Archetype: John Mayer X
Archetype: John Mayer X: A focused, premium plugin for clean, driven, ambient, and lead guitar sounds. Ranked #29 of 35 in Guitar Amp Software by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: 14-day trial; best for premium clean and drive tones.
At a glance
- Editor score6.5 / 10
- Pricing14-day trial
- Best forPremium clean and drive tones
- Free planNo
- Paid from€169 one-time
- Standalone appYes
- Founded2018 · Helsinki, Finland
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Four amp configurations, including a Three-in-One amplifier
- Standalone app and DAW plugin versions for Windows and macOS
- IR loading, microphone positioning, effects, presets, and Quad Cortex support
Where it doesn't
- €169 one-time price is substantial for a focused guitar plugin
- No free plan is available
- Runs on Windows and macOS only
Our verdict on Archetype: John Mayer X
Archetype: John Mayer X is a guitar-processing plugin developed by John Mayer and Neural DSP Technologies Oy. It is designed for guitarists seeking clean, edge-of-breakup, ambient, and expressive lead tones based on Mayer’s studio and touring equipment. The package includes three individual amplifier models and a combined Three-in-One amplifier, giving it four amp configurations, plus three matching cabinet models. It runs as a standalone application or as a DAW plugin on Windows and macOS.
Its strongest fit is tone shaping within a focused artist-inspired rig. The cabinet section includes microphone positioning and custom third-party impulse response loading, while the effects chain covers boost, filter, overdrive, delay, tremolo, studio reverb, compression, and a four-band semi-parametric EQ. Presets include artist and factory options, and utilities such as transpose, doubler, tuner, metronome, and a global settings lock broaden its use beyond basic amp simulation. Plugin formats include VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX, alongside the standalone version.
Pricing is straightforward: the Archetype: John Mayer X plan costs €169 as a one-time purchase, and a 14-day free trial is available. The package also integrates with Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini. This makes it a suitable choice for guitarists who want a concentrated set of Mayer-associated clean, driven, and effects-based sounds, with both live-style standalone operation and DAW workflow support. It is less suitable for players seeking a free plan, a broader multi-style software collection, or software that runs beyond Windows and macOS.
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Archetype: John Mayer X pricing
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Archetype: John Mayer X fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | €169 one-time |
| Amp models | 4 models |
| Cabinet models | 3 models |
| Effects count | Not verified |
| Plugin formats | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone |
| Standalone app | Yes |
| IR loader | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Quad Cortex, Quad Cortex mini |
| Pricing | 14-day trial (source) |
| Website | neuraldsp.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Archetype: John Mayer X integrations
Archetype: John Mayer X lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Quad Cortex
- Quad Cortex mini
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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