Jimi Hendrix’s 1970s Fender Stratocaster (white, left-handed)

Hendrix ordered two left-handed Stratocasters from Manny’s Music in New York City sometime in late 1969 or early 1970 but never picked them up. One was black, the other white, both featuring rosewood fretboards.

The guitars remained at the store until the early 1970s, when Steve Miller purchased them through Henry Goldrich, the owner of Manny’s. The black Strat, which is featured on the front cover of the Fly Like an Eagle album, was later stolen and never recovered.

I’ve known Henry since I was 20 years old and bought lots of guitars from Manny’s. He had two guitars that Hendrix ordered but never picked up. He said, “You can have them.” One was black, one was white.

So I took them, had them set up with the strings flipped, and recorded a lot with the white one, which I still have. It’s an amazing guitar, with a rosewood fretboard. I may have recorded “Fly Like An Eagle” with that guitar.

Steve Miller – Some People Call Him Rock Icon