FA-1 FET AMP

Can I get the sound of Edge with this pedal?  YES!  This IS one of the (many) pedals Edge uses, so if you can't sound like him WITH this pedal, then you never will!!  The sound is great - there are many. many uses for this pedal, but as an example, it can be used to get those awesome droning/slide sounds in the opening etc of 'Mysterious Ways' (I just love that sound).  I've also used it several times after my wah and before a fuzz to solve that 'disappearing wah' problem which is so common ... and unlike the Fox Rox Wah Mod (which I have in a Teese wah), it can be used with ALL of your different wahs (not just whichever one it is installed in, as with Fox mod) AND it is infinitely more tweakable than the Fox mod.  These are fairly specific examples of it's possible applications - more simply, it makes an extremely versatile, yet vintage sounding overdrive/pre-amp.  I've used it with many different guitars (teles, les pauls, explorer, SG) and amps (Vox AC30, modified Fender Super Six cut down to a Twin - Awesome Amp!, various Marshalls, even a MB Twin Rectifier) always to great effect.  What I would consider 'colour', some might consider 'noise', so I won't give it a ten ... although, to my vintage ears, this pedal is full of character, nails the tone I want (ie The Edge's) and has a warmer tone, when used as an overdrive, than modern tubscreamers or boss pedals, for example.

I've used it for close to 20 years with no problems whatsoever.  Never had a back-up for it, though I've kept my eyes open for one over the years as it is an integral part of my 'U2 sound' and my other rig set-ups, but they are anything but easy to come by.  If I could find another one in as good condition, reasonably priced, I'd buy it.

Easy to use and get a good sound out of.  I've used this pedal for many, many years in a U2 tribute band (as well as with several other groups I've played in over the years).  I originally bought this pedal because The Edge (of U2, of course!) used this and as far as I know, he still does to this very day (saw them recently but I was a bit far away to be looking for little green boxes - besides, my eyes aren't what they used to be, but there's nothing wrong with my ears!!!).  I've never seen the manual (if there is one?), but I've found it so easy to use I doubt one is necessary.

Never needed any help/service for this pedal, so can't say.

A great tool for the various styles of music I play (classic rock, blues, even spacey/melodic pop-type music) with several applications depending on which band/genre I'm using it with.  I've been playing for well over 30 years (starting to fell old), and am loving it as much (if not more) now that I ever did!  I have loads of vintage & boutique pedals, wiz-bang rack gear, vintage guitars etc - too much to list.  If lost or stolen, I'd have to try to replace it.  I know I really should have a back-up, given how important this thing is to my sound, especially for covering U2, but it's been so reliable over the years that I've never seriously considered the possibility of it dying on me.  I'm very careful with my gear though.  I love this little green box, it's been with me for years and I pray it ill be for many more!

This unit is the first pedal in my pedalboard/signal chain.  The sound does take away some of the warmth from my tube amp but not much.  I use it as a booster to push my OD pedals.  I've used the pedal by itself and it isn't noisy (no hum or hiss).  All my levels on this pedal are set at 10 o' clock. This unit is to add a subtle but critical sound to my overall tone.

I got it used, it's been used for the past 15 years, and it still works!  I can depend on it.

This effect is pretty easy to use - it has three knobs (Treble, Bass, Volume).  Adjust it according to taste - it's basically an active tone control (i.e. equalizer) based on FET (field effect transistors) technology vs. Bipolar (the usual ones you and I are used to seeing out there).  In layman's terms, FETs are "warmer" than BIPOLARs. There is no on/off switch like the usual pedals - it's always on.  This unit does not have an external 9V jack, you'll have to use batteries to power this puppy. I didn't get a manual for this because this effect is EXTREMELY RARE and I got it used.  The previous owner had it for about 15 years.

Never dealt with Boss... Do they know that these beasts roam around pedal-land?

If you find one of these puppies, get it!  It took me over a year to find one of these (and successfully win a bid within acceptable $$$ limits). It's a nice way to overdrive your OD pedals within the same vein as a compressor or a booster pedal :)