John Mayer Tone

[callehasty]

maxon od 9 or od 808?

[getbackgoodtimes]

FUCK MAYER ALL THE WAY !!!

[richsabre]

well, i like it

[theinck]

I knew this would get lots of dislikes just from reading the title. I like it. Good playing, good clean tone, even though the quality has been shredded up. I think theres too much reverb though. and overdrive needs work. Good stuff!

[KaneArts]

@PeacefulMax: I'd say CS 69s, definitely. Although modern Clapton is a very different tone. John Mayer, Hendrix, and SRV all use weak-output, vintage-style pickups like the CS 69s. Texas Specials might be okay for SRV, but not really authentic. Go with 69s! :-D

[PeacefulMax]

CS 69 VS 50 VS TEXAS SPECIAL VS VINTAGE NOISELESS

for John mayer, Hendrix, Srv, Clapton tone?

[shirleyandlaverne]

All these haters need to calm down. This guy took the time to make this video and film his playing, which is perfectly decent. It's not easy to try and pinpoint a sound using the same equipment, let alone substituting different ones. My guess is that he did this because he likes it. Don't hate him for having nice gear.

[jojowaterpolo]

This is shit, you don't have the right feelin' ! When you don't have it, it sounds very bad. And you lose some notes in your riffs. Try another time when You have the right sound en the right notes. Good luck!

[SixStringHarmonies]

Mayer's tone is so hard to nail because he uses such specific high-end equipment. You absolutely need the "Big Dipper" pups or an EQ to cut the mids from your standard Strat. Secondly, he uses outrageously expensive amps. Dumble Steel String Singer/ Overdrive Special's, JM Signature Two Rock nowadays. Many high end effects like T-Rex CompNova, Teese RMC Wah, the pricy list goes on. Alot of guys can get close, but nailing it is an expensive undertaking. He has an amazing rig worth emulating imo.

[TreyDee45]

I thought it was good.. Just cause he didn't play it perfect it was bad? Y'all r crazy

[JohnMayer62]

uhh it sounds very bad !!

[rossmillerlol]

I love how you played Crossroads in 7/8 timing......

[Botje101]

Well, it's good to know that he's not a good player. Makes me less jealous.

[surfer1211]

Honestly man, I feel like you put way too much thought into all the different tones and explaining each of their requirements & settings; what I'm trying to get at is just play! I dont have any pedals besides a tremolo and a Lyons Wah-Wah (which doesn't work) & because I have them doesn't mean they're actually used. Basically you can get very similar tones with just the pick-ups/amp; and I'm usin a Squier so we know how those sound. Just focus on the playing man and the tone will come right out!

[joelg125]

Tune...then redo the video

[Wackjackso]

What the hell is this. The buy has incredibly expensive equipment, yet to be frank. Sucks.

[FreaquedeMusique]

So, you have the Continuum song book?

It sounds to dead on with the book!! xD Try loosening up from the booking and giving it ur own twist! Great Tone!

[Jjjj187]

are you familiar with the fender cs 54's. if so what would you recommend. the 69's or the 54's caus thats the situation i'm in right now. :p

[KaneArts]

@Jjjj187 Have never, to my knowledge, heard the 54s in person. From what I've read, they produce that early Strat a la Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin (the God of the Strat, some would argue) tone. The 69s are more for the Hendrix, David Gilmour, John Mayer tone. Hope that helps. Listen to a few tunes by "The Shadows" to hear what the 54s would sound like.

[bobbyboofay]

Fellas, if you want killer tone check out D. Allen's Hot 54's. They are hand wound custom pick-ups. I actually pulled the big dipper pickups out of my John Mayer Stat when I heard them. Look for a demo tomorrow. Play with feeling! Also, change that piece of crap pot metal block out of your strat and put a brass block in. It makes a world of difference. (or don't, see if I care)

[CStheoneandonly]

No like actually you need to fio and learn Crossroads...

[dkfone]

Hi you nail the jm tone but how to you do it with cs69s. I heard they are bright and shrill and yet they have that dark sound mayer gets in this vid. Im on the look out for pickups that would capture mayers tone. What would you recommend.

[KaneArts]

@dkfone That is very different from what my experience has been. I've seen many claim that the CS69s are the closest vintage-style pickup you can get for creating tones like John Mayer, Hendrix, SRV, etc. It is the more modern Fender pickups, "Hot" or "High-Output" pickups, that produce bright, shrill tones -- i.e. stock Strat pickups. I highly recommend you get CS69s if you're looking to sound like Mayer.

