Yamaha THR settings
Back in Black settings for Yamaha THR
AC/DC · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt
To get the AC/DC "Back in Black" riff tone on a Yamaha THR, select the Crunch preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 4, Mid 6.5, Treble 4.5, Presence 5, Reverb 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
updated 2026-08-27
- Preset / mode
- Crunch
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Yamaha THR knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 4.5
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 0
Playing tips
- Use a strong, percussive picking attack to emphasize the tightness of the riff.
- Focus on muting the strings with your palm to achieve a punchy sound.
- Experiment with dynamics; play softer for a cleaner tone and harder for more aggression.
The original rig
What AC/DC used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Yamaha THR 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 preset should I use on the Yamaha THR for Back in Black?
Start from the Crunch preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 4, Mid 6.5, Treble 4.5, Presence 5, Reverb 0.
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?
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 Yamaha THR
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Killing in the Name · Rage Against the Machine
- War Pigs · Black Sabbath
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
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.