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Who Did You Think I Was (Live at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA - December 2007) — John Mayer1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

Who Did You Think I Was (Live at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA - December 2007) Guitar Tone Settings

John Mayer · 2000s · blues

live

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (John Mayer Signature, likely 2005-2007 model, Black One or Custom Shop)
Pickups
Fender Custom Shop 'Big Dipper' single-coil pickups
Amp
Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature (with possible Dumble Steel String Singer and Fender Vibro-King in three-amp blend, but Two-Rock is primary for riff section)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)

Live performance at Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, December 2007 (Where the Light Is). Gear confirmed for this era and show by Equipboard and multiple rig rundowns. Studio vs. live: These are live settings. Mayer's signature Strat and Two-Rock amp are confirmed for this tour and song. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
7
Gain
4.5
Reverb
2.5
Treble
6
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Klon Centaur · overdrive

Guitar → Klon Centaur → Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • touch-sensitive and dynamic
  • warm and glassy
  • edge-of-breakup crunch
  • articulate single-coil clarity
  • slightly compressed
  • percussive attack
  • clear note separation
  • responsive to picking dynamics
  • mild breakup when digging in
  • Texas blues shuffle feel

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp knob settings for this exact live performance found; settings estimated based on era-correct Two-Rock amp use, genre, and typical Mayer rig rundowns.
  • ⚠️Pedal order and exact settings inferred from multiple forum and rig rundown sources; no official pedalboard photo from this exact show.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation or time-based effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) in the riff section; only mild amp reverb is audible.
  • ⚠️Guitar and amp models are confirmed for this tour and song, but some sources mention Mayer's three-amp blend; for the riff, Two-Rock is most prominent.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. John Mayer's live tone for this era is edge-of-breakup with a fat, mid-forward character, using a Two-Rock Custom Reverb or similar amp. The bass is full but not boomy, mids are prominent for blues-rock punch, treble is slightly rolled off for warmth, presence is neutral, and reverb is subtle for space without washing out the riff.

Sources