🎸 Rock · 1970s

Rock 'N' Roll Damnation by AC/DC (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by AC/DC · riff

The Rock 'N' Roll Damnation by AC/DC guitar tone is built on a Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, dialed in at gain 6/10, bass 6, mid 7, treble 7, presence 6.5 (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)

GAIN

BASS

MID

TREBLE

6.5

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 6 sits above the rock average (4.8) — a hotter, more saturated take than most rock tones; mids at 7 are right around average (6.2).

Guitar controls

8-9

VOLUME

7-8

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: Gibson SG Standard (circa mid-1970s, likely 1968-1971 model) · Amp: Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely G12-65 Celestion speakers)

Studio recording, 1978. Angus Young's rig for 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation' riff section. No pedals used except possibly a Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless (acting as a preamp/boost).

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Marshall Plexi songs & tones →🎚️ Marshall songs & tones →🎚️ Gibson SG songs & tones →🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →

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

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

Gibson SG Standard (circa mid-1970s, likely 1968-1971 model) → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost coloration, possibly replicated by Solodallas Schaffer Replica) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely G12-65 Celestion speakers)

Effects

Gibson SG Standard → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 → Marshall 4x12 cab

Tone character

tight and percussive, bright and articulate, raw, open chords, dynamic pick attack, midrange-forward, classic Marshall crunch, minimal compression, immediate, punchy response, slight natural amp breakup, no audible effects

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 Rock 'N' Roll Damnation sound.

Difficulty

2.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires solid timing, dynamic picking, and tight muting, but uses straightforward open chords and rhythm patterns typical of classic rock.

Worth knowing

No specific numeric amp settings for 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation' found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Marshall Super Lead usage for AC/DC in the late 1970s.
No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section except possible Schaffer-Vega wireless preamp coloration.
No reverb, delay, or modulation audible or cited for this section.
Pickup and amp model confirmed by multiple sources for this era, but not explicitly for this song—confidence based on era and studio practices.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. AC/DC's 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation' features a classic Marshall crunch with strong mids, moderate bass, and slightly boosted treble/presence for bite. The recording is dry (no reverb), reflecting late '70s production and Angus/ Malcolm's typical amp settings.

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

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Rock 'N' Roll Damnation guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Rock 'N' Roll Damnation guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 6, bass 6, mid 7, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 0. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Rock 'N' Roll Damnation tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Gibson SG Standard (circa mid-1970s, likely 1968-1971 model) · Amp: Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely G12-65 Celestion speakers); Gibson SG Standard → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 → Marshall 4x12 cab.

Can I get the Rock 'N' Roll Damnation 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 Rock 'N' Roll Damnation — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 6, bass 6, mid 7, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 0), and Gibson SG Standard → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (preamp/boost) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 → Marshall 4x12 cab. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

Share this tone

Sources

Angus Young's guitars and gear: nail the AC/DC star's tone

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