Back In Black amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Back In Black”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Ibanez RGRT421-WK. Studio album cut, Back in Black (1980) — Angus Young rhythm/intro riff

Original rig

1970/71 Gibson SG Standard (T-Top/PAF bridge humbucker) -> Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS preamp clean boost) -> Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W / JTM50 heads into Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabs

Biting, mid-forward British crunch with clear note definition and tight low end

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

CHANNELPlexiglas (Crunch block / Marshall 1959 Plexi model)BOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	1
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Booster block (Spark onboard SVDS-style clean boost)

Placed in the Drive slot before the Plexiglas amp model to emulate the SVDS wireless receiver boost pushing the front end

Drive 2 · Tone 6 · Level 8

Why these settings

The Spark's 'Plexiglas' amp model delivers the vintage Marshall Super Lead crunch, but Angus achieved his signature punch by hitting the front end hard with the SVDS preamp boost. Setting the onboard Booster block to high level and low drive replicates this harmonic push into the amp block without adding artificial fuzz. The Ibanez Quantum ceramic humbuckers have a slightly higher output and brighter high-end than Angus's PAF/T-Tops, so keep bass tight at 4 and mid forward at 7 to prevent low-end flub while maintaining raw cut.

PRO TIPHit the open chords aggressively near the bridge with a heavy pick, but choke the ring-out instantly with your fretting hand and palm—the punch of this riff comes entirely from high pick velocity combined with dead-silent percussive rests.

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These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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