« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3 4

I want to play like The Edge... on a budget

  • 46 Replies
  • 8608 Views
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« on: November 18, 2019, 03:46:27 AM »
Watching Darth Vader use a drum and bass track and play a few basic notes on guitar made me realise I can do a lot better than that! So I'm getting a guitar and amp and I'm hellbent on playing Angel of Harlem, With Or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and all of Edge's jangly guitar hits by this time next year. What budget guitar should I get, and what other technological wizardry do I need?
« Last Edit: November 18, 2019, 03:56:07 AM by The Edges Cat »
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

riffraff

  • *
  • 49870
  • Surrender, dislocate
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2019, 05:00:14 AM »
Wow...I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but this is very cool! I played guitar (and piano) when I was young, but I can't advise you on anything now. My first guitar - my Dad found it at an old junk store - was what the guy called "a Spanish guitar". A year later, we found an old Gibson at another junk store, and THAT was the one I really learned to play well.
Cat, I envy you your newest adventure - PLAY ON, LAD!
Logged
Surrender, dislocate
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2019, 05:37:23 AM »
I used to be able to play Desire, All I Want Is You, Angel of Harlem, the opening notes of Streets. Somehow I've forgotten it all. :/
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

riffraff

  • *
  • 49870
  • Surrender, dislocate
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2019, 05:48:35 AM »
I think it will come back quickly...
Logged
Surrender, dislocate
*

laoghaire

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 9012
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2019, 08:30:40 AM »
Here's a take from A NON EXPERT.

There are 3 gizmos that are relevant.

2 of them are delays. You buy two delays (that is, two of the same product) and set one to eighths and the other to dotted eighths.

The other is some kind of effects pedal, but that is a more complicated question because Edge uses different effects for different songs. I recall his first pedal was a Memory Man, so that should probably cover the 80s catalog.

As a non expert, I don't believe the guitar is important for approximating the sound on a basic/budget level - just something decent enough. Same with the amp, you'll want to be happy but an amp won't turn your playing into The Edge, it's the delay and pedal that are the key.

That's what I have gathered, anyway. I have never touched a delay or pedal in my life, and I (sniff) sold my guitar and amp a long time ago.
Logged
WINNER: Thread of the YEAR (Serious Awards)
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2019, 07:07:16 PM »
Yep it's all about the pedal and delay tech. I'll ask a friend who's lead singer of a U2 cover band (just retired).
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

laoghaire

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 9012
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2019, 07:09:17 PM »
You have access to such a resource and you asked US?
Logged
WINNER: Thread of the YEAR (Serious Awards)
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2019, 07:12:56 PM »
Haha. Yep!

And I found this, lol it's exactly what I'm looking for!

https://thatdelaypedal.com/2018/10/12/how-to-sound-like-the-edge-on-a-budget/
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

laoghaire

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 9012
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2019, 07:13:58 PM »
Dude, are you doing SEM for that site or something??
Logged
WINNER: Thread of the YEAR (Serious Awards)
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2019, 07:21:04 PM »
Quote from: laoghaire on November 18, 2019, 07:13:58 PM
Dude, are you doing SEM for that site or something??

LOL Nah, I just found another tight-assed U2 fan too cheap to buy the good gear!
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

laoghaire

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 9012
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2019, 07:26:00 PM »
I suppose there are three or four.

Honestly, if my life were different, I'd be doing the same. Just for fun, I'm no good - but honestly, yeah, I could do as good as Darth Vader there. And it would be FUN.
Logged
WINNER: Thread of the YEAR (Serious Awards)
*

guest28

Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2019, 07:33:51 AM »
Sound like The Edge without busting the bank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZou478Hzco
Logged
*

guest28

Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2019, 07:34:47 AM »
Sounding like The Edge by busting the bank

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rknk1FL9358
Logged
*

The Edges Cat

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 4661
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2019, 06:13:40 PM »
Thanks Smee, I was looking at this one too. I reckon I'll look for second hand gear for the stuff he used in the '80's.
Logged
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.
*

Loyal Deserter

  • Status: Experienced Mofo
  • *****
  • 3738
  • In a room full of martyrs, who gets the credit?
Re: I want to play like The Edge... on a budget
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2019, 02:37:19 AM »
One trick that costs a few bucks and actually makes a huge difference.  Get a pick with dotted grips like below:

Now, flip the pick backwards and pluck the strings using the grippy part rather than the smooth part as normal.  Gives you that distinctive Edge attack.  He does this on almost every song, I think.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4
« previous next »