ToneAdapt

Loading...

Back to Community

Riff Tone

Highway to Hell

AC/DC

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson SG Standard (late 1960s/early 1970s, likely 1967-1971 model)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head (Plexi, late 60s/early 70s) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet

Amp Settings

gain0
bass6

Create an account to see all tone details

Create Free Account

Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1979. Angus Young played straight into the Marshall Plexi, no pedals for the clean/riff section. Guitar volume and tone rolled back for cleaner sound. No evidence of pedals or effects in the clean riff section. Rhythm section is drier and cleaner than many expect. All info is for the original studio recording, not live.

Tone Character(10)
clean and punchydynamic and touch-sensitivebright but not harshtight low endmid-forward presencearticulate chord definitionslight natural breakup when played hardno audible reverb or delaydry and directclassic British rock clean

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically straightforward but demands tight timing, dynamic control, and clean chord transitions to sound authentic.

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account