What guitar does Tom Hamilton play in "Sweet Emotion" ?

Aerosmithfreak · #1 12-03-2010, 09:27 PM

It sounds like a music man or t bird but in an interview he says he loves his Sadowsky but the bassge always plays with Sweet Emotion is cherry red and has a curved tip on the left side.

KramerBassFan · #2 12-03-2010, 09:34 PM

Be more specific... do you mean the original recording, or the 80's video, or what?

fretno · #3 12-03-2010, 09:35 PM

Parker

KeithAlanK · #4 12-04-2010, 03:35 AM

All I know is that Tom Hamilton was highly offended when Ted Nugent suggested in an interview that it didn't sound like him playing--like maybe it was Joe Perry playing bass on Sweet Emotion instead.
Great bassline.
TH is always solid.

fretno · #5 12-04-2010, 06:42 AM

what Ted should have said is hey Joe that doesn't really sound like you playing like maybe it was Steve Hunter .

dmot002 · #6 12-04-2010, 06:55 AM

direct fro wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hamilton_(musician)

Hamilton has used a wide variety of bass guitars over Aerosmith's career. He has stated in several interviews that his first bass was a Fender Precision that he borrowed and later bought from a friend. During the early years of Aerosmith and the time after their reformation he often used a Music Man bass, a Fender Precision Bass, a Fender Jazz Bass, or a Gibson Thunderbird. During the "Dude Looks Like A Lady" sequence of Wayne's World 2, he is seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Bass. However, during the making of Just Push Play he called upon a Hofner Violin Bass or a double bass during many of the recording sessions. Recently he has favored a modified '51 Fender Precision Bass with double pickups instead of one for the recording of Honkin' On Bobo and the subsequent tours following the album's creation. It is unknown if he also uses Parker basses, since he appeared playing unlicensed versions of the basses in Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, though he was seen playing one at the 2004 concert in Japan.

39-Bassist · #7 12-04-2010, 07:16 AM

Just contact the band and ask...maybe he will answer....that is always a good idea. I have askes a few questions that way and some I,ve gotten answer and some not...just worth a try.

kjpollo · #8 12-04-2010, 08:37 AM

I would've thought either a P-bass or a Music Man. He jumped on the Music Man bandwagon early IIRC.
But that album came out in 75 and Rays didnt come out until 76 sooooooooooo, I'd guess it was most likely a P-bass

emblymouse · #9 12-04-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjpollo

I would've thought either a P-bass or a Music Man. He jumped on the Music Man bandwagon early IIRC.
But that album came out in 75 and Rays didnt come out until 76 sooooooooooo, I'd guess it was most likely a P-bass

I'd bet it was a P as well. Whip a phase shifter and compressor on it and away you go....

GL797 · #10 12-04-2010, 09:23 AM

I'm 99.999% sure It was a Gibson Thunderbird. Played with finger picking.

since we're on the Subject of Aerosmith bass, I have versions of Back in the Saddle, Train Kept a Rollin", Nobody's Fault and Round and Round on my YouTube channel.*Back in the Saddle's main riff was Joe Perry playing a 6 string bass and Tom Hamiton also on a four string bass. I only have a four string so I combined the two parts. I'm sure my versions aren't exact since I do all by ear but they're close enough to help anyone looking for some.

http://www.youtube.com/user/gl797

**Engine207** · #11 12-04-2010, 10:34 AM

Pretty sure Joe Perry and Brad Whitford play guitar in Aerosmith. I thought Tom Hamilton plays bass...

muzikman7 · #12 12-04-2010, 10:46 AM

I read an article that he had played an 8 string bass for that song.

MoireBass · #13 12-04-2010, 10:48 AM

Here's another data point, which may or may not be significant: Inside the 'Toys In The Attic' sheet music book from 1975, there are individual band member pictures, they appear to be playing at a concert. In the pic, Tom is playing a sunburst Jazz bass with white pickguard.

GL797 · #14 12-04-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine207

Pretty sure Joe Perry and Brad Whitford play guitar in Aerosmith. I thought Tom Hamilton plays bass...

Well they do but on Back in the Saddle Joe perry used a six string bass for the main riff of the studio version.

Like mentioned above you can also add Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner to Aerosmith's guitarists. It's their amazing guitar duel that you hear on Train Kept a Rollin', plus others songs from the album. Wagner and Hunter were brought in by the record producer Bob Ezrin because he felt the song needed something special. Listen to the solos, they could be the sickest in all of rock imo.

Hunter and Wagner did this for many bands, KISS being another one. The two most under-rated musicians ever, they blew the doors off of just about anyone when it came to rock guitar imo. "The Alice Cooper Show" from 1977 is my favorite album. With Hunter and Wagner's guitars and Prakash John's sick bass this was a SuperBand.

I've corresponded with both in the past and they are two of the nicest guys going too.

KeithAlanK · #15 12-04-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GL797

Well they do but on Back in the Saddle Joe perry used a six string bass for the main riff of the studio version.

Like mentioned above you can also add Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner to Aerosmith's guitarists. It's their amazing guitar duel that you hear on Train Kept a Rollin', plus others songs from the album. Wagner and Hunter were brought in by the record producer Bob Ezrin because he felt the song needed something special. Listen to the solos, they could be the sickest in all of rock imo.

Hunter and Wagner did this for many bands, KISS being another one. The two most under-rated musicians ever, they blew the doors off of just about anyone when it came to rock guitar imo. "The Alice Cooper Show" from 1977 is my favorite album. With Hunter and Wagner's guitars and Prakash John's sick bass this was a SuperBand.

I've corresponded with both in the past and they are two of the nicest guys going too.

Not many people know this--but it's true. Wagner's from around here and turned out to be a decent producer, too, and Hunter was an amazing studio ace.
This was an earlier era, before Steve Lukather did all the solos for bands like Warrent.

I would have to vote for a J or a P on Sweet Emotion.

Clark Dark · #16 12-04-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretno

what Ted should have said is hey Joe that doesn't really sound like you playing like maybe it was Steve Hunter .

heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh

you've obviously been around a while

kjpollo · #17 12-04-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GL797

I'm 99.999% sure It was a Gibson Thunderbird. Played with finger picking.

]

I never realized he ever used a T-bird. I dont ever remember seeing a pic of him playing one, thats for sure.

Also-fingerstyle playing? Possibly for the studio I suppose. But I read an interview where he said he almost always played live with a pick for the attack factor.

JTE · #18 12-04-2010, 12:08 PM

Just to add more confusion. At the time the album came out, there were pictures of him playing a single-coil P bass. I don't know now if it was a Telecaster bass, or an original SCP from before 1957. I didn't pay much attention to basses then, still being a lowly six-string guitarist...

John

fretno · #19 12-04-2010, 12:14 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO2N3YKaPQo

Parker ^

**kenstee** · #20 12-04-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GL797

Well they do but on Back in the Saddle Joe perry used a six string bass for the main riff of the studio version

Indeed it is. Just check out one of the many YouTube vids of this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GL797

....you can also add Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner to Aerosmith's guitarists. It's their amazing guitar duel that you hear on Train Kept a Rollin'

Wow. That's certainly disappointing. One of the best duels you'll ever hear this side of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts.