U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

lousy_player

lousy_player

New member
Hey guys,

What are your suggestions on pickups that would get me close to his sound?

His '76 reissue had super low output T-Tops with AlNiCo V magnets...

Resistance around 7.5k on both neck AND bridge pickups.

Suggestions? Look for a pair of T-Tops? Something else?

What do you fellas think?
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

WCR crossroads or Duncan APHs with A5 magnets (the 59 come over too strong)
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

if you can find a gibson 490 set for cheap used, get'em and stick a5 magnets in there. they're wound a little hotter, but can definitely get you that type of tone. i've been using an a5 490r in the neck of my SG for the last few weeks, and with some delay into a vox-ey setting on my amp, it can do the U2 thing real well. remember to use the back edge of a medium pick too, that's what gets that crisp chime.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

I think I'm leaning towards Antiquities. Remember, I'm not in a U2 cover band; I'll be using this guitar to play other stuff as well. I DO want to get super close, though.

What do you think? Antiquity set?
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

IMO...pickups have very little to do with the edges sound. He runs through sooooo many effects that subtle differences between different vintage style pups are probably gonna be mostly lost.

A5 ants will probably put you in the ballpark since they are slightly smoother than the 59s i think. Plus they just straight rock as a pickup. I still stand by my original disclaimer that the edges sound has way way more to do with his massive FX set up though.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

I agree, Edge's unbelievable stable of fx contributes mightily to his sound. I was thinking more of the Boy & War era tones.

Back then I think his board had a Dynacomp a Boss overdrive and some MemoryMan-s.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

Also, hook up to a VOX AC30. I'd go with A5 lower output humbuckers.

I played an AC15CC this week with a stock Epiphone 335 and Les Paul, and it sounded just like our man Edge.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

lousy_player said:
I was thinking more of the Boy & War era tones.
Click to expand...

Yeah in those days the effects rig was pretty simple - Memory Man, maybe a chorus... it certainly was simple enough to let the Explorer/AC30 combo be heard. I would think for your general-purpose-rock-with-an-Edge-flavor needs, a simple 59 set would do. Spring for the Antiquities if you want.

I recently dropped my bridge pickup a notch from the Custom 5 to a 59 largely because I wasn't happy with my sound for a recent performance of "I Will Follow". Unfortunately, it will be a year before I can try it again and see if the fix worked.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

scottish said:
IMO...pickups have very little to do with the edges sound. He runs through sooooo many effects that subtle differences between different vintage style pups are probably gonna be mostly lost.

A5 ants will probably put you in the ballpark since they are slightly smoother than the 59s i think. Plus they just straight rock as a pickup. I still stand by my original disclaimer that the edges sound has way way more to do with his massive FX set up though.
Click to expand...

we saw them in 05, and way up in the cheap seats, the effects mostly get lost too, he does sound really voxy though.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

Just wanted to drop by this thread and say....

He gets SOME TONE outta anything he plays!!

Love it!!

tc
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

Yeah, he's my fave guitarist for sure. I appreciate the comments, guys. Incidentally, I'm OK amp wise. It's just that I've always been kinda close on guitar sound... but never close enough for my liking. Even the new-er stuff, All That You Can't Leave Behind, etc., Edge just drills that classic Explorer + Vox combo... minimal weirdness, just Guitar, overdrive, and delay.

Goes to show just how much a player's tone really IS in the hands.
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

lousy_player said:
I agree, Edge's unbelievable stable of fx contributes mightily to his sound. I was thinking more of the Boy & War era tones.

Back then I think his board had a Dynacomp a Boss overdrive and some MemoryMan-s.
Click to expand...

I was going to point that out... early Edge was quite a different setup than his modern rack.

What era did he use the Explorer, the very early stuff? Was he using more Strat for Joshua Tree?

Pink Unicorn Horsey said:
His Herdim picks may have more to do with his sound than his pickups. I'm not even joking here.

Just be aware that they're pricey.

- Keith
Click to expand...

$10 for a pick!?!?! :wrf:
 
Re: U2: The Edge's Explorer Tone - Ideas?

PFDarkside said:
I was going to point that out... early Edge was quite a different setup than his modern rack.

What era did he use the Explorer, the very early stuff? Was he using more Strat for Joshua Tree?
Click to expand...

The Explorer was around all the time on Boy and War and then was shelved for the Black Strats and Cream Les Pauls of the late 80s / early 90s.

Explorer made a huge comeback around 2000.
 
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