Tom Hamilton's "Walk This Way" tone

meatwad · #1 09-30-2010, 05:51 PM

I'm kinda under the impression that Tom used an SVT and a Precision while in the studio for "Toys", but still... how's he getting that "grit"? To my ears, it sounds like a certain frequency in the mids has been boosted, or maybe something really being scooped, I don't know. I've heard other players with something close to this particular sound, but "Walk This Way" kicks the most a$$!

Anybody?

dougjwray · #2 09-30-2010, 07:29 PM

I haven't heard it in a while, but I've always thought it was a Precision with flatwound strings, played with a pick, and, yes, EQed... maybe boosted around 800Hz or so, with some low end (maybe 100Hz or so) rolled off.
Anyone else?

jgroh · #3 09-30-2010, 07:36 PM

We recently added this to our setlist and played it a few times and it sounded ok, but then I took my bass with flats to practice one night and it nailed the tone! Its a G&L L2000. I also had my VT bass pedal on as well.

DynaFlow · #4 09-30-2010, 07:53 PM

Hamilton has great tone throughout that whole album, which is the best one Aerosmith ever did IMO.

Kink Rimson · #5 10-01-2010, 06:45 AM

I always thought it was a Jazz, it's got that scooped sound to it...

Rocker949 · #6 10-01-2010, 03:50 PM

I can't remember where I read it, but I definitely remember reading an interview in which Tom said he didn't like the way he sounded or played on that particular song. He said he got the timing wrong toward the end of the song for one thing.

benjammin420 · #7 10-01-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocker949

I can't remember where I read it, but I definitely remember reading an interview in which Tom said he didn't like the way he sounded or played on that particular song. He said he got the timing wrong toward the end of the song for one thing.

unfortunatley there was alot of drug taking at Aerosmith recording sessions. I read somewhere, Tom gave credit to drugs for the bass line to Sweet Emotion because he was high when he came up with it and wasn't sure he would have thought of it if he was sober. I think he did great though, I love Toys and Rocks

godofthunder59 · #8 10-02-2010, 08:16 AM

I had always thought it was a 60's Thunderbird with flats, he was using those at the time along with Fenders.

rolorockbass · #9 10-02-2010, 08:50 AM

When i saw areosmith live he nailed in with a parker bass through hartke

meatwad · #10 10-03-2010, 04:55 PM

It seems the more I learn about the tones I really dig on, the more I learn that flatwounds are involved... And while I'm no stranger to flats, I've apparently been thinking of them in the wrong context. It's not so hard to picture Tom using them here, but Steve Harris?

I've not owned a Fender bass in over a decade, even though I have gassed for a P for a few years. Especially after a year long studio gig with a borrowed early 70's Precision (with flats), but that was doing some old-skool type country stuff, so the bass tones were kept on the mellow side.

Anybody else know some definite info on Tom's killer tone from this era? Thanks for all the replys so far!

selowitch · #11 10-03-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatwad

It seems the more I learn about the tones I really dig on, the more I learn that flatwounds are involved... And while I'm no stranger to flats, I've apparently been thinking of them in the wrong context. It's not so hard to picture Tom using them here, but Steve Harris?

Harris is well known for using flats, I think GHSes.