Bob's Vintage Guitars

Hendrix Stratocaster (1980)

The following is a description of the first of seven guitars produced as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Between 1979 and 1980, Fender developed a prototype for a new model that has come to be known on the street as the "Hendrix Stratocaster". This instrument is significant for two main reasons.

It was the first Fender artist-related Stratocaster, or perhaps "artist inspired" would be more accurate since no connection to Hendrix by name or image appears anywhere on the guitar (the authorized and licensed Artist Series instruments didn't begin until the Clapton Signature model appeared in 1988).

Secondly, the instrument's design features mark a follow-up of the 1979 Anniversary Strat's departure from the CBS norm - a return to the pre-CBS four bolt neck attachment and corresonponding neck plate, and the abandonment of the "Bullet" headstock truss rod adjustment.

The departure from the then-current CBS design makes sense since the 1980 Hendrix Stratocaster was essentially modeled upon the 1968 Strat Hendrix played at Woodstock in 1969 (as were all of the tribute instruments discussed in this article except for the 1997 Fender Custom Shop Monterey Strat).

Modeled after a 1968 Strat but with a significant twist.

Unlike any 1968 production line Stratocaster, the 1980 Hendrix Strat joined a right-handed body with a left-handed neck. This configuration would appear again in the 1991 Custom Shop '67 Reissue Stratocaster.
Why put a left-handed neck on a right-handed body?

Two reasons.
1. Cosmetically, the upside-down-looking headstock is similar in appearance to Hendrix playing a right-handed guitar flipped upside down and played from the opposite side of the body.
2. Reversing how the left-handed neck is strung (the low E, for example, being where the high E would be on a left-handed neck strung normally), reverses the usual length of the strings and results in a somewhat different "feel" and, arguably, creates a difference in tone. The differences are the result of a change in tension of the strings (apart from the G and D string which, being in the middle, aren't really affected). For example, the low E, when strung in reverse, is now the longest string and subject to greater tension due to the increase in length. Conversely, the high E is now the shortest and its tension is less.

Was the 1980 Hendrix Stratocaster actually produced?
There is an element of mystery surrounding this issue. Author Tony Bacon, on pages 94-95 of "The Fender Book", indicates that the guitar went into production and twenty-five were made. Others believe that it never evolved past the prototype stage (see "Story of prototype #1, below). When recently contacted regarding this issue, Fender-FMIC stated that in light of the events having taken place prior to 1985, it would be unable to supply a definitive answer.

According to John Page, former Fender Custom Shop manager, who was with Fender during 1979 and 1980, the "Hendrix Stratocaster" came about at the insistence of Mudge Miller, who was a Fender marketing representative at the time. Page recalls that while the instrument never really went into production, Miller got Fender to produce 25 units for a group of Fender dealers in Texas as a "special run". Page also believes that these 25 guitars may have had a circled letter "M" (for Mudge) on the headstock. This mark does not appear on three of the four prototypes believed to exist (it is unknown whether or not it appears on the fourth, the prototype possibly owned by a collector in Japan).

Specifications
Color: Olympic White
Body: Alder, with Special Additional Front Contour
Neck: Maple; Large Reverse Headstock; Four Bolt Attachment and Neckplate
Fingerboard: Maple
Truss Rod Adjustment: At Body
No. of Frets: 21
Tremolo: Six-pivot Bridge/Tremolo
Pickups: Three
Pickup Switching: 5-Way
Pickguard: 11-Screw White Laminated Plastic
Last MSR Price: $1,500*

*Blue Book Publications, Inc.'s "Blue Book of Electric Guitars, 8th Edition"
Another source that indicates 25 or so of the 1980 Hendrix Stratocasters were produced.