Solo Tone

Hells Bells

AC/DC

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1970 Gibson SG Standard

AmpMarshall 2203 JMP 100-watt Master Volume head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, late 60s/early 70s spec)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb1

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1980, Back in Black sessions. Angus Young used his main SG and Marshall 2203 for the solo overdubs. The Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless was used as a boost/compression device in the studio signal chain. No pedals or external effects confirmed for the clean section; all tone comes from guitar, amp, and playing dynamics.

Tone Character(10)

clean and dynamicbright and articulatetouch-sensitiveslightly mid-forwardtight low endcrisp attackno audible reverb or delayopen and uncompressedclassic British clean toneresponsive to picking dynamics

Difficulty

The solo is not technically fast or complex, but demands control over picking dynamics, articulation, and phrasing to achieve the signature clean, punchy sound.

Sources

Angus Young's guitar tone on AC/DC's Hells Bells | Guitar World The Basics Of AC/DC-Style Guitar Playing | Guitar World Behind 'Back in Black': Tony Platt Tells All - Premier Guitar

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