U2 - Even Better Than the real thing help

[G5Man]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be playing some U2 songs with a new band I've been asked to try out for. They want me to come prepared knowing Even Better Than the Real Thing. Wondering if someone can point me in the right direction to get that sort of wah/pitch shift sound Edge gets on the intro of the tune. I'm not sure what block would best suit that? I have expression pedals and could assign something, just not sure what.

If anyone has ideas to get me started it would be much appreciated. I want to show up with a killer tone

Thanks in advance.

-G5Man

[Bakerman]

Whammy pedal +1 octave, quarter-note delay.

[G5Man]

Great thanks for the reply. I haven't really played with the Whammy block. Time to give it a go. Thanks!

[bkrodgers]

Hell of a fun song to play!!!!!!!!

I assume you know it, but you want to use a Vox top boost as your amp. I think Edge does most of his dirty sounds with a drive in front -- and I've had good results doing that.

If you really want to nail it, you need these, held sideways so the rough part hits the string (the blue teardrop version):
Herdim Standard Nylon Guitar Pick
or from here: Prussia Valley Dulcimers

I know, I know, you wouldn't think a specific pick would matter that much. For the Edge's sound, you would be wrong. It's a HUGE part of his sound. Though maybe not as noticeable on EBTTRT. But if you think you're really close and just don't quite have it, there's a good chance that extra chime and grit your missing is because you're using a smooth pick.

[Philip]

Like this, dude...

U2 - Even Better Than The Real Thing Guitar Cover - YouTube

[G5Man]

Oh I have Herdims. I wouldn't have believed it either. I remember when I got the Ultra way back when and I was trying to dial in Streets. I kept hearing an artifact in the song and I couldn't recreate it. Tried EVERYTHING. Then I discovered the Herdims. Unreal! Lol

Thanks for the links BTW. I just ordered some Herdims from Strings and Beyond, and it would seem they are somehow a little different. I'll check out the shops you mention.

So my FX chain so far is Tube Screamer -> AC 30 TB -> 2x12 Blue -> Pit -> Delay.

I have a Variax JT-69 that I built a 12 string model. Sounds decent I think, but the patch seems noisy. I'm more than happy to post it if people want to work together to build this patch up.

Thanks for all the input!

-G5Man

[bkrodgers]

Oh I have Herdims. I wouldn't have believed it either. I remember when I got the Ultra way back when and I was trying to dial in Streets. I kept hearing an artifact in the song and I couldn't recreate it. Tried EVERYTHING. Then I discovered the Herdims. Unreal! Lol

Thanks for the links BTW. I just ordered some Herdims from Strings and Beyond, and it would seem they are somehow a little different. I'll check out the shops you mention.

So my FX chain so far is Tube Screamer -> AC 30 TB -> 2x12 Blue -> Pit -> Delay.

I have a Variax JT-69 that I built a 12 string model. Sounds decent I think, but the patch seems noisy. I'm more than happy to post it if people want to work together to build this patch up.

Thanks for all the input!

-G5Man

Picks Galore = Strings and Beyond, but with a lower free shipping minimum since they focus on picks. Same company. That's who I got mine from. I haven't ordered from Prussia Valley yet, but if you want to stock up, their 50 pack for $35 (+ $4 shipping) is a good price for these.

[bkrodgers]

Also, I'm pretty sure he uses a full octave up pitch shift on the solo (with the unshifted still mixed in, probably 50/50). On the album it might have just been done as separate tracks, but it works well with a pitch shifter.

[Chadwick]

Hey I'll upload you my patch later today to head you in the right direction.

[G5Man]

That would be great! I tried the one I was working on last night and its sounding too muddy through my Atomics. I made the error of working through headphones late last night. Didn't translate well.

As soon as axe edit is released I plan on uploading my Beautiful Day/Vertigo/New Years Day/The Fly patches. I've spent hours and hours on this stuff. I've got Scenes for Beautiful Day and Vertigo. Much thanks goes to Michael for some of the base settings for BD and Vertigo.

I'm willing to share. Btw...are people mostly posting in Axechange?

Thanks!

-G5Man

[Dealmaker]

That would be great! I tried the one I was working on last night and its sounding too muddy through my Atomics. I made the error of working through headphones late last night. Didn't translate well.

