John Mayer Gear Guide
A quick-reference table guide to John Mayer's guitars, amplifiers and effects across key musical periods.
Mayer's rigs span Fender Stratocasters, PRS signature guitars, boutique clean amplifiers and a broad pedal collection. Gear differs markedly between his solo work and Dead & Company tours.
Quick overview
| Category | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Stratocaster “Black1” | Black Strat used extensively in the Continuum era and later tours. | Signature guitar |
| Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature | Boutique clean amp that became a central reference in his tone. | Main amp reference |
| Tube Screamer / overdrive | Boosts mids and amp drive for solos. | Recognizable effect |
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Stratocaster “Black1” | Black Strat used extensively in the Continuum era and later tours. | Studio and live lead work |
| Fender Stratocaster “The SRV” | Sunburst Strat associated with earlier performances. | Room for Squares / Heavier Things era |
| Fender Stratocaster “Cypress” | Vintage Stratocaster appearing in his collection. | Selected performances |
| PRS Silver Sky | Signature guitar developed with Paul Reed Smith, drawing on early-1960s Strat features. | 2018 onward |
| PRS Private Stock Super Eagle | Hollowbody signature guitar designed for Dead & Company performances. | Dead & Company tours |
| Martin acoustic guitars | Acoustic instruments used for songwriting and solo performances. | Unplugged and studio songs |
| Fender signature Stratocaster | Later signature instruments reflect his Strat preferences. | Touring and collection |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature | Boutique clean amp that became a central reference in his tone. | Mid-2000s onward |
| Two-Rock John Mayer signature amp | 100-watt single-channel design developed with Mayer's input. | Signature amp period |
| Dumble Steel String Singer / Overdrive Special | Custom amps used for high-headroom clean and lead sounds. | Selected studio and touring |
| Fender Vibroverb / combos | Vintage Fender amps used for clean and driven tones. | Earlier and studio rigs |
| PRS J-MOD 100 | Signature amplifier developed with PRS. | Later collaboration |
| Amp blending | Several amps may be combined for clean, driven and spatial sounds. | Tour- and song-specific |
Effects and signal details
| Pedal / effect | What it does | Use and related material |
|---|---|---|
| Keeley Katana boost | Clean boost raises level and can push a tube amp into a more responsive drive. | Appears on compact live boards; useful for lifting solo level. |
| Klon Centaur / KTR | Overdrive and transparent-style boost with added sustain. | Used for lead tones and gain stacking in documented boards. |
| Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-10 / TS808 | Mid-focused overdrive tightens the low end and emphasizes lead notes. | Blues lead parts; often combined with a boost or amp drive. |
| Way Huge Aqua-Puss | Analog delay with short repeats and a warm, slightly softened echo. | Slapback and ambience on compact solo boards. |
| Spring reverb / tremolo | Reverb adds room-like decay; tremolo pulses volume. | May come from the amplifier or external effects, depending on the rig. |
| Uni-Vibe / chorus / phaser | Modulation creates a moving, wider guitar image. | Selected textures; pedal choice changes across tours and albums. |
| Fuzz Face and other fuzz | Clipped waveform adds sustain and a softer-edged distortion. | Used for particular blues-rock colors, not as a constant effect. |
| Wah pedal | Foot movement sweeps a resonant filter through the guitar tone. | Used on selected lead phrases and live passages. |
| Compressor | Reduces dynamic peaks and can add sustain to clean parts. | Studio and board configurations vary by period. |
Era and song guide
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Room for Squares (2001) | Fender Stratocaster and clean combo / studio effects. | “Your Body Is a Wonderland” |
| Heavier Things (2003) | Stratocasters and boutique amp sound. | “Clarity,” “Bigger Than My Body” |
| Continuum (2006) | Black1 Strat and Two-Rock / boutique amp era. | “Gravity,” “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” |
| Battle Studies / Born and Raised | Guitars and amps shift with broader production palette. | Album-specific tones |
| The Search for Everything (2017) | Stratocasters and evolving boutique rig. | “Still Feel Like Your Man” |
| Dead & Company | PRS Super Eagle, later Silver Sky models and high-headroom amps. | Different from solo band rig |
| “Gravity” | Stratocaster, driven clean amp and sustain effects. | Live versions expand improvisation |