GuitarDistortedRiff
Belief Riff Guitar Tone Settings — John Mayer
John Mayer · 2000s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely John Mayer Signature or 1964/1965 Stratocaster, as used on Continuum)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (Big Dipper single-coils on Mayer Signature, vintage-style single-coils on vintage Strat)
Amp
Two-Rock Custom Reverb (used on Continuum studio recording)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording, 2006 (Continuum album). Gear is specific to the studio version, not live. Mayer is widely documented to have used his Two-Rock Custom Reverb and Stratocaster with single-coil pickups for the main riff section. Pedal/effect info is drawn from both interviews and audible effects in the recording.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6.5
Gain3
Reverb3.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Roger Linn AdrenaLinn III (envelope filter/auto-wah) · modulation
- Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer · overdrive
- Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression
Guitar → Compressor → Roger Linn AdrenaLinn III (envelope filter) → Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer → Two-Rock Custom Reverb (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- touch-sensitive edge-of-breakup
- percussive and funky
- warm low end
- articulate single-coil snap
- dynamic and responsive
- slight envelope/quack effect
- tight, compressed attack
- subtle amp reverb depth
- present but not harsh highs
- groovy, syncopated rhythm