DigiTech Jimi Hendrix Experience
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Making its debut at the 2005 Winter NAMM show, the DigiTech Jimi Hendrix Experience is one of those pedals that could have easily
turned into a gimmick. A lot of artist-branded gear ends up being little more than a famous name on the box. DigiTech took a different
approach. They partnered with legendary producer Eddie Kramer and Experience Hendrix, the company run by the Hendrix family that oversees
Jimi's musical legacy, to build a pedal around the actual sounds heard on Hendrix's records.
What has always fascinated me about this pedal is how deep DigiTech went down the rabbit hole. They had access to the recordings, the
production notes, the amps, the effects, and decades of firsthand knowledge about how many
of those sounds were created. By the time the pedal reached store shelves, it had become a guided tour through some of Hendrix's most
recognizable recordings. Each position on the selector switch takes you to a different stop along the way, with combinations of fuzz, wah,
Uni-Vibe, rotary speaker effects, delay, and studio ambience working together to recreate the overall character of the original performances.
The finished pedal ended up being surprisingly flexible. The seven models cover a lot of ground, from cleaner and more melodic sounds to some
of the heavier fuzz-driven tones Hendrix became famous for. A quick turn of the selector knob can take you from Purple Haze to Little Wing,
Voodoo Child, Machine Gun, and several other memorable stops along the way.
(Click to enlarge)
What always stood out to me is how much is happening behind the scenes. Every model has its own personality, and the expression pedal changes
jobs depending on where the selector knob is set. One minute you're working a wah effect. The next you're controlling modulation speed, a
rotary speaker effect, or some other piece of the puzzle that helps bring a particular Hendrix sound to life. The Hendrix name may be what
draws people in, but the pedal itself is what keeps them coming back. Even after all these years, I still find new things to appreciate about
this one.
Now, let's get experienced =)
Controls:
- Gain/Level: The top knob controls the amount of gain or drive for the selected Hendrix model, while the bottom knob sets the overall output level. This lets you dirty up the sound without automatically blasting your amp, which is handy because some of these models can jump out pretty quickly.
- Control 1/Control 2 (High/Low): This stacked EQ section lets you shape the top and bottom end of the selected model. High adjusts the brightness, bite, and edge. Low controls the fullness and low-end weight. I usually start both near noon and move from there, because each model reacts a little differently.
- Control 3/Control 4 (Reverb/Control): The top knob adds reverb where the model calls for it, giving some of these tones more of that finished studio feel. The bottom Control knob changes depending on the selected model. On one setting it may adjust modulation, on another it may change delay, flange, rotary, or another model-specific effect.
- Models: This is where the Jimi Hendrix Experience gets interesting. Each position is built around a famous Hendrix song or recorded tone. Some focus on fuzz, some lean into the modulation and studio effects, and some combine several effects together to recreate the overall feel of a particular track. No pedal is going to magically turn any of us into Jimi Hendrix, but DigiTech did a surprisingly good job of capturing the character of these sounds.
- Model 1 - Purple Haze: Thick fuzz, sustain for days, and plenty of attitude. If you're looking for the sound most people associate with Hendrix's early recordings, this is usually where the journey starts.
- Model 2 - The Wind Cries Mary: A much cleaner and smoother sound with a warm, expressive feel. This one reminds me that Hendrix wasn't always about fuzz and feedback. He could be incredibly tasteful when the song called for it.
- Model 3 - Foxy Lady: Big, bold, and unapologetically aggressive. This model has a little more edge to it and works great for chunky riffs and soaring lead lines.
- Model 4 - Little Wing: One of my favorite settings on the pedal. The modulation and ambience start to come alive here, creating that floating, almost three-dimensional sound that made this song so memorable.
- Model 5 - All Along The Watchtower: A polished studio-style lead sound with plenty of sustain and atmosphere. This setting captures some of the layered character that helped make Hendrix's version of the song a classic.
- Model 6 - Voodoo Child (Slight Return): The one everybody wants to try. Wah, attitude, and enough swagger to make you play twice as loud as you intended. If you're not making guitar faces on this setting, you're probably doing it wrong.
- Model 7 - Machine Gun: Darker, moodier, and more dramatic than the others. This model leans into the Band of Gypsys era and delivers some of the most expressive sounds available anywhere on the pedal.
- Expression Pedal with Toe and Heel Switching: The treadle controls model-specific movement like wah, Uni-Vibe speed, rotary movement, delay, tape flange, or other changes depending on the selected model. It also has toe and heel switching, so some models give you multiple sounds under one setting.
- FS3X Footswitch Jack: The optional DigiTech FS3X footswitch can be used to step through models and access switching functions without having to do everything from the treadle. Not required, but very useful if you actually plan to use the pedal live.
Chronological Pricing Timeline:
I have been researching these figures on the Artist Series for quite a while and the pricing is all over the place for this pedal. I have boiled all the research down to what I believe to be the most accurate figures as of this writing. As always, research in ongoing. If new information is discovered, the page will be updated.
- 2005 (Launch): $373.00 List Price
DigiTech officially unveiled the pedal at the Winter NAMM Show in January 2005. The maximum suggested catalog price was set immediately
at launch to establish the product's "premium placement in their new Artist Series line."
2005 - 2007 (Active Production): $249.99 Street Price
During this time, you could walk in and buy an Experience pedal off of store shelves.
2008 (Discontinuation & Clearance): $149.99 Closeout Price
By 2008, DigiTech phased out the initial run of individual Artist Series pedals to clear retail space for newer multi-effects processors.
