The Edge from U2: A Study in OCD? (Rig Rundown)

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esetter

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The same thought crossed my mind as I watched that RR. It's pretty nice to have the luxury to be as particular as he is and have someone to assist you with it. Of course it goes without saying that he and the rest of the band earned it. Good stuff!
 

Macrogats

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If you just squint at it, I can see how one could say that. But this seems to be a serious misunderstanding of his abilities and talent.

Totally agree. I play a good half dozen U2 songs in my duo, and whilst some may seem simple songs, they each have their challenges. The great thing is I love playing them.

As for the Edge's set up - it's the heartbeat of the U2 sound, and needs to be perfect. I give all credit to the guy.
 

MilwMark

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I don't particularly like U2. Nor Edge's delay thing.

BUT, I have learned a TON from that guy about less truly being more. Why play 6 notes when 2 will do. Why strum a cord when a staccato fragment or simple, partial arpeggio fits the bill?

We just did a live radio show last night. I was slightly appalled and bored with how little I was playing (lots of elements in the band), though that allowed me to focus very carefully on vocals. When I heard the playback this morning, I was again schooled by how great those little accents sounded sitting in the song, and how the overall songs would have suffered if I had played more.

The Edge doesn't overplay, is all. So many guitarists could learn from that.
 
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Southpaw Tele

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Honestly, I saw them in Tempe in '92 and he sounded fantastic. Of course, my ears were ringing from the Pixies, so it was tough to hear anything.
 

chris m.

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Less is more, I agree. Rhythm guitar playing is highly underrated. Guitar playing styles that rely heavily on effects-- to the point
that it is almost like being a synth player-- are also not really appreciated by most guitarists. I see both sides of it. I can respect
a person as an artist, composer, and musician-- especially someone as successful as The Edge-- without necessarily thinking of him
as a great guitarist in the conventional sense. I also have to give him credit for his originality. He was probably the first person I ever
heard of who figured out how to use delay in a very unique, innovative way. If he copied it from someone else, that someone else
was probably pretty obscure. Of course I'm not an expert on 80s New Wave so maybe someone prominent was already doing it before
The Edge.
 

theprofessor

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I don't particularly like U2. Nor Edge's delay thing.

BUT, I have learned a TON from that guy about less truly being more. Why play 6 notes when 2 will do. Why strum a cord when a staccato fragment or simple, partial arpeggio fits the bill?

We just did a live radio show last night. I was slightly appalled and bored with how little I was playing (lots of elements in the band), though that allowed me to focus very carefully on vocals. When I heard the playback this morning, I was again schooled by how great those little accents sounded sitting in the song, and how the overall songs would have suffered if I had played more.

The Edge doesn't overplay, is all. So many guitarists could learn from that.
It seems to me that each of the members of that band has his limitations and talents. And yet what I find remarkable about them is that each of them has learned to play perfectly within those limitations. That's why I think they're a great band. They're a great band.
 

Edgar Allan Presley

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It looks like U2's band members and crew work hard to make sure things sound right for the people who pay a lot of money to see them. I'm not a big U2 fan, but I respect how the Edge created a textural guitar sound that is musical and immediately identifiable as completely his. That's hard to do with guitar.
 

McGlamRock

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I like the Edge. The video was interesting (especially the part about the frankensteined Vox amp), but I wish they'd have gone over his effects rig. I know Edge uses a lot of delay, but I wonder if he uses a modeler or something like that, or perhaps a ton of pedals. I mean if the guy uses 40 guitars and 5 amps in one night, is 200 pedals a conservative estimate?
 

RL52

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I think it was on Its Going to Get Loud they show him playing in his practice place with a Line 6 M13 and keeping a notebook of everything.
 

bender66

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I think it was on Its Going to Get Loud they show him playing in his practice place with a Line 6 M13 and keeping a notebook of everything.
The look on Edge's & Whites face when Page launches into Whole Lotta Love is awesome.

As an early U2 fan I still dig on Edge although I cant think of anything they've done lately that moves me. Under A Blood Red Sky is still one of my favorite concerts from the War tour.

I really thought the techs story on how Lanois landed him the gig was incredible.
 

nojazzhere

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I knew he used a lot of effects and amps, but his need for control of every parameter escaped me. Holy cow!

Obsessive?.....yes. Compulsive?.....probably. Disorder?.....NO WAY! I like Edge and U2, although I really play nothing like him....I'm a "Keep It Simple" guy. I generally use one or two guitars, one or two amps, and an eight pedal board. Actually, I prefer using my Tele and Blues Junior III, the other stuff is more for backup. It would be interesting to sit down with The Edge, each of us with a guitar and little amp, and have a jam.....I bet he can play without all the flashy gear.
 
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