Chasing the Hendrix Sound with the Studio Vintage and 1959

There are guitar tones that define a genre, and then there are tones that define an era. Jimi Hendrix did both. Raw, expressive, explosive and endlessly dynamic, his playing pushed amplifiers far beyond what anyone thought they were capable of.  

At the heart of that sound was the legendary Marshall 1959. Loud, uncompromising and full of attitude, it became the foundation for some of the most iconic guitar moments ever recorded. Today, the Studio Vintage carries that spirit forward in a format built for modern players. Inspired directly by the original 1959 Super Lead, it delivers the unmistakable character of classic Marshall tone without needing the same space to unleash it. 

The original Marshall 1959 became synonymous with Hendrix for a reason. Its unmistakable blend of warmth, bite and explosive power responded to every nuance of his playing. Clean passages shimmered with clarity before giving way to rich overdrive as the amp was pushed harder.  Unlike modern high-gain setups, Hendrix’s tone was built on dynamics. Much of the magic came from riding the guitar’s volume control, digging into the strings and letting the amp respond in real time.   The Studio Vintage carries that same ’60s spirit. Built on the DNA of the original 1959, it gives you that classic, dynamic Marshall response. Turn down your guitar volume for clean, shimmering tones. Turn it up, and the amp naturally breaks into rich crunch, with smooth sustain and plenty of harmonic detail.   When it comes to Hendrix, it’s not about recreating the past exactly. It is about capturing that feeling of standing in front of a Marshall and letting the guitar do the talking. 

Hendrix’s sound was constantly evolving, but a few core elements remained consistent throughout his career.   For cleaner rhythm tones inspired by tracks like Little Wing, keep the gain relatively controlled and let the amp breathe. Use the neck pickup with the guitar volume rolled back slightly for warmer cleans that still retain bite.  For more aggressive lead tones inspired by live performances and tracks like Purple Haze or Voodoo Child, push the amp harder and allow the natural breakup of the Studio Vintage to take centre stage.   A classic Hendrix-era trick is to jumper the amp’s bright and normal channels together using a short patch cable, just like players do on other vintage Marshall heads. This blends warmth, brightness and extra body for a bigger, fuller tone.

Remember, these settings are not rules... they’re just somewhere to start. Hendrix’s tone changed constantly depending on the era, venue, guitar, speakers, pedals and even how loudly the amp was being pushed. Use these settings as a foundation, then adjust by ear to suit your own setup and playing style.  LITTLE WING STYLE CLEAN Presence: 4   Bass: 3   Middle: 6   Treble: 6   Loudness I: 4   Loudness II: 3 Keep the guitar volume slightly rolled back and use lighter picking dynamics to maintain clarity.  PURPLE HAZE STYLE CRUNCH Presence: 6   Bass: 4   Middle: 7   Treble: 7   Loudness I: 7   Loudness II: 5   Push the amp harder and let the power section naturally compress. A fuzz pedal in front can help capture the saturated edge heard on many Hendrix recordings.   LIVE WOODSTOCK SINPIRED LEAD Presence: 7   Bass: 3   Middle: 8   Treble: 6   Loudness I: 8   Loudness II: 5  This tone is all about feel. Keep the amp loud enough to respond dynamically and work the guitar controls constantly.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Hendrix tone is that it was built purely around distortion. In reality, much of the character came from space, dynamics and touch.   The Studio Vintage is ideal for this approach because it responds to how you play. Every adjustment to the guitar changes the amp's sound. Pick softly, and it opens into clear, expressive tones. Dig in harder, and it pushes back with natural growl and sustain.   That responsiveness is what made the original 1959 such a defining amplifier, and it remains just as inspiring today. 

The Studio Vintage was designed for players who want classic Marshall character in a more practical format. It captures the feel and response of the original 1959 while fitting naturally into modern studios, rehearsal rooms and smaller stages. For players chasing Hendrix-inspired tones, that makes all the difference.  Because those era-defining sounds were never only about amp settings. They came from interaction. Movement. Volume swells, feedback and dynamics. The moments between clean and dirty, where everything feels alive.