How to Dial In "An Cat Dubh" by U2 - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "An Cat Dubh"
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. Wikipedia's article on the album says the Edge recorded all the songs on his Gibson Explorer, the guitar listed here, and quotes a critic describing his setup as two Vox amplifiers feeding two Memory Man echo units. No source we found names the amp model or the echo settings for this song, so a Vox AC30 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 "An Cat Dubh" Tone
What guitar did U2 use on "An Cat Dubh"?
The guitar on "An Cat Dubh" (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 "An Cat Dubh" 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 "An Cat Dubh" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "An Cat Dubh" 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 "An Cat Dubh" by U2 are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.