Vox VT40X settings
Highway to Hell settings for Vox VT40X
AC/DC · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the AC/DC "Highway to Hell" riff tone on a Vox VT40X, set Gain 6, Volume 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Gretsch Electromatic Jet · updated 2026-10-21
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Vox VT40X knobs
- Gain
- 6
- Volume
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Class
- 0
- Bias shift
- 0
- Power level
- 8
Playing tips
- Use a strong down-picking technique for a tight, aggressive sound.
- Focus on palm muting for added punch in the riff.
- Keep the attack consistent to maintain clarity in the crunch tone.
The original rig
What AC/DC used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Vox VT40X 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 Vox VT40X settings for Highway to Hell?
Set Gain 6, Volume 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 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 Gretsch Electromatic Jet. 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 Vox VT40X
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Layla · Derek and the Dominos
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
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.