How To Sound Like John Mayer with Effects Pedals | Reverb Potent Pairings

John Mayer's new PRS Silver Sky has been making waves in the guitar world, but in this episode of #PotentPairings we're focusing on Mayer's tone and attempting to emulate it using some pedals we had on hand in the studio. From "Burning Room" to "Wildfire", these are the fiery sounds of John Mayer.
Read more on Reverb: goo.gl/94dFxX
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Joe's Set-Up:
Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Silver Sky John Mayer Signature
Amp: Fender SuperSonic 22.
Pedals:
MXR Dyna Comp Mini
Diamond Tremolo
EHX Q-Tron
EQD Spatial Delivery
J Rocket The Dude (for Dumble Tonality)
EHX POG 1
Boss RV 6 (plate, spring, and hall settings)
Ibanez TS808
Wampler Tumnus (Klon)
ZVEX Wooly Mammoth (combined with 808 for a poor man's Cornish NG2)
Boss Super Chorus
MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe

[@Isaacallison777]

"I don't trust myself with loving you" tone was super off

[@KeeperOfPoops]

no it wasn't, it was super on!

[@cagethefoxtrick3852]

Your ass lol

[@mvhax2ftw352]

Qtron +

[@christos_anesti241]

You already said that

[@BCBBCL]

My first thought

[@wesleylaumer7833]

This sounds like traaaaaashhhhhh

[@luciogaspar4064]

came for the tone, left for the tone

[@pichi2491]

Joe you´re great and no offense but.. that's the shittiest I Don´t Trust Myself tone I have ever heard..

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i disagree, it's the coolest I Don't Trust Myself tone i've ever heard

[@danieladams5946]

Totally agree, dont know how they could be satisfied with that

[@alexmickmusic]

I totally agree. Mayers q tron settings are all over the internet and they just totally blew it

[@pichi2491]

Exactly my thoughts.. using the Earthquaker pedal made no sense at all and sounded awful

[@JRCGuitarist]

I disagree, I thought it was very good, it didn’t sound exactly like him, but I enjoyed the tone.

[@rockstar6790]

I think the Sounds Like John Mayer video from Andertons (in particular the By Busting the Bank), they got more close tone-wise in my opinion.

[@maximo.01]

Andri Zulkifli i agree very much

[@windarranger]

Because they used a real strat! 🙃

[@michelline1698]

actually, you need 3 pedals to achieve the 'tone' - a Roger Linn Adrenalinn, a Keeley modded blues driver, and a good compressor.

[@keithremedy]

CH ̣ only someone who’s never played one would say what Brandon said. It’s the pedals and amp he’s using. With either my Two Rock SS or 68 Fender amps I can good tones without my pedals. My silver sky has got a better strat sound then most strats. It compares with my 59 Fender pretty damn well. The PRS is easily one of the best factory built guitars you can get. None of the pedals used in this video I like too much the dude is ok but vertex does a lot better job at there Dumble influenced pedals especially the SS. You can’t beat a TS with the JR5 chip and a klon and bluesbreaker. Shit even the duelist and bonsai or even analogman do a damn good job. This is the first video I’ve seen where someone made a silver sky sound nothing like they normally do especially playing Mayer songs

[@windarranger]

Keith Remedy *can’t hear you over my Orion Green Silver Sky*

[@OrangutanJ4488]

Sorry this wasn’t close by a mile

[@KeeperOfPoops]

yes it was! it was close to me

[@franvelert]

Jake Houston Davis totally far away from John Mayer's sound. Way too many (and innaccurate) pedals to reach each sound

[@lukethedrifter3363]

Close only counts in slow dancing and hand grenades

[@Qstick333]

These are usually pretty fun to watch, etc...but this missed the mark by a ton. Pretty horrible.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

what are you talking about?! this hit the mark nail on the head, pretty wonderful

[@Isaacallison777]

"I don't trust myself with loving you" tone was super off

[@KeeperOfPoops]

trust me, it was super on

[@nathanw32]

Isaac Allison it was really off

[@cagethefoxtrick3852]

Teu c*

[@lucaserojas]

You wasted a huge opportunity Reverb.

[@owenclark9567]

?

[@leoz96]

lmao just minutes after they upload the video and people are already complaining

[@edadpops1709]

The prs is great sounding, different than a fender and thats ok. jM sounds the same on gibson fender or prs. Joe did a good job too.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

no they didn't! it was perfect

[@marike1100]

Do you have a better potent pairing video on your channel?