As soon as axe edit is released I plan on uploading my Beautiful Day/Vertigo/New Years Day/The Fly patches. I've spent hours and hours on this stuff. I've got Scenes for Beautiful Day and Vertigo. Much thanks goes to Michael for some of the base settings for BD and Vertigo.

I'm willing to share. Btw...are people mostly posting in Axechange?

Thanks!

-G5Man

G5Man - that would be great - many thanks.I know how much work goes in to nailing Edge tones on U2 songs!

[bkrodgers]

Here's my take. I'll upload the patch later. There are a few goofs in it, but I'm pretty pleased with the tone. And yes, I know the solo is done with a slide, but I didn't have it handy (and I'm not all that good with the slide anyway).

https://soundcloud.com/bkrodgers/even-better-than-the-real

With the track behind it (no guitar removal, I'm just playing over it). I got off tempo a few times. My guitar is intentionally mixed high over the track.

https://soundcloud.com/bkrodgers/even-better-than-the-real-1

[G5Man]

Hey man that's pretty decent. I like how the bass notes have that dirty sound and yet there is still definition in the B and E strings. Your pitch shifting is also cleaner than mine. I messed something up that makes it sound almost too artificial. I'd be interested in looking at the patch. Thanks for the post!

[Philip]

Also, I'm pretty sure he uses a full octave up pitch shift on the solo (with the unshifted still mixed in, probably 50/50). On the album it might have just been done as separate tracks, but it works well with a pitch shifter.

I don't think so. I think you are just hearing the octave string on the 12-string Rick.

[Bakerman]

Also, I'm pretty sure he uses a full octave up pitch shift on the solo (with the unshifted still mixed in, probably 50/50). On the album it might have just been done as separate tracks, but it works well with a pitch shifter.

I figured that was a 12-string, since the octave disappears where it makes sense to switch from 3rd to 2nd string.

Your pitch shifting is also cleaner than mine. I messed something up that makes it sound almost too artificial. I'd be interested in looking at the patch. Thanks for the post!

Try pitch as the first block in the chain. Having it after amp & cab will change the tone more. I think the delay on this might be pre-amp too.

[bkrodgers]

I don't think so. I think you are just hearing the octave string on the 12-string Rick.

Ahh....never noticed that was a 12 string Rick...that's pretty cool the way they did the 12 string on a 6 string sized head stock. I'd seen it live and never noticed a big headstock, so I didn't think of it. Makes perfect sense though, as Bakerman notes the octave is gone on the higher strings.

If you don't have an electric 12, I think the pitch shifter works well for it though. On my recording above, I just turned it off for the parts of the solo on the higher strings. I didn't use a separate pitch shifter for that either...I just left the Whammy on all the way up. I have a Mission SP-1, so I just have to press down to activate the toe switch to turn it on/off.

[bkrodgers]

OK, here's my preset. A few notes:

- Whammy control is on Ext 3, and Whammy On/Off is on Ext 4. Of course, feel free to change.
- Feel free to remove the Volume blocks if you don't need/want them. Since the LF+ lets me toggle a single pedal between multiple controllers, I put them on every preset in case I need it (one pre, one post), on Ext 1/2
- I use this preset for Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me too. Actually, I first built it for that, thus the "Hold Me" name.
- This is from 8.01a -- I haven't gotten around to moving to 9 yet with the holidays.
- If you're curious, I use a PRS custom 24 with 59/09s these days (and did on the recordings above).

I don't claim that this is perfect, though I'm pretty happy with it. If anyone tweaks it and feels they've come closer, I'd love to have you post your improved version so I can check it out!

[Chadwick]

My patches are on Axe Change if anyone wants to give them a go. Axe-Change - Download Preset - Real Thing Intro - by Chadwick

[Chadwick]

I've also uploaded a patch with the Flanger sound I A/B'd from the Korg A3 for Numb. The power of the effects in the Axe is really something else. It didn't take me too long to figure it out, just pretty well directly copied the A3 settings. Sorry for the off topic post.

[G5Man]

Wow thanks so much guys. This will be extremely helpful to me. Appreciate all the excellent discussion and assistance