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

RattleandHum1988

Originally posted by vanquish:I was looking at buying a guitar, I play piano atm, but not guitar.
Apparently electric is easier to pick up than acoustic.

Anyone know how much will an Explorer set me back? The new Explorer don't suffer from the same poor sound in its lower ranges like the originals did, do they?

And what effects box/amplifier should i get that does a decent job at recreating most of Edge's soundsf? Is that even possible?

edit: I was looking at the Epiphone '58 Explorer are they any good? Or are Epiphones only cheap knock-offs of Gibsons?

The Epiphones are GREAT for starting out man. Even to keep for pro use. They're great. That shouldn't set you back too much, maybe 500 bucks.
As for an amp, i don't know what your budget is, but even a fender amp can get good Edge tones. I've used a small marshall and gotten good Edge tones. It all comes down to a light light distortion (boost) and delay, and the HERDIM PICKS!!! Most vital part if you want to sound like Edge. You don't need super expensive gear to sound like him, i'd say get an Epi Explorer (if thats your preference) a small Fender amp, either a multi-fx like the new Line 6 M13, or maybe just a Boss DD-3 delay, to start out with.

Get more suggestions though!

vanquish

15 years

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

The Epiphones are GREAT for starting out man. Even to keep for pro use. They're great. That shouldn't set you back too much, maybe 500 bucks.
As for an amp, i don't know what your budget is, but even a fender amp can get good Edge tones. I've used a small marshall and gotten good Edge tones. It all comes down to a light light distortion (boost) and delay, and the HERDIM PICKS!!! Most vital part if you want to sound like Edge. You don't need super expensive gear to sound like him, i'd say get an Epi Explorer (if thats your preference) a small Fender amp, either a multi-fx like the new Line 6 M13, or maybe just a Boss DD-3 delay, to start out with.

Get more suggestions though!

That's great!

I was looking on the net today and found a Epiphone Explorer for $700 AUD (there only 3 left) which seems quite a good deal, I also got a pay rise today which i'll as a sign and so i'll place the order over the weekend

I don't know what color I should get? Ebony or Korina (are they both made out of Korina wood? or is the Ebony version different?)

Assuming I have no guitar gear atm at all, how much would the rest of a basic set up put me back? Say the picks, Fender amp and multi fx line.

I want to avoid buying multiple FX boxes/ amps etc or buying something cheap and cheerful but i'll have to eventually upgrade, so if there's something thats does a decent job and is versatile but costs more, i'll get that.

WojBhoy

15 years

Originally posted by vanquish:I was looking at buying a guitar, I play piano atm, but not guitar.
Apparently electric is easier to pick up than acoustic.

Anyone know how much will an Explorer set me back? The new Explorer don't suffer from the same poor sound in its lower ranges like the originals did, do they?

And what effects box/amplifier should i get that does a decent job at recreating most of Edge's soundsf? Is that even possible?

edit: I was looking at the Epiphone '58 Explorer are they any good? Or are Epiphones only cheap knock-offs of Gibsons?

I've got an Epiphone Explorer and a Les Paul Custom, and the Explorer is the best guitar I've ever played bar none, whilst the Les Paul was my first real guitar purchase - it does a job but it's not great. Re. recreating Edge's sound, it's all experimentation really - I use a Zoom G1X multi-effects pedal which suits me fine, but everyone has different preferences etc., you need to find the kit that suits you best. The only way to truly recreate Edge is to be him lol, so I'd advise not following that path - now and then you might stumble across something that feels Edge-y, but trying to emulate him tone for tone could limit your outlook in other ways.

Originally posted by vanquish:That's great!

I was looking on the net today and found a Epiphone Explorer for $700 AUD (there only 3 left) which seems quite a good deal, I also got a pay rise today which i'll as a sign and so i'll place the order over the weekend

I don't know what color I should get? Ebony or Korina (are they both made out of Korina wood? or is the Ebony version different?)

Assuming I have no guitar gear atm at all, how much would the rest of a basic set up put me back? Say the picks, Fender amp and multi fx line.

I want to avoid buying multiple FX boxes/ amps etc or buying something cheap and cheerful but i'll have to eventually upgrade, so if there's something thats does a decent job and is versatile but costs more, i'll get that.

They're made out of Korina, the two finishes are Ebony (i.e. black) and natural, as Edge has. I'm not hot on the current exchange rate so I can't say how much pounds will translate into AUD, but a bag of 10 picks usually fetches about £5, a good lead or two is something like £10+ and as for amps., well, that's another kettle of fish. I've got a Marshall MG30 with set me back £169 but it's a decent piece of kit.

vanquish

15 years

Thanks for the advice!

On Alex's recommendation I was looking at a Line 6 M13, I can get one for around $630 AUD which seems quite cheap compared to it's list price here ($1100)

I've read/heard good things about it, will it let me replicate most of his tones? (besides MW of course)
How does it compare to the Zoom G1X?

