Riff Tone
Vultures
John Mayer
Guitarblues2000s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Custom Shop Gold Leaf Stratocaster
AmpDumble Overdrive Special + Two-Rock Custom Reverb (both blended, studio recording)
PickupsFender Custom Shop single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording (Continuum, 2006). John Mayer states he only uses the Gold Leaf Strat for 'Vultures' and blends the Dumble and Two-Rock amps as one unit for the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for the studio riff section.
Tone Character(10)
quacky and hollow Strat toneclean and percussivetouch-sensitive dynamicsslightly compressedwarm, glassy highstight low endclear note separationdynamic response to pickingno audible overdrivefunk-inspired clarity
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced right-hand technique, including ghost notes, percussive slaps, and syncopation, making it challenging for most players.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarblues2000s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Custom Shop Gold Leaf Stratocaster
AmpDumble Overdrive Special + Two-Rock Custom Reverb (both blended, studio recording)
PickupsFender Custom Shop single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording (Continuum, 2006). John Mayer states he only uses the Gold Leaf Strat for 'Vultures' and blends the Dumble and Two-Rock amps as one unit for the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for the studio riff section.
Tone Character(10)
quacky and hollow Strat toneclean and percussivetouch-sensitive dynamicsslightly compressedwarm, glassy highstight low endclear note separationdynamic response to pickingno audible overdrivefunk-inspired clarity
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced right-hand technique, including ghost notes, percussive slaps, and syncopation, making it challenging for most players.
More John Mayer tones
- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room · riff
- Gravity · solo
- Gravity · riff
- Belief (Live at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA - December 2007) · solo
- I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You) · riff
- Gravity · riff
- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room · solo
- Belief · solo
- Last Train Home · solo
- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room · solo