[@gnahueldiaz]

You should definitely not use a compressor, Mayer's tone is all about dynamics

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

Gerardo Díaz Gerardo Díaz check out Sean Angus Watson lol he uses crazy compression and he has the best dynamics I’ve ever heard

[@joemorris4424]

I use a Dyna Comp to boost the signal of the low volume stuff so that it gets heard. Can adjust the sensitivity to make sure you can still be dynamic. Also it adds sustain to the solo! Should give it a go :)

[@eliteslayer145]

slow dancing in a burning room intro is most likely compressed to level the volume of the quite notes

[@keithremedy]

Use a cali76 you’d be suppressed Mayer does use Compressors. What kind of compressor makes a huge difference as does how your using it

[@brsndon9371]

The police next , pleaseee

[@coleyoutubechannel]

carlos Vargas I second this

[@KeeperOfPoops]

bit of andy summers with his painful riff in every breath you take, painful for small hands lol! every stretch you take, every ligament you break!

[@CarlosVargas-cn7rx]

My dear Namesake (My first name is Carlos too) I'm agree with that. Electric mistress, Phase 90 and Boss Super Overdrive are needed.

[@liamtahaney713]

Drop a few hundred bucks on a ce 1 you're good to go.

[@elmanus9873]

@@KeeperOfPoops somebody watches stevie t

[@TheMCRFAN123]

MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!! MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!!!

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i thought that said "Bullet For My Valentine" for a second now I am upset :(

[@minglam5556]

impossible loll

[@HenriSoetaert]

Hi Reverb! Next up: Mac Demarco? Would be great!! Nice job by the way :)

[@mvhax2ftw352]

HOLY SHIT THAT WILDFIRE SOLO TONE IS FIREEEEEEEEEEE

[@josefeld7164]

The crossroads one was really convincing. Thank you ! Wildfire as well.

[@benthies9531]

I've never listened to John Mayer so I'm not sure how accurate this is, but I love these sounds.

[@megasauce6468]

I loved this. There needs to be a part two and three and four and five

[@sylvainperezmorillas3913]

🤣 that sound like john mayer with drug

[@TenThumbsProductions]

Is that POG a big old vintage one or something?

[@titobattaglia7932]

Thanks a lot. Other than the “Don’t trust myself”, great tones and great ideas to explore!

[@VinylMHD]

You should definitely maybe take Oasis

[@Kaijujon]

Martin Iversen ayyy!!

[@RhythmGrizz]

Noel Gallagher has recently become one of my all time favorites

[@gavvino1]

I'd like to see that too! But Noel didn't use that many pedals, pretty much just a Tube Screamer and Boss DD-3 with everything dimed.

[@AleksandarStanojkovic]

So, heres what you did wrong: 1. Dont trust myself - sounds like you have a pog enabled, or something like that. His guitar sound in that song is pretty straightforward: strat with the tone rolled almost all the way off, on the mid pickup with an envelope filter in the chain. and thats it. So, the first one was a miss. 2. Rosie - much closer, but still no cigar. As much as I love my wampler pedals, the best Klon clone is a ceriatone centura. Try it out, you'll love it. Other than that, you need a better reverb (neunaber immerse if you dont have the $ for a bricasti), the lead was done on a guitar with humbuckers. 3. If you used an Wampler ecstasy instead of "the dude" you would get that naturally compressed and saturated sound of a fender/dumble amp. The compressor shouldnt be in a chain in this one, thats why it sounds thin. 4. Again, reverb is an issue. You need a better one for his tone, because that bricasti m7 that he uses, is half of his tone pretty much. 5. Main sound is pretty spot on, but the tremolo one isnt. You prolly know that Charlie Hunter played the bass and that trem guitar part on his 8 string guitar. You need a harmonic trem for that, and a fender vibrolux like pedal. 6. Zvex rocks. This is pretty close, I would go with an JHS Pollinator, but the sound is really close. 7. Wildfire is spot on. GJ.

[@dandyism7288]

Aleksandar Stanojkovic So.... let’s watch your video so we can compare .

[@AleksandarStanojkovic]

Daniel Martínez Giraldo i aint reverb, neither am I keen on doing a video like this. You can listen to my music on my chanel, and as much as it is influenced by mayer, I habe my own sound.

