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

U2 · 1980s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1983 Fender Stratocaster (black, rosewood board, stock pickups)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock 1983 Stratocaster pickups)
Amp
Vox AC30 (pre-1966, Top Boost circuit)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1986-1987 (The Joshua Tree sessions). The Edge used his black 1983 Stratocaster into a Vox AC30 for the solo. Pedals and effects were routed via a Custom Audio Electronics switching system. Settings and pedal choices are based on studio-era evidence, not later live rigs.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
4.5
Reverb
5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay · delay
  • Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive · overdrive
  • Pearl Graphic EQ · eq

Fender Stratocaster → Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive → Pearl Graphic EQ → Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay → Vox AC30 (spring reverb on)

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Tone Character

  • bright and articulate
  • chimey top end
  • spacious and ambient
  • singing sustain
  • lush echo repeats
  • edge-of-breakup clarity
  • full but not muddy
  • slightly compressed
  • clean with subtle grit
  • distinct rhythmic delay

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio pedalboard photo from Joshua Tree sessions, but multiple sources confirm black Strat and Vox AC30 for this era and song.
  • ⚠️Amp settings are estimated based on Guitar World and typical Edge AC30 settings for this tone.
  • ⚠️Delay pedal model is not explicitly confirmed for the studio solo, but Korg SDD-3000 is highly likely based on era and sound.
  • ⚠️Presence control on AC30 Top Boost is not always present; value estimated for tone balance.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, flanger, or phaser in the solo section—delay is the primary effect.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Edge's 'With or Without You' solo tone is clean with a hint of breakup, relying on a Vox AC30 with moderate bass, forward mids, and bright but not harsh treble. Presence is slightly above neutral for clarity, and reverb is subtle, as most of the ambience comes from delay pedals and studio effects.

Sources