U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

Originally posted by thechicken[..]

Recreations are not real vintage stuff. And "sound better" is a matter of opinion. Just my opinions.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979[..]

Ugh.

Seems you've missed my initial point. But that's okay.

No one said that 'recreations' are the 'real stuff'. NO ONE.

What was said was that there are a great number of pickups that will make an stock Epiphone Les Paul, for instance, sound better, less shrill, less SHIT and more like the more desireble tones of say... 1958-1960 Les Paul.

What was also asked was that were in Edge's Les Paul's. I mentioned that after getting a good look at them... it appeared they were stock T-Tops. I also mentioned that I had heard that Dallas many of Edge's guitars have had the bridge pickup's rewound. I also pointed out that if Edge had done this to his 1975 it certainly didn't hurt it, as it sounded great. AND it wasn't like he defiled the guitar.

But... whatever.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979It seems it isn't the pickup alone that makes The Edge sound like The Edge. Bono has said that he's played Edge's guitar through Edge's rig and sounded shit.

That said, Edge used to play New Years Day on a Strat. Yet for the last 3+ tours it's been played with a Les Paul. It sounds good with both.

The same can be said of Bullet The Blue Sky. "Traditionally" he's used a Stratocaster. During PopMart, he used the 30th Anniversary Gibson Les Paul goldtop. Was the tone different? Some. But he's constantly experimenting and tones chance a bit tour to tour and from the beginning to ending of a tour anyway... So the difference between his using the Strat and the 20th Anniv LP goldtop are about as much as his amp/effects setting from one tour to the next.

Another reason why there is a bit less difference is that Edge has experiemented with non-stock bridge pickups in his Stratocasters in the past. He's also had many custom wound to be a bit 'hotter' and closer to that of a humbucker.

Guitar tone can be subjective, as one person pointed out, to SOME extent. In that, one can get decent tones from various guitars, effects and amps. But tone starts with the player. Tone starts with your hands.

So what do you need for 'good' tone? Start with practicing and getting your technique and feel down. A decent guitar and a decent amp will accentuate the positive aspects of your practice. By that, I don't mean practicing scales or playing fast. Get your timing, vibrato and playing clean down. Sounds 'goofy' but "be one with the guitar". That is the first element.

I remember a survey once... What is The Edge's most important piece of equipment. Some mentioned various guitars, some mentioned his main Vox AC30, some mentioned his racks of effects and one even mentioned Dallas Schoo organizing all of it! Not bad choices. But the two most important pieces of The Edge's gear are:
1) His hand and touch on the instrument.
2) His imagination.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979[..]

Better in music? I never said. Better in pickups? I have.

The sound of stock Epiphone pickups are not as 'desireable' to me, most that I have met and the majority of those I have come across in my 41 years of life. The tone and musicality of Epiphone stock pickups, are not as musical or sonically desireable to those of Gibson stock pickups, vintage PAFs, T-Tops, Burstbuckers and the previously mentioned replacement pickups.

If you like your stock pickups, go for it.

Originally posted by thechicken[..]

That is all I said...you can not say that something is better if by better you mean your preferences.

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01When did Ege get wireless connections for his guitars? I know he was wireless by midway through the JT tour.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979It seems it isn't the pickup alone that makes The Edge sound like The Edge. Bono has said that he's played Edge's guitar through Edge's rig and sounded shit.

That said, Edge used to play New Years Day on a Strat. Yet for the last 3+ tours it's been played with a Les Paul. It sounds good with both.

The same can be said of Bullet The Blue Sky. "Traditionally" he's used a Stratocaster. During PopMart, he used the 30th Anniversary Gibson Les Paul goldtop. Was the tone different? Some. But he's constantly experimenting and tones chance a bit tour to tour and from the beginning to ending of a tour anyway... So the difference between his using the Strat and the 20th Anniv LP goldtop are about as much as his amp/effects setting from one tour to the next.

Another reason why there is a bit less difference is that Edge has experiemented with non-stock bridge pickups in his Stratocasters in the past. He's also had many custom wound to be a bit 'hotter' and closer to that of a humbucker.

Guitar tone can be subjective, as one person pointed out, to SOME extent. In that, one can get decent tones from various guitars, effects and amps. But tone starts with the player. Tone starts with your hands.

So what do you need for 'good' tone? Start with practicing and getting your technique and feel down. A decent guitar and a decent amp will accentuate the positive aspects of your practice. By that, I don't mean practicing scales or playing fast. Get your timing, vibrato and playing clean down. Sounds 'goofy' but "be one with the guitar". That is the first element.

I remember a survey once... What is The Edge's most important piece of equipment. Some mentioned various guitars, some mentioned his main Vox AC30, some mentioned his racks of effects and one even mentioned Dallas Schoo organizing all of it! Not bad choices. But the two most important pieces of The Edge's gear are:
1) His hand and touch on the instrument.
2) His imagination.