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

anstratdubh1979

Originally posted by Sinisterbr:Hi guys,

I´m new around here, and I didn´t really know where to put my question, so sorry if this wasn´t the appropriate place.
Anyway, does anyone know how does The Edge get his crunch tones in the Boy album? I´m not sure if it´s a boosted AC30 (saturated preamp) tone, or an overdrive pedal (SD-1) into a clean AC30. Any ideas?

Thanks!

GUITARS:

- Gibson Explorer.
- I have seen some early era pictures of The Edge in the studio w/ a tobacco Fender Stratocaster (most likely the same one seen in the "Street Mission" clip.), although, those photos may have been from the U2-3 sessions.

EFFECTS:
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (Edge used 2)

AMP:
Vox AC30

There was no Boss SD-1, as that model didn't come out until 1981.

One of the things that Edge did to get overdrive was by using his volume knob. If you set your volume knob below 10 and your amp setting a bit hotter... when you then bring up the guitars volume, you get some warm overdrive.

Another trick is that I have heard that with some settings on the EH Dlx Memory Man, that can drive the amp a bit too.

I am not 100% sure when Edge got the Boss FA-1 Bi-Fet pedal. Might have been during the Boy or October tours... It was there by the War era. Initially it was used to bring up the level of his Stratocaster, as its pickups were lower output.

Long answer short, you should be able to get most - if not all - of the Boy tones with:
Explorer, Stratocaster, an acoustic for some parts (Edge borrowed one during the recordings), (2) Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man delays (using the vibrato setting for Mod-Delay) and a Vox AC30 amp.

RattleandHum1988

14 years

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

GUITARS:

- Gibson Explorer.
- I have seen some early era pictures of The Edge in the studio w/ a tobacco Fender Stratocaster (most likely the same one seen in the "Street Mission" clip.), although, those photos may have been from the U2-3 sessions.

EFFECTS:
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (Edge used 2)

AMP:
Vox AC30

There was no Boss SD-1, as that model didn't come out until 1981.

One of the things that Edge did to get overdrive was by using his volume knob. If you set your volume knob below 10 and your amp setting a bit hotter... when you then bring up the guitars volume, you get some warm overdrive.

Another trick is that I have heard that with some settings on the EH Dlx Memory Man, that can drive the amp a bit too.

I am not 100% sure when Edge got the Boss FA-1 Bi-Fet pedal. Might have been during the Boy or October tours... It was there by the War era. Initially it was used to bring up the level of his Stratocaster, as its pickups were lower output.

Long answer short, you should be able to get most - if not all - of the Boy tones with:
Explorer, Stratocaster, an acoustic for some parts (Edge borrowed one during the recordings), (2) Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man delays (using the vibrato setting for Mod-Delay) and a Vox AC30 amp.

Couldn't have said it better myself. A large part is definitely running the AC30 hot (many would argue that it has to be a vintage AC30) as well as using the vintage Memory Man's preamp. The preamp on the Memory man is a huge part of the sound.

But yeah, everything listed there.

MattG

14 years

Just as Larry commonly travels to Germany for shots of bull's blood, I believe Jeff commonly travels to Dublin for DNA strand transplants from The Edge.

anstratdubh1979

14 years

Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:Just as Larry commonly travels to Germany for shots of bull's blood, I believe Jeff commonly travels to Dublin for DNA strand transplants from The Edge.

LOL

...That and I live here * See photo below * (Or don't I wish!)

jofice

14 years

I could happily spend months in there

LikeASong

14 years

I could happily be buried in there.

**runs to write that in his Will**

RattleandHum1988

14 years

I remember seeing that picture in that magazine, loved the interview. That picture boggles my mind! As does his amount of hats

I wonder if he still has all of the fedoras and beanies from the JT tour and ZooTV tour?

Mr_Trek

14 years

Okay... I'm thinking of getting a hollow-body/semi-acoustic guitar (whatever you want to call them) and I know that you guys know a lot more than I do about guitars, so I'd very much like your thoughts

I want something not too expensive, but still a nice guitar

(Ever heard that one before?) I've been looking a bit at Epiphone Dot and Epiphone Sheraton, so if I could get some thoughts about these and maybe some other suggestions I'd be very happy

RattleandHum1988

14 years

Originally posted by Mr_Trek:Okay... I'm thinking of getting a hollow-body/semi-acoustic guitar (whatever you want to call them) and I know that you guys know a lot more than I do about guitars, so I'd very much like your thoughts

I want something not too expensive, but still a nice guitar (Ever heard that one before?) I've been looking a bit at Epiphone Dot and Epiphone Sheraton, so if I could get some thoughts about these and maybe some other suggestions I'd be very happy

The Dots and Sheratons are both really great guitars. The other guitarist in my band just picked up a red Epi Dot, and he really loves it. I played it for a bit, and it played and sounded very very nice. I almost bought a Sheraton II a little while back, but ultimately decided against it because....I can't remember why...

But yeah, the epiphones are great, just make sure you try it out in the store first to see if you like it. The Ibanez hollowbodies are really nice too. A lot of guys are scared away from Ibanez because they're prominently a metal guitar company, but they also make some really nice jazz hollowbodies for decent prices.

Gretsch also makes some very nice inexpensive hollowbodies, I believe its called the Electromatic series. They're fully hollow I believe, as opposed to the semi-hollow dot/sheraton.

My advice, make a short list of the ones you want to try, research them looking for reviews and comments on them, and then go to the music store to try them out.

Mr_Trek

14 years

Maybe I should add a real U2-fan question... Any guitar that comes in green?

anstratdubh1979

14 years

Originally posted by Mr_Trek:Okay... I'm thinking of getting a hollow-body/semi-acoustic guitar (whatever you want to call them) and I know that you guys know a lot more than I do about guitars, so I'd very much like your thoughts

I want something not too expensive, but still a nice guitar (Ever heard that one before?) I've been looking a bit at Epiphone Dot and Epiphone Sheraton, so if I could get some thoughts about these and maybe some other suggestions I'd be very happy

Epiphone Casino is $599.00 - Same price as the Sheraton.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EPICAS

Sheraton's are not bad guitars. If you are willing to pay $599 for the Sheraton, play both the Sheraton AND the Casino. Then choice which sounds/plays best to you.

I do NOT recommend the Epiphone DOT. There is a reason they are between $299-$399. That is that they are not as nice and are of lesser quality than the Casino and Sheraton.

I understand money can be an issues but sometimes, it's worth delayed gratification, saving and getting something that you will love and keep instead of 'good enough for now'.

If you are thinking solid body? Epiphone Explorer is $499. It's one of the best guitars that Epiphone makes, in my view. The stock pickups are good (not great), and you could upgrade them later. Again, it would be a guitar you love and wouldn't have buyers remorse.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EPIEXP2

RattleandHum1988

14 years

Originally posted by Mr_Trek:Maybe I should add a real U2-fan question... Any guitar that comes in green?

Bono's signature?

I'm not sure, you'll have to search around.

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