Hendrix Amp

LunaticFringe

LunaticFringe

New member
I know shortcuts usually come with consequences, but what's out there right now that people like to use to get close to Hendrix's sound. I know the formula involves a strat, a fuzzface, and a 100-watt marshall cranked (plexi?) at it's core. What's out there that gets that great sound but in a 50-watt head that I'll actually be able to play without destroying the foundation of my house. I see that tone as something I could use for all sorts of playing, not just Hendrix style stuff.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

There are several other non Marshalls out there that come VERY close to the Plexi vibe however you need to know that a 50 watt head and even a single 4x12 is still far too loud for most places...
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

agreed, i got a 50 watt so people would stop whining about my bassman killing them

it's not all that much quieter, i still have to take a dirt box to practice
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

100 being twice as loud as 50 is a total misconception. You actually need 10X the wattage to double the volume.

Now, there's more to it, with speakers, clean headroom, etc.... but the bottom line is, if 100 is too loud, 50 probably is, too.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

I know that it isn't much quieter, but as I understand it, since a 50-watt amp will break up much sooner than a 100-watt, the volume required to get that sweet breakup will be much less. Isn't the JTM-45 for blues mainly? Didn't Hendrix use a more powerful amp for his harder rocking songs?
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

Mattt said:
I'd be looking for an 18w Plexi clone...

I just use my PODxt.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the PODxt is great, I just got one. Any suggestions for a good 18w plexi clone? I'd rather save up and get one that's excellent and never have to look back than save a few hundred bucks and get a mediocre one. I've got a Traynor YCV20, and while it's a good tube amp for a good price, I know it's not A+. I don't want to have anymore regrets about gear I buy. I've realized that when I know what I want in my head and I make my decision based on the fact that it's in the ball-park but costs less I wind up unsatisfied and even though it might be hundreds of bucks less than the better piece of gear, $600 is too much money to drop on something that is just 'ok'
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

LunaticFringe said:
I know that it isn't much quieter, but as I understand it, since a 50-watt amp will break up much sooner than a 100-watt, the volume required to get that sweet breakup will be much less. Isn't the JTM-45 for blues mainly? Didn't Hendrix use a more powerful amp for his harder rocking songs?
Click to expand...


This information is a misnomer.

Hendrix in fact used Fender amps for his first two albums and also 'All along the watchtower'. I got that information for a 1 inch think book on Jimi Hendrix that has pictures of his amps.

Those Marshalls were used mostly on tours and were Sunn amps for a brief time.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

Have you thought about the Fuchs Lucky 7? It's a seven watt single ended amp that is supposed to sound very marshally.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

Stratman said:
This information is a misnomer.

Hendrix in fact used Fender amps for his first two albums and also 'All along the watchtower'. I got that information for a 1 inch think book on Jimi Hendrix that has pictures of his amps.

Those Marshalls were used mostly on tours and were Sunn amps for a brief time.
Click to expand...

what fenders?

and about the 50 watt breaking up sooner, yeah it does, but when tube amps start to break up they really cease to get louder when you turn the volume up, it's just more distortion

if you have a MV though, it'll help a bit more. Certain MV designs have really no affect on tone if they're past a certain level, and that level will be a little quieter on a 50 watt

i guess you could expect about a 5-6db drop from a 100 watt if that's the case
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

LunaticFringe said:
Isn't the JTM-45 for blues mainly? Didn't Hendrix use a more powerful amp for his harder rocking songs?
Click to expand...

No they aren't "for blues mainly". I can play a wide variety of styles of music with mine. Anyways, Hendrix' main (I think '67, maybe '66) Marshall amp was a 100W JTM/45 model, the Super 100. But Stratman is correct, he used and recorded with many a Fender. That's one reason why his clean's are the way they are. He used Sunn's for a very short while; recordings, and live. Hendrix is synonymous with Marshall, but not all about Marshall.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

While the plexi, the fuzzface, the octovio and the wah are all important, you can't forget the strat.

I don't know if you've got another axe but as sweet as a LP with phat cats is (I've got p0's in one of mine) its not really going to get you the Hendrix tone/vibe.

p90's in a LP are an awesome raw ripping tone but they aren't close to a strat tone.

I'm a huge hendrix fan myself and just recently got a strat, custom shop 69 pickups and it just nails the Hendrix tone.

Playing something like Voodoo Chile (slight return) on it veres either of my LP's is night and day.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

I think the Hendrix mystique makes for a lot of good fun...

I will add that YES he has been quite documented to have used Fender amp, esp Twins on many tracks. As far as any studio records or individual track listings - there is ittle info, but I do think you can clearly HEAR it.

The other thing is I have always been in LOVE with Band of Gypsies and Monterey. I frankly didn't get into Hendrix til I heard those 2. A lot of those tones have to do with the better post prod with EQing etc, and the use of some room and abient mic's mixed with what sounds like a lot of the close mic'd sounds. Keep that in the equation.

As far as Monterey goes - you can see a bunch of FENDER DUAL SHOWMAN (quite likely with 15" speaker cabs) amps in the background and they are ON. Many people believe those amps were also running along with his 2 Marshall Plexi Stacks in that show, thus accounting for his beautiful dirty/clean tone and his fuller sound with the sweet bass and highs on that album.

There is a NEW DVD release of Monterey out btw!
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

the guy who invented fire said:
Lew, why did you deleat your posts? I found them great and spot on!
Click to expand...

I didn't catch his second one, but I agree with the first. Hendrix was another of those guys who'd sound like him no matter what he was playing. It's all about the way he played.

Get the sound all dialed in and try to duplicate the intro to Voodoo Child. It's just chopping on muted strings and a wah, but it's tough to do it just like him.
 
Re: Hendrix Amp

millsart said:
While the plexi, the fuzzface, the octovio and the wah are all important, you can't forget the strat.

I don't know if you've got another axe but as sweet as a LP with phat cats is (I've got p0's in one of mine) its not really going to get you the Hendrix tone/vibe.

p90's in a LP are an awesome raw ripping tone but they aren't close to a strat tone.

I'm a huge hendrix fan myself and just recently got a strat, custom shop 69 pickups and it just nails the Hendrix tone.

Playing something like Voodoo Chile (slight return) on it veres either of my LP's is night and day.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know the strat adds alot, by the time I can afford a good amp to do marshally stuff, I'll be able to afford a strat. I didn't know that Jimi used Fenders but it makes sense. Band of Gypsies is my favorite Hendrix album right now. Did he use fenders on that?
 
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