Riff Tone

Crying In The Rain (2017 Remaster)

Whitesnake

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, John Sykes's main guitar for Whitesnake 1987 album)

AmpMesa/Boogie Coliseum (Mark IIC+/Mark III, used in stereo pair for album recording)

PickupsTim Shaw-era Gibson humbuckers (PAF-style, high output)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1986-1987 for the 'Whitesnake' (1987) album, as remastered in 2017. John Sykes used his white Les Paul Custom and Mesa/Boogie Coliseum heads for the main riff sections. No evidence of live rig or other guitarists for this specific part.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive and saturatedtight palm-muted chugschunky low endcutting upper midsarticulate pick attacksustained power chordsmodern 80s metal/rock soundcompressed and punchyslightly scooped midshigh-output humbucker clarity

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and precise picking at a medium-fast tempo, with control over string noise and transitions between power chords, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.