Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Recorded on 23 October 1966 at De Lane Lea Studios in London, 'Hey Joe' features Hendrix playing a borrowed Fender Telecaster through the neck pickup, routed directly into a 1966 Marshall Super 100 JTM45 amp turned to full volume. The amp’s natural tube breakup gives the verses a warm, slightly overdriven tone, while the solo pushes the amp harder for a gritty, aggressive edge. The track was produced by Chas Chandler, and the guitar part combines crisp rhythm strumming with fast, blues‑based single‑note runs.
Tuning E A D G B E
Signal chain
Reported gear
Fender Telecaster (borrowed from Noel Redding)
Guitar
Hendrix borrowed Noel Redding’s early‑60s Fender Telecaster for the ‘Hey Joe’ session, using the neck pickup to achieve a warm, slightly overdriven tone.
1966 Marshall Super 100 JTM45
Amp
Hendrix cranked a 1966 Marshall Super 100 JTM45 to full volume for ‘Hey Joe’, producing the raw, tube‑saturated distortion heard on the track.
Alternatives
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Modern equivalent · for the Fender Telecaster (borrowed from Noel Redding)
Marshall JTM45 Reissue
Reissue · for the 1966 Marshall Super 100 JTM45
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use the neck pickup for a warm, rounded tone.
- 2.Attack the rhythm parts with a light touch and slight palm‑mute for clarity.
- 3.Drive the amp hard for natural tube breakup during the solo.
- 4.Apply wide vibrato and controlled bends on the main riff for bluesy expression.
- 5.Maintain relaxed wrist movement for fluid fast picking.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Hey Joe guitar tone?
The available research points to Fender Telecaster (borrowed from Noel Redding) into 1966 Marshall Super 100 JTM45. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Hey Joe amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Hey Joe in?
The current research record lists E A D G B E. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Hey Joe tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
