Good stuff, especially the “gain staging” advice. I learned a bunch on this using both sections (boost and overdrive) of the BYOC Boost/OD-2, (Zonkin' Yellow Screamer) pedal.
Controlling the various steps of gain creates some great driven tones, versus making that jump in one giant step.

//Any fan of Mayer should watch the CMT's January 2010 "Crossroads" concert where he and Keith Urban play together. I'm not a big country fan, but Urban can really play, and these two sing and play guitars in a very complimentary way.