Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing a 1967 Fender Stratocaster at TTG Studios in October 1968. While most photos from these sessions show him with his black 1968 Stratocaster, at least one image features him using a large-headstock sunburst Stratocaster.
Auction
A guitar dubbed “the TTG Stratocaster” began appearing in online auctions around 2021. It was even listed on Reverb.com by an account called “Neil’s Gear Bazaar,” which has been linked to numerous Jimi Hendrix memorabilia sales. These include another 1965 Stratocaster, a Jazzmaster, his Flying V, and a few amps.
Many of these sales were low-profile, often appearing on platforms like eBay and Reverb without much publicity. This lack of exposure, especially for the TTG Strat, might indicate caution from major publishers in endorsing its authenticity.
It’s crucial to acknowledge how difficult it is to verify that a guitar belonged to Jimi and the significant incentive for creating forgeries. Jimi Hendrix memorabilia is some of the most sought-after in the world, and even the smallest items associated with him are highly sought after.
With that in mind, let’s examine the story behind the TTG Stratocaster.
The TTG Strat Analysis
According to the auction listing, the guitar (serial number 206846) was recovered by Bob Levine, Jimi’s U.S. manager, from Jimi’s New York City apartment after his death. It had reportedly been kept strung for left-handed playing and remained in the same condition as when Levine recovered it.
Looking at the auction photos, the guitar is indeed strung for left-handed use, but the wear patterns suggest it was played by a right-handed person. If we accept the auction’s claim that the guitar is in its original condition, this wear must have existed before Levine recovered it in 1970. However, the photo of Jimi playing the guitar at TTG Studios shows no such wear. While the photo isn’t of the highest quality, it’s the only available image of Jimi with the guitar.
This discrepancy raises two possibilities: either the guitar was played and developed wear after it was recovered, or the wear existed beforehand but isn’t visible in the photo. The first scenario seems more plausible, but it contradicts the auction’s claim that the guitar was kept completely original.
Bob Levine is undoubtedly a credible figure, having been closely involved with Jimi during his career. However, even with his association, proving this guitar’s authenticity beyond a reasonable doubt is challenging. The single photo of Jimi with the guitar, lacking detailed features, doesn’t provide enough evidence.
It’s also worth noting past controversies, such as the case of the alleged Monterey Stratocaster, a guitar that also passed through Levine’s hands before being exposed as a fake.
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