Back in black amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Back in black”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Epiphone SG Standard. Studio version, Back in Black album (1980), recorded at Compass Point Studios with Mutt Lange producing

Original rig

Gibson SG Standard (1970/71) with bridge humbucker → Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (wireless with built-in compression/boost) → Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W Plexi cranked, into Marshall 4x12 with G12-65 speakers

Bright, biting British crunch with aggressive attack, clear note definition, and warm low-mid thickness — no fizz, no mud

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELOD1 (Crunch)BOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The original Plexi settings were Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6. Your MG30CFX's OD1 channel approximates Plexi-style crunch but has a tighter, more scooped voicing than a real Plexi. I dropped bass by 1 (MG amps get boomy fast) and treble by 1 (the MG's solid-state treble is harsher than tube sparkle). Mid stays high at 7 to capture that vocal bark. Use OD1, not OD2 — OD2 is too saturated and loses the pick attack clarity that defines this tone.

PRO TIPAngus gets his crunch from pick attack, not gain. Dig in hard with a heavy downstroke on the low strings and the tone opens up; play soft and it cleans up. Your Epiphone's pickups are slightly hotter than vintage PAFs, so back off the gain to 5 if notes blur together on power chords.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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