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Riff Tone

Vultures

John Mayer

Guitarblues2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 2004 John Mayer Signature Stratocaster)
AmpTwo-Rock Custom Reverb Signature (early 2000s model), possibly blended with Fender Vibroverb
PickupsFender Big Dipper single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain3.5
bass6.5
mid6.5
treble6
reverb3
presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, Continuum album (2006). Gear confirmed for this era and album, but no direct studio photo for 'Vultures' session. Most sources agree on Strat + Two-Rock for riff. No evidence of pedal use in riff section; overdrive comes from amp. Pickup selector in bridge/middle (Position 2) per player interviews and forum consensus.

Tone Character(10)
percussive and funkyedge-of-breakup cleanbright and snappy attackwarm and glassytouch-sensitivedynamic and responsiveslightly compressedclear note separationminimal gain colorationarticulate single-coil clarity

Difficulty

The riff requires advanced right-hand technique (thumb slaps, fingerstyle), muting, and dynamic control to achieve the percussive, funky feel. Timing and groove are critical, making it challenging for most players.

Sources

How do I get this tone : r/JohnMayer - RedditHow to get vultures tone ? : r/JohnMayer - RedditTone demo of my Mayer-copy rig that I posted a few days ago ...Recreating John Mayer's Continuum: Key Lessons Learned

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

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