Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
- Thread starter dave4378
- Start date
Iron Horse
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Gibson Dirty Fingers bridge, the neck pickup is an original (T-top era Gibson)
Gibson Dirty Fingers bridge, the neck pickup is an original (T-top era Gibson)
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Are you sure? I know he love's his Les Pauls & used them in Thin Lizzy & other bands & projects, but i thought he used a Kramer during the recording of 1987.
Are you sure? I know he love's his Les Pauls & used them in Thin Lizzy & other bands & projects, but i thought he used a Kramer during the recording of 1987.
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
A kramer?! john sykes always used a les paul, and I dont think he'll use anything else, any time soon.
anyway, that pickup set, which was mentinoed a couple of posts earlier, is true/correct.
A kramer?! john sykes always used a les paul, and I dont think he'll use anything else, any time soon.
anyway, that pickup set, which was mentinoed a couple of posts earlier, is true/correct.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
The Dirty Fingers is the answer that pops up everywhere, but of course that could all be coming from the same bogus source.
If you get the new DVD you can very easily hear his and Aldrich's guitar and they are worlds apart. Definitely nothing tremoloish on 1987.
The Dirty Fingers is the answer that pops up everywhere, but of course that could all be coming from the same bogus source.
If you get the new DVD you can very easily hear his and Aldrich's guitar and they are worlds apart. Definitely nothing tremoloish on 1987.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Whitesnake after Moody/Marsden always had/has highly engineered guitar sounds.
Remember they are about the biggest non-metal guitar band around, Whitesnake meant real cash for a while, and some of the guitarists know what they are doing and what they can get.
The 2008 CD ain't bad either.
Whitesnake after Moody/Marsden always had/has highly engineered guitar sounds.
Remember they are about the biggest non-metal guitar band around, Whitesnake meant real cash for a while, and some of the guitarists know what they are doing and what they can get.
The 2008 CD ain't bad either.
Last edited:
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Well dude, you coulda summed all that up with two words: Steve Vai :cool2:
I guess I was just trying to point out that I felt the processing was as least as important as the pickups used on the album. IMO, of course.
Well dude, you coulda summed all that up with two words: Steve Vai :cool2:
I guess I was just trying to point out that I felt the processing was as least as important as the pickups used on the album. IMO, of course.
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Ok, i don't know what i'm hearing then, because i've never much liked Les Pauls or Gibsons for that matter. Never was able to get a tone i really liked from them & i never much liked the look of them either. Obviously sound comes first, but i like a guitar that inspires me to want to pick it up. Gibson have always gone for a little more modest & sensible looking vintage 50s style, with a lot of transparent & woodgrain finnishes & sctratch plates etc. Call me superficial, but not my style. I'm more for the showier stuff with radical graphics & colours in the strat style shape, like what Kramer & Jackson were doing in the 80s. Kind of ironic though since it's a monster tone he's getting from the Les Pauls on that recording & one of my favorite tones of all time from one of my least favourite guitars of all time.
Which goes to show, it aint the tools, it's the man using them.
Ok, i don't know what i'm hearing then, because i've never much liked Les Pauls or Gibsons for that matter. Never was able to get a tone i really liked from them & i never much liked the look of them either. Obviously sound comes first, but i like a guitar that inspires me to want to pick it up. Gibson have always gone for a little more modest & sensible looking vintage 50s style, with a lot of transparent & woodgrain finnishes & sctratch plates etc. Call me superficial, but not my style. I'm more for the showier stuff with radical graphics & colours in the strat style shape, like what Kramer & Jackson were doing in the 80s. Kind of ironic though since it's a monster tone he's getting from the Les Pauls on that recording & one of my favorite tones of all time from one of my least favourite guitars of all time.
Which goes to show, it aint the tools, it's the man using them.
Brow
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
The Bareknuckle Cold Sweat is a great pickup for that sorta tone. I have 1 in the bridge of an Ash Strat (not anywhere near guitar wise I know) and it cuts through very well, but isn't harsh in the slightest.
The Bareknuckle Cold Sweat is a great pickup for that sorta tone. I have 1 in the bridge of an Ash Strat (not anywhere near guitar wise I know) and it cuts through very well, but isn't harsh in the slightest.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Non-Gibson (meaning Duncan), I'd say a Distortion, Custom 5, Custom Custom, or Custom (depending on "your" tone and the amp used, etc).
