Solo Tone

The Jack

AC/DC

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (early 1970s, likely 1970-1973 model)

AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100W (EL34, non-master volume, late 1960s/early 1970s)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, medium output, patent sticker T-tops)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, released 1975 (T.N.T./High Voltage sessions). Angus Young's solo tone is achieved by cranking the Marshall Super Lead to high volume, no pedals, no extra overdrive, just amp distortion. No effects loop or pedalboard used. No evidence of studio effects or reverb on the solo section.

Tone Character(10)

raw and punchybright and articulatesinging sustaintight, percussive attackdynamic and touch-sensitivemidrange-forwardBritish crunchaggressive bridge pickup biteno pedal colorationuncompressed, open sound

Difficulty

The solo requires intermediate-level technique with fast pentatonic licks, expressive bends, and dynamic picking, but does not involve advanced shred or complex timing.

Sources

Pepper 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 The Jack AC/DC | Page 2 | Guitar Forum

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