portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Monday, May 29, 2023

Guitars . . . . . . . . . Jimi Hendrix’s Les Paul

Normally associated with a range of Stratocaster’s (an occasional Gibson Flying V! sic) but rarely a Les Paul, here is his first 

 


"Jimi started using a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar around April 1968. The earliest photos date to April 5th, 1968, which could possibly mean that this is something Jimi acquired at Manny’s Music shop, which is just a 30-minute drive from the Symphony Hall. At that time, the guitar seemed the have been used exclusively on the song Red House, and it seemed to have some sort of a white sticker on the top of the body.

The Les Paul was however most famously used at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East venue in New York on May 10, 1968, and at the Miami Pop Festival on May 18th. Aside from these two, Hendrix apparently hasn’t really played the guitar that much, since it was spotted during only a handful of gigs around this period.” Ground Guitar

-GroundGuitar

Photo Elliott Landy - Jimi Hendrix Fillmore East, NYC, 1968

2 comments:

diamonddave said...

Yo Andy, well I never knew Jimi played a Les Paul. Yes, seen the odd Flying V and SG - but we all know he loved a good ol' right handed strat. Don't think I've seen him with a Tele either!! Mention Manny's Music Store, which closed down in 2009, which was an unbelievable store with loads of signed photos on the wall etc. (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/nyregion/01mannys.html) Got some pics somewhere, will try to find them sometime.
All the best neighbour and keep the Jimi spirit burning (of the midnight lamp!).
DD

Andy Swapp said...

Cool response Dave. Always welcome my ole fren n naybor ! I will look for a shot of Jimi with a telecaster! Like you I can’t recall and somehow think he must have played one but instinctively can't think of a shot with him playing one!

Thanks for dropping by