Fender's Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster flips the traditional Strat on its head

Anyone with a vague interest in the electric guitar will know that Jimi Hendrix played a right-handed guitar restrung to be played left-handed - something Fender has sought to recreate with the Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster.

The model quite literally mirrors the unique tonal traits of Jimi's Strats, including the 'reverse' bridge pickup and 'reverse' headstock, which results in a longer string length for bass strings, creating a tighter playing feel with easier bending and vibrato on treble strings - the body, controls and vibrato remain the same orientation as a regular right-handed guitar.

Elsewhere, the guitar offers three American Vintage '65 single coils - with a reverse-slant bridge pickup, natch - as well as a 9.5" radius C shape maple neck.

Nods to Hendrix's legacy come courtesy of a signature on the rear of the large '70s-style headstock, while the guitar's neckplate features a silhouette of Jimi, as well as the Authentic Hendrix logo.

The Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster is available from November in Olympic White and Black finishes for £689, including gigbag - see Fender for more.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.