Classic Rock1987The Joshua Tree

Where the Streets Have No Name Amp Settings

by U2

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Original Recording Settings

partially-sourcedResearched tone data for "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2

Original Gear

Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (exact year not specified in sources consulted)
Pickups: Stock Fender Stratocaster single-coils (exact set not documented in sources consulted) (bridge+middle)
Amplifier: 1950s Fender tweed Deluxe combo (recorded as a pair of selected amps; studio approach described by engineer Mark Howard)
Channel: Single-channel tweed circuit; volume pushed to edge-of-breakup
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: bridge+middle
Strings: Unknown

Engineer Mark Howard describes The Edge using a Korg SDD-3000 as the only effect and feeding it straight into a 1950s Fender tweed Deluxe, with multiple Deluxes lined up and the best selected; he also notes recording two amps.

Amp Settings

Gain

5.0

Bass

4.0

Mid

6.0

Treble

6.0

Volume

6.0

Tweed Deluxe has limited EQ controls; values here approximate “edge-of-breakup” loudness with clarity for delay repeats. No knob-photo/setting sheet is provided in cited sources.

Effects Chain

→

Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay (rack)

delay

→

1.Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay (rack) — Delay is the defining element of the riff; Mark Howard specifically cites the SDD-3000 as the only effect in the studio setup he describes.

Playing Technique

Play the arpeggio with strict subdivision so the dotted-eighth repeats interlock with the part; keep pick attack even and slightly softened to avoid spiky repeats. Let notes ring just long enough to feed the delay, but mute string noise so the repeats stay clean.

Sources+

Tape Op (Issue 134), Mark Howard interview (includes description of The Edge using only a Korg SDD-3000 into 1950s Fender tweed Deluxe amps in the studio context; also references "Where the Streets Have No Name" in the same interview excerpt)
MusicRadar (2022-04-11), "Classic U2 interview" (mentions Stratocaster ‘sparkle’ on "Where the Streets Have No Name"; used for guitar-type support)
Wikipedia, "The Joshua Tree" (general album context describing delay-centric guitar approach)
Wikipedia, "Where the Streets Have No Name" (song metadata: year/album)