Purple Haze
DistortedRiff1960s
Snarling Fuzz Face and cranked Plexi warmth.
Start at Gain 6, Bass 6, Middle 6, Treble 5, Presence 5, Reverb 3, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster on the solo
- Amp
- Marshall Super 100 heads
Reviewed
Jimi Hendrix amp settings and guitar tones
3 songs, each with a starting point and the rig from its sources
What amp settings do you need for Jimi Hendrix?
Tonelify's library has 3 Jimi Hendrix songs, each with the rig reported in interviews and articles and a reference starting point on a generic five-knob amp. There is no single Jimi Hendrix setting. Little Wing starts at Gain 2 and Voodoo Child (Slight Return) at Gain 6, so set the amp for the song, not for the artist.
The numbers below are the same ones each song page gives. The rig for each song is on its own page with the sources it comes from.
Jimi Hendrix songs and their starting points
Little Wing
CleanSolo1960s
Hollow in-between chords with a rotating-speaker shimmer on the lead.
Start at Gain 2, Bass 5, Middle 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 3, with the in-between neck and middle position, as on the rhythm part.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster, between neck and middle
- Amp
- Clean amp, lead through a Leslie
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
DistortedRiff1960s
Muted wah-wah scratching that explodes into a loud, crunching riff.
Start at Gain 6, Bass 6, Middle 6, Treble 5, Presence 5, Reverb 3, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster, wah-wah pedal
- Amp
- Loud amp, cut live in the room
These are positions on a generic five-knob amp with gain, bass, middle, treble and presence, each running 0 to 10. They are a starting point, not the settings used on the record, and they will not transfer unchanged to an amp with a different gain structure or EQ voicing.
What gear did Jimi Hendrix use?
| Song | Guitar and amp |
|---|---|
| Purple Haze | Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster on the soloMarshall Super 100 heads |
| Little Wing | Fender Stratocaster, between neck and middleClean amp, lead through a Leslie |
| Voodoo Child (Slight Return) | Fender Stratocaster, wah-wah pedalLoud amp, cut live in the room |
Tonelify reads each of these chains and translates it to the amp and guitar you already own. Adapt one to your gear →
Jimi Hendrix tone questions
What amp settings do you need for Jimi Hendrix?
It depends on the song. On a generic five-knob amp, Purple Haze starts at Gain 6, Bass 6, Middle 6, Treble 5, Presence 5, Reverb 3; Little Wing starts at Gain 2, Bass 5, Middle 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 3; Voodoo Child (Slight Return) starts at Gain 6, Bass 6, Middle 6, Treble 5, Presence 5, Reverb 3. These are starting points, not the settings used on the records.
What gear did Jimi Hendrix use on these songs?
Purple Haze: Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster on the solo; Marshall Super 100 heads. Little Wing: Fender Stratocaster, between neck and middle; Clean amp, lead through a Leslie. Voodoo Child (Slight Return): Fender Stratocaster, wah-wah pedal; Loud amp, cut live in the room. Each song page lists the sources behind its rig.
Can you get the Jimi Hendrix tone without the original gear?
Yes. What carries these sounds is the gain structure, the EQ curve, the pickup position and the order of the effects, and all four can be rebuilt on other equipment. Tonelify rewrites each starting point for the amp and guitar you own.