How to Dial In "Back to You" by John Mayer - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Back to You"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Room for Squares (2001). Room for Squares is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and guitarist John Mayer, originally released on June 5, 2001, and re-released on September 18, 2001, by both Aware and Columbia Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for John Mayer's other songs from Room for Squares, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck and middle pickups together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Back to You" Tone
What guitar did John Mayer use on "Back to You"?
The guitar on "Back to You" (released 2001) isn't documented; the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Back to You" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Back to You" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Back to You" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Back to You" by John Mayer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.