GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Highway to Hell Solo Guitar Tone Settings — AC/DC
AC/DC · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1968 Gibson SG Standard
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely T-Top, stock for late 60s SGs)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12-65 speakers, late 70s studio setup)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1979. Angus Young plugged straight into the amp, no pedals except possibly a Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless (used as a preamp/boost in studio). No evidence of other pedals or effects used on the solo. Guitar World and multiple sources confirm minimal/no pedal use for Highway to Hell studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost function) · boost
Guitar → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 → Marshall 4x12 cab
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Tone Character
- classic British crunch
- tight, punchy attack
- bright and biting lead tone
- dynamic, touch-sensitive response
- singing sustain on single notes
- minimal compression
- open, uncompressed sound
- slight room ambience on solo
- no audible modulation or delay
- articulate, mid-forward presence
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for the studio recording of 'Highway to Hell' solo found in sources; settings estimated based on era, amp model, and genre.
- No evidence of pedals or effects except possible use of Schaffer-Vega Diversity System as a preamp/boost; no delay, chorus, flanger, or wah audible in the solo.
- Reverb is minimal and may be from studio room or mixing, not amp or pedal.
- All sources confirm Angus Young's studio signal chain was guitar → Schaffer-Vega (if used) → Marshall amp, with no other effects.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Angus Young's 'Highway to Hell' solo tone is classic Marshall crunch: moderate gain, strong mids, tight but not boomy bass, and bright but not harsh treble. Presence is set to add clarity, and the original recording is very dry with no audible reverb.