How to sound like John Sykes - 1987

This is episode 4 of nail that tone. In this episode I discuss some of the import factors when trying to replicate the iconic 1987 white snake guitar sound. I share some insights on how to get a similar tone using similar gear to what was used originally.

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[johnm.]

What's interesting is that, if you listen to Ozzy's album "Diary of a Madman", Randy Rhoad's tone on, say, "Flying High Again" (Studio Version) has a sound very similar to John's tone on this entire 87' album. It's a very "metallic" sound, with a ton of high end and presence, with almost no bass or mids. It's a killer classic metal tone for sure!

[ThethDensity]

I was 19 years old in 1987...frightening how time fly's.

[mikemills]

John currently plays EVH 5150 amps, the tone is in his hands because he still has that sound. A good Les Paul is a must. "A dawning of a brand new day" on better tone now

[MachineHeadDissent]

Crying in the rain solo has to be his best work with Whitesnake!!….

[hoosierdaddy]

I saw John play with Blue Murder and his tone was killer.. Cool video.. Yeah, great stuff.. John has the best vibrato too!

[codacreator]

Still my favorite album and favorite guitarist.

[themadmattster]

to me, the Gibson Dirty Fingers pickup really nails his tone well

[nickyjames]

Been listening to this album since I was 4, I'm 36 now and in no way am I sick of any song on it

[elitecombatfitnesscentral]

They were struggling with the sound and Rob Rock happened to be in the next studio, suggested that they run two separate amps that's why it sounds so full.

[connyblomqvist]

It has to be a Gibson Dirty Finger pickup in the bridge to nail Sykes tone perfekt

[neel_massy]

remember on the riff the octave F# bounces back its not just a single stroke on the higher octave. the correct way is, you bounce back between the the lower F# and higher one, in the riff u play 0:23, ur supposed to hit the low F# before going to the E Cord, sorry my OCD kicked in when i heard the riff wasn't exact and since u nailed the tone, but played the riff wrong, i was kicking my self lol. ik its a minor detail but i mean i think you know how important details are because of the points in this vid

[jamespowell]

Put a Graphtech nut on your Les Paul. I have put many on customers 'won't stay in tune' guitars. Don't be surprised if the Gibson nut fractures upon removal, as the glue is far too strong for nut retention.

[Stewart.fryers]

I’ve managed to get close with a MXR Super Badass Distortion pedal into a Marshall Guvnor pedal then into a cranked AC30

[johnnymoraes]

John has a killer grab when his plays. You gotta play heavy to play Sykes. In general, you gotta play heavy when playing hard rock and metal.

John's rig was a 70's Les Paul, with the Dirty Fingers pickups, and you're right on, he used the Mesa Boogie MKIII Coliseum amp, although many people think it was a Marshall head, it wasn't, it's the Coliseum. But, the cabinets where Marshall, of course; but the main ingredients there are the Coliseum head and a good american Les Paul with high output pickups.

[cymro]

Sykes is truly awesome
I've just purchased a guitar pedal that's meant to capture _that_ tone from Whitesnake's eponymous '87 album:

Guitar slinger 87 MkIII .

It's pretty good - but not cheap .

[zipchtkdn]

Call John used no pedals whatsoever straight cord to the end and then Bob mixed in the actually it was delayed and some modulation that was it same way live so it's pretty badass and I guess he had his jcm 800s modded by Jose this great amp tech back in the day

[mesa-the-aphophas]

Nice Bro. So, on my Mark V and 2X12 recto. As you said, the "tone" is really mic placement on or around the cone for sure. Would you recommend doing this on Ch2 or Ch3 on the Mark V? IIC+ on there does cut the "drive" more than the Mark IV mode does. Any recommendations for the EQ (post)? I will adjust my EQ sliders to match yours as near as I can on the V. Just looking for any suggestions you may offer.

[Woodlandsu]

at 7:56, your statement "common to Gibson..not to stay in tune“.

I feel sorry for your experience, but what makes your view "common"?

Otherwise thx for your take on Sykes, and certainly an opposite view on this tuning perspective on my behalf ! Spoken after 4 decades of of LP, 335, Gibsons and else...

[DemskePaul]

Keith Olsen and Mike Stone produced '87. Bob Rock produced Blue Murder, and was busy with Honeymoon Suite, Bon Jovi, Rock and Hyde, Loverboy and Aerosmith (as an engineer) around that time. So I'm not sure how Bob Rock helped with Sykes' tone, unless it's not credited on the album. It's also nice to hear the Chris Collier 2020 mixes of the Sykes-era material. They took out much of the reverb, and you can hear more of Sykes' picking, especially on Crying In the Rain. Thanks for this video!

[MK-tjbf]

Thanks for the video.
Was wondering do you think Friedman BE-OD Deluxe pedal would fit the sound of Whitesnake 87?
Thanks.