lead guitar from “voodoo child (slight return)” by the jimi hendrix experience | ToneDB
voodoo child (slight return)
the jimi hendrix experience
lead guitar
Tone Profile
A searing, psychedelic blues-rock tone with a wah-drenched attack and sustained feedback. This sound is both aggressive and articulate, with a clear, biting edge.
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The Story
Hendrix achieved this iconic tone using his Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall Super Lead 100 amplifier, with a Vox V846 wah pedal prominently featured throughout the track. The recording was engineered by Eddie Kramer at Record Plant Studios in New York, likely using a Neumann U67 microphone positioned close to the Marshall cabinet to capture the raw amp tone. Hendrix's technique of cranking the Marshall to natural tube saturation created the sustained feedback and aggressive character that defines this sound.
Production Credits
Producer: Jimi Hendrix
Engineer: Eddie Kramer
Recorded at: Record Plant Studios, New York
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb
Amp: Marshall Super Lead 100Shop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb
Processing: Vox V846 WahShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Stratocaster-style guitar and a high-gain Marshall-style amp.
- Use a Vox Wah pedal and experiment with its sweep to find the sweet spots that create vocal-like textures.
- Crank the amp volume to achieve natural tube saturation and feedback.
- Experiment with different microphone placements to capture the desired amp tone.
- Use a compressor plugin to even out the dynamics and add sustain.
- Consider using a slight EQ boost in the upper mids to enhance clarity and cut through the mix.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Marshall Super Lead 100
20-watt plexi-style head that captures the Super Lead's tube saturation at manageable volumes while maintaining the same aggressive, cutting tone character
Alternative to: Vox V846 Wah
Classic wah circuit that delivers the vocal-like sweep and midrange emphasis heard in Hendrix's wah work on this track
Alternative to: Marshall Super Lead 100
Includes accurate Marshall plexi modeling with built-in wah and effects, perfect for bedroom recording at any volume
Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster
Delivers authentic single-coil Strat tone with the bright attack and sustain needed for this psychedelic blues sound
Alternative to: Neumann U67
Large-diaphragm condenser that captures amp detail and presence similar to the U67's character on guitar cabinets
Sources
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