Tone library / John Mayer / Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

The John Mayer guitar tone for “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 100 MkII with a Ibanez RG550. Studio version, Continuum (2006) - iconic intro and rhythm riff

Original rig

1964 Fender Stratocaster (Neck/Middle position 4) into Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature / Dumble Steel String Singer with subtle Klon transparent boost and plate/spring reverb

Glassy, scooped, touch-sensitive edge-of-breakup clean with blooming low-end and vocal chime

Amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

CHANNELClean amp typeBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	4
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE9 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer

Gives the rounded percussive snap and bloom of Mayer's thumb-slap technique

Level 6 · Tone 5 · Attack 4 · Sustain 4

02Boss GE-7 Equalizer

Sculpts the classic Mid-scooped Two-Rock voicing and adds a transparent 1-2dB push into the Clean channel

100Hz 6 · 200Hz 5 · 400Hz 4 · 800Hz 4 · 1.6kHz 5 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 6 · Level 6

03Boss RV-6 Reverb

(FX loop) Mode set to Spring (approx 11 o'clock / value 4) for authentic vintage spring drip

E.Level 5 · Tone 5 · Time 6 · Mode 4

Why these settings

The Katana 100 Clean channel emulates the pristine Two-Rock platform, dialed just below hair with the GE-7 acting as a clean boost. The RG550's position 4 (split neck and middle single coil) nails the out-of-phase Strat chime, while the GE-7 notches 400-800Hz to compensate for modern Ibanez clarity and mirror Mayer's Big Dipper scooped midrange. Setting presence to 6 on the Katana 100 restores the airy top-end sparkle without turning harsh.

PRO TIPDitch the flat pick entirely for this intro: pluck the root notes firmly with your bare thumb pad while flicking the upper dyads with your index and middle fingers for the authentic percussive 'pop'.

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