GuitarCleanRiff
Where the Streets Have No Name Riff Guitar Tone Settings — U2
U2 · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (1983-1985, black, maple neck, stock pickups)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock 1980s Strat pickups)
Amp
Vox AC30 (vintage, likely Top Boost, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle)
Studio recording for The Joshua Tree (1987). The Edge used a black Fender Stratocaster with stock single-coils and a vintage Vox AC30. Multiple sources confirm this setup for the original studio riff section. Delay pedals (not amp delay) are a critical part of the sound.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5
Gain0
Reverb4.5
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay · delay
- TC Electronic 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay · delay
- Electro-Harmonix Memory Man (possible, not confirmed for studio) · delay
Fender Stratocaster → Korg SDD-3000 → TC Electronic 2290 → Vox AC30 (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- chimey and glassy highs
- clean, percussive attack
- lush, ambient delay repeats
- dynamic and responsive
- clear note separation
- minimal breakup
- open and spacious
- rhythmic, kinetic repeats
- no audible compression or drive