Song Rig
Mysterious Ways
The Edge · Achtung Baby · 1991
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The Edge goes funk — Achtung Baby's most rhythmically driven track features wah-filtered single-note lines over a propulsive bass groove. The industrial Berlin-era production adds texture and compression to the guitar, and the wah is used with a rolling, deliberate technique that differs from blues and rock applications.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Standard (bridge pickup)
- 2Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
- 3Korg SDD-3000 Delay (tight slapback)
- 4Boss OC-2 Octave (sub-octave, subtle)
Amp Settings
Medium gain with a tight slapback delay creating the driving, doubled guitar feel. The wah adds rhythmic movement on the main riff — Edge rolls it through a slow, deliberate pattern rather than a fast funk sweep.
Technique
How to Play It
Slow, deliberate wah rocking on the main riff — Edge controls the filter sweep precisely to hit specific frequency positions on each beat, creating a more mechanical funk feel than the looser wah technique of Hendrix or Stevie Wonder.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul or humbucker guitar → Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (slow, deliberate technique) → medium-gain amp → Boss DD-3 slapback (80–100ms delay, low mix). The octave pedal adds subtle weight beneath the main tone.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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