I actually think my tone is better than John Mayer's

[mmasters]

I was listening to my amp today and I started to think damn! that sounds good!

Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VKqDVjPRE

[fender753]

Sounds good! Is that just a strat into a SF super?

[mmasters]

Sounds good! Is that just a strat into a SF super?

Thanks, yeah it's a 60s style Strat into a Super using a Phantom Overdrive pedal as a boost.

[bluesmanjr89]

Very nice!

[Jazzocaster]

While this does sound good and it's probably better in person than through a camera, I think might Mayer take the cake.

[fazen]

Sounded really nice.
Who is this John Mayer?

[soundchaser59]

Nice tone. You play well. That helps......a lot. :D

I am finally starting to understand what an art it is to get great tone using less gear and fewer devices. Anyone can ride the bus, but not everybody can throw on a pair of shoes and find their own way to the destination!

Cooool sound, like it a lot.

[TMock]

That's some nice playing! I love those little turns and lines from about :18-:30. Are those yours or are they from some version of Mayer's? I'm not all that familiar with his exact phrasing on this on, just the general melody/harmony.

[Guitar Josh]

I read that on your YT page and I really disagree with you (playing aside, which is very good!). But tone, like most things, is a matter of preference. If you've nailed the tone you are going for, then keep on rockin'! It's not a competition.

[mmasters]

That's some nice playing! I love those little turns and lines from about :18-:30. Are those yours or are they from some version of Mayer's? I'm not all that familiar with his exact phrasing on this on, just the general melody/harmony.

Thanks! The :18-:30 section are his licks.

[mmasters]

Nice tone. You play well. That helps......a lot. :D

I am finally starting to understand what an art it is to get great tone using less gear and fewer devices. Anyone can ride the bus, but not everybody can throw on a pair of shoes and find their own way to the destination!

Cooool sound, like it a lot.

Thanks! Yeah, it takes a lot of playing around to find those magic things. When I first got the amp and guitar it didn't sound anywhere near that good. I worked on the guitar a bit, got the neck attached better to the body, that made a difference. Put in a good RS volume pot so I can crank the amp more and turn the volume down on the guitar, that made a difference. I spent a while with amp settings and NOS tubes. Made a big difference. Another one was how to use the Phantom OD...using it as a clean boost really brings out the magic in this particular guitar, while on another guitar I have the magic happens when I use the pedal differently. It's lots of tinkering and configuring, even the pickup height within a few turns made a noticable difference, it never stops really lol.

[mmasters]

I read that on your YT page and I really disagree with you (playing aside, which is very good!). But tone, like most things, is a matter of preference. If you've nailed the tone you are going for, then keep on rockin'! It's not a competition.


It got some attention anyway. :D I guess we're all entitled to our opinions. I don't think his tone is really any better even though in truth his gear costs 5 times as much. I suppose if I had 5 times as much into my gear I'd want to think it's better than someone with 5 times less. He does play it a little better than I do though. :)

[Dickie Fredericks]

Very nice... I dont know the Mayer tune but this sounds very nice.

[crzyfngers]

thinking is good. keep on keeping on.

[CharAznable]

Don't know if it's better than Mayer, but it sure as hell is nice

[Guitar Slinger6]

I like it, great tone!

[mmasters]

Thanks, I'm having a lot of fun with it! :)

[stevel]

Thanks, I'm having a lot of fun with it! :)

I like the tone - the bass notes sound GREAT.

I have one problem though - the attack of the notes - I think it's the camera though - it's sounds like you've got a compressor on there (on my crappy speakers) which is messing up your attacks unfortunately.

I'll add that I don't really think JM has "a" tone - he uses a lot more tones that most guitarists who get praised for tone. Most, if not all of his various tones are all quite good.

The one thing that JM has that I think is the most difficult for most people to replicate is the "singing" upper notes - not harsh, good sustain, open, but with intensity (without loads of gain).

Darn your camera because you might be in that ballpark too, but the compression on every single attack is makeing the notes "papery" on my system :-(

To be honest, I think good tone can be gotten very simply. In most cases, a good guitar through a good amp will do the trick (with everything tweaked to optimum).

To me, it's the clarity and the "cut through" that are very important qualities a rig must have - in some cases, an amp/guitar combo may sound great solo, or in a three piece, but put it in with keys and a horn section, and you've got other issues at play.

Steve

[mmasters]

Yeah the camera mic is a bit lame. I need to get a real mic on it!