Fender Musical Instruments Corp. is about to “let Jimi take over.” The company on Tuesday launched its newest addition to the Artist Signature Series: the Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster, which honors the late and great rock icon.
Jimi Hendrix took the world by storm with his incredible 1967 Monterey Pop Festival performance, which he concluded with the sacrificial burning of his now-iconic, hand-painted Stratocaster. First revealed at Summer NAMM 2017 in Nashville, Tenn., and available only for the remainder of this year, the new limited-edition Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster celebrates the 50th anniversary of this milestone in music history.
“Jimi created something amazing, embodied in Monterey with his now legendary hand-painted Fender Stratocaster,” said Janie Hendrix, CEO/President, Experience Hendrix LLC and Authentic Hendrix LLC. “In many ways, it was a representation of who he was. We wanted Jimi enthusiasts from all walks of life to be able to enjoy the magic of his art in this form. Making it beautiful and attainable is a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of an incredible moment in time.”
The Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster, priced at $899.99, captures all of the energy of his unforgettable set-ending finale at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967. An homage to the spectacular performance that quite literally burned its way into our pop culture conscience, the Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster faithfully replicates his hand-painted psychedelic artwork on the body of the guitar. A trio of vintage-style single-coil Stratocaster pickups give this ‘60s-style, Fiesta Red Strat its classic Fender sound.
Bell-like and articulate, it has plenty of singing sustain for soloing. The “C”-shaped maple neck bears a vintage-style 7.25-inch-radius pau ferro fingerboard with 21 vintage-sized frets for a playing feel just like the original. The six-screw synchronized tremolo is perfect for unleashing dive-bombs and other sonic expressions. Fully authorized, the Stratocaster features an exclusive etched Authentic Hendrix neck plate.
“It’s an honor to celebrate such an iconic musical moment and Jimi Hendrix’s legacy on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival,” said Justin Norvell, senior vice president, Fender Products. “The Stratocaster was at the heart of countless, iconic Hendrix performances, but Monterey marked his arrival in the United States as a musical force — and Fender is proud to have been a part of that moment. The fiery culmination of Hendrix’s set went down as one of the most-iconic images of the 20th century. Although little of the guitar remained afterward, a detailed examination of photos and video from the performance helped us develop our version of the original guitar, down to the detailed nail-polish artistry.”