Back in Black by AC/DC — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate the iconic tone of 'Back in Black', we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster and the Fender Mustang LT25. The Strat's single-coil pickups will be used to approximate the humbucker sound, while the Mustang LT25 will emulate the Marshall Plexi crunch. We'll start with the 'CLASSIC ROCK' preset and adjust the EQ to match the mid-forward character of the original recording.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — Main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Select the bridge pickup for a brighter, more cutting tone similar to the SG's humbucker. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 to maintain clarity and dynamics, allowing for expressive playing. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup in this song. |
| Tone 2 | 7 | Roll off slightly to tame any harshness from the single-coil pickup. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amplifier
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [04] CLASSIC ROCK | Closest preset to the Marshall Plexi crunch used by Angus Young. |
| Gain | 6 | Set to 6 to achieve the edge-of-breakup crunch characteristic of the original tone. |
| Volume | 5 | Balanced to maintain dynamics and prevent overloading the amp's input. |
| Treble | 6 | Set to 6 to maintain brightness without harshness, matching the original tone's clarity. |
| Bass | 5 | Balanced to ensure the low end doesn't overpower the mid-forward character. |
| Master | 8 | Set to 8 to drive the amp and achieve the necessary crunch and volume. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Intro Riff
The intro riff is cleaner with a mid-range focus, achieved by slightly reducing the gain and adjusting the EQ.
- the pedal: Treble → 5
What AC/DC actually used
Recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, with producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. Angus Young's lead guitar tone was achieved using his 1971 Gibson SG Standard through a Schaffer-Vega Diversity System into Marshall amplifiers. Malcolm Young's rhythm parts were played on his modified 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird through a Marshall Super Bass amp. The album's iconic guitar sounds were captured using Neumann U67 and U87 microphones.
- 1971 Gibson SG Standard — lead guitar. Bridge pickup
- Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS) — wireless system with built-in boost and compression. Provided 30dB+ clean boost with compression/expansion (companding)
- 1970s Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W — amplifier. High treble input, both channels jumpered; volume set to 10
- Marshall JTM50 with solid-state rectifier — amplifier. Used alongside the Super Lead for tighter, punchier response
- 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird ('The Beast') — rhythm guitar. Bridge Filter'Tron pickup; neck and middle pickups removed
- 1971 Marshall Super Bass — amplifier. Used for rhythm guitar tracks
- Neumann U67 — microphone. Used to mic guitar cabinets
- Neumann U87 — microphone. Used to mic guitar cabinets
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarchalk.com/fender-mustang-lt25-settings/
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-gear-used-by-angus-young-malcolm-young-on-ac-dcs-back-in-black/
- https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-inside-story-of-acdcs-back-in-black
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_in_Black