‘Jimi
Hendrix’ Style Lesson (Part 4)

By
David M. McLean

 

Feedback
& FX

This
final installment of the Hendrix series covers Jimi’s use of FX
and feedback. It’s important to remember the equipment limitations
Jimi had in the late 1960s: No amp gain (just a master volume),
few effects pedals, and the like. I’d urge you to play around
for a few hours with nothing but your guitar and amp (set with
very little gain) so you can directly experience those limits
before adding modern implements into the mix.

Also remember
that Jimi was using a Strat most of the time, which means single-coil
pickups. It also means a neanderthal whammy bar, plus tone &
volume controls, and a 5-way toggle switch. This 5-way toggle
allowed Jimi to experiment with rapid tone alterations while the
whammy bar (despite it’s effectiveness in his hands) made for
quite a few tuning problems.

After experimenting
with these limits for a few hours, try adding distortion and octave
pedals into your chain (check out the Mayer Octavia and the Dunlop
Fuzz Face). Jimi also made use of a Uni-Vibe (a sort of tremelo
effect), chorusing, and the infamous Crybaby Wah pedal. You can
find an extensive array of Hendrix-style effects from UniVibe,
Dunlop, Electro-Harmonix, and Roger Mayer. Voodoo Lab also offers
a line of Jimi-specific effects (including the Micro-Vibe, Superfuzz,
and Proctavia).

Finally, we
come to feedback. As before, try experimenting with long sustaining
feedback as well as those quick stabs with just a low-gain setting,
your guitar, and lots of amp volume before introducing your FX
package into the mix. Old films of Jimi playing live show him
struggling successfully with his set-up to attain bizarre feedback
effects by altering the angles at which the guitar and amp interface,
by striking the body and neck of the guitar, altering his distance
from the amp, and sweeping the guitar smoothly in and out from
in front of the speakers at close range. Check out concert footage
from Woodstock and Monterey to get an idea of his techniques,
then experiment on your own.