Fender '65 Princeton Reverb settings
Highway to Hell settings for Fender '65 Princeton Reverb
AC/DC · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the AC/DC "Highway to Hell" riff tone on a Fender '65 Princeton Reverb, set Gain 0, Volume 5, Bass 5, Treble 7, Reverb 0, Reverb level 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Telecaster · updated 2026-10-21
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender '65 Princeton Reverb knobs
- Gain
- 0
- Volume
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
- Reverb level
- 0
- Vibrato speed
- 0
- Vibrato intensity
- 0
Playing tips
- Use palm muting for a tighter sound on the lower strings.
- Pick aggressively to achieve the raw, gritty tone.
- Focus on the rhythm and keep the strumming consistent.
The original rig
What AC/DC used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender '65 Princeton Reverb actually has.
- Guitar
- Gibson SG Standard (late 1960s, likely 1968-1970, stock humbuckers)
- Amp
- Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s, no master volume)
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Highway to Hell 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 Fender '65 Princeton Reverb settings for Highway to Hell?
Set Gain 0, Volume 5, Bass 5, Treble 7, Reverb 0, Reverb level 0.
Which pickup should I use for Highway to Hell?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did AC/DC use on Highway to Hell?
Guitar: Gibson SG Standard (late 1960s, likely 1968-1970, stock humbuckers). Amp: Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s, no master volume).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Telecaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Highway to Hell on other amps
- Highway to Hell on Fender Mustang LT25 · 202
- Highway to Hell on Boss Katana · 181
- Highway to Hell on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 103
- Highway to Hell on Boss GT-1000 · 59
- Highway to Hell on Neural DSP Quad Cortex · 47
- Highway to Hell on Fender Tone Master Pro · 46
- Highway to Hell on Fender Champion 20 · 41
- Highway to Hell on Positive Grid Spark · 40
Popular songs on the Fender '65 Princeton Reverb
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Layla · Derek and the Dominos
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- The Thrill is Gone · B.B. King
- Do I Wanna Know? · Arctic Monkeys
- Walk · Pantera
- Creep · Radiohead
- Float On · Modest Mouse
- Lithium · Nirvana
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.