Song Rig
Is This Love
John Sykes · Whitesnake · 1987
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The counterpart to Still of the Night on the same album — Sykes demonstrates his melodic range with a warm, singing lead tone that builds from almost-clean intro picking to a full-saturation emotional solo. The Les Paul neck pickup is the key to the vocal quality.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Custom (neck pickup, volume 8)
- 2Marshall JCM800 (medium gain setting)
- 3TC Electronic Chorus (slow rate, moderate depth)
- 4Alesis MidiVerb (large hall)
Amp Settings
Lower gain than Still of the Night — the neck pickup adds warmth and the chorus widens the stereo image. Reverb is heavier here, giving solo lines a ballad-appropriate sustain tail.
Technique
How to Play It
Slow vibrato with wide depth on sustained notes — the Les Paul neck pickup sustains naturally, so Sykes holds notes longer before moving to the next phrase, creating a more breathed-out, vocal feel.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul neck pickup → any mid-gain amp (JCM800, Plexi at lower volume) → chorus pedal + reverb. The neck pickup is non-negotiable — bridge pickup will not produce this warmth.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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