Brad Whitford's weapons of choice...

[guitartech]

Thought you guys might like to see this. Pulled this photo off Jack Douglas' Facebook. His title for the photo was "Hey Brad, which 'Les Paul' are we using on this solo?"

His next post was "You want to use a 'Strat'? Now I am confused!". Ha.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6176/6156071621_2e3af09c0a_b_d.jpg

I can tell you that almost all those LP's are Historics, the first one is a Tobacco Burst Brad and I handpicked at the Custom Shop in 2006. The Goldtop I think is a real '68 with P-90's that he just bought. He had one in the early days of Aero, and unfortunately it was stolen in the 70's.

All the way in the back looks like one of his Triggs Tele's. I don't remember him owning a 335-12, so that may be Joe's.

Oh, to have the choice's...

[kylek350]

Wow, that R9 up front is purdy!

[saneff]

Brad Whitford lives just a couple of houses from me on my street. He isn't here that much, but very cool and nice guy.

[Mr Deluxe]

Daaayyuuuummmmm!!! :bow

[charveldan]

I like Brads taste in guitars & muscle cars, my kinda guy.:aok

[musicofanatic5]

How 'bout the lonesome little mandolin stuck in the back!

Hey, are my eyes bad or is there a complete and utter lack of straploks on all those LP's???!? I thought TGP dictum was "yer a blithering moron and not smart enough to even tie yer own shoes if you don't use straploks on a LP"? Oh, I reckon Brad's not a member...

[guitartech]

How 'bout the lonesome little mandolin stuck in the back!

Hey, are my eyes bad or is there a complete and utter lack of straploks on all those LP's???!? I thought TGP dictum was "yer a blithering moron and not smart enough to even tie yer own shoes if you don't use straploks on a LP"? Oh, I reckon Brad's not a member...

When I was his tech they all had straplocks. I used the Dunlop Lok-Strap (http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/lok-strap) on most to retain the original button. In the studio his tech probably just took them off.

[James]

I wonder how many guitars are in his and Joe Perry's collections, respectively and collectively, vintage and otherwise. They should do a full-on guitar and amp photoshoot with everything...strictly for drooling purposes...:drool

[guitartech]

I wonder how many guitars are in his and Joe Perry's collections, respectively and collectively, vintage and otherwise. They should do a full-on guitar and amp photoshoot with everything...strictly for drooling purposes...:drool

I (and Joe's tech) did a complete photo inventory for Joe/Brad/Tom in 2003. Joe had about 750 instruments at the time, Brad a couple of hundred, and Tom around 150. Amps were in the 100's as well for all, with Joe having the most. Brad and I sold around 80 amps and cabs on eBay in 2008 to thin the herd a bit.

We printed a photo of each guitar and wrote the particulars on the back, then attached it to the guitar case (no more having to look in every case for that ONE guitar). I also did a custom database that is searchable by instrument, player, location, etc.

I would love to do an update to that inventory, now that I have a nicer pro camera rig. Maybe a coffee table book??

[coltranemi2012]

guitartech....I love these guys so any pics or info you get is always greatly appreciated!

[James]

I (and Joe's tech) did a complete photo inventory for Joe/Brad/Tom in 2003. Joe had about 750 instruments at the time, Brad a couple of hundred, and Tom around 150. Amps were in the 100's as well for all, with Joe having the most. Brad and I sold around 80 amps and cabs on eBay in 2008 to thin the herd a bit.

We printed a photo of each guitar and wrote the particulars on the back, then attached it to the guitar case (no more having to look in every case for that ONE guitar). I also did a custom database that is searchable by instrument, player, location, etc.

I would love to do an update to that inventory, now that I have a nicer pro camera rig. Maybe a coffee table book??

Very cool! If Brad and Joe would ever consider putting the photos up on a website, I think a lot of people would enjoy it. I do remember a Guitar Shop interview with some of Joe Perry's guitars, but I had a feeling it was just a very small portion, just that day's set of instruments on one tour. Seeing the whole enchilada would be neat.

