U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

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?

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?

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.

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?

Originally posted by vanquish:I placed an order for the Explorer

Now I just have to figure out what else to get

Originally posted by vanquish:Now I have to get an amp and an FX pedal, the problem, is I have the money and am willing to spend about $2000 all up, but my mother won't be happy lol.

She doesn't realise I have to buy an amp for it to work yet and I'm not sure how to tell her
She already disapproves of me spending $700 on a guitar, when I have no idea how to play! (she wanted me to get a starter guitar)

Hopefully I can persuade her to let me buy what I want to get.

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]Well, starter guitars are designed for people who are... starting? lol hahaha

Good luck on the persuading, I wish I had the money to even think of buying such guitars and amplifiers (persuading would be easier if I even had the money )