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

anstratdubh1979

For the bass players in the group... and the Adam fans...

I've been adding more information, pictures and material to the ADAM CLAYTON section of U2 Stage and Studio.

http://www.u2-stage-and-studio.com/adam/

Have a look. There will be more information going up throughout the day... Enjoy.

WojBhoy

16 years

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979For the bass players in the group... and the Adam fans...

I've been adding more information, pictures and material to the ADAM CLAYTON section of U2 Stage and Studio.

http://www.u2-stage-and-studio.com/adam/

Have a look. There will be more information going up throughout the day... Enjoy.

Good stuff there Jeff, very impressed

Tis the very reason why you're our first port of call when we have a technical question

, i.e. you've searched and learnt a hell of a lot more than the rest of us!

anstratdubh1979

16 years

Here's some FAQ's that I've been putting together for the U2 Recording Yahoo Group. The answers are from some of the elders of that forum.

This will help those with some questions about "What Strat should I get to get Edge sounds to what are good pickup replacement for this or that guitar.

So who are those that are giving the answers?

Lyle is a great player and runs Psionic Audio. He makes GREAT effects. One of his greatest products is the TRIAD that is a essentially a stompbox version of the pre-amp in Edge's SDD-3000 Delay - an integral part of Edge's tone. Check him out at www.psionicaudio.com

Mick - is none other than the tribute Edge in NY's "The Unforgettable Fire".

Punx is another guitarist and gear enthusiast.

There will be some updates as I am awaiting answers from a few other tribute Edge's

And now... U2 RECORDING GROUP – FAQ’S

1a) What is the best effective Stratocaster to get Edge sounds?

Lyle: I disagree with the format of the question - what is "best" depends on the budget and quickly becomes subjective as the budget increases.

For the FAQ, I suggest we focus on "least expensive readily available good options."

For a Stratocaster, I'd point people to the MIM [Made in Mexico] and earlier MIJ/CIJ [Made in Japan / Crafted in Japan] '50s, '60s, and '70s RI’s [reissues]. The choice here is mostly cosmetic, though the '70s RIs are more likely to have tuning issues, as they have lesser quality tuners, a three bolt neck plate, and two string trees. Still, for those who want "the look" the '70s RI is a reasonable choice. I guess I'm really answering #2 here - #1 is impossible to answer.

I will hedge a bit and just suggest that anyone looking for "the best" should look at the MIA [Made In America / Made in USA] RIs, the Eric Johnson Stratocaster, and Suhr / Fender CS [Custom Shop].

With any Stratocaster, you have to try individual guitars to find good ones that resonate well - this is true for $500 Stratocasters and for $3000 Stratocasters. Nothing without the vintage bridge should be considered.

Mick: Any Strat with balanced pickups.

Punx: Any Strat, best US of course but the Mexicans are equal – In my opinion

1b) What is the best/budget effective Stratocaster to get Edge sounds?

Lyle: N/A

Mick: `70 RI (1970’s reissue).

Punx: Any. There is nothing wrong with Squier Stratocasters. I even started on a Hohner and it was ok. Not great but it didn't stop me. MIM [Made in Mexico] Fender Stratocasters are equal to US Stratocasters – In my opinion.

2a) What are good Explorer pickup replacements?

Lyle: Again, the list of good pickups is long and subjective. Budget-wise, the Seymour Duncan '59s. Better options start at the Duncan Seth Lovers (which I usually recommend) and go up for Lollars, Fralins, Holmes, etc

Mick: Seth Lovers

Punx: N/A

2b) What are good Les Paul pickup replacements?

Lyle: For a LP Custom, the same answers as 2a. [Budget-wise, the Seymour Duncan '59s. Better options start at the Duncan Seth Lovers (which I usually recommend) and go up for Lollars, Fralins, Holmes, etc.]

For a Les Paul Standard, add the Duncan Antiquities in place of the Duncan Seth Lovers.

Mick: Seth Lovers

Punx: * sorry only own an Epiphone LP and hardly play it. I'm happy with the stock bridge pickup, the neck could be a little brighter IMO. But I don't feel confident to comment *

2c) What are good Strat pickup replacements?

Lyle: The Fender 57/62 set is a very nice sounding set of pickups that will deliver Edge tones at a reasonable price. I personally use Kinman’s, but they are very expensive (as well as being the only noiseless pickups worth considering in a Strat). Again, if you can afford Kinmans, Fralins, Lollars, etc, these are all great. But from the perspective of a beginner/intermediate player wanting to get closer to Edge's tones without breaking the bank, the Fender 57/62 set is IMO the best basic option.

The CS 69s, the Duncans, the Duncan Antiquities, the Fender 57/62s, or
Fralin Vintages would all be good choices.

Mick: Kinman Woodstocks.

Punx: For vintage Edge tones replace the stock bridge PU with either the Seymor Duncan Quarter Pounder (staggered) or DiMarzio FS-1. Can't find much wrong with the other two stock PUs.

3) What are the essential budget effective/alternative Edge-tone components for effects?

Lyle: I recuse myself to a degree here, as I make effects and will not promote them in the FAQ. But for early U2, the DMM would be hard to beat (I recommend the recent versions with true bypass, as the older versions screw up the bypassed sound). For UF and later, the DD-20 is the best budget choice for a delay pedal.

Mick: Hmm… a lot. It depends on what you think your ears think is good. I like a TS9 and or SD1, a Boss dd20 (Giga-Delay), a Korg A3, maybe a Korg SDD 2000, Line 6 Pod (getting cheaper)”

Punx: at the core of most of Edge's trademark tones is the Mod Delay - so I'd cover that first. I swear by the (Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man but I can understand that people like memory banks, Tap tempo and/or MS readouts. Since (Korg) SDD3000’s are “crazy expensive”, I'd recommend the Boss DD20 (Giga-Delay).