[@chradchewns2860]

@@dandyism7288 Bro doesnt matter how good he is, everything he said is true

[@SenorGermaine]

Wildfire could have been closer if it were played on a guitar with a humbucker and a P90, at least that’s what I believe is in his Dusenberg Double Cat that the song was recorded on

[@WalrusDoom]

I farted and it smells like a dead stegosaurus. Is it wrong for me to feel sexy?

[@11-inch]

How to sounds like John Mayer? Practise.

[@anttik5764]

Wei Liap Lay Step 0.5 Practise your english ;)

[@11-inch]

Thanks sorry english not my first language. :D

[@anttik5764]

Wei Liap Lay no problem, languages are difficult things to master, especially if one is not your first language :)

[@JRCGuitarist]

This video is about tone, not playing. The correct statement would be, “How to play like John Mayer.” Hats would take much practice. “How to sound like John Mayer takes practice as well, but also a good ear for pedal and guitar tone.

[@jorgesierra3203]

Actually he is correct. In British english it is spelled with an S instead of a C.

[@xchump]

people here are hating on the intro tone for not being spot on, but I think it sounds great! Just a different flavor...

[@joex-mn4we]

Do The Killers pleaseeeee.

[@DoctorLincoln]

Anyone heard of the Roger Linn design ‘Adrenalinn iii’.

[@RockMusicLover73]

Thanks for this. Please do The Killers.

[@tkplg21]

There's a guy called "Harry And a Guitar" and he got ultra close tones from them.

[@guitarreviews]

That first song didn't sound like the original

[@KeeperOfPoops]

yes it did

[@michaelrbyrne5750]

Not very John sounding even with the lovely Silver Sky

[@KeeperOfPoops]

yes it was, trust me I know lol

[@raynbirdmusic]

John watching: 👁️👄👁️

[@jakubpietron3820]

These mxr compressors are noisy

[@NursingCar]

Sound like Muse!

[@miguelalho8140]

its like a bollywood movie next to a holywood one .... it's not easy to get boss's sound

[@adicide9070]

something's missing in... something's... missing :D

[@maximo.01]

Hmmm... not really nailed it in my opinion... rather than having a bit of distortion with the dude, i would suggest a clean boost like the keeley katana. And in general, i would have picked the ts-10 or the bonsai for overdrive tones. For the main riff of „I don‘t trust myself with loving“ i would have just stayed with the qtron but with a different setting. Nevertheless I appreciate that you guys did your best.

[@matt.fromtheinternet]

You guys told me you'd do Jack White like a year ago. He's got a new album coming out soon soooooo....

[@PatFlanigan]

**insert "this PRS looks too much like a Strat" comment here** haha great vid!

[@bradlivey7867]

That's not close at all 😂 was the guitar even in tune or is the intonation just really off

[@whatsabryan]

Bad. Very bad.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

nope!Good, Very good

[@royallblood]

What about Foals? C'mon Reverb

[@suhailcouto1832]

Do muse or soundgarden next pls

[@mariocaceresg]

I wasn’t mistaken! - Lots of people talking crap about Mayer. (Pffff...) - Lots of people saying the tone wasn’t right. (Manners, please...) - Lots of people saying how great they would do it. (I’m looking forward for your video!) - Lots of people saying “i don’t want to sound like Mayer” (Then why are you watching this?!?!?) - Lots of people saying “well you would need Mayer’s fingers” (Thank you for stating the obvious) - Not so many people saying “That was great! Although I don’t agree 100% with the tone, this gave me some great ideas for my bedroom practice. Thank you Reverb!”

[@sethwolfenbarger4983]

Listen it is a opinion and no one asked for yours and second my dude it wasn’t right. The tone of mayer is clean not modulation

[@theblockyrocker9060]

the main riff of I don't trust myself would work better with just a wah set to a heel-fixed position.

[@HykaFT]

2:45 i need to learn that

[@raihanshrk1955]

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB next maybe??

[@chucku.farley]

I can't believe anyone wants to sound like John Mayer. Huh...

[@mr.yellowstrat3352]

These videos are just meant to boost the sales of their top product's. That's why you see the same pedals in every vid. And that's also why it always sounds terrible

[@thebadterrorists5323]

After 29 seconds I realised that it I had heard enough. If that was John Mayers tone, then somethings wrong with my ears these days...

[@rayhoodoo847]

So you are trying to copy the tone of JM recordings where he used strats with this new PRS guitar? That doesn't make too much sense to me. But I guess your goal is to get something similar not necessarily using the same gear?

