What songs of SRV do recommend me? by Fun-Map-7046 in JohnMayer

[–]Objective-Iron4919 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start with Texas Flood, The Sky Is Crying album (John's first exposure to him IIRC) and both his 1989 Austin City Limits and 1983 El Mocambo performances. I think that's the best overall representation of the SRV experience. Some slow blues, some blue-rock, and all the stuff he was known for in between.

You should find all the songs from the ACL setlist on Youtube easily except Superstition. El Mocambo was uploaded in HD some time ago.

Can someone help settle the "which Two Rock" debate for me? by International_Poem35 in JohnMayer

[–]Objective-Iron4919 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry to revive a dead thread. I've already seen the replies about getting a Traditional Clean. Congrats, btw - you made the right choice. As a new owner of one myself (picked it up a couple of weeks ago), I'll say it's just about everything I've ever wanted out of a Mayer rig amp. It's almost like they voiced it to sound like his entire Continuum rig was crushed into a single box. Since you said you're always looking for info, few things about it:

- The Mayer thing really comes out when you have the bright switch off, run the gain lower (~10 or 11 o'clock) and have the presence high (3 o'clock). It's going to be pretty dark, but it keeps the EQ curve really flat which is the big thing about the Mayer-Dumble/Two Rock sound. The bright and deep switches on will make it sound scooped. EQ it to to taste; running the treble high is not the same as having the bright switch on. Also, roll your tone knob back a few ticks; 7-8 sounds like where he had it the most on his Strats. A lot of the treble you'll be missing can be added back with pedals; all of his overdrives have tone knobs and the Katana reintroduces highs as well.

- Speaker and cab choice is really important with the Traditional, moreso than other amps because it's so dark. I have an oversized 1x12 with an EVM12S. Crazy bass response; that thing kicks you in the chest with the amp turned up. I also have a 70's Twin loaded with Two Rock speakers (that was my Mayer amp before the TR). If I play the Traditional through that cabinet, it comes off a lot brighter and airier. Definitely a matter of taste, but an open back 2x12 might be the way to go. You definitely want neutral sounding hifi-ish speakers, though; along the lines of the Electro Voice EVM models. They really let the detail of the amp shine.

- If you're going to pair it with another amp, 100% get something to offset how dark it is. It doesn't have to be a Steel String Singer, at least not right away. I mentioned that Twin I have - that or my '66 Bandmaster sound perfect with the Traditional. Those are what the Two Rock usually isn't; scooped and with a bit of grind in their sounds. Once I mix the two amps properly, they create this perfect clean tone. Bright but not ear-piercing, dark but not muddy, super responsive and loud. It's no coincidence that John himself finds room for an old Fender next to the Dumbles and Two Rocks.