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lead guitar from “beautiful day” by u2 | ToneDB

beautiful day

u2

lead guitar

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Tone Profile

A bright, chiming, and percussive guitar tone, defined by its signature rhythmic dotted-eighth note delay that creates an ethereal, driving texture.

Signal Chain

Instrument: 1973 Fender Stratocaster (Black, maple neck)

Amp: 1964 Vox AC30 Top Boost (Brilliant Channel or Normal Channel with treble emphasized)

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (or clone), Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay (preamp active, dotted 8th note delay)

Other: Herdim blue nylon pick (using dimpled edge for percussive attack). Delay set to dotted 8th note (approx. 331ms at 136 BPM), 2-3 repeats, prominent mix level. AC30 set on the verge of breakup for chime and sustain.

Recording Notes

  • The core of the sound is the interplay between a clean, bright Fender Stratocaster, a Vox AC30, and a Korg SDD-3000 delay.
  • The Edge famously uses Herdim picks (often the dimpled side) for a unique, scraping attack that enhances the brightness and percussive quality.
  • The delay is set to a dotted eighth note relative to the song's tempo (approx. 136 BPM), creating the characteristic rhythmic pulse.
  • The Korg SDD-3000's own preamp is an integral part of the tone, adding character, brightness, and often a slight boost to the signal hitting the amp.
  • The Vox AC30 is typically run clean enough for clarity in the arpeggios but pushed enough by the guitar and effects to achieve its characteristic chime and subtle compression.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a Strat-style guitar, preferably with single-coil pickups, utilizing the bridge or bridge/middle pickup positions for maximum brightness.
  • Dial in a clean to slightly gritty tone on a Vox AC30 or a similar EL84-based amplifier. Focus on achieving a bright, chiming sound with good note definition.
  • The dotted eighth note delay is crucial. For a tempo of 136 BPM, the delay time is approximately 331ms. Ensure the delay mix is high enough to be a core component of the sound, with 2-3 clear repeats.
  • Experiment with pick attack: try using the edge of your pick or a textured pick (like a Herdim) to emulate The Edge's percussive, scraping technique.
  • A treble booster pedal placed before the delay and amp can significantly help in achieving the required chime and cut, pushing the amp's top-end frequencies.
  • Engage the preamp section of your delay pedal if it has one (especially if it's an SDD-3000 model or emulation) as this is key to The Edge's sound.

Sources