U2start.com | U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

anstratdubh1979

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01How many Clapton Strats did he have on the Lovetown Tour? They seem to have completely replace old blackie, as wel as some others.

First, why the Clapton's? Again, Edge was experimenting. One of the experiments lead to his using the Danvel/Nelson Strat during The Joshua Tree tour.

As for the Claptons... Edge had three distiguishible Clapton's on Love Town. Although there may have been a back-ups.

The charcoal Clapton that Rene' Castro painted with the skeleton and snake:

The yellow Clapton seen in the Love Town special and You Tube footage from Sydney 1989:

And the red Clapton Strat:

wtshnnfb01

17 years

If I recall right the Clapton sig had only been out a year or so at the time.

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01If I recall right the Clapton sig had only been out a year or so at the time.

Yep. The Clapton model came out in 1988. Eric needed to retire his highly battered "Blackie" and Fender approached him about a signature model.

Battered Blackie:

Clapton Strats came in Olympic White, Torino Red, Candy Green. Black was not an original option. Only Clapton could get them in black. That changed around 1991-ish.

Edge's were more than likely proto-types as he had charcoal and yellow (red was a stock colour).

The 7-Up / Candy Green is HIDEOUS. I saw a used one at Guitar Center recently. SOunded great but the finish... ack~!

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Check out Adam playing some distorted bass goodness on a vintage 1960's era "burgundy mist" Fender Jazz Bass.

The Bassman Cometh - … and this time Adam’s in front of the camera. Another peak behind the scenes in Dublin where the band are making their new record. Looks like there could be some bass guitar involved.

http://www.u2.com/highlights/?hid=462

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Bit more on Adam and his Sherwood Green and Shoreline Gold 1960s Fender Jazz Bass guitars...

...someone recently thought that those finishes were custom. Nope, them'z was stock colours.

WHERE do these finishes come from? Oddly enough (or not so oddly), many of the finishes that were introduced in the 1960's were inspired by automakers.

Gibson's Les Paul Goldtop was probably the most radical finish of the late 1950's. Most guitars were natural wood or tobacco sunburst type finishes... some in basic black...

But the 1960's saw many of the guitar makers looking to the auto world for new finishes.

Where does SHERWOOD GREEN come from? Fender used it from 1960-1965. [Although, it's recently been seen on some new Strats.] So where did it orginate? It was originally a 1957 finish for Mercury cars.

Adam and his SHERWOOD GREEN Fender Jazz bass

And SHORELINE GOLD? Used in 1960-1965 Fender guitars and basses, it was originally a 1959 & 1960 Pontiac finish.

Adam and his SHORELINE GOLD Fender Jazz bass

Just some odd, fun and ultimately probably not so useful information... but hey... it's lunchtime at work and I was bored.

Cheers!

scotto

17 years

Adams overdriven midrange tone from Vertigo was awesome.It looks like he's sticking with it for the next album.Good to see he's sticking with the Fender jazz also.

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Originally posted by scottoAdams overdriven midrange tone from Vertigo was awesome.It looks like he's sticking with it for the next album.Good to see he's sticking with the Fender jazz also.

Daddy like the Burgundy Mist finish on that bass. Wonder what that distortion was.... maybe the one of Edge's? Maybe another toy of Lanois'? Maybe a new unit? Time will tell.... sounded good.

wtshnnfb01

17 years

What all has Edge used in the way of signature guitars? Aside from the Claptons, I know he uses Pete Townshend acoustics.

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01What all has Edge used in the way of signature guitars? Aside from the Claptons, I know he uses Pete Townshend acoustics.

To the best of my knowledge... or at least what I remember off the top of my head...

The Fender "Eric Clapton model" Stratocasters and the Gibson "Pete Townshend model" Gibson J-200's are the only ones.

The Clapton's probably were more of Fender sending some proto-types as The Edge was looking for Stratocaster options / possible replacements around that time.

The Pete Townshend being that he was on a bit of a The Who kick. "All Because of You", being an obvious nod to The Who.

wtshnnfb01

17 years

I can just picture the Edge getting some new guitars.

Dallas: Fender called. They want to give you some new Clapton Strats.
Edge: Can I get fucked up piant jobs, like snakes and sculls?
Dallas: No, but theres always aftermarket.
Edge: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anstratdubh1979

17 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01I can just picture the Edge getting some new guitars.

Dallas: Fender called. They want to give you some new Clapton Strats.
Edge: Can I get fucked up piant jobs, like snakes and sculls?
Dallas: No, but theres always aftermarket.
Edge: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahahahaha...

Rene' Castro did a good job 'fecking' up the charcoal Clapton. Although the various stickers on Edge's yellow one.... What THE feck? Maybe he wasn't sleeping well, or drinking too much or thinking straight... or maybe just had some excess stickers.

WojBhoy

17 years

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979[..]

Hahahahaha...

Rene' Castro did a good job 'fecking' up the charcoal Clapton. Although the various stickers on Edge's yellow one.... What THE feck? Maybe he wasn't sleeping well, or drinking too much or thinking straight... or maybe just had some excess stickers.

Glad he left the Explorers and the Les Pauls sticker-free lol...otherwise my opinion of him may have lowered

I like the Rene Castro Strat....

U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

what they said

did you know

you

forums

U2start