Jimi Hendrix' Gear and Mods at West Coast Organ and Amp

[daveweyer]

Yeah, Jimi played Hiwatts. Gary Rowles told me that when he did the Olympic sessions with Jimi in April of 70, Jimi was playing a Hiwatt. Well it's a Dave Reeves amp anyway, at least that is what I have been told, and Hiwatt has gotten all the original designs back through a long process. Supposedly there is some original stuff coming, and some reissues and so forth.
They're all cool to me.

[Xplorer]

I read somewhere that Jimi saw Pink Floyd playing and he was interested by Gilmour's Hiwatts, but i didn't know if he recorded with it.

[shakti]

Don't know if this is old News by now, but in the new reissue of the Fillmore East concerts ("Songs for Groovy Children"), there is a photo inside the booklet which shows the band soundchecking/setting up gear. On the back of Hendrix' amps you can clearly see a white oblong sticker on each amp.

Interestingly there is a combo behind Billy Cox' speaker cabs which looks like maybe a Twin Reverb, but with no speaker.

[daveweyer]

Shakti I think we got the best out of Jimi's equipment for the later Filmore East concerts. On the better recordings I hear the most of what I had hoped to do with Jimi's sound, and Jimi had adapted to getting his tones in the new way, actually the way he wanted to evolve based on stuff he was hearing from other artists who were copying him.
Those little oval stickers keep showing up. I have said before that I didn't want to put them on Jimi's equipment because I thought they looked cheesy, but Jerry Sanders insisted I put them on. If they hadn't shown up in these various photographs, I bet I could not have convinced you guys that West Coast was real and had a hand in Jimi's sound.

Here is an interesting tidbit: The Jimi Hendrix Foundation (the charity Jimi wanted and that his dad finally set up in 1988), has trademarked "West Coast Organ and Amp Service" for their own use, and have even gotten that phone number which was on the original tags. One of these days you will be able to call that same number and actually get ahold of West Coast Organ and Amp Service! And, if all goes according to plan (ha ha) you will be able to get the same mods and equipment Jimi had. They are even talking about offering kits, sort of like George did on this site.

I know it all sounds kinda dreamy, but if Joe (CEO) has his way, it will come to pass.

[yladrd61]

Just got the new BOG "Songs For Groovy Children" currently having mind re expanded by the BOG songs, yes many reissued, much new material, if you don't have it yet, get it

[Tazin]

Don't know if this is old News by now, but in the new reissue of the Fillmore East concerts ("Songs for Groovy Children"), there is a photo inside the booklet which shows the band soundchecking/setting up gear. On the back of Hendrix' amps you can clearly see a white oblong sticker on each amp.

Interestingly there is a combo behind Billy Cox' speaker cabs which looks like maybe a Twin Reverb, but with no speaker.

Is it possible to post that photo?

[shakti]

I searched but couldn't find it online. I've never seen it before. My box is in the car, but when I remember I can try to take a photo.

[Tazin]

I searched but couldn't find it online. I've never seen it before. My box is in the car, but when I remember I can try to take a photo.

That would be much appreciated.