My god the Whitesnake 87 Albums tone is SICK!!!!!!!!!!

[Zachman]

Freaking Sykes and that MK III Coli slaved is bringing the pain like a Freightliner, Sykes is on fire and that Coli is just like the other side of the pillow The best part though is Sykes playing though, just ripping.

Damn I gots to slave my MK IV again soon.

Oh YES...

 

[tweed]

You guys are effing killing me with this thread. Not only can I not find my CD to listen to and may have to pick up another copy this weekend, I have never played any Mesa Boogie amp and have GAS like a MOFO now. Scotty you suck!!! I hope you are making it to NAMM 09 this year. I will make sure I bring something special for your punk ass.

 

[Zachman]

You guys are effing killing me with this thread. Not only can I not find my CD to listen to and may have to pick up another copy this weekend, I have never played any Mesa Boogie amp and have GAS like a MOFO now. Scotty you suck!!! I hope you are making it to NAMM 09 this year. I will make sure I bring something special for your punk ass.

My bedroom level MKIII Coliseum clip

 

[tweed]

My bedroom level MKIII Coliseum clip

You're not FUCKing helping Zach!!!!!

 

[Buckeyedog]

I heard that album before I even started playing guitar and it just knocked me out. I think that was one of the reasons I started playing...........shortly after that was released.........Still turn 'em up to this day when I hear those tunes. Don't know how many times I played Still of the Night in my car......at ear shattering decibels of course!!!

 

[Zachman]

My bedroom level MKIII Coliseum clip

You're not FUCKing helping Zach!!!!!

Ooh, damn it... sorry about that.

 

[again with this]

Ummm yeah. That album kills. And I usually go for the knuckle draggin' metal...

 

[Digital Jams]

I just got one of the Edwards Sykes Les Paul Custom models. I really dig the chrome hardware and chrome pickup rings Sykes did... Anyway... I ripped out all the electronics (the Duncan SH-6 Distortions that came stock sounded like shit to me) and put in top line stuff including CTS pots (had to drill out the holes a bit - the japanese pots have smaller shafts) and Suhr Adrich pickups. The only other things I replaced were the tuners (I got the Planet Waves locking tuners - the original Gotohs were excellent actually, I just like locking tuners for fast string changes) and the cheesy chrome plastic pickup selector ring (got a chromed metal one that looks much better).

Wow - this thing sounds GREAT now and the fit and finish on these Edwards are awesome. Also - I've always mentioned before that I can't play Les Pauls (and I had a really sweet Gibson Historic R8 that I just couldn't get along with) and this one plays GREAT to me. I think I've finally found a keeper Les Paul. I've always loved the way they sound, but now I've got one I can actually play... Clips and pics in another thread soon...

Steve

I had the Sykes model and it was a great guitar overall, could have used the tune up electronics wise that you did, but sold it as I too do not get along that great with an LP. I have my Hamer still so one was enough.

Man it looks sexy though!!!

 

[Digital Jams]

After learning from you and others about slaving and the MK stuff man I have zero gas for any other amp platform other than maybe some Marshall type stuff, nothing imo can duplicate that slaved MK III Coli.

I'll tell ya man - I REALLY loved my MKIV. I HATED to have to sell it to do the Egnater Seminar, but I needed to learn to do my Jose project and I had heard clips that led me to believe I would like the Seminar amp enough to replace the lead channel of the MKIV (didn't use the others much, although they are nice as well). I gotta say that it has worked out great!

The Seminar amp's lead channel has all the gain I need (and more) and the tone i just slightly edgier than the MKIV, which I really enjoy. The cleans in the amp are great as well. I'm working on something new that I used the Seminar amp clean input with the piezo pickup on my Suhr and it sounds awesome... As much as I love the MKIV, I'm really not regretting my decision given how well the Seminar amp has worked out for me. It is really that good and such a simple design even I can deal with anything that comes up with it...

Steve

I dont blame you and I would LOVE to learn from someone like Bruce, I agree about the edgy part missing with the MK IV as it is almost to smooth. That is why I have the Marshall as well, for that marshall type bite/bark.

Now if you sold a MK III Coli to fund that trip..............

 

[Digital Jams]

over chorus processed

No such thing!

Oh, and Scott

Yeah I know but damn it has been awhile since I got to blast that cd

 

[Digital Jams]

https://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-Mark-Mk-III-100w-Guitar-Amp-Head-Beauty_W0QQitemZ230287247580QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So this one's "almost" the right one?