[XKnight]

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/XKnight/McInturff%20Taurus%20T/B24wngBmkKGrHqNjEEsB641YpBMj3D4nc0g_3.jpg

[guitartech]

Here's another of Terry's creations... "The Barn' guitar...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3735559112_b530a53815_z_d.jpg?zz=1

[Cussion]

I like Brads tone on that first Aerosmith album.
68 Les Paul Goldtop (P90s) into Ampeg V4, if I remember right.

[coltranemi2012]

Hi Greg I know you are a busy guy but if you have a chance...can you explain to me how Brad Whitford uses his Divided By 13s? I know he has 2 and he uses one just for his effects? How does that work? What does that mean? He doesn't put effects through his other amps? Does he just switch on that amp when he uses effects? Also...does he just use those amps for the clean sounds or does he use the drive on them too? Also, you don't know if Joe Perry still has that black Les Paul he used on Pump? Do you know what year it is? What pickups it has etc? Any info on that guitar would be greatly appreciated. That sound soooo good on What it Takes. Thanks a lot man!

[HoboMan]

How 'bout the lonesome little mandolin stuck in the back!

Hey, are my eyes bad or is there a complete and utter lack of straploks on all those LP's???!? I thought TGP dictum was "yer a blithering moron and not smart enough to even tie yer own shoes if you don't use straploks on a LP"? Oh, I reckon Brad's not a member...

I've seen Aerosmith Live a couple of times and I would say that Brad doesn't really need straplocks.

[cmatthes]

I still regret selling Brad's old Hamer Standard that matched his 3/4 one...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/cmatthes/GregHwBradsStandards.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/cmatthes/137full.jpg

[guitartech]

Hi Greg I know you are a busy guy but if you have a chance...can you explain to me how Brad Whitford uses his Divided By 13s? I know he has 2 and he uses one just for his effects? How does that work? What does that mean? He doesn't put effects through his other amps? Does he just switch on that amp when he uses effects? Also...does he just use those amps for the clean sounds or does he use the drive on them too? Also, you don't know if Joe Perry still has that black Les Paul he used on Pump? Do you know what year it is? What pickups it has etc? Any info on that guitar would be greatly appreciated. That sound soooo good on What it Takes. Thanks a lot man!

Except for one tour, Brad usually runs his amps (whether it's ÷13, 3 Monkeys, or whatever) in stereo out of his pedalboard (both amps always on). He uses the amps for both clean and crunch. And he relies heavily on his guitar's volume control, as well as an array of clean boosts and overdrives to get distinct clean and dirty tones.

As far as I know Joe still has that LP. I don't know anything about it though, sorry.

[NB_Terry]

Cool.

Any amp pics posted?

Terry

[John II]

subscribed

[27sauce]

Hi Greg I know you are a busy guy but if you have a chance...can you explain to me how Brad Whitford uses his Divided By 13s? I know he has 2 and he uses one just for his effects? How does that work? What does that mean? He doesn't put effects through his other amps? Does he just switch on that amp when he uses effects? Also...does he just use those amps for the clean sounds or does he use the drive on them too? Also, you don't know if Joe Perry still has that black Les Paul he used on Pump? Do you know what year it is? What pickups it has etc? Any info on that guitar would be greatly appreciated. That sound soooo good on What it Takes. Thanks a lot man!

That Black Standard is an '86 or '87 IIRC. I'l have dig for the magazine from around the Pump era... It has/had EMG's, not sure of the model though.

[snarkle]

Brad Whitford has excellent taste in guitars...and elephants!

(Flash the Wonder Dog has the same model shown at the top right of the first photo. He likes to bring it to us and make the elephant sound first thing in the morning...sometimes when we're still asleep...)

Does Brad still have that weird pink Firebird-like ESP prototype/one-off? I owned that for a bit: bought it in a pawn shop on Vancouver's notorious Hastings Street, and gave it back when it turned out to be stolen!

