Tone library / AC/DC / Hells Bells

Hells Bells amp settings — Peavy 1

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Hells Bells”, dialed in for a Peavy 1 with a ESP LTD EC-1000. Studio version, Back in Black (1980) - Angus Young intro riff and rhythm

Original rig

1970 Gibson SG Standard (T-Top humbuckers) + Marshall 2203 JMP 100W Master Volume + Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS boost) into Marshall 4x12 (Celestion Greenbacks)

Raw, punchy British master-volume crunch with biting upper-mids and dry, articulate string separation
Amp settings — Peavy 1
GAIN 5 BASS 6 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain5
Bass6
Treble7
Reverb0
Master6
Don’t have a Peavy 1? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Schaffer Replica / Clean Boost

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; Angus used the SVDS wireless receiver as a clean preamp boost to hit the front of the Marshall

Boost 6 · Tone 5
Why these settings

The amp is an unrecognized generic model, so middle and presence controls are set to null while standard gain, bass, and treble carry the tone. Angus Young's signature crunch relies on a mid-gain British bark; keep gain moderate at 5 so the open chords remain articulate rather than overly compressed. Your EC-1000's higher-output bridge humbucker pushes the preamp naturally, so rolling back the gain slightly retains the dry punch of the original Marshall 2203.

PRO TIPPick hard near the bridge with a stiff pick (around 1.0mm) to get the percussive snap and upper-mid bite that defines Angus's opening arpeggiated riff.

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These settings are for a Peavy 1. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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