GuitarDistortedRiff
The Jack Riff Guitar Tone Settings — AC/DC
AC/DC · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1971 Gretsch Jet Firebird (modded, aka 'The Beast')
Pickups
Gretsch Filter'Tron humbucker (bridge, neck removed/disabled)
Amp
Marshall Super Bass 100 (Plexi, late 60s/early 70s, likely JMP 1992 or 1959 model)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (only functional pickup on Malcolm's guitar for this era)
Studio recording, 1978. Malcolm Young's rhythm guitar part. No pedals or effects used; signal is guitar straight into amp. Pickup selector locked to bridge. No evidence of pedals or amp effects on the original studio recording. All sources agree AC/DC rhythm tones are extremely stripped down, with little to no effects. Settings estimated based on era, amp, and genre. No numeric settings found in sources.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- dry, unprocessed
- mid-forward British crunch
- clear, punchy attack
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
- articulate chord definition
- no reverb or ambience
- bridge pickup bite
- warm yet aggressive
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
studio