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Riff Tone

Heatseeker

AC/DC

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (late 1960s or early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with 4x12 Marshall cabinets

Amp Settings

gain6
bass6

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Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording for 'Heatseeker' (1987/1988), AC/DC's 'Blow Up Your Video' album. Angus Young's rig for this era was classic SG into Marshall Super Lead, often with Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless/preamp for boost. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Settings inferred from Marshall usage and era. No evidence of live/touring rig being different for the studio riff section.

Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveBritish crunchdynamic and punchyraw and uncompressedmid-forward presenceclear attackminimal sustainslightly gritty edgeopen and unprocessed

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate picking and tight rhythmic control, but uses straightforward power chords and open string riffs typical of AC/DC, making it intermediate rather than advanced.

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Heatseeker by AC/DC — Riff Tone Settings | ToneAdapt