Kw

Almost

Here is the amp:

Oh my................................

 

[yngzaklynch]

One of my all time favorite CDs for sure.

 

[tak]

I used to run into Sykes at Jose's shop as he was getting a bunch of Marshalls worked on around the same time I was in 1989 (I think?). Really nice guy, he invited me to a couple of shows around L.A. to check out the amps. Funny thing is I can't remember if he was using only the Marshalls or some Boogies too. Either way, it always sounds like him (and huge!). I uploaded a recording we did of a show Blue Murder did in the Greek Theater in L.A. in 1989 (again, I think?). It was just recorded with a handheld cassette recorder, so not the greatest. He didn't seem to care when my friend asked if he could tape it. Again, really nice guy, anyways, dug the cassette out and here's an MP3:

http://hosted.filefront.com/racerx1

 

[Gainfreak]

I like the album and he plays pretty good on it....his tone yuck!

At least you are consistent George and I really respect that.
George has gone on record many times with his dislike for Boogie amps and that tone is pure Boogie, so I can totally see you hating that tone.



~R~

Thanks Ralph. Its all good...I like albums and tunes for the music. The gtr tones used don't matter that much whether I like a player or song. One of my fave players is Greg Howe...he has some awful tones though

One of the things with this 87 album is way too much FX and overall mush to the guitar tone. That was the trend at the time.

Hell, I like Randy's tone

You da man!

With that said, Ive never liked Greg Howe's tone either lol! I heard a few guys on another board raving about his tone and I was just scratching my head like hmmmm

all the best!

~R~

 

[Gainfreak]

Hi Ralph. The Charvel was used on the album, but not on Straight For the Heart.

My first pick was acycually that he used another Les Paul but I figured that Id wing it with the Charvel lol!!

With that said, I know of a lot of guys who think that the leads on that album were all recorded with his main Gibby but I always asked them then how did he get that divebomb sounds on some of the solos

all the best!!

~R~

 

[Gainfreak]

I used to run into Sykes at Jose's shop as he was getting a bunch of Marshalls worked on around the same time I was in 1989 (I think?). Really nice guy, he invited me to a couple of shows around L.A. to check out the amps. Funny thing is I can't remember if he was using only the Marshalls or some Boogies too. Either way, it always sounds like him (and huge!). I uploaded a recording we did of a show Blue Murder did in the Greek Theater in L.A. in 1989 (again, I think?). It was just recorded with a handheld cassette recorder, so not the greatest. He didn't seem to care when my friend asked if he could tape it. Again, really nice guy, anyways, dug the cassette out and here's an MP3:

http://hosted.filefront.com/racerx1

You da man!! Dl'ing now!!

BTW, I agree that Sykes knows how to get a HUGE sounds no matter what he uses!!

 

[yngzaklynch]

I used to run into Sykes at Jose's shop as he was getting a bunch of Marshalls worked on around the same time I was in 1989 (I think?). Really nice guy, he invited me to a couple of shows around L.A. to check out the amps. Funny thing is I can't remember if he was using only the Marshalls or some Boogies too. Either way, it always sounds like him (and huge!). I uploaded a recording we did of a show Blue Murder did in the Greek Theater in L.A. in 1989 (again, I think?). It was just recorded with a handheld cassette recorder, so not the greatest. He didn't seem to care when my friend asked if he could tape it. Again, really nice guy, anyways, dug the cassette out and here's an MP3:

http://hosted.filefront.com/racerx1

I love you man!!!! Thanks for posting that link. That rendition of Billy was crackin yo.

 

[Jakem]

Dammit, this thread got me to listen thru the whole album.

 

[tak]

Enjoy guys! I've always like Sykes, wish he put out more stuff. Too bad he never got the recognition he deserved, he got screwed on that Whitesnake record. I think the Whitesnake lineup following with Vai/Vandenberg proved that. It was OK, I just think Sykes always fit that style waaayyy better.

 

[Drew]

Hi Ralph. The Charvel was used on the album, but not on Straight For the Heart.

My first pick was acycually that he used another Les Paul but I figured that Id wing it with the Charvel lol!!

With that said, I know of a lot of guys who think that the leads on that album were all recorded with his main Gibby but I always asked them then how did he get that divebomb sounds on some of the solos

all the best!!

~R~

He did use the Charvel here and there (dive bombs on Still of the Night) but he used one of these on Straight for the Heart: http://www.johnsykes.com/Resources/image105.gif

However, he can do a very convincing dive bomb on a Les Paul.