Riff Tone

Heatseeker

AC/DC

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (late 1960s or early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model)

AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with 4x12 Marshall cabinets

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely original Patent Number or T-Top humbuckers)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb0.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostSchaffer Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (wireless/preamp boost)

Notes

Studio recording for 'Heatseeker' (1987/1988), AC/DC's 'Blow Up Your Video' album. Angus Young's rig for this era was classic SG into Marshall Super Lead, often with Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless/preamp for boost. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Settings inferred from Marshall usage and era. No evidence of live/touring rig being different for the studio riff section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and articulatetight and percussiveBritish crunchdynamic and punchyraw and uncompressedmid-forward presenceclear attackminimal sustainslightly gritty edgeopen and unprocessed

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate picking and tight rhythmic control, but uses straightforward power chords and open string riffs typical of AC/DC, making it intermediate rather than advanced.

Sources

Imagine standing in front of a wall loaded with tube amp heads and 4x12 speaker cabinets, grabbing your guitar and hitting a chord”: Crazy Tube Circuit’s Heatseeker is an amp-in-box to help you nail Angus Young’s high-voltage AC/DC tones | MusicRadar Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker: Angus Young tone in a pedal | Guitar World Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker review | Guitar World Black Midi’s Georgie Greep on his love of AC/DC’s Angus Young | Guitar World

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