October album cover - U2
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Rejoice" by U2 - Guitar Tone Settings

U2·1981·October
The rig

The Gear Behind "Rejoice"

The settings

Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings - AC30

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4
Bass5
Mid6
Treble7
Presence6
Volume7

These numbers are for an AC30. On your amp, they won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume9
Recording notes

From October (1981). A defiant, urgent song with a bright, delayed guitar riff. The Edge has said that a Gibson Explorer, a Memory Man Deluxe and a Vox AC30 get you most of the sounds on Boy, October and War. That is the rig dialled in here, though nothing ties it to this song alone: a Gibson Explorer into a Vox AC30 C2 with Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Rejoice" Tone

  1. What guitar did U2 use on "Rejoice"?

    U2 tracked "Rejoice" on a Gibson Explorer (released 1981). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Rejoice" need?

    On an AC30: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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.

  3. Can I play "Rejoice" without an AC30?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Rejoice" 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.

  4. What pedals are on "Rejoice"?

    The original signal chain for "Rejoice" runs through Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.

Related tones

Tone references for "Rejoice" by U2 are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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