Riff Tone
The Jack
AC/DC
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson SG Standard (circa 1970s, likely 1967 model)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (Plexi, non-master volume, late 1960s/early 1970s)
PickupsCustom-wound, wax-potted Seymour Duncan humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1975-1976. Angus Young plugged straight into the Marshall amp, no pedals. Clean tone achieved by low amp gain and picking dynamics. No evidence of effects or pedals used on the clean riff section. Pickup and knob settings inferred from era and interviews. No reverb or other amp effects used.
Tone Character(10)
warm and openclean with slight edge when picking harddynamic and touch-sensitivearticulate with clear note separationno audible reverb or effectsslightly compressed from amp volumerounded highs, not piercingfull-bodied midrangeclassic British clean toneresponsive to picking dynamics
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires good shuffle feel and dynamic control to maintain the clean tone and groove.
Sources
Gear And Settings Used In AC/DC's Iconic 'Back in Black' | Ultimate GuitarIconic Guitar Tones: AC/DC's "Back in Black" - InSyncAngus Young's guitar tone on AC/DC's Hells Bells | Guitar WorldAC/DC guitar tech Trace Foster explains why Angus Young’s live sound requires no fewer than 12 Marshall stacks | MusicRadarPepper Keenan on the time he got to play Malcolm Young’s legendary AC/DC guitar rig: “It scared the crap out of me. There’s no overdrive – it’s just volume” | Guitar World
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Original Gear
GuitarGibson SG Standard (circa 1970s, likely 1967 model)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (Plexi, non-master volume, late 1960s/early 1970s)
PickupsCustom-wound, wax-potted Seymour Duncan humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
Gear And Settings Used In AC/DC's Iconic 'Back in Black' | Ultimate GuitarIconic Guitar Tones: AC/DC's "Back in Black" - InSyncAngus Young's guitar tone on AC/DC's Hells Bells | Guitar WorldAC/DC guitar tech Trace Foster explains why Angus Young’s live sound requires no fewer than 12 Marshall stacks | MusicRadarPepper Keenan on the time he got to play Malcolm Young’s legendary AC/DC guitar rig: “It scared the crap out of me. There’s no overdrive – it’s just volume” | Guitar World
Notes
Studio recording, 1975-1976. Angus Young plugged straight into the Marshall amp, no pedals. Clean tone achieved by low amp gain and picking dynamics. No evidence of effects or pedals used on the clean riff section. Pickup and knob settings inferred from era and interviews. No reverb or other amp effects used.
Tone Character(10)
warm and openclean with slight edge when picking harddynamic and touch-sensitivearticulate with clear note separationno audible reverb or effectsslightly compressed from amp volumerounded highs, not piercingfull-bodied midrangeclassic British clean toneresponsive to picking dynamics
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires good shuffle feel and dynamic control to maintain the clean tone and groove.
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- Back in Black · solo
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