’s weird about this particular instrument is that there are very few photos of it, aside for one badly photoshopped, and a couple of close-ups of the headstock. Since Hendrix memorabilia is pretty much sure to gain at least some attention, it is weird that none of the popular media magazines inquired to at least take some professional photos of the guitar.

Also problematic is the fact that all the information regarding this guitar comes from one person – Tappy Wright. It was never photographed or filmed in Hendrix’s presence, and Jimi never mentioned anything about getting a guitar from Brian Jones.

And lastly, there’s a guitar owned by the Hard Rock Corporation, that basically has the same identical story as this one, except for the fact that it looks nothing like it – so logically one of the two has to be a fake. According to user ‘Awstin’ over at ShortScale forums, this is what the plaque beneath the guitar reads:

These articles of clothing, along with this Fender Jaguar, were owned by the late, great Jimi Hendrix. Jimi wore this outfit in the summer of 1968. This Fender Jaguar was originally owned by the lead guitarist if the Rolling Stones, Brian Jones, who gave it to Jimi as a gift. After Brian’s death, Jimi did not play this jaguar again.

Jimi Hendrix’s Jaguar, Awstin, ShortScale.org

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Rocket Johnny
Rocket Johnny
1 year ago

So here’s a picture of Mick Jagger pretending to play a Jag at a photo shoot. Don’t know if that helps…

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