Overdrive/Distortion pedal for John Sykes live tone?

[JohnSykes]

I know its impossible. But i want something that gets me close to that tone (Think the 95' live DVD). I already know he used those JCM 800 modified by Cameron.

My rig is a Soldano Avenger + a TS9 (For solos) for gigs and im happy with it (Obv not THE Sykes tone, but i get a cool Hard Rock sound), but in the place where we rehearse i have to play with a JCM 900 which i dont like at all. Used the lead channel with the Tubescreamer the other day and the tone was kinda decent, but too "smooth".

I dont really know how to describe it, but it was softer than what i have in mind. I want something more raw.

I also have a RAT and a DOD YJM 308 overdrive. Probably will try those before buying anything.

What do you guys think? Maybe the MI Audio Crunch Box will do the trick? Opened the thread on TGP and someone recommended the CM Plexitone. I checked some vids and its killer, but kinda expensive.

Btw i play a Les Paul with low-mid output pickups (WCR Crossroads neck / Van Zandt Trubucker bridge)

Forgot to mention, im not too crazy about high end boutique stuff.

 

[Nico]

Personally I hate the JCM 900 and believe nothing will make that thing sound decent.

Aside from that here is my take on OD/Distortion pedals

Suhr Riot: I don't know what the hype is about, bought it couldn't sell it fast enough.
Tonebone Hot British: Spectacular pedal nails the hot-rodded Marshall tones, and gets you into Guns N' Roses type tones. Although it seems to work best with a very good clean channel e.g. Fender, etc. It will not work well with a Marshall. I've tried it in front of my old Marshall 1959 and it was garbage.
DOD YJM 308: Will not get you anywhere near what you seek. I have this pedal and personally don't like it. Its too thin and brittle, with lots of noise. No wonder YJM uses 2 noise gates.

I have not tried the Plexitone although I dig the demos and the MI Audio Crunch Box seems nice... Look into the Wampler Pinnacle as well...

In the end I believe spending money on pedals to go in front of a JCM900 is not the way to go and I wouldn't bother with it....

 

[Drew]

I know its impossible. But i want something that gets me close to that tone (Think the 95' live DVD). I already know he used those JCM 800 modified by Cameron.
...

Mark has never touched any of Sykes' amps.

 

[romanianreaper]

I know its impossible. But i want something that gets me close to that tone (Think the 95' live DVD). I already know he used those JCM 800 modified by Cameron.
...

Mark has never touched any of Sykes' amps.

Yeah, not sure if he is thinking Aldrich instead of Sykes.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

yup, think you're confusing Sykes with Aldrich on the Cameron stuff.


far as i know, the sought after Sykes tone is from a Mesa Mark III Coliseum head.


and for me Sykes blows away Aldrich for tone!

 

[Inca Roads]

Christ Sakes, the answer is simple.
Is the JCM 900 Welded to the Floor?
If not, dump the Shit Box and play through
something that will get you there. I don't think
there is any sort of pedal that will get you where you
want to go, through a JCM 900.
Pick up a used Splawn Quickrod, or just bring in
your Avenger.......

 

[dstroud]

What you might try with the gear you have is boost the Rat with the Tubescreamer into the clean channel. I can't say I've tried this, but that's kind of the most logical thing to try 1st. I did use a pedal called a Valve Boy into a JCM900 clean channel once and it did sound good, so I think a pedal can work with the clean channel. You've got nothing to lose anyway trying that config.

 

[JohnSykes]

My bad lol, i thought those JCM on the "Bad Boy Live" dvd were modded by Cameron with the Jose Arredondo mod. I do know Cameron does the Aldrich mod and worked with John Norum. But now you got my thinking, who modded those?

Anyway, im not a hater of the 900 but i wouldnt buy one... sadly i have to deal with it. The YJM pedal is noisy as hell, yes.

 

[JohnSykes]

Christ Sakes, the answer is simple.
Is the JCM 900 Welded to the Floor?
If not, dump the Shit Box and play through
something that will get you there. I don't think
there is any sort of pedal that will get you where you
want to go, through a JCM 900.
Pick up a used Splawn Quickrod, or just bring in
your Avenger.......

LOL that made me laugh!

The thing is, this place where we rehearse isnt a home of one of us. The singer rents this place and id never let my rig there. Lots of bands play in that same place.

Im kinda lazy also lol i want to travel with only my guitar and 2 or 3 pedals.

Like dstroud said, the clean channel on the 900 isnt that horrible, i believe/hope i could use something on it. (No, not a grenade)

 

[gtrwun]

It was my understanding Sykes played the Jose Arrendondo modded amps.

 

[MrDan666]

It was my understanding Sykes played the Jose Arrendondo modded amps.

And Boogies too

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

since some of us zeroed in on the amps.


what about reverb and delay? maybe a little super soaking?

 

[thiswaythatway]

I'm telling you, Mesa Boogie Mark III Blue or Red stripe NAILS that Sykes tone. Not only the amount of gain, but the way it sounds. You can clearly hear it when you play one of those amps. To me, the Sykes tone on 1987 and Blue Murder sounds more preampish than power tube, if that makes sense.

Iv'e heard other guys say to use this amp and that amp etc. The Mark III is that tone. But Sykes tone on Slide it in sounds more like a Marshall to me.

 

[JohnSykes]

since some of us zeroed in on the amps.


what about reverb and delay? maybe a little super soaking?

You know, im not a big fan of pedals to be honest. I go LP - TS9 - Avenger 100 + 2 x 12 Celestions CL80. I have a MIJ DD3 that i bought a year ago. Its pretty cool, but i never use it. I also have this old Crybaby that i bought like 7 years ago and i probably used 4 times lol.

Here a couple of clips that you probably heard to see what i mean:

Also this one is pretty cool, tone is different and he is playing a Strat:

I think i want the Plexitone... but its 260 bucks...

 

[Ultron]

what about that new Amptweakers pedal, the Tight Metal? I've heard nothing but great things about it....may snag one myself.

 

[Drew]

It was my understanding Sykes played the Jose Arrendondo modded amps.

And Boogies too

Actually, his Boogies have hardly been switched on more than a time or two in the last 15 years. He still has them sitting out in his studio. But he never uses them. It's just the Jose Marshalls these days.

 

[MrDan666]

Actually, his Boogies have hardly been switched on more than a time or two in the last 15 years. He still has them sitting out in his studio. But he never uses them. It's just the Jose Marshalls these days.

Thanks for the info Drew! That makes sense actually, as i have seen/heard plenty of clips from the early to mid 90's where he was using Boogies. But then from that point on, he seems to be using the Jose mods on everything. On the 3 Thin Lizzy shows i saw live over the last 7 years, John played the same Jose modded JCM800

 

[JohnSykes]

So you think a Plexitone could help getting that modded marshall sound?

 

[mentoneman]

listen to whatever drew says.

he hangs out with and i believe managed one mister john james sykes, for the record.

 

[JohnSykes]

listen to whatever drew says.

he hangs out with and i believe managed one mister john james sykes, for the record.

Damn, thats awesome.

So we know he uses Jose modded Marshalls. Now the question is if the Plexitone can get in that territory. Sadly i cant try one of those and i obviously cant try John's amps (lol).