John Sykes replaced fellow unsung legend Snowy White in Thin Lizzy in 1983 and, at Phil Lynott’s suggestion, modified his worn, black 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom with new “pickup mounting rings, pickguard and toggle switch plate from the stock Gibson parts to pieces made of chrome.”

Since then, whether it was with Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Badlands, Blue Murder, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Streetfighter or solo - according to John Sykes’ own guitar page - that very Les Paul “has been used for thousands of shows and on every recording John has made for the last 20 years.”

Of course, Gibson paid tribute by adding Sykes’s model to the Inspired By range in 2006.

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“John Sykes.” (Thanks, LordOfTheStance)

"How about John Sykes? Thin Lizzy rock! (Thanks, Peter)

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