Jimi Hendrix’s 1965 Fender Jazzmaster (Sunburst)

Based on photographic evidence, this guitar was used by Jimi Hendrix at only a handful of gigs in March and April 1968. It was first seen at the University of Toledo Fieldhouse on March 30 and last spotted on April 5 at the Symphony Hall in Newark.

The guitar was also possibly present at the Miami Pop Festival on May 18, as it can be seen in a photo sitting behind Jimi, alongside a sunburst Strat (thanks to Kumanovce in the comments).

The Guitar Now

This Jazzmaster is reportedly now owned by actor Steven Seagal. In an interview with Vintage Guitar Magazine in January 2006, Seagal stated that he acquired the guitar from Tappy Wright, who worked as Hendrix’s roadie.

I bought that guitar from Tappy Wright, who was his roadie. That Jazzmaster is a 100 percent authentic. I’ve got pictures of Hendrix with it. He played it in 1966 and 67. Hendrix wrote in a journal somewhere that he got it for recording. Apparently, Seymour Duncan was with him the day he bought it – someplace like Manny’s in New York City. I showed the Jazzmaster to Seymour and he remembered it.

Guitar collection of Steven Seagal; Vintage Guitar Magazine, January 2006 – steven-seagal.net

Notes on Seagal’s Claims

While Seagal’s statement that Hendrix used this guitar in 1966/67 is interesting, it doesn’t align with the available evidence. Photos of this Jazzmaster only date back to April 1968, and during late 1966 and early 1967, Jimi was almost exclusively using his white Stratocaster, which he brought with him from the U.S.

Jimi did own another Jazzmaster earlier in his career, but this was during his pre-Experience days, and all known photos of that guitar are from mid to late 1965. Even if they were somehow the same guitar—an unlikely scenario considering the time gap—the dates mentioned by Seagal don’t align.

The latter part of Seagal’s statement, about Jimi purchasing the guitar at Manny’s in New York, is plausible. Jimi was in New York on March 17, 1968, and could have visited Manny’s for a resupply. This is confirmed by Jimi’s own diary entry on March 28, 1968:

March 28. We played in Cincinnati. I bought a new Jazzmaster here and a practice amp. Got the guitar for recording.

Starting At Zero: His Own Story

Please note that, although Steven got this part right, he overlooked the fact that Jimi couldn’t have possibly played the guitar in 1966 or 1967, as there is clear evidence—confirmed by Jimi’s own diary entry, that he purchased it in 1968, a point Steven himself mentions.