So why 2 mics?

[Lucas]

In this photo:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/jimi ... alter.html

Creative reasons or was this pre splits at stageboxes? One mic for FOH and one for monitors?

[Drumstruck]

risk mitigation?

[gigpiglet]

i would "guess" (and totally don't know for sure) that its a broadcast and the live show.

back then broadcast may well have only been taking crowd (room/ pa/ whatever) and vocal
someone with more specific knowledge of the era may be able to step in here?

[stosostu]

Could be any of the above, or, like the Grateful Dead system, it could be two out of phase mics to cancel feedback, though I would have thought that if that wrere the case they would use the same mics.

[ChrisW]

I don't know the answer, but when I've seen this in the past it was often for broadcast/recording.

[jkhuri44]

sometimes vocal going through guitar effects/overdrive...different effects...
singers like mike Patton have heaps of mics on stage each with different FX....
in my ignorance i'd say, it's too early to do shit like that in the 60s...but it wouldnt surprise me...maybe someone with more brains can set me straight.

[ChrisW]

I used to know Jimi's roadie....... but sadly I haven't spoken to him since 1991.

[Tony Moffat]

Hi Guys,

You may notice that the top mic has a windshield on it. It was a common practice to use a separate mic in live recording for critical elements. An omni was often used for the recording mic while a cardiod was used for the PA. Also splits were not that common or changed the sound.

Tony.

[gigpiglet]

sounds like the consensus then is the second mic for the broadcast.
makes sense to me