The Amps of Jimi Hendrix

When Jimi first arrived in London he were given Burns amplifiers. These were 30 watts, and didn’t hold up to the standards of the Experience, and they used to kick them around the practice room. Hints were taken, and Jimi got two Marshall Super Lead «stacks» that he used to daisy-chain together. They also got one Marshall PA «stack» with two Shure microphones, and this were the setup they used in the early days, and also took with them to France on their first trip overseas.

Jim Marshall’s first amplifier was the JTM 45. It is based on the Fender Bassman circuit, the 5F6A version from the late fifties. The 45 watt amp were produced both as a head with separete 4×12″ speaker cabinet, and as a combo with two 12″ speakers, known as the Bluesbreaker due to Eric Clapton using it on the «Beano» album with John Mayalls Bluesbreakers.

Anyway, the rock and roll guitarists of the day, including a certain Pete Townshend, had a craving for more power. And Jim Marshall would give it to them in 1965 in the shape of the 100 watt JTM 45/100 head. In 1966 the successor came, the mighty 100 watt Super Lead amplifier. Placed on top of two 4×12 speaker cabinets this were known as a Marshall «stack».

Marshall made both 50 and 100 watt versions of this amp, but Jimi always prefered the 100 watt model. In the days before massive PA-systems, the guitar sound came exclusively from the amp, and Jimi jused three 100 watt stacks, whitch is three heads and six speaker cabinets. This setup must have been extremely loud, but the sound of three Marshall stacks is of course rock and roll heaven!