EVH 5150 settings
Back in Black settings for EVH 5150
AC/DC · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the AC/DC "Back in Black" riff tone on a EVH 5150, set Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 5, Presence 6, Resonance 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Les Paul · updated 2026-08-02
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
EVH 5150 knobs
- Gain
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 5
- Presence
- 6
- Resonance
- 5
Playing tips
- Use a strong pick attack for a tight, percussive sound.
- Focus on palm muting for added clarity and definition in the riff.
- Experiment with dynamics; play harder for a more aggressive tone.
The original rig
What AC/DC used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your EVH 5150 actually has.
- Guitar
- Gibson SG Standard (1970s, likely '69-'73, stock humbuckers)
- Amp
- Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100-watt Plexi (1970s, 4-input, non-master volume, into Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12M Greenback speakers)
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 7.5
- Treble
- 4.5
- Presence
- 5.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Back in Black adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts AC/DC's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best EVH 5150 settings for Back in Black?
Set Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 5, Presence 6, Resonance 5.
Which pickup should I use for Back in Black?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did AC/DC use on Back in Black?
Guitar: Gibson SG Standard (1970s, likely '69-'73, stock humbuckers). Amp: Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100-watt Plexi (1970s, 4-input, non-master volume, into Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12M Greenback speakers).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Epiphone Les Paul. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Back in Black on other amps
- Back in Black on Fender Mustang LT25 · 295
- Back in Black on Boss Katana · 287
- Back in Black on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 157
- Back in Black on Fender Frontman 10G · 143
- Back in Black on Boss GT-1000 · 107
- Back in Black on Fender Champion 20 · 79
- Back in Black on Fender Tone Master Pro · 75
- Back in Black on Positive Grid Spark · 66
Popular songs on the EVH 5150
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
- Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) · Deftones
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.