I mentioned a few things a while back but I will add this:
For beginning? A decent guitar, delay w/modulation and a decent amp. This set-up will allow you to play a lot of the first three albums. I always recommend that to those who want to learn U2 tunes.
Why? A few reasons but first and foremost, Edge used LESS gear and it will be easier to dial in tones.
Guitar-wise, much of the first 3 albums were done on the Explorer. The Stratocaster seems to have been used more and more starting with October.
As a starting guitar, I don't recommend a Telecaster. Edge hasn't used them on many things; certainly not live. And other than their 2005 cover of "Instant Karma" (played on the Lake Placid Blue `66 Tele), it's pretty much been "The Unforgettable Fire" (which isn't tuned to standard), "Vertigo" and "Get On Your Boots".
Will the Tele work on Strat tunes? Sure but you might find the tone to be a bit thin, compared to the Strat - and really thin compared to the Explorer songs.
Early stuff, a lot of the overdrive came from manipulating the volume knob on the guitar. The mistake I see many make is to turn the volume and tone controls all the way up. Mistake - it doesn't leave you with a lot of tonal options either.
If you put your amp volume where it will be clean or close to clean when the guitar volume is at 6, it will overdrive more and more as you bring the guitar volume up.
Delay. There are a lot of decent delays out there. What to get depends on your budget. I have heard some talk about the Memory Boy. I think that there are better options. But try one and let your ears be the judge. Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man will get you right in that Boy thru War era delay tone. Set the modulation to 'vibrato' and not 'chorus' (a common mistake).
If you feel the need to have an overdrive, a Boss SD-1 or Boss OD-2 are great pedals. The SD-1 is similar to an Ibanez Tubescreamer (another great choice).
Amp-wise - it depends on your audience, as it were. If you are learning and playing at home and can't turn the amp up... a AC4 would be great. Why? It has the power-scaling, so you can get the tone and overdrive from the amp but at 'bedroom-volumes'.
Vox AC30 or AC15 are also good choices. And for $500-ish, Fender Blues Jr's are money well spent. I recommend any of the Blues Junior III Limited Editions, versus the standard black tolex models. The Limited Editions, depending on which one, have different (upgraded) speakers and other components.
With these basic, taking some time to play and experiment with volume and tone settings on the amp and guitar, and learning your gear will serve you well.
Just my thought on the subject.
