GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Shoot to Thrill Riff Guitar Tone Settings — AC/DC
AC/DC · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson SG Standard (Angus Young's main guitar for Back in Black album)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock, late 1960s/early 1970s spec)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead 1959 100W (non-master volume, late 1960s/early 1970s, cranked)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1980. No pedals used for rhythm/riff section. Tone comes from amp volume and picking attack. Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless/boost may have been used as part of the studio chain, but no explicit evidence for the riff section. No effects loop. No amp reverb or delay. All tone is amp and guitar only.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- clear and punchy
- British crunch
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- tight and percussive
- raw, visceral energy
- bright and articulate
- slight edge-of-breakup
- no pedal coloration
- focused midrange
- responsive to picking attack
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit numeric amp settings for 'Shoot to Thrill' riff found in sources; values estimated based on era, amp model, and genre.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all sources and audio confirm a dry, amp-only tone.
- Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless/boost may have been used in the studio, but no direct evidence for the riff section.
- Settings are typical for a cranked Marshall Super Lead in classic rock context.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. AC/DC's 'Shoot to Thrill' riff uses a classic Marshall crunch with gain around 5, strong mids for British rock punch, moderate bass and treble, and a touch of presence for clarity; the recording is dry with no audible reverb, matching their late 70s/early 80s production style.