This 1963/64 Fender Stratocaster was first seen in use around March 1967, likely during The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s appearance on Top of the Pops on March 30th. Although the photos from that day are in black and white, making it difficult to determine the exact color, it’s believed the guitar had a solid red finish. This theory is supported by later images of Jimi playing a red Strat around the same period.
Interestingly, this is the only red Stratocaster with a rosewood fretboard that Jimi is known to have used. Its specs also closely align with those of the iconic Monterey Strat, making it almost certain that this was the guitar Jimi famously set on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival on June 18, 1967.
At this stage, however, the guitar had not yet received its legendary custom paint job.
Usage
The guitar didn’t see much use until May 1967. During that month’s short European tour, Jimi was often seen alternating between this Stratocaster and another red Strat with a maple neck.
Interestingly, both of these red Stratocasters—one with a rosewood fretboard and the other with a maple fretboard—were later decorated by Jimi. The rosewood-neck Strat became the famous Monterey Strat, while the maple-neck Strat went on to be known as the Saville Strat.
The Year of Manufacture
Based on details visible in the photos, the Monterey Strat was manufactured in 1963 or early 1964. It features a small headstock with the spaghetti-style Fender logo, narrow dot spacing on the 12th fret of the neck, and the pickguard screw layout typical of models produced after early 1963. By late 1964, the design of the Stratocaster underwent significant changes.
Monterey Pop Festival
As most fans know, Jimi Hendrix set this guitar on fire during his legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, solidifying it as one of the most iconic guitars in rock history. Interestingly, Jimi didn’t use the Monterey Strat for the entire set. Instead, he switched to it just before the final song—his explosive rendition of The Troggs’ Wild Thing.
After setting the guitar on fire, Jimi smashed it into several pieces and threw the remnants into the audience. To date, only one piece of the guitar is known to have been recovered, and it is now housed at the Museum of Pop Culture (formerly EMP) in Seattle.
Fender’s Monterey Strat Replica
Fender has released several replicas of the Monterey Strat over the years. While none of these replicas perfectly match Jimi’s original guitar, they each capture elements of its famous design.
For example, the early, more “premium” tribute models featured significant modifications to the original design. These limited-edition guitars—some acquired by public figures like John Mayer—had transition-era Fender logos on the headstock, instead of the classic spaghetti logo found on Jimi’s original. Each guitar was hand-decorated by artist Pamelina H., making them highly collectible.
More recently, Fender introduced a more affordable Jimi Hendrix Tribute Stratocaster. While this model closely resembles the early ’60s design of Jimi’s original guitar, the artwork—now printed rather than hand-painted—differs slightly from the guitar Hendrix famously set ablaze at Monterey.
Feedback
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How does the MIM sound to the Mayer one, whar are diffrences
electronics
The Monterey Strat was fiesta Red, not black. There’s plenty of photo’s of it prior to Monterey.
I never meant to claim that the guitar was black, just that it was neither black nor white, but it was hard to tell exactly from the footage. Bad wording on my part, should be fixed now.
The guitar from bbc was a candy apple red strat with a big headstock. I think that was the saville guitar and not the Monterey strat because of this. Look at the wear spot on the arm contour. It’s the same as the saville stat. By the time we see the saville its already beat to hell and has a split in the body.
Better photo attached.
I would assume as the cavity’s of the surviving piece are painted red that would be the original colour of the guitar.
The guitar was red originally. The opening paragraph is in regard to the possibility of March 1967 being a different Stratocaster, due to black and white photos. I will edit things to make it more clear. Dan.
What about where frank zappa son claims to have the strat jimmy set on fire, repaired it and plays it now? You read so much you’re not sure what’s correct. Maybe I missed something on the article. ?? Appreciate any help.
Dwezil Zappa has the sunburst strat that was burned at the Astoria before the Monterey one. It was the 1st to be burnt.
Thanks for clearing that up!! I never did understand or get that clear.
Thanks again!!
Jimi set so many guitars on fire its just stupid,Frank was given one, but it wasen’t the monterey guitar
, i see the comment was addressed below, disregard my comment.✌
is there more parts of this guitar that has been found?
As far as I know – no.