Not that familiar with DiMarzios to know what's got what tone. I'm digging the ToneZone in my Charvel SoCal, but didn't care for the SuperD or Super3 I used to have.
Don't overlook the Gibson 500T, either. That or a 498T in the right guitar will give you a ballsy, punching tone.
And the reason the LP looks like a 50's design is because it is a 50's design. It's a classic, like the shape of a Strat, a violin, or a drum - you cannot go wrong with it.
However, none of that stopped me from selling my LP and becoming a Jackson/Charvel zealot :lol:
LPs are everywhere - I'll get another some day, maybe.
Non-Gibson (meaning Duncan), I'd say a Distortion, Custom 5, Custom Custom, or Custom (depending on "your" tone and the amp used, etc).
Not that familiar with DiMarzios to know what's got what tone. I'm digging the ToneZone in my Charvel SoCal, but didn't care for the SuperD or Super3 I used to have.
Don't overlook the Gibson 500T, either. That or a 498T in the right guitar will give you a ballsy, punching tone.
And the reason the LP looks like a 50's design is because it is a 50's design. It's a classic, like the shape of a Strat, a violin, or a drum - you cannot go wrong with it.
However, none of that stopped me from selling my LP and becoming a Jackson/Charvel zealot :lol:
LPs are everywhere - I'll get another some day, maybe.
Karn Evil 9
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
there are alot of licks on that album that sound like they were done on axe with a floyd, even though sykes does tend to do gigantic bends anyway on a les paul, so i wouldn't be surprised if there was a kramer on there.
it is a pretty huge sounding album; the first blue murder album is fantastic as well if you dig 1987.
there are alot of licks on that album that sound like they were done on axe with a floyd, even though sykes does tend to do gigantic bends anyway on a les paul, so i wouldn't be surprised if there was a kramer on there.
it is a pretty huge sounding album; the first blue murder album is fantastic as well if you dig 1987.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
SYKES IS WHITESNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow - haven't said that in a while!!!! Anyway, Dirty Fingers babeeeeee!!!!! If you get a chance to play one - do it! They are gritty hawt awesomeness.
That album has processing out the wazoo. Chorus, delays (multiple) plate verb - good call! But it's a great sound, for that style, and time. Something about it makes it stand out among schlock metal tones. Probably SYKES!
A Duncan distortion is my goto Whitesnake pup, but I could get by with the Custom as well. Distortion FTW.
SYKES IS WHITESNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow - haven't said that in a while!!!! Anyway, Dirty Fingers babeeeeee!!!!! If you get a chance to play one - do it! They are gritty hawt awesomeness.
That album has processing out the wazoo. Chorus, delays (multiple) plate verb - good call! But it's a great sound, for that style, and time. Something about it makes it stand out among schlock metal tones. Probably SYKES!
A Duncan distortion is my goto Whitesnake pup, but I could get by with the Custom as well. Distortion FTW.
SFW
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
Actually, the real key to his tone on that album was a Mesa/Boogie Mark III Colisum head. I have played a few, and they all were quite able to get that tone. Any good hot pickup will help. And for the OP, yes Gibson Dirty Fingers.
Actually, the real key to his tone on that album was a Mesa/Boogie Mark III Colisum head. I have played a few, and they all were quite able to get that tone. Any good hot pickup will help. And for the OP, yes Gibson Dirty Fingers.
Ringwraith
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
As much as I loved WS in their day, I always preferred the guitar tones on "Slide it in"!!
In fact I just picked up that CD a few months ago after not listening to it since the vinyl days! lol Still a killer album!!
Cheers
Sean
As much as I loved WS in their day, I always preferred the guitar tones on "Slide it in"!!
In fact I just picked up that CD a few months ago after not listening to it since the vinyl days! lol Still a killer album!!
Cheers
Sean
Karn Evil 9
New member
Re: Which pickup did John Sykes use on 1987?
yep. i've got an old guitar world or guitar player where he talks about using two boogie colliseum heads, one slaved to another. apparently they were something ridiculous like 180 watts a piece!
yep. i've got an old guitar world or guitar player where he talks about using two boogie colliseum heads, one slaved to another. apparently they were something ridiculous like 180 watts a piece!
