Above: Jimi Hendrix performs with his 1969 Flying V at Isle of Wight Festival on August 31, 1970.
“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” –Jimi Hendrix
Gibson the iconic American instrument brand, is proud to honor guitar legend Jimi Hendrix with two new Gibson signature guitars, the Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V in Aged Ebony and the Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White. Widely recognized as one of the most creative musicians of all time, Hendrix’s influence with his genre-defying mix of blues, funk, soul jazz and R&B still impacts musicians worldwide today. In celebration of the anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s birthday (November 27, 1942), Gibson has gathered artists and Hendrix colleagues to launch multiple special events, interviews and performances for an “Inspired By Hendrix” series that will kick off today, November 17 across Gibson’s social pages: Gibson TV, Instagram and Facebook. Jimi Hendrix pioneered the explosive possibilities of the electric guitar. Hendrix’s innovative style of combining fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion created a new musical form and his influence resonates to this day. In 1969, Hendrix custom-ordered a left-handed Gibson Flying V directly from Gibson. Used during the Band of Gypsys era, the following year Hendrix’s Gibson Flying V was made forever famous during his performance at the Isle of Wight Festival at Afton Downs on August 31, 1970.
The Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V has been created in both right and left-handed versions and features a Murphy Lab Aged Ebony finish and aged gold hardware. Only 125 right-handed Flying V guitars and 25 left-handed versions will be created as part of a very special run of guitars, hand-made by the expert luthiers and craftspeople of the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, TN. Gibson Custom Shop is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality, and sound excellence with each instrument celebrating Gibson’s legacy through historical accuracy and attention to detail. The Certificate of Authenticity for the Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V in Aged Ebony features an image of Jimi performing at the Isle Of Wight with the guitar.
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Above: Jimi Hendrix performs with his 1967 Gibson SG on “The Dick Cavett Show” on September 9, 1969.
On July 7, 1969–a few weeks prior to his legendary Woodstock performance on Aug. 18, 1969–Jimi Hendrix appeared for his national TV debut on “The Dick Cavett Show” with a performance and interview. In his interview with Cavett, Hendrix delighted the in-studio audience and those watching at home as he discussed the idea of creating an electric church stating, “It’s just a belief that I have, we do these electric guitars, everything is electrified nowadays, so therefore the belief comes through in the electricity to the people, that’s why we play so loud, because it doesn’t actually hit through the ear drums. Most groups say, ‘we’re going to play loud because they’re playing loud,’ and they’ve got this real shrill sound that’s hard. We are playing for our sound to go inside the soul of the person and see if it can awaken some-kind-of-thing in their minds, since there are so many sleeping people.”
On September 9, 1969, for his second appearance on “The Dick Cavett Show” Hendrix played a right-handed 1967 Gibson SG (strung lefty) for a medley of “Izabella” and “Machine Gun.” The new limited edition Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White accurately replicates the exact guitar Hendrix performs on the show. The SG Custom features a Murphy Lab Aged Polaris White finish and is one of only 150 models created as part of this run, hand-made by the expert luthiers and craftspeople of the Gibson Custom Shop. The Certificate of Authenticity for the Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White features an image of Jimi performing on “The Dick Cavett Show” with the SG guitar.
The full packages for the new Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom and the 1969 Flying V feature personal touches including official photos of Jimi with the guitars, as well as a collection of anecdotes and personal photographs of Jimi from his collaborator the renowned engineer and producer Eddie Kramer(Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, David Bowie). Additionally, special guitar cases have been designed that feature interior linings which are inspired by the clothes Jimi Hendrix wore at Isle of Wight (Flying V) and on “The Dick Cavett Show” (Gibson SG). Below is Eddie Kramer’s personal photo of Jimi Hendrix with his Flying V guitar rehearsing for a performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 18, 1969. Kramer states, “Jimi’s hands were huge, and he used his thumb to bar the entire neck of the guitar, which yielded much of his unique tone. He is seen here quietly rehearsing on the Gibson Flying V, prior to going on stage. He used the V for playing the blues and that was his way of relaxing.”
“I don’t know of a more perfect time than the present for the world to be inspired and electrified by the spirit of Jimi, embodied in these guitars!” says Janie Hendrix, Sister of Jimi and President and CEO of Experience Hendrix L.L.C. & Authentic Hendrix LLC. “Jimi didn’t play with just his hands, he played his heart and really his soul, using his guitar to create positive energy. He wanted to awaken the world with it. Gibson has harnessed some of that energy, and beautifully! It’s amazing to know that fans and those who love Jimi, and his music, will be able to plug into that power and keep his legacy alive. With Gibson, we’ve selected two of his most impressive guitars to recreate. It’s quite an homage to Jimi, and we couldn’t be more excited about what this means historically.”
“Millions of people around the world of all ages have heard Jimi’s music for the first time and felt that their path was changed forever,” adds engineer and producer Eddie Kramer. “I felt that too after hearing him playing through his amp at Olympic Studios in January 1967. I was never the same after ‘experiencing that wall of sound’ and I dedicated myself to capturing that sound, which became my obsession! Jimi had a special magic that came from his brain directly to his heart and then to his fingers, exploding onto the neck of the guitar. He was the greatest guitar player the world has ever known and left a legacy of guitar magic that no one since has come close to. I am honored and privileged to have been involved with this project as Gibson has done an incredible job of recreating these guitars. I can imagine the expression on the fans’ faces when they open up the guitar case and wrap their hands around the neck of one of these beauties, plug in and maybe change the world!”
“Having the opportunity to release Jimi’s 1969 Gibson Flying V and 1967 Gibson SG Custom is a dream come true, an amazing opportunity that comes with an obligation for all of us at Gibson to pay tribute to Jimi,” says Cesar Gueikian of Gibson. “He left this world way too early, but the legacy and influence he left behind is unparalleled. I am grateful for Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix’s partnership and friendship, and that she has trusted our team to pay tribute to Jimi. This is just the beginning; we are looking forward to all that the Gibson and Authentic Hendrix partnership will bring to fans in the coming years. Additionally, working alongside Eddie Kramer, a music pioneer on so many levels, is just incredible. Eddie captured that epic sound, engineering, producing, and bringing to life that magical and game-changing Hendrix guitar style. We are honored to share Eddie’s personal photographs and the memories he experienced.”
Watch and share the video below of the new Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V in Aged Ebony and the Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White, narration by Malina Moye: HERE.
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Click on the photo above to play the video.
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Photos (L-R): Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V in Aged Ebony and the Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White.
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Jimi Hendrix photo and note from Eddie Kramer.
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Jimi Hendrix™ 1969 Flying V case.
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Jimi Hendrix™ 1967 SG Custom case.
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Jimi Hendrix:
Gibson:
About Authentic Hendrix, LLC:
Founded by James ‘Al’ Hendrix, Jimi’s father, in 1995, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, have been managed since its inception by the family members handpicked by Al during his tenure as Chairman. They are the official family companies charged with managing the music, name, image, and likeness of Jimi Hendrix. As a part of their daily operations, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix oversee Jimi’s timeless legacy on a worldwide basis.
About Gibson:
Gibson, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, with a premiere acoustic facility in Bozeman, MT, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, and the Gibson Pro Audio Division, KRK Music. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.
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