Building a John Sykes style Custom?? Starting point & parts

[dealmaker]

So I've decided to build a Guitar that I will use mainly for practicing and gigging so I can preserve my really good ones!

Decided I want to build a guitar in the style of the Les Paul Custom that John Sykes (ex Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) used/uses - but bang up to date.

So starting point will be a Black Custom. I'm not too worried about originality (Sykes guitar is a 78 Norlin) so I was just going to use a contemporary Custom - unless anyone has any strong views to the contrary. The modern Custom is weight relieved - so a trade off of playability versus tone?

I will then need to find Chrome tuners, a chrome ABR bridge and a stop tail - was thinking if using TonePro (probably locking ones like on the 2008 Standard) for those.....any other suggestions???

Pick ups - I will deviate here as the original guitar had open coil pick-ups (that I don't like) so I will either get some chrome covers for the existing 490 pick ups ...or should I swap them out for something hotter with chrome covers?

I will need some metal/alloy pick-up rings?.....no idea where to get those?.......a chrome jack cover.........and importantly the polished pick guard....again no idea where to get that ??

It's a shame I will be Junking a load of decent parts - wish you could order a standard Custom with all chrome parts!!! I still think this will be the cheapest way of doing it though??

Anyone got any other thoughts or suggestions???

 

[nwobhm]

I got all that stuff full plastic kit w/ mirrored parts, chromerings. I was gonna do it but, never got around to it. I sold some of those rings but, might have some more, Problem with those is you never know if there gonna fit! If your interested in any. I'll dig it up and send some pics.

 

[Custom53]

or you could just get this.... The neck scares me though... And it is a bit too much $$$...

1984 Greco JS98/John Sykes/Les Paul/Duncan Blackout - eBay (item 200461603791 end time Jan-09-11 17:34:09 PST)

 

[Csharp]

[Paging Mr. ehamady6,.........ehamady6,....Please pick up the white courtesy phone...........Thank you.]

 

[Gemm]

Don't forget the brass nut.

 

[dealmaker]

Thanks guys, I think the things I don't know where to get are the pick-up rings and the reflective pickguard! Think I'm just going to order a Brand New Custom to do this with??

 

[Gemm]

Thanks guys, I think the things I don't know where to get are the pick-up rings and the reflective pickguard! Think I'm just going to order a Brand New Custom to do this with??

If you were going to buy and customise a brand new Custom, why don't you try to find a John Sykes signature model?

Gibson Custom - John Sykes Les Paul Custom

 

[dealmaker]

If you were going to buy and customise a brand new Custom, why don't you try to find a John Sykes signature model?

Gibson Custom - John Sykes Les Paul Custom

I sort of thought about that - and would still consider it ..but.....I think for a few of reasons it may not be the best idea:

1) They are hard to come by

2) I plan on gigging this guitar and it would be a shame to damage a JS model

3) I'd prefer to create the look of the guitar when it was new in the early 80's - so it looks brand new rather than VOS or aged

THANKS!

 

[Gemm]

Oh, forget about my comment above. I forgot I hated signature models!

If I were you, I'd seriously look for a Norlin Custom and customise it. They are great.

 

[OldBenKenobi]

Why not buy an Edwards? They produce a John Sykes model with all the metal trimmings for less than 1000 bucks:

Sure its not a Gibson but you'll be able to gig with it without worrying about busting up a really expensive guitar.

 

[dealmaker]

Thanks, worth thinking about - but I think I'm willing to go the extra mile.....I just really prefer the sound of proper Gibson Customs for the sort of stuff I play.......plus I want to look authentic!!!!!

 

[The Funk]

Go to www.Greasygroove.com, they can make basicly any customized guitar part you want. Including pickguards! I just blinged out one of my guitars to black and gold. It has a gold mirrored pickguard and looks sick. Check them out.

 

[sandmannn69]

Thanks, worth thinking about - but I think I'm willing to go the extra mile.....I just really prefer the sound of proper Gibson Customs for the sort of stuff I play.......plus I want to look authentic!!!!!

What doesn't look authentic about this?
With the SD Distortions it does 1987 Whitesnake without breaking a sweat, set up great out of the box, $990 new. At 8.5 lbs. not a backbreaker like the Gibson, either.

 

[Lowdown]

No nibs. FAKE!

Sorry...that looks nice sandmann

 

[Gemm]

I've got a picture of his No.2 black Custom which is identical to his main guitar but with gold parts. I think it looks nicer!

 

[dealmaker]

I've got a picture of his No.2 black Custom which is identical to his main guitar but with gold parts. I think it looks nicer!

Can you please share???

Thanks!

 

[Gemm]

I'll scan it for you.

Ok, I said it was his No.2 but I forgot the fact that magazine was 20 years old and he may not have this guitar now! Anyway, here's the pic together with his RR Custom.

 

[OldBenKenobi]

Thanks, worth thinking about - but I think I'm willing to go the extra mile.....I just really prefer the sound of proper Gibson Customs for the sort of stuff I play.......plus I want to look authentic!!!!!

What doesn't look authentic? The stuff on the headstock? I'm pretty sure you can get plastic overlays so it looks like it has the proper inlays. Besides, if its gonna be a gigging instrument does it matter that much what it says on the headstock?

As for the sound, I think it sounds a lot like a 'proper' Custom:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1HbjZvm7I]YouTube - Edwards E-LP-92CD/JS[/ame]

 

[dealmaker]

I'll scan it for you.

Ok, I said it was his No.2 but I forgot the fact that magazine was 20 years old and he may not have this guitar now! Anyway, here's the pic together with his RR Custom.

Thanks Gemm - looks nice - although I currently own a very similar older Custom that is almost identical except for the pickup rings - so I think I will still look to build the JS replica of his Number 1 - as it existed when new!

What doesn't look authentic? The stuff on the headstock? I'm pretty sure you can get plastic overlays so it looks like it has the proper inlays. Besides, if its gonna be a gigging instrument does it matter that much what it says on the headstock?

As for the sound, I think it sounds a lot like a 'proper' Custom:

YouTube - Edwards E-LP-92CD/JS

No doubt it's a great guitar - however I believe the modern Gibson Custom has a neck profile I prefer - additionally the LP should hold it's value long term - and importantly the Edwards isn't available here in the UK - so the price differential wouldnt be as great as it is in the USA......making the Gibson perhaps a better choice for me personally..........and we've got to try and keep those guys at the factory busy right?

 

[Hector Arcadius]

So, let me get this straight. You're planning on getting a Gibson Les Paul Custom and customise it, in order to make a gigging guitar out of it, so your good ones do not get damaged...?!! I wonder what kind of guitars are your good ones. I wish I had your problem man...