John Mayer is one of today’s hottest guitarists, and it has to be said that his sound is instantly recognizable.
Let’s find out what makes John Mayer’s sound so distinctive, and how to get closer to it with his current gear, pedals and effects, as well as some models that can help you get closer to his distinctive tones.
A word about John Mayer
Before getting to the heart of the matter, we’d like to take a quick look at his background.
John Mayer was born in Connecticut in 1977. Not only a guitarist, but also an American singer and songwriter, he is often recognized and associated with a style that blends blues, rock and pop.
After a spell at Berklee College of Music, which he left before graduating, he made a name for himself with Room for Squares (2001) and the hit Your Body Is a Wonderland. With Continuum (2006), he shifted to a bluesier sound, supported by chart-toppers like Gravity. Collaborating with legends such as Eric Clapton and B.B. King, he joined Dead & Company in 2015.
After vocal problems kept him away from the stage in 2011-2012, he returned with Born and Raised (2012) then Paradise Valley (2013) before exploring an 80s aesthetic with Sob Rock (2021). In 2018, he collaborated with Paul Reed Smith to design the PRS Silver Sky, a modern reinterpretation of the Stratocaster that quickly became a benchmark.
John Mayer’s gear
Guitars
Although he has used a variety of guitars throughout his career, the PRS Silver Sky has become John Mayer’s main instrument since its introduction in 2018. This signature guitar, designed in collaboration with Paul Reed Smith, combines classic and modern elements to deliver a rich, versatile tone.
Its three 635JM single-coil pickups deliver a clear, midrange-rich sound, ideal for capturing the nuances of Mayer’s playing.
Amplifiers
To shape his sound, he relies on amplifiers offering great dynamics and harmonic warmth. Among his many amps, here are a few emblematic models of his sound:
Dumble Steel String Singer: A legendary amp, produced in very limited numbers and sought after for its exceptional clarity and unique dynamics.
Two-Rock Custom Reverb: An amp designed to deliver dynamic response and harmonic warmth that enhances Mayer’s expressive touch.
Fender Bandmaster: A vintage amp with deep bass and smooth highs, often used for its enveloping clean tones.
John Mayer’s pedals and effects
John Mayer’s pedalboard is a key element of his sound, incorporating a variety of pedals to sculpt his tone. Of course, these vary widely, and John doesn’t have a fixed pedalboard, so it’s hard to come up with a precise list to synthesize HIS sound…
Here, however, is a selection of the iconic pedals he uses or has used:
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS10
The Ibanez Tube Screamer TS10 is an iconic overdrive pedal, renowned for its midrange boost and smooth saturation. Unlike more aggressive overdrives, it doesn ‘t distort the sound but adds body and warmth, ideal for thickening up solo and rhythmic playing. John Mayer uses it mainly to obtain his main overdrive, enabling him to add a slight saturation while retaining great dynamics. Combined with a tube amp pushed to clean, it produces a round, expressive sound, perfect for his subtle phrasing and nuanced playing. John Mayer even uses 2 of these on some of his pedalboards, making them the foundation of his sound!
Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus
The Q-Tron Plus is an auto-wah pedal that reacts to playing intensity to create a dynamic filter effect. Unlike a classic wah, where the frequency is controlled manually, this filter envelops the sound according to the attack of the note. John Mayer uses it to create funky textures reminiscent of the sounds of Jerry Garcia and Stevie Wonder. He uses it in particular on rhythmic pieces, bringing groove and movement to his playing. Its circuitry enriches the mid and high frequencies, making chords more percussive and expressive.
Strymon Flint
The Strymon Flint is a pedal combining vintage tremolo and spring reverb inspired by Fender amps of the ’60s. Unlike conventional digital effects, it faithfully reproduces the subtle, natural fluctuations of analog circuitry. Mayer uses it to add depth and vintage character to his clean tones, especially when playing picking or arpeggios. The tremolo section lets him add a slight rhythmic sway, while the reverb adds a natural spaciousness without dominating the mix.
Klon Centaur
The Klon Centaur is a legendary overdrive pedal, appreciated for its transparent boost and natural grain. More transparent than a Tube Screamer, it acts as a refined boost that preserves the amp’s natural grain while adding a hint of sustain. Mayer often uses it as a clean boost, increasing volume and clarity without altering the overall timbre. Its unique circuitry adds a slight saturation that blends perfectly with amps that are already slightly pushed. This pedal is essential for achieving the finesse and harmonic balance present in his lead sound.
