Stratocaster
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Jimi Hendrix’s preference for Fender Stratocasters helped reestablish the instrument as its popularity waned in the late 1960s. He used this guitar for his legendary 1969 Woodstock performance, which culminated in his unplanned, radical reinterpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner," in part a wordless protest of the Vietnam War. Hendrix, who was left-handed, famously played right-handed guitars upside down and restrung. He purchased this guitar in New York in 1968 and used it until about 1970.
Technical Description:
Contoured alder body, two-piece maple neck; 25 ½ in. scale; Olympic white finish; bolt-on neck with black dot inlays; black Fender logo decal on headstock; three single coil pickups, three-way selector switch, one volume and two tone controls; chrome “synchronized tremolo” vibrato bridge and recessed input jack, nickel tuners, white plastic knobs, three-ply white and black plastic pickguard; nut and strap buttons modified for left-handed stringing
Technical Description:
Contoured alder body, two-piece maple neck; 25 ½ in. scale; Olympic white finish; bolt-on neck with black dot inlays; black Fender logo decal on headstock; three single coil pickups, three-way selector switch, one volume and two tone controls; chrome “synchronized tremolo” vibrato bridge and recessed input jack, nickel tuners, white plastic knobs, three-ply white and black plastic pickguard; nut and strap buttons modified for left-handed stringing
Artwork Details
- Title: Stratocaster
- Artist: Fender
- Artist: Jimi Hendrix (American, 1942–1970)
- Date: 1968
- Geography: Fullerton, California, United States
- Medium: Alder, maple, chrome, nickel, plastic
- Dimensions: Length: ~39 1/4 in. (99/7 cm)
Width: 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm)
Depth: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
Weight: 7.78 lb. (3.5 kg) - Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Courtesy of MoPOP, Seattle, WA
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments