How to Get the AC/DC Guitar Tone (Angus & Malcolm Young)

AC/DC's tone is proof that less is more: an SG into a cranked Marshall, no pedals, pure attitude. Here's how to nail it.

The key ingredients

• Guitar: a Gibson SG (Angus), a Gretsch (Malcolm) for the rhythm crunch.
• Amp: a Marshall plexi cranked into natural overdrive.
• Gain: low — the grit is all amp and picking, not distortion.
• Effects: none. Seriously. Maybe a hint of reverb.

The fastest way

Grab ready hard rock guitar presets for Kemper, Helix, Quad Cortex, ToneX and more — a cranked plexi ready to rock.

FAQ

What amp does AC/DC use? Cranked Marshall plexi heads are the heart of the sound.

How much gain? Very little — it's a loud clean amp breaking up, not a distortion pedal.