Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

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SYKESFREAK

New member
I don't think I'll get to many people to disagree that John Sykes tone is one of the best and most recognizable rock/metal tones out there. John typically likes to use the neck pickup for lead work above the 12th fret to achieve the characteristic fat sound. I'm looking for a neck pickup that will deliver just that. Does anyone know what neck pickup John used in the day to get the tone above the 12 fret? I've got a 78 Les Paul Standard that is in need of a good pickup that will help deliver the sound. Any suggesions would be most apprecited?
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

Can't really help ya much here, but let me welcome you to the forum! I'm sure someone will chime in with a few suggestions :).
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

John used Dirty FIngers pickups in his "heyday"

When they finally crapped out he put some PAF's in it..Gibson pups I believe.

And nice to see another sykes fan here :D
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

Yea he used the Gibby Dirty Fingers in the Bridge position back uin the day but what did he use in the necK? 57 Classic, 496R?? It was difiinitly an open coil neck pickup on the black beauty. Does Duncan have a neck pickup that is sonically similar in tone to John's above the 12th fret (78 Les Paul Standard)?
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

According to his website it was Pickups (as in plural)...I thot it was bridge only too...a closeup would prolly confrim it

Gibson only makes bridge versions now, but my 1989 Explorer had a bridge and neck DF.
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

I have no idea what he actually used, but the Duncan Alnico 2 Pro humbucker will nail the solo tone from "Is This Love," as well as a lot of the other Whitesnake stuff. Of all the Duncan neck humbuckers, I think that would be your best choice. It's also the same pickup that Slash uses in his Les Pauls...check out the solo from "November Rain" for a good idea of what that pickup can do.

Ryan
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

Yeah any PAF styl should do really....I do fine with BBPros and 59s
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

He's great, isn't he? I loved his tone on the Whitesnake albums. If you want to hear some other great Sykes playing, check out Blue Murder, which was a power trio that he had with Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin. Pure Whitesnake tone. If I remember correctly, he was using Dirty Fingers pups for a time (although why, I couldn't say). Just about any PAF type pickup should do quite well. I'd recommend a '59.
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

Yup Blue Murder RAWKS

John is and always has been in my top 5 fave players of all time...lately he's been #1. Jes love his tone, vibrato and phrasing.

PLus he's got the "woo-woo" :D
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

I am getting very old and forgetful :D

I jes check out John's website again and sure enough it's jes the bridge position he had the DF in. Sorry about that.

I cannot tell from the pic what the other one is, but I think a 59 or PG would be a good choice. I'm able to cop a pretty good sykes tone with the 59's I've used, as well as the stock Gibson pups I had in my Black Custom (Sykes being the reason I bought it at the time).

The key though I think is the Ebony board. That makes a big difference in the clarity/bite compared to rosewood.
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

Well I pulled the trigger on an Alnico 2 Pro neck pickup for the Sykes lead tone. I I think Ryan could be right as Slash's November Rain tone really sings and has a warm liquid vibe to it. I think Alnico 2 magnets are very musical and should do the trick. Thanks for the input!!
 
Re: Sykes Neck Pickup Help Welcomed?

SYKESFREAK said:
Well I pulled the trigger on an Alnico 2 Pro neck pickup for the Sykes lead tone. I I think Ryan could be right as Slash's November Rain tone really sings and has a warm liquid vibe to it. I think Alnico 2 magnets are very musical and should do the trick. Thanks for the input!!
Click to expand...

Good choice...it's my favorite neck pickup of all-time, and it'll really nail the tone you're after.

Ryan
 
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