Jimi Hendrix’s 1961 Epiphone Wilshire

In the early 1960s, Jimi Hendrix began to carve his path in the world of music. It was during this period, specifically in 1962, that he started to make his mark as part of the King Casuals band, performing at the Club Del Morocco.

Among the guitars that Hendrix was known to have played during this period, the 1961 Epiphone Wilshire stands out as one of the most unusual ones, and although not as famous as some of his later instruments, it played a significant role in his formative years.

The King Kasuals

Hendrix transitioned from Clarksville to Nashville around late 1962, following Billy Cox’s discharge from the army. In Nashville, the band they formed secured a regular gig at Club Del Morocco. This opportunity marked Hendrix’s first steady job as a musician, and it is likely that he primarily used the Epiphone during this period.

Jimi’s Epiphone featured a solid mahogany body with a red finish, two P-90 pickups, a black (Tortoiseshell?) pickguard, and dot fretboard inlays. The inlay on the 17th fret seems to cover almost the entire space between the frets. It remains unclear whether this was a modification, a simple sticker, or something similar.

Notably, the guitar also included a Vibrola tremolo bridge, which adds an element of confusion. According to GuitarHQ’s model history [Epiphone Wilshire model guitars 1959 to 1970], the tremolo was installed on models made between 1959 and 1961, and between mid-1962 and 1963. Jimi’s guitar aligns with the description of the 1961 model, which, as one might guess, did not come with a tremolo.

There are a couple of possible explanations for this discrepancy. The guitar may have been modified, either by a previous owner or by Jimi himself. Alternatively, there might have been a 1961 model that featured both the black P90 pickups and the Vibrola tremolo.

Pickguard painted white

In Jimi Hendrix Gear (p. 34), there is an anecdote suggesting that Hendrix painted the Wilshire’s pickguard white at some point. Examining photos from the era reveals what appears to be an Epiphone with a white pickguard, black P-90 pickups, and block inlays.

One possibility is that Hendrix owned two Epiphones—a Wilshire and a Crestwood—since the latter did come with both a white pickguard and block inlays. However, based on Larry Lee’s recollection, Hendrix didn’t own a Crestwood. Instead, he modified his Wilshire by painting the pickguard white and placing white tape over the inlays, which explains the visual details seen in the photo above.

The Auction

In 2024, a 1961 Epiphone Wilshire appeared on auction at Reverb.com, labeled as “Jimi Hendrix Owned & Stage Played” and authenticated by Bonhams and Larry Lee.

In a letter written by Lee, he stated that Jimi had this guitar when they first met in 1962 at the Del Morocco Nite Club in Nashville, Tennessee. Again, he recalled that Hendrix painted the pickguard white and applied tape to the fretboard to make the inlays resemble those of a more premium model.

Lee said that Jimi played the guitar until late 1962, when he pawned it to Raymond Ray, a local shop owner, and then rented a Fender guitar from him until leaving for New York in late 1963.

Lee wrote this letter in 1988, and it’s likely the source where Harry Shapiro picked up the story about the painted pickguard—effectively settling the theory of a second Epiphone once and for all.

Modern take on the WIlshire

The Epiphone Wilshire, with its distinctive double-cutaway body and sharp, angular lines, has remained a popular model since its introduction. Its association with Hendrix of course contributed to its status and likely influenced Epiphone’s decision to reissue the Wilshire in 2020.

The modern version of the Wilshire became a very a popular choice, particularly for players on a budget seeking the vintage tone and feel of P-90 pickups. In fact, we recommended it in our list of best guitars with P90s.