If you have a decades-long career in music and an array of guitars like Paul McCartney, it may be difficult to choose a favorite. Interestingly, when asked, McCartney didn’t hesitate to say which one he preferred, and he thanked Jimi Hendrix for the decision.
Many guitarists look up to Hendrix for a variety of reasons. It could be because of the way he played. Also his appealing stage presence, and the diverse range of sounds he produced with his guitar. For Hendrix, the instrument’s capability extended beyond the strings, as he used an absurd number of pedals and amp cabs to extend the reach of his Fender.
In the song ‘Machine Gun,’ he manages to drag his pick across the strings. Additionally, he imitates the sound of actual gunfire by snapping wires and torturing plastic. The same thing happens on many other Hendrix songs, where he uses feedback to create a chaotic and static-filled backdrop that rings behind every note he plays.
Many musicians heard what Hendrix was doing and wanted to be a part of it, which is why he is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. At the top of the list of musicians influenced by Jimi Hendrix’s work was Paul McCartney.
When asked about his favorite guitar, McCartney said, “I have an Epiphone Casino, which is one of my favorites.” He added, “It’s not the best guitar, but I bought it in the 1960s.” I went into a shop on Charing Cross Road and asked the guys if they had a guitar with a feedback system because I was a big Jimi Hendrix fan.”
Though the Beatles never quite achieved Hendrix’s rock-heavy sound, some of their songs are reminiscent of the guitar genius. That feedback can be heard on a few different Beatles songs, and McCartney recalls playing them fondly.
“I loved that kind of stuff,” he explained, “so I wanted a guitar that would give me feedback, which none of the others could.” So they took me to the Casino. It feeds back more easily because it has a hollow body. That was a lot of fun for me. I used that guitar for the ‘Taxman’ solo and the riff on ‘Paperback Writer’. It’s probably still my favorite guitar.”
The desire of McCartney to incorporate feedback into his music in the same way that Hendrix did demonstrated two things. The first is the Beatles’ ability to evolve with the times and remain innovative in their sound, which is why they are still as popular as they are. The second demonstrates Hendrix’s enormous influence on musicians. It is to the point where some of the best in the world want to emulate him. Without both elements, modern rock and pop music would sound very different.