[gabrieltsiry]

@dkfone also ... you may want to keep an eye on eBay for spare parts. I've got Big Dippers in my strat and well, they manage to achieve the tone coupled w/ a Keeley Modded Blues Driver. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Guitar1hero23]

@dkfone dude , get the cs69s i can honsetly tell you that they are going to be the closest you will get to john mayer tone, without buying big dippers from some sketchy fellow on ebay. i have them in my strat, and my god they sound so fat.

good luck with your search

Andy

[SRVsuperreverb]

@Guitar1hero23

I'd actually recommend checking out Klein Pickups. His pickups are better than Fender and don't cost much more. He makes an S-5 set that is essentially a Big Dipper copy. That will get way closer than CS 69's.

[Guitar1hero23]

@SRVsuperreverb i have heard good things about those as well. those are also a good reocmendation

[dnnysrock]

so the solo for belief the od9? and by the way the od9 is way better than the ts9. dude.

and the fuzz for crossorado? tell me where the od9 is activated please thanlk you

[KaneArts]

@dnnysrock You're mostly correct. Vintage TS9 > Maxon OD9 > Reissued TS9. They theoretically all "the same," although anyone with a set of ears will tell you that the 80s TS9 is the best, with the Maxon OD9 being nearly as good, while the TS9 reissue (circa 2009-10) is lackluster. The OD9 is activated in all of the solos, particularly in Belief and Vultures. The rest is just clean, or all fuzz for Crossroads.

[stratupdude]

@dnnysrock The OD9 is not the early TS9, can't be, the parts are discontinued ... I recommend a vintage one at least '83 if not earlier ... : } ~!m/

[dnnysrock]

@stratupdude are you dumb? go buy one then

[blave549]

I came across this guy's stuff while looking for vids of a particular amp... WOW this is a tough crowd...

Lighten up people, he's just trying to demo his idea of how to get JM's tone. What is up with all of the negative energy here? Aren't we all into guitar playing for Fun and Enjoyment, vs. flaming/bashing fellow players? Not everyone can be the Awesome Guitar God that some of you seem to think you are.

[hailmary7283]

@blave549 agreed and half of you people saying he's not playing in time only said that cause flip080210 said he wasn't.

[HannahZepplg]

@blave549 Yes. and I might add: not everyone can be the Awesome Guitar God that John Mayer really is. lol this tough crowd is just a bunch of Mayer wannabes.

[jroye82]

jesus....learn to play in time!

[joelbyrne]

Shite

[AllanHP]

I much appreciate your effort, but i must say, with all your gear, it's kinda easy to find a good tone!

Anyway, good tips man, and i'd like to add that John uses weak pups, maybe even lacking some mids, that allows him to crank up the tube amp and get more dynamics , and that he uses his drive pedals more like a clean boost ( little drive and lots of level) just like you did here.

Not trying to be an ass, just trying to contribute too.

Cheers

[ginnyrode]

good sound man!!!!

[excursel]

get a metronome

[Gitarrendhans]

learn how to play dude...saying you didn't want to play in time is...a (bad) joke:D

who doesnt try playing in time when hes on youtube?!!!!!

actually the tone isn't that brilliant either. but that's probably your shitty cam or youtube or so...

[MrSntna]

Yeah nice tone man, but yeah try and listen to the recordingsr to get your phrasing a tad more accurate. Good effort though

[MatiBtodo14]

is a ts9 similar to a maxon OD?

[KaneArts]

@MatiBtodo14

Ibanez TS9 is 100% identical, save for the logo, to the Maxon OD-9.

They were manufactured by the same factory using the same components.

Maxon built them for Ibanez, so at different periods they sport different brand names depending on the year of availability, but they are the same.

[cclark4242]

rests are the hardest note to play, really try to emphasize the rests and it will make your playing sound alot cleaner and more professional sounding...also make sure accent the downbeats of the measure, and get your chords right because they ended on key but some of them started off. Overall, it was satisfactory but could use alittle practice

[satjathamma]

it's too much bass, John mayer has a much clearer tone, but it's close

[ZenDriveSeven]

Same exact guitar and pickups here! Great combo!

[libertyfalls]

Mayer used a NG-2 fuzz, not a G-2 fuzz.

