Riff Tone

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (mid-1970s, black, likely with stock humbuckers)

AmpVox AC30 (US-made, late 1960s, with Celestion Alnico Blue Bulldogs)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely T-Top or similar, stock for 1970s Les Paul Custom)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb3

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

modulationDigitech Digitech Whammy

fuzzLovetone Lovetone Big Cheese

compressionBoss Boss Compression Sustainer CS-2

delayTC Electronic TC Electronic 2290 Digital Delay

Notes

Studio recording, 1994-1995. Gear confirmed by U2 tech Dallas Schoo and era-specific interviews. The Edge is known to use his Les Paul Custom for the riff section of this track, through his signature Vox AC30. Effects chain includes heavy use of Whammy and Lovetone Big Cheese fuzz for this song's riff. Settings are estimated based on typical Edge studio rig and genre/era.

Tone Character(10)

fuzzed-out, synth-like leadoctave-shifting riffcompressed and sustainingaggressive, saturated fuzztight and percussive attackbright but thickmodulated delay trailsslightly scooped midsharmonic overtonesprocessed, modern rock edge

Difficulty

The riff requires tight rhythmic accuracy, creative use of the Whammy pedal for pitch shifts, and control over a saturated fuzz tone, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Sources

A Study of The Edge’s Guitar Delay (U2)Music Mixing Analysis: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me "Hold Me Thrill Me" tone check - full record [Archive]

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