GuitarDistortedSolo
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
Mids7
Bass6
Gain4.5
Reverb5
Treble7
Presence6
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