And how much does the amp come into replicating Edge? Crucial? I'm probably just going to play in my bedroom, so I don't need one that has enough grunt for performances.

If I can spend around $1600 all up and get some good kit, I don't mind. Or do you guys recommend getting some cheap starter guitar & kit to see whether I'll be able to pick up guitar at first ?
Electric is apparently easier to play than acoustic (lighter strings, less cumbersome etc), is that true?

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by vanquish:I was looking at buying a guitar, I play piano atm, but not guitar.
Apparently electric is easier to pick up than acoustic.

Anyone know how much will an Explorer set me back? The new Explorer don't suffer from the same poor sound in its lower ranges like the originals did, do they?

And what effects box/amplifier should i get that does a decent job at recreating most of Edge's soundsf? Is that even possible?

edit: I was looking at the Epiphone '58 Explorer are they any good? Or are Epiphones only cheap knock-offs of Gibsons?

Epiphone Explorers are actually pretty cool. The Korina is more of a yellowish wood. Edge's is a darker mahogany.

Of the Epiphone guitars their Explorer is top notch. Will it sound like Edge's? No but it will get you in the ballpark.

You could get the Epi and update the pickups to T-Tops and be that much closer. =O)

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by vanquish:Thanks for the advice!

On Alex's recommendation I was looking at a Line 6 M13, I can get one for around $630 AUD which seems quite cheap compared to it's list price here ($1100)

I've read/heard good things about it, will it let me replicate most of his tones? (besides MW of course)
How does it compare to the Zoom G1X?

And how much does the amp come into replicating Edge? Crucial? I'm probably just going to play in my bedroom, so I don't need one that has enough grunt for performances.

If I can spend around $1600 all up and get some good kit, I don't mind. Or do you guys recommend getting some cheap starter guitar & kit to see whether I'll be able to pick up guitar at first ?
Electric is apparently easier to play than acoustic (lighter strings, less cumbersome etc), is that true?

The Line 6 M13 is a great multi-effects unit and for only around $500.00

The blue Herdim guitar picks are a huge help to get that chiming Edge sound.
http://www.folkcraft.com/2310167_alt_gf.html

The amp is HUGE into getting the tones right. You could get close with Vox AC15 or the Vox AC15CC. Even if you get teh AC15CC with the green back speaker, you can have that later swapped out for a Celestion Blue and have that much better and close to Edge sounding amp.

My AC15CC had the green initially. I bought it from Mick of The Unforgettable Fire - tribute band. He'd already swapped the green for the blue Celestion.

vanquish

15 years

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

The Line 6 M13 is a great multi-effects unit and for only around $500.00

The blue Herdim guitar picks are a huge help to get that chiming Edge sound.
http://www.folkcraft.com/2310167_alt_gf.html

The amp is HUGE into getting the tones right. You could get close with Vox AC15 or the Vox AC15CC. Even if you get teh AC15CC with the green back speaker, you can have that later swapped out for a Celestion Blue and have that much better and close to Edge sounding amp.

My AC15CC had the green initially. I bought it from Mick of The Unforgettable Fire - tribute band. He'd already swapped the green for the blue Celestion.

Thanks, so even if I get a Line 13 but only a Fender or something amp, it won't sound like the Edge? What's the cheapest I can get one of them for? Is it the closest thing to an Ac-30? How well does it work if your playing non-u2 stuff (ie is it versatile or only really useful for emulating the Edge?)

And what about using your PC to do effects? Is that viable?

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by vanquish:[..]

Thanks, so even if I get a Line 13 but only a Fender or something amp, it won't sound like the Edge? What's the cheapest I can get one of them for? Is it the closest thing to an Ac-30? How well does it work if your playing non-u2 stuff (ie is it versatile or only really useful for emulating the Edge?)

And what about using your PC to do effects? Is that viable?

You can get close. But not quite there. The Vox AC30 is pretty important to The Edge. But you can get close with other Vox amps.

AC15CC with the greenback speaker is in the 500-600 range. You can change out the green back to a blue Celestion later and get closer to The Edge's tone.

M13 is a great unit and at $500.00 you will get a lot of useable Edge like tones. Including the a shimmer like sound from the Octo Reverb setting

vanquish

15 years

If it's $500 and does a better job than any other amp besides the ac30 I might get one. Will it be ok for other rock music? Or is it only good at emulating Edge?

I can buy an epiphone explorer for $650 AUD, can I get in cheaper or should I place the order?

Is the Line 6 pretty much the best effects solution for replicating the Edge at that price?
Can I just use some software and the sound card in my laptop to similar effect?

Should I get a m13 and get a cheaper amp like the Fenders Alex was suggesting or is it clearly worth shelling out for the Vox. How does getting the AC15 but getting a cheap fx unit like the Zoom G1X stack up to an M13 + cheaper amp combo?

vanquish

15 years

I placed an order for the Explorer