Gravity (Live in LA) Amp Settings
by John Mayer
Gravity (Live in LA) captures John Mayer at the peak of his guitar powers. His tone — a Strat through a legendary Dumble Overdrive Special — is warm, dynamic, and impossibly expressive. It's modern blues-rock perfection.
What Makes This Tone Iconic
Mayer's live Gravity tone is the modern gold standard for blues-rock. The Dumble amp responds to every nuance of his touch — whisper-quiet cleans that bloom into singing overdrive when he digs in. The Strat's natural brightness is tamed by the Dumble's warm, compressed character, creating a tone that's never harsh but always present. It's the sound of a $50,000 amp being played by someone who deserves it.
Key Tone Elements
- Dumble Overdrive Special — legendary, rare amp with smooth overdrive
- Two-Rock Custom Reverb as secondary/backup amp
- Fender Strat with vintage-style pickups
- Extreme touch sensitivity — clean when gentle, overdriven when aggressive
- Klon Centaur for transparent mid boost on solos
Original Recording Settings
Original Gear
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (SRV model / Custom Shop)
- Pickups
- Fender Texas Special / Custom Shop (neck and position 4)
- Amplifier
- Dumble Overdrive Special / Two-Rock Custom Reverb
- Channel
- Overdrive
- Tuning
- standard
- Pickup Selector
- neck / position 4
- Strings
- 0.011-0.049
Dumble provides smooth, touch-sensitive overdrive.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
Playing Technique
SRV-influenced vibrato and bending but more refined. Mixes flatpick with fingerstyle. Volume knob for dynamics. Wide dynamic range.
Sources+
- Premier Guitar: John Mayer Rig Rundown
- Equipboard.com - John Mayer
Get This Tone on Your Gear
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Frequently Asked Questions
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