I have been given information that Edge uses a Boss FA-1 FET amp pedal in his set-up but is no longer available and very rare. An alternative to this is a DOD FX10 BiFET Preamp but this too seems impossible to find! Also, the MXR Dynacomp compressor pedal he uses is also impossible to obtain, in England at least.
Can anyone please give me further information as to currently available equipment that can be used instead of the above to produce the same effects
Thankyou
PEACE!
Tone starts with YOUR hands and your picking technique.
Proof?
I've seen The Edge play with ONLY a Les Paul > EH Memory Man > vintage Vox (all of which were not his) and STILL sound like The Edge. This in June of 2003 when he played with Daniel Lanois in Hollywood.
More proof?
Bono has said that he's played Edge's guitar with Edge's effects, amps and settings and it sounded crap. Not to get into who thinks or thinks not that Bono can play guitar okay or now. But the proof is in the pudding.
The player is a key element to one's tone.
That said, Boss FA-1's are far to pricey for what they are worth and do. If you want to waste $500+ it is up to you... when and if you see one on Ebay.
DOD BiFets show up on Ebay from time to time. I have two. One I got for $20.00 and the other for $18.50! While maybe not as collectible and the sound a bit different from the FA-1, the $400+ in price shows me that the DOD can do the job and is a far better and economical choice.
As for MXR Dyna-Comp, MXR makes them now. But the reissues do not sound as good as the vintage, so buyer beware.
First and foremost, as mentioned, you are a big part of the tone. Practice, practice, practice.
That said, a good guitar that is set up well, stays in tune and doesn't have any fret buzz will get you a long way.
Second, a decent amp. A 100.00 Vox Pathfinder is a good start. A $500.00Fender Blues Jr. is a good choice if you've a bit more money. And if you've the money, a Vox AC30.
A decent overdrive pedal: Boss OD-2, OD-2r, SD-1, Ibanez T9 or 808 reissue, Maxon Tubescreamer equivalents that are just as good as vintage (as Maxon MADE the vintage versions for Ibanez in the 1970's). There are other OD's that will get more extreme tones but you might want to start with one of the OD's listed above first before getting a Death By Audio OD or Sobbat Drivebreaker or Boss PW-2.
The other key ingredient is a decent delay unit. Boss DD-20 is a great delay to get some decent Edge delay. Eventide Time Factor is good too. The key are delays with 'mod delay'.
Good luck and good tone.
That