Guitarists: How do you produce these particularly exotic sounds?

[Mike 03]

Part of the problem here is I'm not quite even sure how to ask the questions I wish to ask, but they have to do with how to reproduce the sounds of particular bands; U2 and the Jesus and Mary Chain.

1. The Edge. I'm learning a few U2 songs and they seem to involve extremely novel sounds that I'm not able to replicate on my current system. (To be specific, it is Achtung Baby, but I also want to move into the sounds on Zooropa). What is he doing, if you know, and what equipment does an amateur guitarist need to replicate these effects? Thanks... Is this a sound I should be able to reproduce by fiddling with these common tuners, or is he doing something so unique that it is not really something I should expect to be able to reproduce myself.

2. The Jesus and Mary Chain. Talk about feedback. Even though they are basically retired, do any J&MC fans know how they got that intense feedback that they did? I have been unable to reproduce it with any equipment I have, not that I'm any expert. I would love to know what equipment they were using during the "Honey's Dead" through "Munki" tours.

Thanks.

[bluesbassman]

1. I'd look into a multi processor.

Digitech makes some pretty good ones. There are others too. An effect pedal like this will supply you with a whole range that you can use to emulate the sounds of different guitarists, plus explore your own sound. Good luck and have fun!

http://www.digitech.com/multieffects.php

[driver8]

2. This might seem like a strange suggestion, but this will help you...

Go to youtube and type in "U2 Guitar" -- check out some guys playing songs you like. If they sound like you want to sound, ask them what they are using.

Some of the people even explain how they are getting certain sounds in their videos.

Good luck!

[no name no slogan]

3. www.guitargeek.com

GuitarGeek has scads of listings for guitarists and their equipment rigs, listed by guitarist, band and even by year/tour.

As for the Edge, think delay-- most likely digital delay. And think more than one. In my own rig, I use a multi-fx processor for one of my delays, and then run that through another dedicated stereo digital delay processor. It allows you to layer sounds and create something that sounds almost like a synth.

Also, if you're trying for feedback, a smaller amp will give you more noise and feedback than a larger amp. In fact, in most recording studios, they use combo amps for the heavily distorted guitar parts, and then just mix those loud in the final mix. I've found that I get "bigger" guitar sounds on recordings by using a 10w amp with a fuzzbox than I do using an overdriven 120w 2x12 combo amp. And if you're looking for that really fuzzy distorted sound, take a razor blade to the speaker cones on your amp-- that's how Dave Davies got the original fuzz tone in the 60s.

Also, a guitarist's sound is not just effects, amps and guitars. A lot if it is technique. Two guitarists playing identical rigs can sound completely different, based on how they play. After all, Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden and The Edge of U2 both play Gibson Explorers, but they don't sound like each other at all.

[DS1]

4. "The Edge" aka "Whaddadouche" has more effects pedals than pianos have keys

[guitar man]

5. The Edge

The Edge seems to like to play with a lot of delay, often set to slap back with the tempo of the song. And that distinctive ringing overtone you hear in his tone has a lot to do with the Vox AC 30 amps he likes to play through. That's what I've noticed anyway.

[mitchum]

6. The Edge (what a stupid name) uses tons of digital delay into a shitty Roland amp

The JAMC used high gain amps and high gain distortion units. There is also a ton of white noise carefully mixed into those great records they made.