f i r st p l ay

FENDER JIMI HENDRIX

STRATOCASTER
£689

WHAT IS IT? Mexican-made

Stratocaster tribute to one of the
greatest guitarists of all time

If Left
Was Right
Fender introduces a Hendrix-inspired guitar
priced to appeal to younger fans, but which
could inspire any guitarist lusting after that
elusive ‘cool’ factor
Words Neville Marten   Photography Neil Godwin 

W
hen we heard that another Hendrix
tribute Strat was in the offing,
the groans were audible. Often in
the past, the great man’s name has been used
with less sensitivity than we would have liked.
After all, he’s not here to sanctify any of these
products or decisions. The spec, too, seemed
odd – a right-handed guitar with upside-down
headstock and reverse-angled bridge pickup;
surely it could only end up being the proverbial
canine’s supper?
But it’s nothing of the sort. Built in Fender’s
Ensenada, Mexico factory, the Jimi Hendrix
Stratocaster is available in Olympic White or
Black, both with maple neck, tinted pickups
and knobs on a white-black-white pickguard.
Mexican Fenders are built supremely well;
their polyester finish is exemplary and their
necks never anything but great. Yes, this
one’s headstock is upside down and, yes, its
bridge pickup is reversed, but these facets
– the consequence of Jimi turning a regular
Strat upside down – contributed greatly to its
playability and sound in his hands.

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 Video Demo    http://bit.ly/guitaristextra Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster first play

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 first play FENDER JIMI HENDRIX STRATOCASTER

2 3

1 4

For example, the longer bass string travel to Feel & Sounds 1. Available in white or
the farthest tuners meant greater tension and Anyone who’s watched Hendrix play will black (Woodstock or
Isle Of Wight!), the body
better tuning stability when drop tuning, as have noticed that his reversed Strat offered and neck are perfectly
Jimi did, and the consequently slacker treble little upper-fret access. In fact, he didn’t play finished in polyester
strings meant smoother bends and vibrato. up the dusty end much at all. Our guitar’s
2. Tinted pickup covers
Also, the ‘wrong way round’ pickup served to right-handed body solves that problem in one
and knobs contrast
moderate the treble for a slightly thicker tone fell swoop. The neck’s shallow ‘C’ shape is nicely with the white
on the top strings and marginally more twang mega-comfy in the hands and Fender’s other ’guard, while a vintage-
one on the lower ones. And actually none modern twist – medium-jumbo frets on a style vibrato offers
reasonable wobble and
of this makes the guitar look weird, as we’d flatter, 241mm (9.5-inch) radius ’board – adds divebomb capability
predicted it would. greatly to the experience. Our guitar’s action
Fender has sensibly chosen not to switch was too low to dig in like Jimi, with the top 3. The large, post-’65
the vibrato block round (Jimi’s upside-down string almost choking off when going for big Strat headstock looks
cool when flipped over,
Strat’s arms protruded awkwardly from the bends, but a quick adjustment of the first and especially with the
top), while opting for modern-style headstock second strings’ bridge saddles and playability 60s-style Fender logo
truss adjustment is a concession that makes was restored. The vintage vibrato works well, the right way up. Some
say the added mass
real sense. coping with Jimi-style excesses and returning even adds something
Two elephants in the room, though: the to pitch admirably. It’s a joy to try all those to the tone, while
smaller being that the body is right-handed great riffs, chords and solos on an instrument the modern truss
and not upside down; the larger is that a that seems much more grown-up than its rod certainly makes
adjustments easier
tribute instrument to the greatest left-handed meagre price tag suggests.
guitarist ever, is not available left-handed! The Plugging in, our Hendrix Strat instantly
latter of these is surely due to economics but shows its mettle. The selector’s five settings
seems, well, strange; the former makes tons bring out a quintet of recognisable tones
of sense, as we’ll see. from these fine-sounding ’65 USA Vintage

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 Video demo http://bit.ly/guitaristextra FENDER JIMI HENDRIX STRATOCASTER first play

4. A four-bolt neck-plate
proclaims ‘Authentic
Hendrix’ to denote
that this is an official
release in conjunction
with Jimi’s estate. His
image etched into
the plate, and ‘Jimi
Hendrix’ signature on
the headstock, are
registered trademarks

5. Angling the bridge

pickup this way, with
the treble end further
from the saddles and the
bass nearer, adds depth
to the top strings and
twang to the lower ones,
and surprisingly, looks
quite normal FENDER JIMI
HENDRIX
STRATOCASTER
PRICE: £689 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Mexico
TYPE: Double-cutaway solidbody
electric
BODY: Alder
NECK: Maple with walnut skunk
stripe and reverse headstock with
Hendrix signature
SCALE LENGTH: 648mm (25.5”)
NUT/WIDTH: Synthetic
bone/42mm
FINGERBOARD: Maple, integrated
with neck, 241mm (9.5”) radius
FRETS: 21, medium-jumbo
HARDWARE: Chrome-plated
vintage vibrato, Kluson-style
5 six-a-side tuners
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 55mm
ELECTRICS: 3x Fender US Vintage
Stratocaster pickups. All the sounds are Verdict 65 ‘grey bottom’ single coils, 5-way
bright, but not overly so, and the bridge Despite initial reservations, we came to really lever pickup selector, master volume
pickup does seem somewhat tamed by its like this guitar. It doesn’t look odd at all – in and 2x tone controls (neck and
treble pole pieces’ greater distance from fact, the upside-down post-’65 headstock with middle pickup)
the bridge. Favourite settings? Neck and Fender facing the ‘correct’ way makes one feel WEIGHT (kg/lb): 3.59/7.9
middle, then middle (very Hey Joe); then almost anarchic playing it. What’s more, you OPTIONS: None
neck (Wind Cries Mary). The bridge unit barely notice the ‘wrong way round’ bridge RANGE OPTIONS: Mexican
comes into its own when drive is applied pickup – the thing we feared might look the Standard Strats start at £480,
– the more the merrier for those lairier weirdest. And if these changes to the basic including left-handers
‘voodoo’ moments. Strat’s formula do add a spark of Jimi magic LEFT-HANDERS: See range options
to tone and playability, all the better, although FINISHES: Olympic White
it’s hard to tell without a similarly equipped (as reviewed), Black
‘regular’ Mexican Strat for comparison.
That said, its range of tones from the USA Fender GBI
pickups – a good move by Fender – is full of 01342 331700
Strat-y personality, and that, and the use of the www.fender.com
You barely notice occasional Gibson aside, was the essence of
the ‘wrong way the Hendrix tone.
Apart from needing a tiny action tweak, it
round’ bridge pickup
8
was hard to fault this guitar in build, price or
execution. In fact, more than one Guitarist
– which was the thing ‘old hand’ has said how cool it would be to turn
we feared might look up to a gig with one. And if you can turn the
heads of a bunch of old cynics like us, Fender PROS Cool-looking guitar with real
the weirdest is clearly doing something right! Jimi vibe; plays and sounds great

CONS Not available left-handed

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