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

RattleandHum1988

Originally posted by thechicken:I agree with RattleandHum1988. Being complicated just to show off your huge guitar collection or just because you can is kind of lame. For me, music is about the noise, not about the looks or status. I really like better people who are simple. One guitar into one old valve amp and that's about it.
Edge can play whatever he wants, 100 guitars per show, I don't mind, but I think it is silly.
Come on, we all know that he could to very well with just 4 or 5 guitars.

I'm not sure if he's doing it to show off or show that he's a tone freak or whatever, I really do think he thinks that each tone is different. I think he's VERY specific, and it IS his preference. However, I think that most if not the whole audience wouldn't notice a difference if he only used 5-6 guitars per show. At least sound-wise. So yeah, I'm glad you agree on me about that!!! To be honest I think it might even be cooler if he only used an explorer or whatever for a show, so it really became HIS guitar. But that might be pushing it

jofice

14 years

In this musicradar interview with Dallas he mentions a gig where Edge's Vox just loses audio. Anybody know when it was? Sometime during the Vertigo Tour

LikeASong

14 years

I've read that interview too, but he didn't mention the proper date. It'll remain unknown I think.

And I think that 99'95% of the audience didn't notice either

jofice

14 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:I've read that interview too, but he didn't mention the proper date. It'll remain unknown I think.

And I think that 99'95% of the audience didn't notice either

Well there was absolutely no sound coming out so I'd say a good few people noticed

It's a good interview isn't it

LikeASong

14 years

No sound at all? Don't think so. It isn't the only amp he's got, is it?

Risto

14 years

Maybe it was the amp at the end of the chain? Know nothing about Guitars or amps though

RattleandHum1988

14 years

Hell no. He has two vox's and a couple of fenders and probably something else that i'm missing on stage at all times. Uses them for different sounds (this whole discussion again?!?!) but i'm sure he uses them as backups for times like that. I do remember hearing that Edge was very anxious and upset for the remainder of the show because his main and amp he's had for the longest time was damaged. Can't blame him, but it's all fixed up now!

jofice

14 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:No sound at all? Don't think so. It isn't the only amp he's got, is it?

Well Dallas had to run on and change it so I'd say there was nothing coming at all.

The worst time was during the Vertigo tour. The audio just stopped - the power stayed on, but there was no output. Nothing."

Interviewer: That sounds like trouble.

"Oh, you know it. Not only is Edge completely comfortable with that sound, but 95 percent of the presets are going through that amp.

"I quickly got a replacement Vox amp on stage, but even so, it was one of the worst shows ever - I just mean for Edge on a personal level.

He does go on to say that the majority of the crowd didn't seem to notice, I missed that earlier

anstratdubh1979

14 years

I'm not saying if the setlist is 23 songs that he should use 23 different guitars.

But if Edge feels that a certain guitar sounds best to him, that is not wrong, dumb or "silly" as some insist. It is what he feels will work best.

I am glad that he cares enough for the fans to use the amount of guitars that he feels might be necessary to get the tones that he thinks are best.

NOW.... That said COULD YOU DO A SHOW IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH LESS GUITARS? Probably.

I'd imagine that it's possible that he could do a convincing job with 6 guitars
- Fender Telecaster
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gibson Explorer
- Gibson Les Paul
- Gretsch Country Gent
- Rickenbacker 330 12-string

And if there were concerns about tunings, some in standard and some in E-flat, he could do it with 8 guitars/9 if he needed a second Explorer or Gent for tuning reasons [1 standard and 1 in E-Flat]

- Fender Telecaster
- Fender Stratocaster (2) - 1 standard and 1 in E-Flat
- Gibson Explorer
- Gibson Les Paul (2) - 1 standard and 1 in E-Flat
- Gretsch Country Gent
- Rickenbacker 330 12-string

RattleandHum1988

14 years

Exactly my point^ (except you forgot the Gibson SJ-200

)

But like I said, mostt of the fans probably wouldn't notice the difference in sound between say, his cream les paul and his goldtop les paul for Until The End of The World or something. I'm not saying it's silly or dumb, I'm just saying I think it's unnecessary.

anstratdubh1979

14 years

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:Exactly my point^ (except you forgot the Gibson SJ-200 )

But like I said, mostt of the fans probably wouldn't notice the difference in sound between say, his cream les paul and his goldtop les paul for Until The End of The World or something. I'm not saying it's silly or dumb, I'm just saying I think it's unnecessary.

Couple thoughts...

Someone made the comment about Explorer, LP (humbucker guitars) all sound the same or close enough... that is not true. Example:

Earlier in the tour, Edge was playing Beautiful Day on an Explorer. There was a guitar issue and Dallas swapped it out (rapidly) with a Les Paul. There was a discernable darker tone with a less chime than the Explorer.

Will all fans notice the difference? No. But at the end of the day, Edge has to be happy with the tone and feel like he's presenting the songs with the best tone that inspires. If that means loads of guitars, what is wrong wiht that? Absolutely nothing.

What seems odd to me is that anyone has a problem with how many guitars Edge uses. That just seems so odd to me.

Oh well. The world is made of various opinions. Nothing wrong with that.

MattG

14 years

Jeff, did he switch back to the Explorer, ever?!?! I can't imagine BD without it.

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