How to Dial In "A Day Without Me" by U2 - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "A Day Without Me"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Boy (1980). Boy is the debut studio album by the Irish rock band U2. A review of Boy singles out the Edge's unconventional approach to his Gibson Explorer throughout the record. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this particular recording, so a Gibson Explorer through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for U2's other songs from Boy, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "A Day Without Me" Tone
What guitar did U2 use on "A Day Without Me"?
The guitar on "A Day Without Me" (released 1980) isn't documented; the Gibson Explorer above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "A Day Without Me" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 4, Mid 6, Treble 8, Presence 6, Volume 6. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "A Day Without Me" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A Day Without Me" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "A Day Without Me" by U2 are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.