Riff Tone

Highway to Hell (Live)

AC/DC

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

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

AmpMarshall Super Lead 100 (Plexi, 1959 model, non-master volume, live setup)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, likely patent sticker or T-Top humbuckers)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb0

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Live performance, late 1970s (1979-1980 era). Angus Young used his main Gibson SG into a Marshall Plexi Super Lead 100, plugged straight in with no pedals. No wireless unit for Malcolm; Angus sometimes used Schaffer-Vega wireless for added brightness, but not for clean sections. No evidence of effects or pedals used for clean tones. No amp reverb or built-in effects on this amp.

Tone Character(10)

bright and articulateclear, chimey highstight and percussive attackdynamic and touch-sensitiveuncompressedno breakup or overdrivefull-bodied midrangeslightly scooped lowsno effects colorationclassic Marshall clean with humbuckers

Difficulty

The clean riff requires solid timing and dynamic control but uses basic open chords and straightforward rhythm, making it accessible to most players with some experience.

Sources

Amp Settings for Highway to Hell by AC/DC (album tone) - Guitar Chalk This Is the Gear Angus and Malcolm Young Used on AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' Album | Ultimate Guitar Angus Young's guitars and gear: nail the AC/DC star's tone | Guitar World highway to hell amp?

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