Keeley Katana Clean Boost
The Keeley Katana is also a transparent boost that serves primarily to add volume and presence without altering the basic tone. Unlike the Klon Centaur, which adds a little saturation, this pedal remains ultra-clean, preserving the dynamics and natural attack of Mayer’s playing. He uses it to add depth to his solos or reinforce his chords , while maintaining a clean, dynamic attack. Its simple but effective circuitry provides a linear boost, perfect for maintaining absolute clarity.
Way Huge Aqua-Puss
The Way Huge Aqua-Puss is an analog delay renowned for its warm, organic repeats, with a slight natural modulation effect. Unlike digital delays, which can be very precise, this one has a certain imperfection that gives it character and movement. Mayer uses it to thicken his sound without it being too present, creating a slight slapback or discreet echo on his rhythmic and solo parts. Its low delay time (up to 300ms) makes it an excellent choice for vintage and bluesy sounds.
MXR Phase 90
The MXR Phase 90 is a simple but effective analog phaser known for its smooth, progressive modulation effect. Unlike other, more complex modulation pedals, this one has a single knob for intuitive operation. Mayer uses it to add movement to his chords and solos, creating a subtle sonic “swirl” effect reminiscent of the sounds of David Gilmour or Eddie Van Halen. He often uses it on lead parts to give a soaring effect without saturating or cluttering the sound spectrum.
A few pedals to get closer to John Mayer’s sound
John Mayer is renowned for his expressive, nuanced playing, based on a sound palette balanced between crystalline clarity and organic warmth. His sound is based above all on a clean amp with beautiful dynamics, combined with natural overdrive, subtle delay and discreet modulation.
Of course, there is no absolute truth, but here is a selection of pedals that come close:
Overdrive pedals:
Add grit while respecting dynamics
Overdrive is at the heart of Mayer’s sound. It must be subtle, responsive and respect the dynamics of the playing, without ever compressing or over-saturating the signal. The idea is to achieve a slight warmth and sustain, without overpowering the attack.
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 An overdrive that slightly boosts the midrange while maintaining a round, expressive sound. It thickens notes without over-saturating them, perfect for Mayer’s singing solos.
JHS Morning Glory A more transparent alternative to the Tube Screamer, which adds subtle grain without altering the amp’s basic equalization too much. Ideal for those seeking a natural boost and slight crunch.
Clarksdale Wampler: A modern version of the Tube Screamer with more precise frequency control, allowing you to fine-tune the sound according to the type of amp you’re using.
Pedals from Boost :
Boost the signal without coloring the sound
A boost is used to push the amp and overdrives slightly to obtain more presence and volume, without necessarily altering the color of the sound.
Xotic EP Booster Inspired by tape echo preamps, this boost adds a slight warmth and contour to notes, perfect for fleshing out a clean sound or pushing an overdrive.
TC Electronic Spark Booster A more neutral boost that simply increases volume without affecting EQ. Useful for switching from a rhythmic sound to a solo without excessive coloration.
Delay pedals:
Add depth and relief without weighing down the sound
John Mayer uses delay sparingly, usually to add a subtle resonance or to thicken notes without making them seem drowned out by the effect.
Strymon El Capistan A tape delay with slightly modulated repeats, perfect for organic, musical echoes. It adds subtle depth without sounding too modern.
Boss DD-200 A versatile digital delay with several modes, including a “tape” model that imitates vintage tape echoes. Ideal for smooth, natural delays.
MXR Carbon Copy A very simple analog delay with warm, slightly dark repeats. It adds relief while remaining discreet in the mix.
Modulation pedals:
Add movement and character to clean sounds
John Mayer sometimes uses subtle modulations to enrich his clear sounds and give them more texture, notably via tremolos and light phasers.
JHS Unicorn V2 A Univibe-inspired vibrato pedal for a warm, organic modulation effect, useful for giving subtle movement to clean sounds.
MXR Phase 95 A compact analog phaser that adds a slight ripple to the sound, perfect for coloring a solo without distorting the basic signal.
Reverb pedals Reverb :
Placing sound in a natural space
John Mayer favors subtle, organic reverbs, often inspired by Fender spring amps, which add depth without being too intrusive.
Neunaber Wet Reverb A very natural reverb for an “airy” sound without too much echo effect. Ideal for fingerpicking and arpeggios.
Strymon BigSky One of the most complete reverbs on the market, with sounds inspired by Fender amps, perfect for deep, immersive ambiences.
Finally, here are a few videos on the subject, detailing Mr. Mayer’s pedalboard:
