How to Dial In "City Love" by John Mayer - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "City Love"
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). His debut studio album, produced by John Alagia and recorded between October 2000 and January 2001, it was released on June 5, 2001. 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 nearest rig to the one documented for John Mayer, stands in. Set the amp to a clean, lightly driven tone and use the neck and middle pickups. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "City Love" Tone
What guitar did John Mayer use on "City Love"?
The guitar on "City Love" (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 "City Love" 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 "City Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "City Love" 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 "City Love" by John Mayer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.