GuitarDistortedRiff
Back in Black Riff Guitar Tone Settings — AC/DC
AC/DC · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird (aka 'The Beast')
Pickups
Gretsch Filter'Tron bridge humbucker (neck and middle pickups removed)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead (Plexi 1959SLP), likely late 60s/early 70s model
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1980. Malcolm Young's rhythm guitar for the main riff. Guitar plugged straight into amp, no pedals. Pickup selector set to bridge. No effects loop or post-processing pedals. The amp was cranked for natural breakup. Schaffer-Vega wireless system was used by Angus, not Malcolm. Malcolm's signal was direct.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass7
Gain4
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- clear midrange punch
- dry, uncompressed
- open and dynamic
- articulate pick attack
- minimal sustain
- classic British crunch
- no pedal coloration
- natural amp breakup
- immediate response