TonesMatch
With or Without You — U21 / 2
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With or Without You Riff Guitar Tone Settings — U2

U2 · 1980s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (modified with Infinite Guitar system)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (Infinite Guitar system active on bridge pickup)
Amp
Vox AC30 (pre-1966, likely Top Boost model)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Infinite Guitar system active)

Studio recording, 1986-1987 (The Joshua Tree sessions). The Edge used a modified Stratocaster with the Infinite Guitar system for infinite sustain. The Vox AC30 was his main amp in the studio for this song. Settings and effects are for the CLEAN, sustained riff section, not the solo or live versions.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
2
Reverb
5
Treble
7
Presence
5

Effects Chain

  • Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay · delay
  • Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive (set for clean boost, not distortion) · overdrive
  • Pearl Graphic EQ (used in 'Infinite Sustain' loop) · eq
  • Infinite Guitar system (sustain device, built into guitar) · other

Fender Stratocaster (Infinite Guitar system) → Boss SD-1 (clean boost) → Pearl Graphic EQ → Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay → Vox AC30 (spring reverb on)

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Tone Character

  • clean and ambient
  • lush sustain
  • chimey highs
  • pronounced dotted eighth-note delay
  • bright and articulate
  • smooth and glassy
  • full-bodied
  • open and spacious
  • minimal attack, softened by compression
  • ethereal, floating quality

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Exact amp knob settings are estimated based on Guitar World lesson and typical Vox AC30 clean settings for this era and genre.
  • ⚠️The Infinite Guitar system is confirmed for the studio recording, but not used live.
  • ⚠️Delay pedal model is not explicitly confirmed for the studio version, but a digital delay (Korg SDD-3000 or similar) is highly likely based on era and The Edge's known gear.
  • ⚠️Presence setting is estimated, as Vox AC30s of this era may not have a dedicated presence knob; value given for completeness.
  • ⚠️No chorus, flanger, or phaser is audible or cited for the clean riff section.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Edge's tone on 'With or Without You' is clean with a slight breakup, using a Vox AC30 with moderate bass, forward mids, and bright but not harsh treble. Presence is neutral, and reverb is subtle, as most of the ambience comes from delay effects rather than amp reverb.

Sources