Online retailers slashed the remaining brand-new stock down to $149.99 to completely flush out their warehouses.
Technical info:
- Power:
- Uses the DigiTech PS0913B (or PS0913B-120) power supply which provides 9V AC at 1.3 Amps.
- Crucial Warning: You must use an AC to AC power adapter! Plugging in a standard 9V DC (Direct Current) adapter (which is what the vast majority of guitar pedals use) will not work and can cause irreversible damage to the pedal's internal components.
- No battery operation.
- Specifications:
- Technology: DigiTech AudioDNA DSP-based digital modeling platform.
- Inputs: 1/4-inch instrument input and external FS3X footswitch input.
- Outputs: Dedicated Amp output and Mixer output for direct recording or PA use.
- Input Impedance: 1 MΩ.
- Output Impedance: 200 Ω.
- Power Consumption: Approximately 4.5 watts.
- Dimensions: 10.14" L x 3.84" W x 2.47" H (257.6 x 97.5 x 62.7 mm).
- Weight: Approximately 3.38 lbs (1.53 kg).
- Component Variations: No major circuit revisions or widely documented production variants have surfaced so far. Most examples appear to share the same enclosure, control layout, DSP platform, and overall feature set throughout production. Collectors are more likely to encounter differences in included accessories than in the pedal itself. Depending on when and where the pedal was sold, examples may be found with or without the original gig bag, Hendrix guitar pick, power supply, owner's manual, promotional literature, and factory packaging. As always, I'm continuing the research and will update this section if any verified hardware revisions come to light.
- Notable IC chip: DigiTech AudioDNA DSP technology is the big thing to note here. This pedal is a digital modeling unit, not an analog Fuzz Face, Octavia, Uni-Vibe, and wah circuit stuffed into one box. Original product information also described this model as using two AudioDNA DSP chips, which makes sense given how much is happening under the hood.
- Component-side circuitboard image: (Coming soon)
Heritage: Crossroads  Red Special Black-13 The Weapon
How players actually use it:
- For instant Hendrix flavor: This is the obvious use, and honestly, it is still the main reason most people buy it. Pick the song model, plug into a decent clean or slightly pushed amp, and you are immediately in the neighborhood.
- For recording direct: The Mixer output is one of the sleeper features. It was built for full-range recording or mixer use, so this pedal can be handy when you want a finished, produced sound without dragging out a pile of amps and mics.
- For stereo fun: The flexible output modes can be more interesting than people expect. Some of the rotary, flange, reverb, and studio-style sounds spread out nicely when you run the pedal into two amps or two mixer channels.
- For expression pedal movement: The treadle is not just decoration. Depending on the model, it can control wah, Uni-Vibe speed, rotary amount, delay, tape flange, or other model-specific tricks. That is where the pedal starts feeling alive instead of just being a preset box.
- For non-Hendrix sounds too: Once you stop worrying about copying the record exactly, there are some very usable fuzz, wah, rotary, delay, and dirty amp sounds in here. The Hendrix name gets all the attention, but the pedal can cover a lot more ground than people give it credit for.
Suggested starting settings:
- Purple Haze fuzz lead: Start with Model 1, Gain around 1 to 2 o'clock, Level to match your amp, High slightly above noon, Low around noon, Reverb low, then use the toe and heel switching to move between the intro and solo flavors.
- Wind Cries Mary cleanish blues: Use Model 2, keep the Gain lower, bring the Level up to taste, set High and Low near noon, and use just enough Reverb to give it air without washing out the pick attack.
- Little Wing swirl: Model 4 is the place to start. Keep Gain moderate, set the EQ by ear, and work the expression treadle slowly. This is one of those settings where small movements feel better than dramatic rocking.
- Watchtower solo texture: Model 5 gives you the layered studio idea. Start with the EQ flat, bring the Reverb up carefully, and use the expression pedal depending on which solo tone you are in.
- Voodoo Child wah blast: Model 6 is the fun one. Plug it into a loud clean amp, do not overthink it, and let the expression treadle do the talking. Just maybe warn the dog first.
- Machine Gun vibe: Model 7 is where the Uni-Vibe character comes in. Keep the Gain sensible, let the modulation breathe, and use the treadle to find the speed that feels like it is pulling against the rhythm.
Collector notes:
- Complete sets with "all the candy".
- Original Artist Series gig bag embroidered with Jimi's signature
- Special Experience guitar pick (see picture above)
- Owner's manual
- Warranty paperwork
- Brochure
- PS0913B power supply
- Original box
These sets, especially with the guitar pick, are getting harder to find and will bring top dollar.
- Some other quick notes to cover the bases:
- The purple sparkle finish is a big part of the pedal's appeal and personality, so check for chips, scratches, and cloudy wear around the treadle area.
- Make sure the expression treadle works properly in both heel and toe positions. If the range feels strange, the pedal may simply need recalibration, but it is
still something to check before buying.
- Original power supplies matter on these Artist Series pedals because they do not use a normal 9V DC pedal supply. Plugging in the wrong type of power is
a good way to make an expensive purple paperweight.
- This pedal has moved in and out of favor over the years. Some players dismissed it because it is digital modeling. Others later figured out that DigiTech was
doing something pretty ambitious here. That makes it a fun one to watch.
These are all things to consider whether you're looking to buy an Experience, sell one, or maintian the one you already have. I will add to this section as new
things come to my attention.
- Known quirks and tips:
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