Sound Like Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield is one of the most recognisable voices in soul — a emotive and richly toned player who shaped the sound of a defining era for electric guitar. Curtis Mayfield was as much a guitar innovator as a singer-songwriter — his open Eb minor tuning created a falsetto-voiced guitar sound that matched the upper register of his singing, producing the intimate, conversational guitar tone of "People Get Ready," "Move On Up" and "Superfly." Below are complete rig guides at four budget levels, so you can start building their sound whether you're just starting out or ready to invest in the full setup.
Budget Comparison
Pick Your Budget Level
£500 · Sweet Spot
~£448
- GuitarSquier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster
- AmpBoss Katana 50 MkII
£1,000 · Pro-Level
~£988
- AmpFender Deluxe Reverb (Reissue)
- ReverbElectro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano
£2,500 · Premium
~£2498
- GuitarGretsch G5420T Electromatic
- AmpFender '65 Twin Reverb
Tone Profile
Curtis Mayfield's Sound
Fender Stratocaster in open Eb minor tuning (D#-G#-D#-G#-B-D#) into a clean amplifier. The tuning is a cornerstone of his style — it allows open-string drone notes under fretted chord shapes. The tone is clean, bright and vocal. A capo is used on various frets to change key while maintaining the open tuning shapes.
Tone Match
Closest Real-World Tone Match
If you like Curtis Mayfield's tone, these players use a similar approach — same gear philosophy, comparable sound characteristics.