[IPLAYLOUD]

Brad and Joe are Guitar Dogs through and through. Cobined they must have owned a couple thousand guitars in the time.
Brad had a very nice Reverend (2?) that he bought and kept a few years.
I don't know if he ever used it on a stage.

[Pa'ani]

Nice collection of some choice Gibson Les Pausl!

[guitartech]

Brad and Joe are Guitar Dogs through and through. Cobined they must have owned a couple thousand guitars in the time.
Brad had a very nice Reverend (2?) that he bought and kept a few years.
I don't know if he ever used it on a stage.

He did indeed play the Rev's onstage. Don't think I have any pics of him doing so though.

[coltranemi2012]

Hey Greg what is the guitar Brad plays which purple and has a weird headstock with the big like triangle whole in it? Always wondered what the hell that was..Thanks for all this info!

[27sauce]

Hey Greg what is the guitar Brad plays which purple and has a weird headstock with the big like triangle whole in it? Always wondered what the hell that was..Thanks for all this info!

Floyd Rose
http://thmb.inkfrog.com/thumbn/jcagney/238.jpg=450

[coltranemi2012]

Thanks!

[pickslide]

Great pics. Can you please tell Brad that he should be doing more lead work on the next album? :JAM

[Cuthbert]

who's better Brad or Joe?

[Bobby D]

as a kid growing up in the 70s, i always thought Joe was my fave.

as an adult who knows better, i learned that it was actually BRAD that i liked :bow

ps: tell Joe HE'S WELCOME for the '58 Strat he got back thanks to me -- the one his ex-wife sold off to a south florida music store :D

[27sauce]

I'm more of a Joe fan. Brad is awesome, but a little too perfect for me, a little stock at times.

Joe's solos on Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion, Rats In the Cellar, Love In An Elevator, just to name a few... Kick Ass!!!

Not to mention the riffs, Toys in the Attic, Get The Lead Out, Combination, Draw The Line, and so on.
Joe by a mile for me...

I understand why people say Brad, plus everyone loves an underdog. A not-often-mentioned killer Brad moment is on Voodoo Medicine Man. Last Child... wow!
Here's a killer Last Child with some Sly And The Family Stone thrown in there.
rghwn2A817I

[pickslide]

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Joe's playing and nobody writes a killer riff like JP. I do think that Brad is very talented and not used enough in the band...both leads and songwriting. I would love to hear more from him.

[straycat113]

Brad is an amazing player and just one of those personalities that seems more comfortable not being the center of attention.No matter how you dice it, both Brad and Joe are of equal importance in Aerosmith. For those who know the parts there is much going on in so many songs in respect to what each is playing. Arguably the greatest U.S. rock band ever.

[guitartech]

No matter how you dice it, both Brad and Joe are of equal importance in Aerosmith.

This.

As someone who has listened to the band play live night after night, I can say that sometimes it's hard to tell who is playing what part. As Brad can play like Joe and vice versa (no matter who played what on the record). To me they are both unique and Aero doesn't hold up without them both being there...

[pickslide]

Totally agree. Both of them together are a match made in rock heaven.

[wichita]

My favorite American rock band..
Love those guys.

[Bobby D]

This.

As someone who has listened to the band play live night after night, I can say that sometimes it's hard to tell who is playing what part. As Brad can play like Joe and vice versa (no matter who played what on the record). To me they are both unique and Aero doesn't hold up without them both being there...

yep.....and i still love Joe -- it's just that as a kid, i thought Joe was EVERYTHING, lol......he was the "cool one" :JAM

but Brad is every bit as good, and seeing them live as well as watching old live 70s bootlegs (thank you youtube) gives me a better perspective on them.


spent MANY a day with "Toys" on my 8 track player, learning every song on that album.....:bow

[HurricaneJesus]

Wish I could go back in time a get one of those Supro Ozarks Joe used before everyone else figured out the secret.