Riff Tone
Bad Boys (2017 Remaster)
Whitesnake
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (John Sykes' main guitar on Whitesnake 1987 album)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ and/or Mark III Coliseum head (studio recording, 1986-87)
PickupsOriginal Gibson humbuckers (likely Tim Shaw-era PAF-style, high output)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb2
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording for Whitesnake's 1987 album (remastered 2017). John Sykes used his white Les Paul Custom into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ and Mark III Coliseum heads, sometimes with a Kasha Rockmod preamp. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and saturatedaggressive palm-mutingharmonically richarticulate pick attackthick, punchy midrangehigh-output humbucker biteBritish-American hybrid amp voicingpercussive and drivingminimal ambiencedry, focused distortion
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and fast alternate picking at a high tempo, with precise timing and articulation to match the song's driving feel.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (John Sykes' main guitar on Whitesnake 1987 album)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ and/or Mark III Coliseum head (studio recording, 1986-87)
PickupsOriginal Gibson humbuckers (likely Tim Shaw-era PAF-style, high output)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb2
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording for Whitesnake's 1987 album (remastered 2017). John Sykes used his white Les Paul Custom into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ and Mark III Coliseum heads, sometimes with a Kasha Rockmod preamp. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and saturatedaggressive palm-mutingharmonically richarticulate pick attackthick, punchy midrangehigh-output humbucker biteBritish-American hybrid amp voicingpercussive and drivingminimal ambiencedry, focused distortion
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and fast alternate picking at a high tempo, with precise timing and articulation to match the song's driving feel.
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