Build Quality:4.9 out of 5 stars
Hardware:4.8 out of 5 stars
Electronics:4.8 out of 5 stars
Sound:4.8 out of 5 stars
Value:4.9 out of 5 stars
Average:4.8 out of 5 stars

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Pros:

  • Wonderful build quality
  • Impressive tone
  • Steeped with Hendrix’s character

Cons:

  • Some issues with tuning stability

If I asked you, what made the sound of Jimi Hendrix authentic, what would your answer be? My guess is that you’d talk about his distinctive chord play or different techniques. Maybe you’d even emphasize the approach he had towards performing – he’d always come up with something unique that seemed to work wonders. But one of the reasons why his sound was so bona fide was his gear. He would take a right-handed Strat and flip it over, set it up accordingly, and then play it to his audience.

I don’t want to bore you with technicalities, so for now, I’ll just tell you that it made a noticeable difference to the tone. His guitars have been replicated countless times, but this time Fender decided to turn everything upside down. To honor the legacy of Hendrix, they have created a model that is reminiscent of his flipped-over guitar. It would be a far-fetched attempt if I tried to convince you that you’d be able to recreate his sound with this electric guitar under 1000. But I won’t be lying if I say that you have better chances with it. Let’s discuss the features of the Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster!

Build

As you take a look at Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster, you think that it doesn’t have anything different about it. Then you divert your attention to the headstock and you notice that it’s upside down. That’s probably the most distinctive part of the design, as the rest seems to be the usual Strat business. And for those who love details, the brand has included a Jimi Hendrix portrait on the neck plate.

Moving onto the construction, the body is made from alder. This wood is lightweight, yet it is still pretty rugged. C-shape maple neck and maple fingerboard feature 21 medium-jumbo frets that are easy to access and comfortable to play with. No matter what you decide to master, this puppy will help you in that process without causing any trouble.

Hardware

The hardware is quite amazing, as well. The bridge has 6 individual saddles and comes equipped with synchronized tremolo. It has a tremolo arm, which will let you employ this effect whenever your heart desires. You’ll be able to achieve incredible sustain with this one, trust me. The tuning machines have a hard time holding a tune, which is why it would be better if they had a better quality. Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster does also have a 3-ply white pickguard that does an amazing job at protecting the finish of the guitar. The rest of the hardware is pretty mainstream with aged white knobs and a white switch tip.

Electronics

The uniqueness of this piece starts to show itself once again as we scrutinize the pickups. This fella is equipped with three reverse-mounted American Vintage ’65 Stratocaster single-coils. This means that the pole piece stagger is reversed and the sonic results are altered noticeably. As Fender claims, this should deliver the authentic Hendrix tone (will see about that in a sec). When it comes to the controls, we have three main ones: Master Volume, Tone 1 (for neck pickup), and Tone 2 (for middle pickup). There’s also a 5-position blade, which enables you to mix and match those pickups and select the combinations that work best for you.

Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster Sound

Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster was built with authenticity in mind. The brand did its best to make sure the players could receive Jimi’s sound without too much fuss. This bad boy has incredible sonic properties – it’s capable of creating mind-blowing sustain. Those reversed pickups make sure you have all the twang your heart desires and the warmth that pours wherever you need it. Add the versatility of the pickups on top and you’ll understand what kind of beast you’re dealing with. You can utilize them independently to produce thick, expressive bark, or combine them for layered tones.

Conclusion

After all these years, Jimi Hendrix is resurrected once again in Fender’s Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster. This interesting piece is steeped in his character and includes some distinctive features, including the reversed headstock and pickups. It’s hard to find the flaws of this wonderful piece, as it is truly a well-built monster. It’s definitely not for those who are looking for a one-trick pony – this electric guitar can do virtually everything. Good luck! 

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1 COMMENT

  1. Great review! I’ve been using a white Hendrix Strat identical to the one in this review since December 2015. My wife pre-ordered it from Fender before they were actually released! They are incredibly great guitars, period! I just bought a new old stock, identical JH Strat in purple because, well, how cool looking and appropriate is a purple Jimi Strat? I decided to go for the other new colors and have one on stage in case I break a string! They are affordable and but so well made that it’s the best bang for your guitar buck, by far, out there, period! Today I may get one in black, a mint 2015 first run, and they now have these models in standard sunburst, so it’s a necessity, of course, that i get a sunburst too! 😁All are beautiful! Again great review and the rundown gave me added education on a Fender Strat model I truly love to play, gig with and use in the studio as well! For those Strat players who haven’t ever played these Hendrix models, you need too.

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