Felderfans

I have three Collings acoustic guitars and play them on recordings in the studio. They are very well balanced and easy to record. I love the overall tone and feel of these acoustics and they fit very nicely in some tracks. I don’t carry them on the road as I don’t want to destroy the integrity of their acoustics by cutting a pickup control section into the body.

In my opinion it’s best to let great acoustic instruments remain just that and not try to make them electric.

I know that you have done a benefit concert for the victims of Katrina. I live in Louisiana (Houma) near New Orleans and got to see much of the damage up close. I was wondering when we might see a video of your benefit concert released or when you might do a concert in the New Orleans area. Thanks, Lee G.

I am certain that a video from the Katrina benefit show will never be released. I doubt seriously that I could obtain the proper licenses for the use of the songs from all the various songwriters.

Hi Don. I was wondering when did you learn to play the 5-string banjo? Was it during the Bernie Leadon era of the Eagles and did he help you out on it to get you started? Thanks for all the creativity and great music you have provided. Larry

I was forced to learn to play 5-string banjo when Bernie left the band. We were doing Midnight Flyer and in order to continue to do that song live I had to learn to play banjo. I was never as good as Bernie but managed to get by.

Manny asks, “I saw the Eagles in concert in March 1980 at the L.A. Forum. My seat was on the upper level above the right side of the stage. Since I had a side view of the stage, I could also see behind it. I was amazed by the sight of numerous guitars back there. There must have been dozens, mounted on stands. At that point during your stint with The Eagles, how many guitars did you take on tour with you?”

I really don’t recall all of the guitars I carried with me during that tour. It was such a long time ago. I would guess around 12 or so.

Allan from Australia was curious, “There’s a pic of Don playing a MIJ superstrat backstage during the Long Run tour – is it a Yamaha? Thanks, Don, for making music that to me, and friends from long ago and now very far away, lit up our nights.”

I would really have to see the picture you’re talking about in order to tell what guitar I was playing at that time!!!

Cody, among others, would like to know whether or not Don actually played the solo on the Eagles’ original recording of “I Can’t Tell You Why.”

Glenn Frey played the original solo on the record. I played it live for all the shows, on the Eagles Live album, and on the Hell Freezes Over CD and DVD.

I have read that you use Seymour Duncan pick ups in your strats. I have seen several pictures of you playing Eric Clapton strats with Lace Sensor pickups. I was just curious about what you think about the Lace Sensors. Do you like the tone or do you use them because of their resistance to 60-cycle interference? Thanks, Jon

I like the Seymour Duncan pickups in some of my strats and I also enjoy the Lace Sensor pickups as well. The Lace Sensor help a great deal with the 60-cycle hum and noise that most single coil pickups suffer from.

Don, many fans write in simply wanting to know what your effects were on “Hotel California.” Can you clue them in?

’59 Les Paul and Fender tweed deluxe amp. No effects at all.

Janne from Finland asks, “I’ve listened to your music for a long time now and also play a little guitar myself. One of my favourites is “Over You.” Are the chords for that song anywhere in written form or on the internet? I would love to learn to play that song.”

That song has not yet been released. It is copywritten and will be on my new CD. Once it is released I’m sure it will be available as sheet music.

[Ed.: "Road to Forever" was released in 2012]

Speaking of sheet music, Larry V. wanted to know where he can purchase online sheet music to “Heavy Metal.”

I honestly have no idea where you can purchase the sheet music for Heavy Metal. Sorry.

Greg asked whether or not you listen to bluegrass fingerpicking guitar. Do you?

I love to listen to bluegrass-fingerpicking guitar. I really admire that technique and find it very intricate and fascinating to listen to and try to reproduce myself. A great challenge for all players!

David wants to know, “how often do you use your ’59 Les Paul and are you happy using the Gibson custom shop replicas?”

I rarely use my original ’59 LP except on recording dates. It never goes on the road with me. I will use the Don Felder ’59 LP replica once they provide me with several. I only have one at the moment and it is in my studio now next to the original.It’s amazing how great of a job they did in reproducing my original. Color, neck size, pickups, every single scratch and ding. I’ll use two of them on the road as soon as I can.

Cheryl asked whether or not you recommend a wrist support for beginning guitar students.

I don’t know that a wrist support is needed. My advice is to just build your wrist strength by more frequent practice. If you still have trouble have a hand specialist look at it.

“I noted that you started listening and learning from Chet Atkins at an early age—I was just curious, did you use thumbpicks at the time? Do you ever use thumbpicks? Thanks,” Ed W., Texas

I tried using thumbpicks to be like Chet but found them difficult to master. I prefer to use my naked thumb and no pick to play Chet’s tracks.

Brandon wrote in asking, “What guitar and amp/effects did Don use for Life in the Fast Lane for the Hell Freezes Over tour?”

I used a Gibson ’59 Les Paul reissue and a Marshall 50-watt combo.

“Is your ’59 that you have now the same one you broke recording for Joni Mitchell? If not, when did you replace it?” – Steve K.

No, that guitar had to have a new neck put on it as it was broken beyond repair. I got the Hotel California ’59 Les Paul in early 1975 and have used it ever since.