Joe Perry, the legendary guitarist of Aerosmith, is practically synonymous with the Gibson Les Paul. However, in a surprising revelation, Perry himself has disclosed that much of Aerosmith’s iconic material from the 1970s was actually recorded using Fender Stratocasters. This might come as a shock to fans who picture him wielding a Les Paul, but Perry explains his intriguing studio preference.
In an interview with Total Guitar, Perry delved into his long-standing affection for the Les Paul, but highlighted the Stratocaster as the superior tool when it came to the recording environment. He stated, “I played Les Pauls pretty much throughout the ’70s, but I recorded most of my stuff with Strats. I always loved having the vibrato arm, and it seemed easier to get different tones out of a Strat.” This sheds light on the nuanced approach Perry took to crafting Aerosmith’s signature sound.
Alt text: Joe Perry of Aerosmith playing a Fender Stratocaster guitar, favored for studio recordings during the 1970s.
Perry clarified that his guitar choices weren’t strictly divided by live versus studio settings, especially in the early days. Songwriting took precedence. However, he confidently identified specific tracks where his Les Paul took center stage, including “Eat The Rich,” “Toys In The Attic,” “Pandora’s Box,” and “Nine Lives.” He also suspects a Les Paul might feature on “Walk This Way.” Crucially, he notes that “everything I did after that was with the Strat.”
This process of elimination reveals a fascinating detail: the distinctive guitar lines on Aerosmith classics like “Sweet Emotion,” “Dream On,” “Crazy,” and significant portions of “Walk This Way” were indeed created with Stratocasters. Listening back to these tracks, this revelation makes perfect sense, given the bright, articulate tones.
Despite his studio affinity for Strats, Perry favored Les Pauls for live performances. He elaborated, “The tone you could get out of a Les Paul was heavier, and it was easier to get to get distortion with less noise. I think a lot of the reason that guitar plays so well in general is because it has its roots in Spanish guitar.” The Les Paul’s inherent characteristics made it ideal for the high-energy and powerful sound demanded on stage.
Joe Perry is not alone in this studio secret. Other guitar icons known for their Gibson associations also turned to Fender in the studio. Jimmy Page famously used his Telecaster extensively on Led Zeppelin’s early recordings. Similarly, Carlos Santana revealed in 2021 that he favored Stratocasters in the studio throughout much of the 2010s. This trend underscores the versatility and studio-friendly nature of the Fender Stratocaster, even for players deeply connected to Gibson guitars.
Alt text: Joe Perry performing live with Aerosmith, often preferring Gibson Les Paul guitars for their heavier sound in concert.
Adding a valuable piece of advice for guitarists, Perry cautioned against blindly chasing after sought-after instruments like his famous ’59 Les Paul. He emphasized trusting one’s own ears, noting that even among ’59 Les Pauls, some “did not feel that good or sound that good.” This reinforces the importance of personal preference and critical listening when choosing a guitar, regardless of reputation or hype.
In conclusion, Joe Perry’s studio preference for Fender Stratocasters during Aerosmith’s golden era provides a fascinating insight into the nuanced choices guitarists make in pursuit of the perfect sound. While the Les Paul remains his iconic stage companion, the Stratocaster played a pivotal, and perhaps unexpected, role in shaping the legendary Aerosmith sound we all know and love.
