Solo Tone

Thunderstruck (Live)

AC/DC

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (early 1970s, likely with Maestro Vibrola, used by Angus Young live)

AmpMarshall 1959 100-watt Super Lead Plexi head into Marshall 1960AX/BX 4x12 cabinets with Celestion G12-65 speakers

PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers (bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7

reverb2.5

presence4.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostSchaffer Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (wireless with built-in boost/compression)

Notes

Live performance, early 1990s era (Monsters of Rock, Donington, etc.). Angus Young's live rig for Thunderstruck solo is confirmed as Gibson SG into Marshall Super Lead Plexi, no pedals except for Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless (with built-in boost/compression). No other effects or pedals used in the solo section. Settings below are from live-focused sources.

Tone Character(10)

bright and articulatetight and percussivemid-rangey crunchsinging, biting lead tonedynamic, touch-sensitive responseclassic British crunchminimal compressionhigh output, but not high-gainslightly gritty edgeclear note separation

Difficulty

The solo requires fast, accurate picking and left-hand dexterity, with challenging string skipping and articulation at high tempo, making it difficult for most intermediate players.

Sources

Complete Guide to AC/DC 'Thunderstruck' | Ultimate Guitar The Secrets Behind Malcolm Young's Guitar Sound on AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' | Guitar World Angus Young's guitars and gear: nail the AC/DC star's tone | Guitar World AC/DC guitar tech Trace Foster explains why Angus Young’s live sound requires no fewer than 12 Marshall stacks | MusicRadar

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