Celebrity System
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix, a name synonymous with rock guitar virtuosity, revolutionized music with his innovative playing style and psychedelic sound. Born James Marshall Hendrix in Seattle, Washington, in 1942, he began playing guitar at a young age and quickly developed a unique approach to the instrument.
Hendrix’s career skyrocketed after joining with his band “The Experience” in 1966. Their albums “Are You Experienced?” and “Axis: Bold as Love” showcased his groundbreaking techniques, such as feedback, distortion, and unconventional chord progressions. Hendrix’s performances at Woodstock and the Monterey Pop Festival cemented his status as a legendary musician.
Unfortunately, Hendrix’s life was cut short in 1970 at the age of 27. His legacy, however, lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and influence countless musicians worldwide. Hendrix’s innovative playing style and iconic sound have made him one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
Here is a photo of Hendrix with his home Hi-Fi system in London, England. The picture was taken around 1969. All you can see in the photo is a Leak Stereo 30 amplifier, but we know that Jimi’s system also included a Bang & Olufsen Beogram 1000 turntable and a pair of Lowther Acousta 115 speakers.
How do we know this? Because Jimi Hendrix’s London apartment is preserved to this day for visitors to tour. You can see the apartment, including the Hi-Fi system and Jimi’s record collection, at the “Handel Hendrix House” located at 23 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, England. By the way, it’s called the Handel Hendrix house because, believe it or not, another music superstar, classical composer George Frederic Handel, lived next door at 25 Brook Street in the 1700s.
Jimi Hendrix’s System
The Leak Stereo 30 is an integrated amplifier from the early 1960s. It was one of the first commercially available transistor amplifiers, offering reliability and improved performance compared to its valve-based predecessors. Early models utilized germanium transistors, which provided a unique sonic character often described as warm and smooth.
The Beogram 1000 is a belt drive turntable produced by Bang & Olufsen, a Danish company known for innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs. Introduced in the 1960s, the Beogram 1000 was a symbol of mid-century modern design and delivered high quality audio reproduction.
The Acousta 115 is a distinctive loudspeaker made by British manufacturer Lowther. It employs a horn loaded design, which enhanced the efficiency and power handling capabilities of the speaker.
If you’d like to check out the Handel Hendrix House, here’s a link to the website: handelhendrix.org
