British specialist magazine Hi-Fi Choice reports on an interesting setup for the fans of the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. All the visitors who will be able to reach his third floor apartment-turned-museum at 23 Brook Street, London – where one of the most brilliant rock musicians lived from 1968-69 (hopefully, sometime soon) – can experience a special treat.
They will be able to listen to his extensive record collection through exactly the same hi-fi setup, one, the magazine calls “very expensive and powerful setup at that time. That setup included a Bang & Olufsen turntable, connected to a Leak amplifier and two Lowther speakers. Now, all three companies have come up with the exact same pieces of hi-fi gear, just for this Hendrix apartment setup. B&O donated a fully functioning original ’60s Beogram 1000 turntable. Lowther supplied a set of restored Acousta 115 speakers, the exact model Hendrix used. For their part, Leak sent a new Stereo 130 integrated amp, modeled on the classic Stereo 30 amp from 1963 that Hendrix had.
According to his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham, apparently Hendrix “used to like listening to records pretty loud.” She adds that the pair had to stick one of the heavier British coins onto the turntable arm, “otherwise it would jump up and down the louder it got.” Not sure whether the upcoming visitors will be able to do the same thing, though.
