Untitled Document

hambone@theharvestmen.com

born in Auburn, IN in 1957. He spent his childhood growing up in the small town of Waterloo, IN. Music became one of his major interests in 2nd grade. In the middle 60s the British Rock Invasion was in full swing. When the Beatles conquered America, Jim was a big fan of them. Beatle Boots, Medallions, Beatle Cards and Nauru Jackets were a necessity at the time. Jim’s mom played the piano and his brother Jeff played the Guitar, Piano and Bass.
In Junior High School Jim started learning the drums and then the Guitar. He received lessons from his brother’s best friend Eric Koolhorst. He had to borrow guitars from friends that were not using them to learn how to play the instrument. In 1975 Jim was able to purchase his 1st Acoustic Guitar when he joined the Air Force. He then moved to Ft. Walton Beach FL while in the military. Jim spent many hours playing his Acoustic Guitar on the beach. At around the same time Jim purchased his 1st Electric Guitar and amplifier to learn how to play Rock and Roll. Next, Jim started playing the Bass Guitar.
After the military, Jim received his Bachelors Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Computer Science in Boca Raton, FL. After graduation, Jim moved to Lansing, MI. to work as a computer programmer for EDS. He kept playing with many different musicians for several years. In the early 90s he started to play the Bass guitar again. He played the Bass and Electric guitars in the blues cover band 100 Proof. The 100 Proof band changed members and played music in many different configurations. After 100 Proof broke up, Jim started playing Bass for the blues band The Blade Brigade. Shortly after the Blade Brigade, he started playing with another local Rock band called Lickety Split. Throughout the last five years he started to be influenced by Blues, Jazz, Country, & even Bluegrass music. While in Lickety Split, Jim had decided to start learning the acoustic Dog House Bass in order to branch out to the acoustic music that his friend Frank was constantly playing every time he came over to jam. It wasn’t that long before Jim was given the opportunity to try out for The Harvestmen. An acoustic project that was diving in and out of many musical genres’s that he also enjoyed playing. Given a lot of hard work and some luck he was able to start playing with the band. Among friends he prefers to be called Hambone and has a penchant for a good, dark beer every now and again.

On a personal note, Jim has been happily married for the last 14 years and has a beautiful wife and teenage daughter that both support his musical interests.

Hambone's Gear

Doghouse bass
Fishman acoustic bass pickup
Fishman preamp

	Hambone (aka James W Hamilton II) was...
	hambone@theharvestmen.com born in Auburn, IN in 1957. He spent his childhood growing up in the small town of Waterloo, IN. Music became one of his major interests in 2nd grade. In the middle 60s the British Rock Invasion was in full swing. When the Beatles conquered America, Jim was a big fan of them. Beatle Boots, Medallions, Beatle Cards and Nauru Jackets were a necessity at the time. Jim’s mom played the piano and his brother Jeff played the Guitar, Piano and Bass. In Junior High School Jim started learning the drums and then the Guitar. He received lessons from his brother’s best friend Eric Koolhorst. He had to borrow guitars from friends that were not using them to learn how to play the instrument. In 1975 Jim was able to purchase his 1st Acoustic Guitar when he joined the Air Force. He then moved to Ft. Walton Beach FL while in the military. Jim spent many hours playing his Acoustic Guitar on the beach. At around the same time Jim purchased his 1st Electric Guitar and amplifier to learn how to play Rock and Roll. Next, Jim started playing the Bass Guitar. After the military, Jim received his Bachelors Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Computer Science in Boca Raton, FL. After graduation, Jim moved to Lansing, MI. to work as a computer programmer for EDS. He kept playing with many different musicians for several years. In the early 90s he started to play the Bass guitar again. He played the Bass and Electric guitars in the blues cover band 100 Proof. The 100 Proof band changed members and played music in many different configurations. After 100 Proof broke up, Jim started playing Bass for the blues band The Blade Brigade. Shortly after the Blade Brigade, he started playing with another local Rock band called Lickety Split. Throughout the last five years he started to be influenced by Blues, Jazz, Country, & even Bluegrass music. While in Lickety Split, Jim had decided to start learning the acoustic Dog House Bass in order to branch out to the acoustic music that his friend Frank was constantly playing every time he came over to jam. It wasn’t that long before Jim was given the opportunity to try out for The Harvestmen. An acoustic project that was diving in and out of many musical genres’s that he also enjoyed playing. Given a lot of hard work and some luck he was able to start playing with the band. Among friends he prefers to be called Hambone and has a penchant for a good, dark beer every now and again. On a personal note, Jim has been happily married for the last 14 years and has a beautiful wife and teenage daughter that both support his musical interests. Hambone's Gear Doghouse bass Fishman acoustic bass pickup Fishman preamp