Tone library / John mayer / Slow dancing

Slow dancing amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The John mayer guitar tone for “Slow dancing”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Continuum (2006) — main intro and verse rhythm riff

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster ('The Black One' prototype / '64 Strat) -> Keeley Katana Boost -> Klon Centaur -> TS10 -> Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature & Dumble Steel String Singer

Warm, scooped yet articulate clean-edge-of-breakup with punchy low-end and vocal chime

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELClean amp typeBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Boss Katana 50 MkII? Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01MXR Micro Amp

Always-on clean boost mimicking Mayer's Keeley Katana for frontend dynamic response

Gain 4

02EHX Soul Food

Klone for Mayer's subtle grit and transparent low-gain texture

Vol 6 · Drive 2 · Treble 5

03Maxon OD808 Overdrive

Kick on for solo boosts; leave bypassed for the intro/verse rhythm

Overdrive 3 · Tone 4 · Balance 7

04Boss RV-6 Reverb

Set Mode to Spring (or Plate) to mimic studio amp reverb

E.Level 3 · Tone 4 · Time 4 · Mode 2

Why these settings

The Boss Katana 50 MkII Clean channel acts as an ideal neutral, high-headroom platform replicating Mayer's Two-Rock and Dumble setup (note: presence is null as the Katana 50 panel physically lacks a presence knob). Amp gain is kept low at 3 so your MXR Micro Amp and EHX Soul Food supply the exact edge-of-breakup harmonic warmth without muddying the preamp. The RV-6 handles subtle spatial depth while the amp's onboard reverb stays off to prevent wash.

PRO TIPMayer's tone relies on hybrid thumb-and-finger snapping technique rather than a pick—strike the bass notes with your thumb while popping the double-stops with your index and middle fingers to get the signature percussive 'clack'.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Boss Katana 50 MkII

You should probably leaveChris Stapleton I got betterMorgan Wallen Memory sure don't mess aroundJordan Davis GoosePolyphia Stairway to Heaven (Live)Led Zeppelin Dead Girl WalkingCarrie Hope Fletcher & Jamie Muscato

Find your amp

Browse

Boss Katana 50 MkII settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP John mayer tonesALL SONGS John mayer on the Boss Katana 50 MkIISAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Fender American Professional II Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.