How To Sound Like John Mayer with Effects Pedals | Reverb Potent Pairings

John Mayer's new PRS Silver Sky has been making waves in the guitar world, but in this episode of #PotentPairings we're focusing on Mayer's tone and attempting to emulate it using some pedals we had on hand in the studio. From "Burning Room" to "Wildfire", these are the fiery sounds of John Mayer.

Buy the PRS Silver Sky in...

Joe's Set-Up:
Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Silver Sky John Mayer Signature
Amp: Fender SuperSonic 22.
Pedals:
MXR Dyna Comp Mini
Diamond Tremolo
EHX Q-Tron
EQD Spatial Delivery
J Rocket The Dude (for Dumble Tonality)
EHX POG 1
Boss RV 6 (plate, spring, and hall settings)
Ibanez TS808
Wampler Tumnus (Klon)
ZVEX Wooly Mammoth (combined with 808 for a poor man's Cornish NG2)
Boss Super Chorus
MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe

[Isaacallison]

"I don't trust myself with loving you" tone was super off

[rockstar]

I think the Sounds Like John Mayer video from Andertons (in particular the By Busting the Bank), they got more close tone-wise in my opinion.

[benthies]

I've never listened to John Mayer so I'm not sure how accurate this is, but I love these sounds.

[josefeld]

The crossroads one was really convincing. Thank you ! Wildfire as well.

[titobattaglia]

Thanks a lot. Other than the “Don’t trust myself”, great tones and great ideas to explore!

[jasonjezek]

I wish you guys would make more of these! Bring this series back

[gnahueldiaz]

You should definitely not use a compressor, Mayer's tone is all about dynamics

[megasauce]

I loved this. There needs to be a part two and three and four and five

[TheMCRFAN]

MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!
MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!

[ASHSRV]

This is really well put the together! Thank you

[AleksandarStanojkovic]

So, heres what you did wrong:
1. Dont trust myself - sounds like you have a pog enabled, or something like that. His guitar sound in that song is pretty straightforward: strat with the tone rolled almost all the way off, on the mid pickup with an envelope filter in the chain. and thats it. So, the first one was a miss.
2. Rosie - much closer, but still no cigar. As much as I love my wampler pedals, the best Klon clone is a ceriatone centura. Try it out, you'll love it. Other than that, you need a better reverb (neunaber immerse if you dont have the $ for a bricasti), the lead was done on a guitar with humbuckers.
3. If you used an Wampler ecstasy instead of "the dude" you would get that naturally compressed and saturated sound of a fender/dumble amp. The compressor shouldnt be in a chain in this one, thats why it sounds thin.
4. Again, reverb is an issue. You need a better one for his tone, because that bricasti m7 that he uses, is half of his tone pretty much.
5. Main sound is pretty spot on, but the tremolo one isnt. You prolly know that Charlie Hunter played the bass and that trem guitar part on his 8 string guitar. You need a harmonic trem for that, and a fender vibrolux like pedal.
6. Zvex rocks. This is pretty close, I would go with an JHS Pollinator, but the sound is really close.
7. Wildfire is spot on. GJ.

[HenriSoetaert]

Hi Reverb! Next up: Mac Demarco? Would be great!! Nice job by the way :)

[mariocaceresg]

I wasn’t mistaken!
- Lots of people talking crap about Mayer. (Pffff...)
- Lots of people saying the tone wasn’t right. (Manners, please...)
- Lots of people saying how great they would do it. (I’m looking forward for your video!)
- Lots of people saying “i don’t want to sound like Mayer” (Then why are you watching this?!?!?)
- Lots of people saying “well you would need Mayer’s fingers” (Thank you for stating the obvious)
- Not so many people saying “That was great! Although I don’t agree 100% with the tone, this gave me some great ideas for my bedroom practice. Thank you Reverb!”

[andrewcruz]

Ok but good attempt I love this idea that this video is on the internet and finally made . .🙌thank-you

[oskarek]

DAAAMMNN, that bass tone. pls tell me what bass and bass amp it is

[JakeFields]

Thank you for doing this video!!! I’m such a mayer fan and I’ve been on the search for his tones in different tunes. Thanks bro!! Keep it up

[xchump]

people here are hating on the intro tone for not being spot on, but I think it sounds great! Just a different flavor...

[abendigo]

This is exactly what i was looking for :) obviously nobody knows how to create those sounds perfectly besides John himself, but i greatly enjoyed the similarities. Especially with Slow dancing and somethings missing :)

[TenThumbsProductions]

Is that POG a big old vintage one or something?

[RockMusicLover]

Thanks for this. Please do The Killers.