U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
Indeed. I still play U2 material, a fair bit in fact, but simply for personal enjoyment - it doesn't bother me if I don't play a song note for note as Edge does, same with other artists etc., I like to work out my own take on things. I'd say I've taken on elements from his playing style just as I have from other guitarists, but I've now been working on writing my own material - there's been talk of starting a band with some uni. friends, we've had a couple of jams which have been fun but bearing in mind some of the stuff I've been coming up with, I feel it would be better realised if I just carry on doing my own thing or finding people who have more in common with my style.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

To be honest, it's super hard to join a band as a guitarist as a U2 type of guitarist. You have to (like you said) search for a band that wants the exact same type of music. Most bands, when looking for a guitarist, want a creative guitarist (which I'm sure you are), but they also want a techinically good guitarist as well (which is hard to be when all most of us have played is Edge). I'm in a band now, but I'm singer/guitarist, and I bring only a few U2 elements, but mostly other things, like blues and alternative rock elements to the table. I'm not saying it's bad that your style is like Edge's, mine is in a way too, I'm just saying, it's a little harder for us to find a band! lol. If I wasn't a singer than I probably wouldn't be in the one I'm in right now purely because I'm a guitarist.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:To be honest, it's super hard to join a band as a guitarist as a U2 type of guitarist. You have to (like you said) search for a band that wants the exact same type of music. Most bands, when looking for a guitarist, want a creative guitarist (which I'm sure you are), but they also want a techinically good guitarist as well (which is hard to be when all most of us have played is Edge). I'm in a band now, but I'm singer/guitarist, and I bring only a few U2 elements, but mostly other things, like blues and alternative rock elements to the table. I'm not saying it's bad that your style is like Edge's, mine is in a way too, I'm just saying, it's a little harder for us to find a band! lol. If I wasn't a singer than I probably wouldn't be in the one I'm in right now purely because I'm a guitarist.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:Edge was asked "What do you think when you see adverts for U2-type guitarist in music papers". His response was something to the effect that "if people are copying, they are missing the point".

The point being... nothing being a product of your influences. There is nothing wrong with ceertain elements of your influence making it into your style but create something different - make your own thing.

Edge took things like John McGeogh (Siouxsie, Magazine, PIL), Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd (Television), Mick Jones & Joe Strummer (The Clash), Henry Cluney (Still Little Fingers), Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), Paul Weller (The Jam), Stuart Adamson (The Skids, and later Big Country)

So if you want to be more like The Edge.... listen to lots of bands. Take bits and pieces and make something of your own.

Doesn't mean don't learn and decipher what Edge does. But then take the ideas and create 'you'. Not just my opinion... t'is The Edge's too.

Originally posted by vanquish:Coming up to nearly 6 months with my guitar.

I really like my Explorer - unlike other instruments (eg. my piano) you seem to bond with a guitar.
Perhaps its because unlike a piano where the actual sound is being created 'behind the scenes'
with a guitar the sound is created right at your fingertips, it's much more tactile and the level of interaction with the instrument is much higher. It really makes a difference.

I also like the fact that most of the music stores I go to never have Explorers on sale - its nice not being like everyone else who has a strat copy guitar.

Originally posted by vanquish:Coming up to nearly 6 months with my guitar.
I also like the fact that most of the music stores I go to never have Explorers on sale - its nice not being like everyone else who has a strat copy guitar.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

Really? The store I go to has a bunch, and a bunch of musicians I know have them And strat copys ARE very popular, good thing I have an american fender

Originally posted by LikeASong:I'm with Lyndon, the Explorer is not that common. Most young and non-proffessional players have copy Strats, Les Pauls or SGs... Having a Gretsch or an Explorer is much less usual

Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:[..]

I side with this view as well; I've only ever seen one person I know play an Explorer.

And that's why I felt special "graduating" from my Strat-copy to a PRS Special Edition last year...it's cut a bit like a Les Paul, but it's definitely MY guitar; nobody else around here plays one anyway, and I've worked my own blood sweat and tears into it

Switching gears just a bit, I once looked into buying a hollow-body guitar from a local independent store, and the brand name was Reverend. Anybody know anything about these guitars? It was expensive (for me, anyway, a teenager currently without a job), but the sound on some of the YouTube and Reverend demo videos was to die for. Here's the link to the specific guitar I considered saving up for:

http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/set_neck_series/manta_ray_290.html

The retailer around me had it in a...I guess you would call it a "deep-sea-blue" sunburst. Somewhere between a turquoise and a royal blue; it was truly a gorgeous guitar. I used to just sit and look at it

Originally posted by LikeASong:I'm with Lyndon, the Explorer is not that common. Most young and non-proffessional players have copy Strats, Les Pauls or SGs... Having a Gretsch or an Explorer is much less usual