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  1. Used only briefly, the Gibson Sonex is actually a pretty decent guitar. It's a bit Les Paul in appearance and tone. I've played a few... and there are only a few out there... but they are actually nice guitars.

    He used it briefly and it wasn't seen since summer 1982. Might have only been used at the Werchter Festival. Seems he got this around the time of the 1975 Les Paul Custom; which he obviously favored of the Sonex.



    "Rejoice" (Werchter Festival)




    Specs/Details:


    Gibson Sonex-180 Deluxe Gibson Sonex-180 Standard Gibson Sonex-180 Custom Gibson Sonex Artist
    BODY SPECIFICATIONS The new Gibson exclusive Multi-phonic™ body construction • Single cutaway design • Adjustable chrome plated Tune-0-Matic bridge with chrome plated stop-bar tailpiece • Uniquely shaped double sided fingerrest with white revealed edge • Two high output Humbucking 3-point adjustable exposed pickups that feature one black and one cream coil • 3-position toggle switch for pickup selection (individual or both pickups simultaneously) • Attractive, efficient black speed knobs • Body size: Length 17 1/4" width 13" depth 1 3/4"

    NECK SPECIFICATIONS One piece select hardwood construction • Width at fingerboard nut 1 11/16" • Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays and corresponding side dots • Individually enclosed chrome plated machine heads • Gibson truss rod with distinctive truss rod cover • 22 frets • 24 3/4" scale length

    SONEX-180 DELUXE • Ebony finish (and later Candy Apple Red, Silverburst, White, Antique Fireburst
  2. So the Gibson Sonex is a curiosity at best. It was never a real mainstay in the guitar arsenal. Although, still a fun guitar.

    While Edge did the Gibson Sonex for the Werchter Festival on July 4th, 1981, by the end of July 1982, Edge was using the 1975 Les Paul Custom for "Rejoice"



    So the use of the Sonex was short-lived. Maybe he was trying it out for a bit but favored the LP Custom more for "Rejoice"?

    All in all, the Gibson Sonex are cool guitars. I've played a few. But they are hardly an iconic Edge guitar.


    "Rejoice" was in the setlist for a year and then gone forever. It was played around 58-60 times between August 16th 1981 and August 7th, 1982

    In that, I know of 4 different guitars that were used.

    Black Strat, Explorer, LP Custom and Sonex.

    Sonex: May 1982


    Sonex: Werchter July 4th, 1982


    LP Custom: New York November 1981 (A good show of when The Edge got the LP Custom - Check the last 4 mins of this video for "Rejoice")


    LP Custom: Gateshead, July 31,1982


    Explorer: May 1982


    Stratocaster: April 1981
  3. Few more clips of Edge with the Gibson Sonex - Live at Roskilde Festival July 2,1982 - Rejoice / 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Sonex on "Rejoice" only)




    And...
    "With A Shout (Jerusalem)"
    May 15, 1981 "Something Else" TV program

  4. You can see how I confused it for a LP Junior though.
  6. Here's a rarer moment. Edge with a late 1950's single cutaway Gretsch Silver Jet.

    The guitar wasn't his, he borrowed it from Ash's guitarist, Tim Wheeler. This was the Y.E.S. concert in Belfast, May 1998, that lead up to the peace accords in Ireland.

    The tone is a bit 'wonky' but again, it's not his guitar nor rig.



  7. Not U2 related, but can you identify this guitar for me?

    http://www.ask.com/wiki/File:Glenn_Frey.jpg?qsrc=3044

    Looks like a modified LP Junior. Its known that Glenn has had it since at least the early 70s.

    Its is belived he either was given it or purchased it from Jackson Browne, or Paul Barrere.


  9. Hard to find them even though its his signature guitar. I'll see if I can though.
  10. I know Rickenbacker made a Glen Frey model. And when I googled "Glen Frey guitar" I found a signature acoustic.... but that seems to be all I found...
  11. I've done some research. Apparently, its a late 50s, early 60s model LP Junior he got off Jackson Browne. Among other mods, hes added a second pickup, (and the needed switch) and was refinished the headstock entirely black. Also, while watching the live from Melbourne DVD it looks like it has some more knobs (makes sense seeing as he added a pickup.)

    Back to U2, does Edge even have a mick stand anymore or does he just use face micks?
  12. No mic stand this tour for Edge. Just the headset mic.

    That is why Dallas has been attaching extra picks to guitars via tape or between the guitar body and pickguard.

    (As the mic stand used to be where the spare picks where located)
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.