eight dotted delay (U2)

Hi,

As I understand it, there are actually two delays on Streets. The first and most prominent in the mix is the dotted eighth delay (only one clean repeat no more). Set that to follow tempo at 126 bpm. The second is lower in the mix and adds the feel of 16ths being played on a hi hat. It’s hard to describe but definitely makes a difference to the authenticity of the sound. This is a shorter delay. I will check my profiler for the settings later and post again. Can’t remember off the top of my head.

I’ve also found the way you mute the g string on the two notes F# and G makes a difference. If you let the G ring out while you complete the cycle of notes, it tends to dominate the frequency range, muddying the whole pattern and diminishes the effect of the staccato rhythm so essential to the chime of the notes. It’s a delicate balance and you have to use your left hand fingers to get it right not a palm mute. Using Blue Herdim picks turned around so that you scratch the strings with the dotted Edge (do you see what I did there….RIP Steve Wright…) will give the right kind of pick attack. Increasing the pick setting in the Amp module to elevate the impact of the pick by a couple of points helps.

Edge does use modulated delays but be subtle on this song, too much modulation just creates mud.

Low Pass between 80- 100 and keep the high pass under control too eg, somewhere between 5000-5500hz. This gives a more natural speaker response. I also use morph to use Panorama setting move the guitar from centre for the opening and close of the song to somewhere left of centre during the verses and chorus to give more width and get out of the way of vocals a bit. Not hard panned left obviously.

Apparently Edge’s tone is all from his amps (mostly old AC30s including a 1964 Copper Top Boost in an 70’s cabinet with at least one Silver Bell/Bulldog speaker and a Alnico blue celestion) and various Fender Blues juniors with blue celestions which he uses to add his shimmer. There are no fx loops, no post amp fx’s as such, everything on that enormous rack of his goes to the inputs on the amps. Other than what is slapped on at the desk to manage the live mix, his entire sound is what comes out of those amps.

That’s what I’ve read and what Dallas (his guitar tech since The Joshua Tree tour 1987) has suggested is the case.

Cheers

Pre-Amp

Apologies for the book!

I expect you are all on Edge by now! 🙂

Paying for ready-made, song specific profiles has never gone well for me. It works for others - and that’s great. They might be the *exact* sound the artist had.

But if it doesn’t ‘do it’ for me….whats that matter?

Quote from DonPetersen

playing convincing U2 guitar lines is no small feat. setting up the delay(s) is just one piece of the puzzle. I takes rock solid timing and consistency.
just playing simple 8th notes with a dotted 8th note delay isn't as simple as it sounds.

No….it is not. We often confuse simple with easy. That’s one reason the Edge is permanently underrated as a guitarist. He doesn’t ‘fit’ the traditional gun-slinger style.

Playing Where The Streets Have No Name…..your right wrist had better be loose and up to the task. The figures played aren’t that tough…..but keeping time with that rhythm for *five* minutes?

Ouch.

Be limbered up on that one.

theplayer - I have an idea on how to grasp the feel of a dotted-eighth delay. The pulse is where it’s at. I’ll see if I can’t record something later and share it. Nothing fancy….. I’ve been where you are and crawled the walls sorting it out.

Wasn't trying to say you weren't an experienced player. You've been a member here longer than I have.

Make sure you aren't making this delay issue harder than it needs to be.

I checked again and found that the delay preset I uploaded is from "Maurizio70". Here's another video. The Kemper software was older back then, but still a pretty good result.

Sorry, been away from this thread for a few hours. Yes I did get low and high pass the wrong way around! Ooops!

Will get back about that second delay.

Pre-Amp

I would use the dual delay, set the note value and then use Tap Tempo. This would allow you to use the same setup on different tracks