🎸 Rock · 1980s

Hells Bells by AC/DC (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by AC/DC · riff

The Hells Bells by AC/DC guitar tone is built on a Late-’70s Marshall 2203 JMP 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion G12M greenback speakers, dialed in at gain 5.5/10, bass 5.5, mid 6.5, treble 6, presence 3 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ These settings are for the original rig — re-dial them for YOUR amp in 10 seconds. Free, no signup →

Amp settings (0–10)

5.5

GAIN

5.5

BASS

6.5

MID

TREBLE

PRESENCE

REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 540 rock tones in our researched catalog: Gain 5.5 sits right around the rock average (4.8); mids at 6.5 are right around average (6.2); presence 3 is well below average — a smoother power-amp voicing.

Guitar controls

VOLUME

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: 1970 Gibson SG Standard · Amp: Late-’70s Marshall 2203 JMP 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion G12M greenback speakers

Studio recording, 1980. Used for the riff section of 'Hells Bells' on the Back in Black album. No pedals except Schaffer-Vega Diversity Wireless system (used as a wireless and boost/compression unit).

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Marshall songs & tones →🎚️ Gibson SG songs & tones →

Don’t own this gear? GuitarToneAdapt re-creates the sound on the rig you actually have.

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

1970 Gibson SG Standard → Schaffer-Vega Diversity Wireless (boost/compression circuit) → Late-’70s Marshall 2203 JMP 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion G12M greenback speakers

Effects

boost, compression

Tone character

crisp treble and crunchy overdrive, darker tones with fatter midrange, punchy attack, tight, percussive rhythm, open, dynamic response, articulate note separation, classic Marshall crunch, high mids and treble, slight compression from wireless unit, no pedal coloration

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, medium tempo, loud dynamics · crunch distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Hells Bells sound.

Difficulty

2.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires tight rhythm, dynamic control, and precise muting, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast playing.

Worth knowing

All settings are sourced directly from Guitar World, which cites studio recording details for 'Hells Bells' riff section.
No pedals or time-based effects are used except the Schaffer-Vega Diversity Wireless system, which acts as a boost/compressor.
No amp reverb or other amp-based effects are used; Marshall 2203 JMP does not have built-in reverb.
Forum sources confirm 'no pedals' and 'just amp and wireless' for this recording.
Settings are for studio recording, not live performances.
If any effects are audible in the recording, they are the result of studio ambience or mixing, not the guitarist's signal chain.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' features a classic Marshall crunch with moderate gain, strong mids, and slightly boosted treble/presence for bite and clarity. Bass is solid but not boomy, and reverb is minimal, reflecting the band's dry, punchy 1980 production and Angus Young's typical amp settings.

⚡ Same tone, YOUR gear — re-dials the gain & EQ for your amp and pickups, free →

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Hells Bells guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Hells Bells guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 5.5, bass 5.5, mid 6.5, treble 6, presence 3, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Hells Bells tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: 1970 Gibson SG Standard · Amp: Late-’70s Marshall 2203 JMP 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion G12M greenback speakers; boost, compression.

Can I get the Hells Bells tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

How do I sound like AC/DC on Hells Bells — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 5.5, bass 5.5, mid 6.5, treble 6, presence 3, reverb 1), and boost, compression. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

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Sources

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Settings are community-researched estimates, not official. GuitarToneAdapt adapts them to your gear. guitartoneadapt.com