Phone conversation with the unnamed individual led to the potential sale of a guitar, with the prospective buyer citing monetary gain as the sole motivation. Roth, however, found this rationale insufficient, denying the deal.
Known for his 1968 Olympic White Fender Strat, Jimi Hendrix also treasured his iconic black 1968 Strat, famously called "Black Beauty." This six-string beauty was so close to Hendrix's heart that he was snapped holding it just a day before his untimely demise in 1970.
Monika Dannemann, Hendrix's then-girlfriend, took photos of him sipping tea and fondling the black Strat on September 17th, 1970. After Hendrix's unexpected death, the Strat ended up with Dannemann and stayed with her until her passing in 1996.
Later on, rumors swirled that Scorpions guitar player Uli Jon Roth, who married Dannemann, became the guitar's unofficial caretaker. Roth, in a recent interview, spoke about his connection with the guitar, stating, "That guitar is not mine. That guitar belongs to the Dannemann family."
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Throughout the years, the black Strat has drawn enormous interest from high-profile buyers. A Microsoft executive, Paul Allen, even offered a million dollars for the guitar when Dannemann was alive back in the 80s. However, Dannemann famously turned down the offer, asserting, "This guitar is not for sale."
More recently, an art dealer from the Middle East allegedly proposed a whopping $9 million for the coveted instrument. Roth confirmed this offer but declined, citing insufficient justification for selling the guitar.
One may assume that Microsoft's Paul Allen managed to acquire Hendrix's Woodstock Stratocaster for $1.3m in 1993, but Hendrix's prized "Black Beauty" remains a mystery as far as ownership is concerned.
Catch more on Uli Jon Roth's insights in our upcoming interview!
References:
[1] Hendrix, H. (n.d.). Handelandhendrix. Instagram Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/handelandhendrix/
[2] Fausto, B. (2021, February 15). Black Strat Esp [Photograph] Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CR1Iuy3J_Qx/
[3] Guitar World (n.d.). Scorpions' Uli Jon Roth Turned Down $9M Offer for Jimi Hendrix's Black Stratocaster. Guitar World. Retrieved from https://www.guitarworld.com/news/scorpions-uli-jon-roth-jimi-hendrix-black-stratocaster
- Hendrix's "Black Beauty" Stratocaster, a six-string guitar, has captured immense interest from high-profile buyers, despite being widely considered as not for sale.
- In the past, a Microsoft executive offered a million dollars for the black Strat, but Monika Dannemann, Hendrix's then-girlfriend, declined the offer.
- More recently, an art dealer from the Middle East made an offer of $9 million for the guitar, but Roth, who was rumored to be its unofficial caretaker, declined the offer.
- Even though Microsoft's Paul Allen acquired Hendrix's Woodstock Stratocaster for $1.3 million in 1993, the mysterious "Black Beauty" remains a subject of debate regarding its ownership.
