TonesMatch
Gravity — John Mayer1 / 2
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Gravity Riff Guitar Tone Settings — John Mayer

John Mayer · 2000s · blues

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
2004 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster (John Mayer's main Strat on Continuum)
Pickups
Fender Custom Shop 'Big Dipper' single-coil pickups
Amp
Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature (main), Dumble Steel String Singer (blended), Fender Vibro-King (blended)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 2006 (Continuum album). Multiple amps blended in studio. Guitar is Mayer's main Strat with 'Big Dipper' pickups. Settings estimated based on genre, era, and typical Mayer rig for this song. No evidence of pedal use in riff section beyond possible light compression and reverb.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
7
Gain
3.5
Reverb
3.5
Treble
6
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression

Guitar → Compressor → Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature (with spring reverb) → Studio blend with Dumble SSS and Fender Vibro-King

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Tone Character

  • warm and smooth
  • mid-forward
  • touch-sensitive
  • edge-of-breakup
  • clear and articulate
  • compressed and sustained
  • dynamic response
  • slightly scooped highs
  • spacious with subtle reverb
  • not overly distorted

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for Gravity riff found in sources; values estimated based on typical Mayer Continuum-era rig and genre.
  • ⚠️Pedal use for riff section is not explicitly documented; no overdrive or modulation effects are clearly audible in the riff.
  • ⚠️Multiple amps were blended in the studio; settings represent an average for the main Two-Rock amp.
  • ⚠️All effects and settings are for the studio recording, not live versions.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. John Mayer's 'Gravity' riff uses a clean, warm, and dynamic tone typical of his Two-Rock or Dumble-style amps, with the gain set just at the edge of breakup, boosted bass and mids for fullness and vocal quality, restrained treble for smoothness, neutral presence, and moderate reverb for space without washing out the notes.

Sources