For years, guitarists have chased the延續ive and atmospheric guitar tones that define U2’s iconic anthem, “Streets Have No Name.” Capturing The Edge’s signature sound from this track is a coveted goal, often attempted but rarely truly nailed. Many find themselves scrolling through countless rig presets, searching for that elusive sonic fingerprint, often falling short of the genuine article.
Driven by this very quest, I embarked on a detailed exploration to dissect and rebuild this legendary guitar sound. Countless hours of research and meticulous tweaking have culminated in a Kemper Profiler rig designed to bring you closer than ever to the sound you know and love from “Streets Have No Name.” You can find this meticulously crafted rig available on Rig Manager under the label “U2 Streets,” ready to download and explore.
The foundation of this sonic recreation began with analyzing existing rigs, notably a preset by Ryan Baker titled “U2 Still Haven’t Found.” This rig offered a solid starting point with its VOX AC30 amp profile (initially without a cabinet). Recognizing the crucial role of the cabinet in shaping the final tone, I immediately engaged the cabinet simulation within the Kemper.
Further investigation into The Edge’s setup for “Streets Have No Name” revealed several key components essential to achieving that signature shimmer and spaciousness. The song is famously played on a Fender Stratocaster, utilizing the bridge and middle pickups in combination (position 2 on the pickup selector). This pickup configuration provides the bright, articulate attack necessary for the song’s distinctive arpeggiated chords. This signal is then fed into a VOX AC30 amplifier, renowned for its chimey cleans and responsive overdrive.
Crucially, a compressor is placed at the very front of the signal chain. This compressor is vital for evening out the dynamics and sustain of the guitar signal, creating a consistent and controlled foundation for the subsequent effects.
The magic of The Edge’s sound truly unfolds with his masterful use of delay. His setup for “Streets Have No Name” involves a sophisticated delay configuration. The signal is first routed through a slapback delay, creating a subtle doubling effect. This slap delay output is then split and fed into two separate delay engines. In my Kemper rig, I’ve recreated this initial slapback using a single delay module set to 100ms with a 50% mix. This adds a touch of thickness and rhythmic complexity right from the start.
For the primary delay textures, I employed the Kemper’s Dual Delay module, allowing for independent control over two distinct delay lines. The first delay is set to 524 milliseconds, while the second, acting as the primary delay, is set to 350 milliseconds. The balance between these delays is carefully weighted towards the primary 350ms delay, ensuring it remains the dominant rhythmic element. Feedback settings are also tailored to create the characteristic echoing repeats: 33% feedback for the primary delay and a more subtle 6% for the longer secondary delay. The overall mix between the two delays is set to 31.6%, positioning the 524ms delay as a subtle, almost single slapback reinforcement to the main rhythmic delay. This intricate interplay of delay times and feedback levels is key to the spacious and rhythmic character of the “Streets Have No Name” sound.
To complete the sonic landscape, a hall reverb is added at the end of the effects chain. This reverb provides the expansive, ambient space that envelops the guitar signal. The reverb settings are configured with a pre-delay of 160ms and a decay time of 4.2 seconds. The mix level is set to 25.5%, carefully balancing the reverb’s spaciousness with the clarity of the delay repeats.
I encourage you to download the “U2 Streets” rig from Rig Manager and experience it firsthand. Plug in your Stratocaster, select the bridge and middle pickups, and immerse yourself in the sonic world of “Streets Have No Name.” After spending considerable time refining this recipe, I’m eager to hear your feedback. Let me know what you think and if this rig brings you closer to achieving that iconic U2 guitar sound!