Also a great alternative to the SDD3k is the Roland SDE1000 Digital Rack Delay. Swear by them.

After that I'd say, MXR Dyna-Comp (vintage only!) for 80s Edge and the Verbzilla is a funky little pedal that gives you Edge's amazing shimmer in a compact box.

SD1 or TS9 would be on my shopping list too – personally I'd tend to the SD1. But that's a matter of taste. The SD1 is a “-in-a-Box” (to borrow an expression).

But if money is a serious issue, I must say the super cheap Behringer stomp boxes are not to laugh at! They are essentially clones of the famous originals. Their Dyna-Comp clone (compressor) is definitely better than Dunlop’s own attempt which frankly ... sucks.

4) What are good alternative amps to a vintage AC30?

Lyle: AC30 Custom Classic, Matchless DC30, Dr Z Maz series, Divided by 13, 65 Amps London. All depends on your budget. The CC is a better amp than the TB/TBX series, hard as it is for many to believe. The Vox Valvetronix AD120, AD60, and AD30 should also be considered for those on a budget - especially used, these SS amps are steals and do a very good AC30 sound for the price. The Line 6 combos may be good choices as well, though I have not used them. Worth considering if budget is tight and you need an amp that can also be very quiet. If they are based on the POD, then they won't sound as good as the Vox AD series, but should be reasonable.

Mick: “a Vintage I would say either the present day CC models or if you want to go small, An Ampeg Jet or RI although I feel the RI ac30s should be modified to ease down the midrange.

Only issue I see is a lot of people are happy going 50% of the way or they settle for a tone whereas someone else would think it’s not even close. General speaking the best pedal delay in an Edge context to me is the DD20. A lot like the Nova but I think its junk in relation to Edge tone.

If it’s analog there are a ton from Memory Man to Memory Lane to Boss DM2’s. Each has its own + and - but in the end the dd20 wins for me. The same with the Stratocaster; as long as your happy with the feel, it stays in tune and has a balanced set of pups as to get a good quack-tone, I think your business.

Edge Stratocasters are just probably stock with maybe a hotter bridge. Other than that it’s just a 70’s Stratocaster. The LP/Explorer replacements I haven’t much experience other than I’ve tried the `57 classics. They sound good, and the Seth Lovers. I like the Seth Lovers the best. The best Stratocaster pickups, thus far I’ve tried, are the Kinmans. But to be fair I haven’t tried that many. I found the Fralins to be thin. I didn’t like them.”

Punx: The CC series is great. Other than that I'd not shop elsewhere, I'd get the real deal. You might want to look into AC15’s for various reasons (volume, being one).

anstratdubh1979

16 years

Originally posted by WojBhoy[..]
Good stuff there Jeff, very impressed

Tis the very reason why you're our first port of call when we have a technical question , i.e. you've searched and learnt a hell of a lot more than the rest of us!

Thanks. It's a hobby and a labor of love. I will be adding more to all of the members areas in the near future. Today I am working on some of the information for ADAM. So by this evening there will be yet MORE stuff.

I am presently working on the Gear by era overview bits. Should have lots of information in that section by this evening.

anstratdubh1979

16 years

I am looking forward to seeing what The Edge, Adam, Larry and Bono will be playing this tour.

So far, while the studio videos have been short, an see that Adam seems to have a fondness for a burgundy mist Fender Jazz. I've not seen him play this bass before. It's also interesting that while he did favor his Lakland basses live, in the studio he tends to go "old school" and return to his Fender Jazz and Precision bass guitars.

As for The Edge, what I've seen thus far, is that he's obtained a new (to him) Gretsch White Falcon. In the video that I saw, it was not the 1962-ish stereo Falcon seen in the Pride video or in the Rattle and Hum film.

What songs might he have used it for on this album. Was the orig. Falcon another of the many HQ flood victims? Will he be playing this different White Falcon during shows?

And more importantly... it's been 11 years Larry... first you played black drums for a million years. It's been white since. (Other than the main stage kit for Popmart - the b-stage kit was white). INteresting to see if he will change his drum kit around a bit for the next tour.

That's all for now... just thinking out loud...

wtshnnfb01

16 years

Edge also used that blue LP he sold.

anstratdubh1979

16 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01Edge also used that blue LP he sold.

True that.

wtshnnfb01

16 years

I think Edge has something against blue guitars, I mean he sold this one, and the SG is just a backup.

anstratdubh1979

16 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01I think Edge has something against blue guitars, I mean he sold this one, and the SG is just a backup.

You might be right. He had a blue Stratocaster at one time... I have some footage of when they played in Dublin in 1985-ish. It was on TV, I think. There is a live show plus some inteview stuff and rehearsal stuff.

In the rehearsal bits, there is a blue Stratocaster on a guitar stand. Never saw the guitar before or since.

Although, some have speculated that guitar was stripped and is better known as the 1962 Stratocaster used for "Stuck In A Moment..." and "In A Little While", amongst others. (although this speculation is unconfirmed)

flowerchild

16 years

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01Edge also used that blue LP he sold.

too bad. imo the blue one looked really cool

anstratdubh1979

16 years

Originally posted by flowerchild[..]

too bad. imo the blue one looked really cool

Maybe the tone just didn't work for him? Maybe he doesn't like a blue guitar? Maybe he just didnt have it long enough to bond with it?

flowerchild

16 years

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979[..]

Maybe the tone just didn't work for him? Maybe he doesn't like a blue guitar? Maybe he just didnt have it long enough to bond with it?

yeah, he probably got his reasons.

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