[@SteffeLindmanMedia]

Thjat´s a wierd Strat, with PRS neck ? ?

[@bobTheexplore1r]

The reason you don't sound like John Mayer is not because of the toys, but because you aren't John Mayer.

[@curtis5979]

Rosie was spot on

[@gustavovillanueva4916]

There's not Mayer sound here. I'm so sorry Reverb, you lost this opportunity.

[@joshelias8472]

This sounded nothing like mayers tone. Plus the prs is his new signature guitar. To truely get closer to his sound from the past years use fender. But I understand this was a marketing video.

[@amosandrecantini3453]

Was this filmed in the garden or heating in reverb studio was off? Or why the guy plays with scarf or hat on?

[@CarlosVinicciusRC]

The lead tone in i dont trust myself sound "not cool", sorry guys... but something is missing sound very cool

[@BrettKingman]

Great Job, Joe. I don't care who you're attempting to sound like, you've got a great groove and touch regardless. Rock on, mate.

[@sethwolfenbarger4983]

Brett Kingman no literally you should care what he sounds like cause he is trying to sound like someone

[@ronaldessi]

I think if he'd switched to neck or neck+mid pickup he'd get close, atm its almost but not quite close? owh well

[@mykytapanarin4322]

He plays the right notes, but the tone is nothing like Mayer's, lol. Not even close tbh

[@twoys440]

Not the same, not at all. Damn click bait

[@KeeperOfPoops]

it's not clickbait, it was exactly the same, totally

[@raceface_m2579]

In repair and wildfire were the only ones that got close to the tone...

[@pilotauctions5334]

Talk about yourself in the 3rd person?

[@rudemooddudehamburg]

Wow that did not sound like john mayer soooooo hard!!!!

[@kj-vd7lo]

Still waiting for unknown mortal orchestra

[@VEGAN-X]

TOO BRIGHT TO BE YOGA MUSIC,BUT I DONT THINK THE POINT IS TO HELP PEOPLE

[@abendigo]

This is exactly what i was looking for :) obviously nobody knows how to create those sounds perfectly besides John himself, but i greatly enjoyed the similarities. Especially with Slow dancing and somethings missing :)

[@madruguinha1903]

How to sound like Oasis, please

[@RetroDrew]

Orange amp, tube screamer, and a delay pedal

[@lukethedrifter3363]

Why not just try and sound like yourself ?

[@simonvanleeuwen7877]

How to sound like Dire Straits

[@chucku.farley]

How to sound like NELS CLINE.

[@LeviWeiss]

Yeah not close at all really

[@maxcooper47]

Why don’t you just use the pedals he uses

[@shonthebonbon]

Please do one for The Neighbourhood

[@sethwolfenbarger4983]

None of that sounded like him wtf

[@John_Lemieux]

O don't need no doctor? I need that tone

[@bradlivey7867]

Sounds terrible not even close

[@F.G.F.01]

Gotta Use that 4th position on rosie

[@calebgrant2701]

Bro how are they this far off lol😂

[@bmitchellmusic]

Ooofff. Nope.

[@TomyVerok]

Not even close dude! Sorry

[@martinherrero933]

this is definitely not it chief

[@AftershockPS3]

cap sim was turn off !!!

[@AftershockPS3]

This is a joke right? Hahaha

[@StanislavChyzhman]

How to sound like Foals

[@celtic9523]

Trying to play I Don’t Trust Myself without an Adrenalinn iii just doesn’t work. Doesn’t sound close at all. The rest sounded pretty good though

[@KeeperOfPoops]

yes it does, it sounds so close!

[@cristianvelarde8164]

Can you please do Foals?

[@ITIonoxide]

I don't know whether to upvote for something missing or downvote for slow dancing

[@jasonjezek7240]

I wish you guys would make more of these! Bring this series back

[@董易-c3d]

this is not even close

[@CaptainOffensive]

Where is gravity?

[@ilayevo]

Pearl Jam please!!!!

[@deengew]

YOU TOO CAN SOUND LIKE A GENERIC TOOL

[@andrewpappas9311]

Can you guys do one for Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys or Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day?

[@cameronsavary]

Sound like Wilco

[@SuperArsenel]

Sound horrible

[@joshuabrits6737]

I mean...kinda.....

[@Volcom1323]

Simply amazing

[@mvhax2ftw352]

The intro sounded good(Only the part where there were not any sound)

[@SteveHubbardGuitar]

*Replace the compressor with a loud tube amp.