Tone library / The Jimi Hendrix Experience / The Wind Cries Mary

The Wind Cries Mary amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

The The Jimi Hendrix Experience guitar tone for “The Wind Cries Mary”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster. Studio version, Are You Experienced (1967) — recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, London

Original rig

1965 Fender Stratocaster → Marshall JTM45/100 Super Lead (clean to edge-of-breakup), no pedals for the riff/rhythm sections

Warm, round, clean-to-edge-of-breakup with classic Strat neck pickup fullness, touch-sensitive dynamics, smooth note separation, subtle room ambience

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

CHANNELPlexi (or '65 Twin Clean for more headroom) — select the Plexi model for Marshall JTM voicingBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	5
Presence	5
Reverb	2
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME8

Why these settings

Your Squier CV 60s Strat with Alnico V single coils is an excellent match for the original 1965 Strat tone. The Spark's Plexi model captures the JTM45 voicing well — keep gain low (3) to stay in the touch-sensitive clean-to-breakup zone. Rolling guitar volume to 8 and tone to 7 softens the high end for that warm, rounded character Hendrix achieved on this track.

PRO TIPPick closer to the neck for the chord sections and move toward the bridge during the solo for natural dynamic variation — this is how Hendrix controlled his tone without pedals on this recording.

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These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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