What the hell is Tom Waits playing?

popvulture · 24th June 2008

I saw him last night in Houston... absolutely amazing show to say the least, but it sparked a question I had a year or two ago.

I saw him playing a weird looking guitar on Letterman. It looks sort of like a Kay or a Harmony... small body, single pickup, almost a child's guitar. I wondered what it was, but I figured it was just some obscure pawn shop guitar that Tom would buy, just like all of the other bizarre stuff he uses.

But THEN... last night he was playing the same guitar, and Omar Torrez had one as well, albeit with what appeared to be a slightly different pickguard and maybe two pickups. Same color though, same tiny body style and shape. I've seen Kays with the same sort of headstock decoration, and maybe even some really old Epiphones.

Anybody know what these are? They sound awesome.

YouTube - Tom Waits - Lie To Me (Live at Letterman 2006)

envyguitars · 24th June 2008

I believe it is an Eastwood Airline H44, but then again it could be whatever guitar that one was modeled after.

Welcome to Eastwood™ Guitars.com

Cheers

DQA123 · 24th June 2008

it's a harmony stratotone. BUT, it's the earlier solid body version. they made later stratotones that were built like danelectros - hollow in the middle. but the one tom plays (and marc ribot) is a solid, neck through body version. they came in two version - one or two dearmond picks. they sound awesome. very fat single coil sound. huge necks like baseball bats. 3/4 scale.

the eastwood version is hollow and not the same pick ups so it doesn't sound the same.

wreckd · 24th June 2008

from what I can hear in the video i'm digging the sound

24th June 2008	#1
popvulture Gear maniac Joined: May 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 269 Thread Starter	What the hell is Tom Waits playing? I saw him last night in Houston... absolutely amazing show to say the least, but it sparked a question I had a year or two ago. I saw him playing a weird looking guitar on Letterman. It looks sort of like a Kay or a Harmony... small body, single pickup, almost a child's guitar. I wondered what it was, but I figured it was just some obscure pawn shop guitar that Tom would buy, just like all of the other bizarre stuff he uses. But THEN... last night he was playing the same guitar, and Omar Torrez had one as well, albeit with what appeared to be a slightly different pickguard and maybe two pickups. Same color though, same tiny body style and shape. I've seen Kays with the same sort of headstock decoration, and maybe even some really old Epiphones. Anybody know what these are? They sound awesome. YouTube - Tom Waits - Lie To Me (Live at Letterman 2006)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What Gear Does tom Waits Use?......Anybody?	jockrocks	High end	29	4 Weeks Ago 07:35 PM
Tom Waits! Live!	Silver Sonya	The Good News Channel	4	15th September 2009 02:52 AM
Tom Waits Lo-fi	littledoodler	So much gear, so little time!	2	17th August 2004 07:58 AM

24th June 2008	#2
envyguitars Gear interested Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL - Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1	I believe it is an Eastwood Airline H44, but then again it could be whatever guitar that one was modeled after. Welcome to Eastwood™ Guitars.com Cheers

24th June 2008	#3
DQA123 Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 259	it's a harmony stratotone. BUT, it's the earlier solid body version. they made later stratotones that were built like danelectros - hollow in the middle. but the one tom plays (and marc ribot) is a solid, neck through body version. they came in two version - one or two dearmond picks. they sound awesome. very fat single coil sound. huge necks like baseball bats. 3/4 scale. the eastwood version is hollow and not the same pick ups so it doesn't sound the same.

24th June 2008	#4
wreckd Gear nut Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 93	from what I can hear in the video i'm digging the sound