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Marshall Super Lead Amplifier Formerly Owned by Jimi Hendrix
Marshall Super Lead Amplifier Formerly Owned by Jimi Hendrix
Marshall Super Lead Amplifier Formerly Owned by Jimi Hendrix

Marshall Super Lead Amplifier Formerly Owned by Jimi Hendrix

Manufacturer Marshall Amplifiers
Date1969
Mediumwire; wood; cloth; metal; plastic
DimensionsOverall (HWD): 11 × 29 1/8 × 9 1/16 in., 43.5 lb. (27.94 × 73.978 × 23.019 cm, 19.7 kg)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection
Object number2001.311.4
Text Entries

Jimi Hendrix used this 1969 100-watt Marshall Super Lead amplifier head for live performances in 1969 and 1970, including his famous appearances at Woodstock on August 18, 1969 and at the December 31, 1969 Filmore East show with the Band of Gypsys. Photographs and film footage from these shows identify the unit by the “J. H. EXP.” stenciled into it by roadie John Downing (1945-1987). 

  

To achieve his desired sound, Hendrix plugged his guitar into a lead or “head” amplifier like this one and connected it to three Marshall “stacks” linked by electrical cord. These stacks, which consisted of two speaker cabinets containing four, 12-inch, 25-watt speakers each, produced the loudest sound possible at the time. Because Hendrix also liked to crank his Marshalls to the highest volume setting, he sometimes fried amplifier vacuum tubes and cracked speakers. Hendrix owned eight lead amplifiers and ten stacks to replace his damaged ones while they were under repair by Hollywood’s West Coast Organ and Amp Service. 

 

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who gained mainstream prominence in the late 1960s with hits such as “Hey Joe,” “Purple Haze,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Fire,” and is now celebrated as one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time. 

Wooden cuboid enclosure covered in black Tolex cloth. Bottom front features a slim, gold, rectangular control panel with switches, knobs, and input jacks. A white plastic “Marshall” logo is affixed to the center front of the amplifier enclosure. The top of the enclosure features a handle made of black plastic and chrome metal fixtures. Stenciled in white, faded paint on the top are the words “J.H. EXP.” and “HANDLE WITH CARE”. “J.H. EXP.” is also stenciled on the sides of the enclosure. The back features a rectangular gold metal grille on the upper half, through which one can see the amplifier itself, and below this grille is a slim, gold, rectangular plate with the words “SUPER LEAD 100w” and output jacks. Attached around the “MAINS” control are black embossed labels which indicate voltage: “120,” “220,” “240,” and underneath the two fuses holders, there is a green embossed label affixed which says “2 AMP” AND “L AMP”.
CopyrightThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. For more information, see http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/
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