cold sweats or rebel yells?

[leolyonsofficial]

I'm looking to nail the Sykes tone from still of the night and the Neal Schon tone from escape, frontiers and raised on radio.

Modern players include Doug Aldrich, Steve Lukeather, typical les Paul melodic rock fair but not as heavy as zack Wilde.

Thanks! Guitar is 1995 standard les Paul!

I play in a band with only me on guitar, one keys, one bass, one drums.

[darrenw5094]

Well Cold Sweat is Sykes Lizzy tone obviously, i don't think it's as hot as the MM either.
The Rebel Yell is really an underwound Nailbomb, similar voicing but the output or hotness is on the same level as the 'Vintage' BKP like the Mule.

[leolyonsofficial]

Cool thanks 

Any suggestions or just go with the mules and be done?

All styles covered!

[Dave Sloven]

Cold Sweat should be able to do everything you want.  It is an interesting pickup.  Not as modern sounding as a Nailbomb but with a solid output.  Very articulate and clear clean sound, doesn't have much of a ceramic character except for tightness and some scoop to the EQ curve typical of ceramic pickups.  If you are looking for something that is a bit like the Miracle Man but not as extreme it will also fit the bill there too.  Basically it provides a lot of early '80s NWOBHM goodness.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I'd say Cold sweat set - although a Miracle Man will work well too or a mix of the two


A Miracle Man bridge and Cold sweat neck pairing works very well in a Les Paul and the MM bridge does a good Aldrich and Sykes tone too

[leolyonsofficial]

Thanks for the info!

No votes for the rebel yells?

[darrenw5094]

Thanks for the info!

No votes for the rebel yells?

Not yet :)

[leolyonsofficial]

Rebel Yell clean clip is amazing, cold sweat good but not as good. The others sound too muffled when played clean.

[Dave Sloven]

I like the middle position clean on my Cold Sweat set

[leolyonsofficial]

That's reassuring!

The rebel yell had a lovely chimey clean on the demo.

I've never liked the les Paul clean sound! Way too jazzy, far to thick!

This is the sound I'm gunning for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COq2RouJ2tQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Maybe this is miracle man territory?

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Rebel Yell certainly isn't what you're after in my view as it's just not the Sykes tone, especially the Whitesnake era. I think there are three distinct possibilities for you:

Cold Sweat - Tight and with good cleans, it's certainly got that Sykes vibe but it's far more Thin Lizzy than Whitesnake, which was a far smoother tone, hence you also referencing Aldrich.

Miracle Man - The ceramic magnet means it's tight like the Cold Sweat but here the tone is far smoother and much more in keeping with Syke's Whitesnake tone, though the cleans aren't as good as the Cold Sweat.

Holydiver - To my mind, this could be your answer and it's the alnico magnet that holds the key. It's not as tight as either the Cold Sweat or the Miracle Man but that certainly isn't to say it's loose because it isn't. This is a very articulate pickup with excellent note separation. It's also smooth like the Miracle Man while also being richer and sweeter. Out of the three, this easily has the best lead tone and certainly has the best cleans. There is a reason why this is the number 1 BKP suggestion for the Aldrich tone and will get you closer to Whitesnake than anything else. The neck version is awesome too 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26RqvH3YBA

[darkbluemurder]

The Rebel Yell certainly isn't what you're after in my view as it's just not the Sykes tone, especially the Whitesnake era. I think there are three distinct possibilities for you:

Sorry to disagree here, but I have a Rebel Yell bridge in my LP Custom, and that guitar does Sykes and Ozzy tones to a T.

I am a big fan of John Sykes' tone in Whitesnake and Blue Murder but I found his tone with Thin Lizzy thin and hollow.

I can see the Cold Sweat and the Miracle Man doing it as good. I am not sure about the Holydiver bridge in this case. This pickup may be too middy and not biting enough for these tones. I also don't really hear the similarity to Doug Aldrich with the HD bridge - to me the HD epitomizes the Jake E. Lee tone.

Cheers Stephan

[Slartibartfarst42]

It would be a boring world if we all thought the same 

I agree that the Holydiver does Jake E. Lee very well, because his tone is smooth and warm. That era of Ozzy is my favourite for that reason and it is that same smoothness that seems to me to characterise the Whitesnake sound. It was these tones I was specifically after myself and I also mentioned Doug Aldrich as a result and Tim had no hesitation in suggesting the Holydiver. It worked a treat. The Cold Sweat and Rebel Yell always seem more open to me, the Cold Sweat is more cutting thanks to the ceramic magnet and the voicing on the Rebel Yell never really seems to be quite that era for me. Ultimately they're all good pickups and there will be many other factors involved in achieving that tone. I can only comment on my experience but I recognise that your experience may well be different.

[darthphineas]

The Rebel Yell certainly isn't what you're after in my view as it's just not the Sykes tone, especially the Whitesnake era. I think there are three distinct possibilities for you:

Sorry to disagree here, but I have a Rebel Yell bridge in my LP Custom, and that guitar does Sykes and Ozzy tones to a T.

I am a big fan of John Sykes' tone in Whitesnake and Blue Murder but I found his tone with Thin Lizzy thin and hollow.

I can see the Cold Sweat and the Miracle Man doing it as good. I am not sure about the Holydiver bridge in this case. This pickup may be too middy and not biting enough for these tones. I also don't really hear the similarity to Doug Aldrich with the HD bridge - to me the HD epitomizes the Jake E. Lee tone.

Cheers Stephan

I am gonna have to agree with this. I think the RY would be fine. What is being overlooked often times is the player and the amp. The pickup is only one of many components.

[Slartibartfarst42]

What is being overlooked often times is the player and the amp. The pickup is only one of many components.

While I stand by my suggestions, I do agree with this and made this point myself.