Tone Profile

A bright, chiming, and rhythmically complex guitar tone, defined by a signature dotted eighth note delay that creates a cascading, atmospheric, and anthemic sound.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, for the album 'The Joshua Tree' (1987).
• Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.
• The Edge's delay is meticulously timed to the song's tempo (approximately 126 BPM).
• The Korg SDD-3000's built-in preamp and input/output attenuators were crucial in shaping the guitar's tone before the delay effect.
• The distinctive percussive attack comes from using the textured side of a Herdim pick.
• Daniel Lanois often favored close miking amps, sometimes with a touch of room mic for ambience.

Recreation Tips

• Use a Fender Stratocaster, bridge pickup or position 2 (bridge + middle) for brightness.
• A Vox AC30 or a similar EL84-based amplifier (e.g., Matchless DC30) is key, set to a clean or edge-of-breakup tone on the Top Boost channel.
• A high-quality digital delay capable of dotted eighth notes is essential. Set the delay time to approximately 357ms (for 126 BPM). Adjust feedback for 3-4 audible repeats and set the mix level so the delay is almost as loud as the dry signal.
• Use a heavy gauge pick with a textured grip (like a Herdim or Dunlop Max-Grip) and strike the strings with the edge or textured surface for a brighter, scraping attack.
• Place the delay unit before the amplifier's input. The Edge's SDD-3000 was often run with its preamp slightly boosting the signal into the AC30.
• Experiment with two delay units if possible: one for the main dotted eighth rhythm and a second, more subtle delay (e.g., quarter note) to add depth.
• Roll back the guitar's volume knob slightly to clean up the tone and add chime, then increase for more sustain or drive if needed.

Original Gear

• Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster(guitar)
• Fender Player Stratocaster(guitar)
• Vox AC30C2 Custom(amp)
• Korg SDD-3000 Pedal (reissue)(pedal)
• Boss DD-8 Digital Delay(pedal)
• Universal Audio UAFX Starlight Echo Station(pedal)
• Dunlop Herdim Nylon Picks Heavy Gauge (e.g., Blue 1.10mm or Yellow 0.88mm)(other)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Sennheiser MD 421-II(mic)