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Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier settings

Highway to Hell settings for Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

AC/DC · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt

To get the AC/DC "Highway to Hell" riff tone on a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, set Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 6, Solo 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Gibson Les Paul · updated 2026-10-16

Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier knobs

Gain
6
Bass
5
Mid
6
Treble
6
Presence
6
Solo
0
Output
5
Bold spongy
0
Rectifier select
0

Playing tips

  • Maintain a strong palm muting technique for tight, punchy riffs.
  • Use a consistent picking attack to emphasize the aggressive nature of the riff.
  • Focus on clarity in each note to preserve the raw energy of the tone.

The original rig

What AC/DC used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 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
Full Highway to Hell tone breakdown, effects and sources →

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 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier settings for Highway to Hell?

Set Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 6, Solo 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 Gibson Les Paul. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.

Popular songs on the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

All 18 songs for the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier →

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.