Riff Tone

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (late 1960s, likely 1968-1970, stock humbuckers)

AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s, no master volume)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, late 1960s spec)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1979. Angus Young plugged straight into the Marshall Super Lead, no pedals except for a possible noise gate (Rocktron Hush) at very low setting. No effects loop, no amp reverb or built-in effects. Guitar volume and tone rolled back slightly from full. All evidence points to a dry, unprocessed amp sound for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

mid-rangey and vintagegritty and powerfulclear yet grittyraw, aggressive energyarticulatetight and punchyBritish crunchdynamic and touch-sensitiveuncompressed and openno-frills, straightforward rock tone

Difficulty

The riff is based on straightforward open and power chords with a strong rhythmic feel, requiring tight timing and muting but no advanced techniques.

Sources

Angus Young's guitars and gear: nail the AC/DC star's tone | Guitar World This Is the Gear Angus and Malcolm Young Used on AC/DC's ...AC/DC Members, Gear & Sound | Equipboard TIL Angus Young's rig consists of an SG straight in to Marshall amps ...

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