John Sykes' Legendary Gear Tribute!
John Sykes' Legendary Gear Tribute!
Tanner pays tribute to John Sykes in this week's Roundup! In this special episode of the Weekly Roundup, Tanner pays tribute to legendary guitarist John Sykes by building a custom guitar rig using only gear from the store. From tracking down a Mesa Dual Rectifier and matching it with a Les Paul Custom, to dialing in lush stereo delay, reverb, and chorus effects, Tanner recreates the iconic '80s tone Sykes was known for. Tanner even replicates Sykes’ pick-scraping technique using sandpaper.
Transcription Summary:
In this week's roundup, Tanner honors the late, legendary guitarist John Sykes by building a custom guitar rig using only gear available at the store. Sykes, known for his work with Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy, and Tigers of Pan Tang, was a major influence on many guitarists, including Zakk Wylde and Metallica. Tanner walks through the process of recreating Sykes’ iconic tone—starting with a black Les Paul (similar to Sykes’ late-70s custom), a Mesa Dual Rectifier amp (a nod to Sykes’ '90s rig), and a Marshall cab. He also layers in chorus, delay, and reverb effects to capture the wide, spacious tone Sykes was known for, experimenting with pedals like the Keeley Halo and Boss Dimension C and JHS Flight Delay. He even goes the extra mile by sanding down his guitar pick to match Sykes’ famously aggressive pick slides.
Related Posts
Rock N Roll Relics | Club Series Revenge
Discover the Rock N Roll Relics Club Series at Chicago Music Exchange. California-made pickups, vintage-inspired humbuckers, and stage-ready tone—now at an accessible price. Shop online or visit our Lincoln Avenue showroom today.
Read more
Yamaha Guitars | 2025 Revstar Additions
Rev up your engines—the Yamaha Revstar Standard RSS20 and RSS02T have arrived at Chicago Music Exchange, bringing performance-minded design, expanded versatility, and unmistakable style to Yamaha’s modern electric guitar lineup. Inspired by the stripped-down efficiency of café racer motorcycles, the Revstar Standard series blends premium tonewoods, chambered bodies, carbon-reinforced necks, and upgraded electronics to deliver lightweight comfort and powerful sonic character. Whether you’re after the articulate punch of Alnico V humbuckers (RSS20) or the warm, expressive bite of P90-style pickups (RSS02T), each model offers refined playability and a dynamic tonal range perfect for stage, studio, and everyday inspiration. Shop the full Yamaha Revstar Standard collection at CME and discover the next evolution of Yamaha’s performance-built electric guitars.
Read more
Gibson x Loog Guitars at Chicago Music Exchange
Meet the Gibson x Loog Collection—where legendary tone meets beginner-friendly design. These three-string guitars are made to empower kids to start playing right away, with simplified learning, top-tier sound, and timeless Gibson flair. As the only brick-and-mortar retailer for Gibson x Loog Guitars, Chicago Music Exchange offers a rare opportunity to plug in and play these in person—shop the collection today!
Read more