Song Rig
Where the Streets Have No Name
The Edge · The Joshua Tree · 1987
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The most iconic delay-driven guitar tone in rock — a dotted-eighth note delay synced to the tempo creates a cascading, interlocking pattern that seems more complex than the underlying part. The Vox AC30 provides a bright, chimey clean base.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Explorer (or Fender Stratocaster)
- 2Korg SDD-3000 delay (dotted-eighth sync, 380ms)
- 3MXR Dynacomp compressor
- 4Vox AC30 (top-boost, clean)
- 5Boss CE-1 Chorus
Amp Settings
The amp is kept clean — the delay and compressor do all the tonal work. Top-boost channel with moderate treble. The MXR Dynacomp before the amp adds sustain and keeps level consistent through the delay repeats.
Technique
How to Play It
Set your delay to dotted-eighth notes (75% of quarter note duration) synced to the song's tempo. Play simple quarter-note phrases — the delay fills in the rhythmic gaps, creating the illusion of a complex pattern.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any guitar + Boss DD-8 or TC Electronic Flashback (set dotted-eighth subdivision) + any clean amp. Compressor before delay is important to keep the repeats even.
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