[surfer1211]

@libertyfalls Right; Pete Cornish NG-2 fuzz!

[flip080210]

Too many guitarists today are so focused on gear that they don't even learn to play. You have thousands of dollars in gear but you can't even play in time. Get back to the basics. Find a tone you like and stick with it.

[KaneArts]

@flip080210 Actually, I wasn't TRYING to play in time. The purpose of the video was a reference guide for people who, like me, enjoy trying to imitate the tones of guitarists they admire. I can play perfectly well in time. This video is a demonstration of PEDALS and TONE, not my playing.

[flip080210]

@KaneArts If you can play in time why would you choose not to? The tones you had were good but most variations on clean tones aren't that hard to achieve. For the record people who know how to play in time don't just choose not to because they are focused on tone.

I'm not intending this point at your video because it serves a purpose but too many people post videos of themselves playing horribly on youtube for no reason. Nobody wants to listen to a video of some newbie playing guitar.

[KaneArts]

@flip080210 I agree entirely; although, what is considered good playing is obviously relative to the audience. A 13-yr-old who just learned "Smoke On the Water" or "Iron Man" is going to be quite eager to show off his skills on YouTube, much the same as some pro who wants to show a video of himself playing "Bad Horsie" by Steve Vai. In the end, YouTube is done for the videographer's enjoyment as much as anyone's.

[kyledadams]

@KaneArts I wish this comment was mandatory for all new members of you tube to read and agree to! Well put

[FreaquedeMusique]

@KaneArts no but I think you should find your own tone, you incredibly like..

and use that 4ever! and then try to play VERY WELL!!

[samjad1]

@flip080210 I know what you mean man.

[kartman74usa]

wich pedal effects ar u using? or how to set up the gear in order to obtein this sound? thx man....

[KaneArts]

@kartman74usa

Guitar (Strat w/ Custom Shop 69 pickups) > MXR Classic 108 Fuzz > Hendrix Wah > MXR Dyna Comp > EHX Big Muff Pi > Maxon OD-9 Tube Screamer > MXR Phase 90 > Ibanez CS-9 Chorus > MXR Carbon Copy Delay > Boss TU-2 Tuner > Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp (T: 6, B: 9, M: 4, Presence: 6, Reverb: 5, bright switch off)

Tortex .60 orange picks, Ernie Ball .009s (Super Slinkys)

[kartman74usa]

@KaneArts thankyou for the advice..... J.Mayer is my idol...nice tone thx again.

[nirib001]

just letting you know so you can get it right but but gravity, crossroads and vulture are all played wrong but your tone sounds great

[wouwser]

hey, on crossroads, john uses the middle pick up, and he switches back so you get that sound as if your fuzz tone is almost dying out, you should check up on that, and i'd roll off a little bit of the treble too, dpepending on the audiance being right in front of the speaker that is;)

[ruedrued]

Now you just have to learn to actually play :) just kiddin..

[bmrfff]

pretty good for most of the songs! im sure his tone is way more complicated than that and only his sound tec. guy knows whats really going on lol! but yeah just have to learn to play the songs correctly now haha! great

[C0NEZ0NE]

Holy...this is amazing sounding! Do you know what kind of picks Mr. Mayer uses himself?

[KaneArts]

It's reported that he uses .60 Orange Dunlop Tortex picks, although I'm pretty sure he actually uses a variety of thicknesses. On "Where the Light Is," he appears to use orange, yellow, and green Tortexes varying by song 'intensity'. For example, I think he uses Orange (.60) for the soft stuff (Gravity, etc.), Yellow (.73) for Hendrix covers, Trio, etc., and Green (.88) for the acoustic set. This could be inaccurate due to lighting during the performance, however. He changes variables constantly

[flip080210]

@C0NEZ0NE Seriously? Each guitarist is so different that using a different kind of pick isn't going to make you sound like John Mayer.

[C0NEZ0NE]

@flip080210 I understand, thanks for the advice. =)

[flip080210]

@C0NEZ0NE Just use the kind of picks you like. You'll be much more happy with your playing if you play like yourself and use what feels right for you.

[C0NEZ0NE]

@flip080210 Gotcha. *thumbs up* =D I'll be sure to experiment with different gauges. Thanks!

[ciclosonico]

You nailed JM tones, bravo!!!

[KaneArts]

Thanks, man! Your Les Paul doesn't sound too bad either!