Riff Tone

Mysterious Ways

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by The Edge on Achtung Baby sessions)

AmpVox AC30 (main studio amp for Achtung Baby era, confirmed for Mysterious Ways sessions)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster configuration)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb3.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

modulationKorg Korg A3 Multi-Effects Processor (Envelope Filter/Auto-Wah preset)

flangerUnknown Flanger pedal (model unknown, likely from Korg A3 preset)

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely from Korg A3 or rack unit)

Notes

Studio recording, 1991, Achtung Baby sessions. The Edge used a Stratocaster into a Vox AC30, with the Korg A3 multi-effects processor for the signature modulation/filter sound. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section in the studio recording.

Tone Character(10)

percussive and funkybright and chimeymodulated, swirling filter effecttight and compressedquacky envelope filterclean with slight edge-of-breakupharmonically rich modulationgroovy, syncopated rhythmpresent upper mids and trebleprocessed, studio-polished

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, syncopated rhythm playing with precise muting and dynamic control, especially challenging when combined with the pronounced envelope filter and modulation effects.

Sources

U2 Pedals & Effects Recommendations : r/guitarpedals Achtung Baby guitar tone : r/U2Band What to buy to sound like the Edge from U2 ?Here is my guitar cover of Mysterious Ways. Check it out ...

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