Paradise Valley album cover - John Mayer
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Dear Marie" by John Mayer - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Dear Marie"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain2
Bass5
Mid5
Treble6
Presence5
Volume5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Paradise Valley (2013). Easygoing clean guitar with a country-rock lean. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender John Mayer Stratocaster (Signature) through a Two-Rock Akoya stands in. Use the neck and middle pickups together and set the amp clean, with the treble up for definition. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Dear Marie" Tone

  1. What guitar did John Mayer use on "Dear Marie"?

    The guitar on "Dear Marie" (released 2013) isn't documented; the Fender John Mayer Stratocaster (Signature) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Dear Marie" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Dear Marie" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Dear Marie" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Dear Marie" by John Mayer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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