Riff Tone
Who You Love (feat. Katy Perry)
John Mayer
Guitarrock2010s+
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely John Mayer Signature or early Silver Sky prototype, as used on Paradise Valley sessions)
AmpPRS J-MOD 100 John Mayer Signature Head with PRS 2x12 Cabinet
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Custom Shop Big Dipper or 635JM, depending on exact Strat used in 2012-13)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6.5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionOrigin Effects Origin Effects Cali76 Stacked Edition Compressor
Notes
Studio recording, 2012-2013. Mayer used his PRS J-MOD 100 for clean, high-headroom tones on Paradise Valley. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific track. No explicit pedalboard or alternate amp confirmed for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothclear and articulatetouch-sensitivelush and opendynamic responseslightly compressedmildly scooped midssweet top endsubtle spring reverbexpressive, vocal-like phrasing
Difficulty
The riff is not technically complex but requires nuanced touch, dynamic control, and clean articulation to match Mayer's expressive style.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely John Mayer Signature or early Silver Sky prototype, as used on Paradise Valley sessions)
AmpPRS J-MOD 100 John Mayer Signature Head with PRS 2x12 Cabinet
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Custom Shop Big Dipper or 635JM, depending on exact Strat used in 2012-13)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6.5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionOrigin Effects Origin Effects Cali76 Stacked Edition Compressor
Notes
Studio recording, 2012-2013. Mayer used his PRS J-MOD 100 for clean, high-headroom tones on Paradise Valley. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific track. No explicit pedalboard or alternate amp confirmed for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothclear and articulatetouch-sensitivelush and opendynamic responseslightly compressedmildly scooped midssweet top endsubtle spring reverbexpressive, vocal-like phrasing
Difficulty
The riff is not technically complex but requires nuanced touch, dynamic control, and clean articulation to match Mayer's expressive style.
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