John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

[Scott Olson]

Having played guitar since he was 5 years old, John Oates has gone on to build a huge repertoire of music behind him. When he joined with Daryl Hall in the '70s what followed was a long list of hits and over 80 million records sold. Soon to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John has long since been a Seymour Duncan user and personal friend of the family. Joining us over the next couple days to hang out and answer your questions is John Oates.



Ask away!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Seriously cool! John, what inspired you to get into music?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

What Seymour Duncan pickups do you use and why?

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Big fan of your music as well as my mom. Any general advice you could give?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Hey John! Congrats on all your success and your induction to the Hall! first question.. What happened to the mustache??? (sorry, had to ask as you had it for so many years) Second, I think most of the vids Ive seen you playing, looks like you are a strat guy. Is the strat your main axe, or do you mix up in the studio? If so, what do you use?

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Your mustache is on the wrong lip! Seriously, bring back the stache.

Question time:
-What is/was the songwriting relationship with Darryl Hall? Do you guys get together and co-write everything or do you each bring your own songs to the table when it's time to make an album?
-Are you ever bummed that G.E. Smith has his own signature Telecaster but you don't?


BTW, I saw a video interview with Garfunkel & Oates where they told the story of meeting you and how you ended up inviting them to open on your tour. Just wanted to say that it was a great story and it made you sound like a grade A cool guy.

I have to say as well that Head Above Water is an AMAZING song. Love love love that one. Don't ask me why, but it's catchy as hell.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

I wish I had something to ask you, but I don't. :shrug:

I WOULD like to thank you for making such wonderful music through your career, especially with Hall. You had such a wide bandwidth on your music that I got to hear it all the time when I was a kid from most stations. You guys made some of the only songs I held onto enjoying purely for the song, even through all the odd permutations of my musical tastes. It was Private Eyes, One on One, Always Something There to Remind Me, 99 Luftballoons and Tainted Love. Always there for me.

I was just reading H&O's wiki and it seems you guys just didn't do the crash and burn thing. It's admirable and a point of respect that other musicians should pay a little more attention to.

Again, thanks for the memories, man. Also, I miss the mustache too. cest la vie, am I right?

 

[Securb]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Just want you to know my best friend and I wore out my cassette of "Along the Red Ledge". That album was the backdrop for many legendary summer nights.

 

[Matt42]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

I saw John Oates at a festival in Colorado a number of years back. He had just put out 1000 Miles of Life and was guesting with some of the festival regulars who played on his album. It was quite an experience, especially the version of "Maneater" that he played with Sam Bush. They made it a totally different song.

As far as questions, what was it like to get to play with the legendary musicians you recorded that album with?

 

[ginormous]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Hi, John! Big fan since the Abandoned Luncheonette days.

Did you play the solo in "Do What You Want, Be What You Are"?

What's your go-to axe these days, and what makes it "yours"? Is it modified in any way, or just a stock guitar with a special feeling?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

The first time I heard Hall & Oates, in the 80's I Loved it. It was Maneater. Good Music...

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

When I was a little kid growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania the only music teacher was an Accordian teacher. I tried it for a few weeks and hated it so I told my mom I wanted to play guitar like Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers and Elvis.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

I have a bunch... in my 58 Strat Seymour restored it and the bridge pickup is a real 59 PAF humbucker. The neck pick up was one of the very early Seymour Duncan versions from the early 70s. He replaced that one with one of his new 59 PAF replicas and it is killer...very creamy with pleanty of punch. I also have a 80s Fernandez Tele that I got in Japan back in the day that I've retro fitted Seymour's Tele bridge pick up and his P 90 at the neck position. Its wired in a cool way with a push pull tone control that splits the P 90 and gives me all kinds of options.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

I don't think I played the solo in " Do what you want " I believe it was Chris Bond ( our producer at the time ) hard to remember all that stuff. My " go to " guitar is still my modified 58 Strat that I've been using since the early 70s. It has 2 humbuckers. One is a real 59 PAF and the other is Seymour's 59 PAF its wired in a cool way that gives lots of tone options with the 5 position switch.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Work hard, practice harder and listen to the musicians you love.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

For a ultimate tone slacker you sure got a nice ride ! Love that MB

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

Thanx ! I have the stasch back attached to a gotee so it comes and goes... I"ve been playing my natural 58 strat since the early 70s and still do but I've got a bunch like the TV Jones Model 10, Duesenberg Double Cat, a sweet 67 ES 125, and lots of acoustics.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

The stach is back plus more... and I've got a new album coming Mar. 18 called " Good Road To Follow " its a 3 disc set with 15 songs...some hot **** playing but a bunch of amazing musicians.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

I am always trying to play with people I respect and who can push my playing to a higher level. Sam Bush is certainly one as is Jerry Douglas, Shane Theriot, Guthrie Trapp, Vince Gill and many more... they are all playing on my new album coming out Mar. 18th. " GOOD ROAD TO FOLLOW " its a 3 disc set with 15 songs check it out.

 

[John Oates]

Re: John Oates Hangout --- Come on in!

OK I need to update the photo on this page... the stasch is BACK ! Daryl and I usually wrote seperatly then come together and finish up or edit each other... no rules for songwriting... G.E. deserves his signature Tele he is a true master and guitar historian as well as a bass player. I've got pleanty of cool guitars so I'm not hurting... As for Garfunkel and Oates, check out their new TV show coming on the IFC network...I love those gals, smart, funny, cute doesn't get much better and I'm doing a cameo next week on one of the episodes. Also check out my new album coming out Mar. 18th. " GOOD ROAD TO FOLLOW " its a 3 disc set with 15 songs.