Solo Tone

With or Without You

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarMichael Brook Infinite Guitar (modified Stratocaster, used for infinite sustain on solo)

AmpVox AC30 (pre-1966, main studio amp for The Joshua Tree era)

PickupsSingle-coil (Stratocaster style, custom modded for infinite sustain)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb6

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveBoss Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

eqPearl Pearl Graphic EQ

delayKorg or TC Electronic Delay pedal (likely Korg SDD-3000 or TC Electronic 2290)

Notes

Studio recording, 1986-1987, The Joshua Tree sessions. The Infinite Guitar was used specifically for the solo section to achieve the signature sustained notes. Vox AC30 was the primary amp. Pedals and effects were routed through a complex switching system.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainambient and etherealchimey top-endsmooth, glassy attacklush, atmospheric textureclear note definitionminimal crunch, mostly clean with edgelong, blooming notesmodest overdrivesignature dotted 8th delay repeats

Difficulty

The solo is technically straightforward but requires precise timing with the delay, careful control of sustained notes, and dynamic sensitivity to achieve the smooth, atmospheric tone.

Sources

The Edge's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard The Edge's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard (page 6)The Edge guitar lesson: how to use a delay like the U2 genius | Guitar World

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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