Back In Black amp settings — HEX HGA-15

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Back In Black”, dialed in for a HEX HGA-15 with a Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s. Studio version, Back In Black album (1980), Compass Point Studios with Mutt Lange producing

Original rig

Gibson SG Standard (bridge humbucker) → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System → Marshall JTM50/1959 Super Lead 100W → Marshall 4x12 with G12-65 speakers

Crunchy, punchy mid-forward rhythm with tight low-end and aggressive pick attack; power amp distortion, not preamp saturation

Amp settings — HEX HGA-15

CHANNELOverdrive/Crunch channel (Marshall-voiced if available)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	4
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	7

Don’t have a HEX HGA-15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Your Epiphone LP has hotter, warmer humbuckers than Angus's SG with vintage PAFs, so gain dropped from the cranked Marshall's effective 7 to 4—your pickups will push the front end harder. Mids pushed to 7 to capture that signature bark; bass pulled to 4 to avoid mud since the LP is naturally thicker than an SG. The HEX HGA-15 is a lower-wattage solid-state amp, so you cannot replicate true power tube breakup—compensate by using the crunch/overdrive channel and keeping master volume high to get the amp working.

PRO TIPThe original tone's grit came almost entirely from Angus digging in hard with the pick—use a heavy attack right at the bridge, angled pick, and let off for cleaner passages. If your amp has a presence control, push it to 6-7 for that Plexi sizzle on the high strings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a HEX HGA-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

Find your amp

Browse

Back In Black on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP AC/DC tonesALL SONGS Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.