Highway to Hell amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Highway to Hell”, dialed in for a Marshall DSL40CR with a Gibson Les Paul Junior. Studio version, Highway to Hell (1979), Roundhouse Studios London

Original rig

Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi 100W, 1968 Gibson SG Standard with humbuckers, Schaffer-Vega wireless (acted as subtle preamp boost), no pedals

Crunchy mid-forward British rock with tight low end, aggressive pick attack, and singing upper-mid bite

Amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

CHANNELClassic Gain (Green)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The DSL40CR's Classic Gain channel nails the Plexi-style breakup Angus used. Your Les Paul Junior's single P90 is hotter and grittier in the mids than Angus's SG humbuckers, so I dropped gain by 1 and rolled tone knob to 8 to tame the extra high-mid bark. Push master volume to get power tube saturation — that's where the Plexi magic lives.

PRO TIPAngus's tone is 70% right-hand attack — dig in hard with downstrokes near the bridge pickup and let the notes breathe between hits; the silence between riffs is what makes them swagger.

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These settings are for a Marshall DSL40CR. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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More tones for the Marshall DSL40CR

One Last BreathCreed ThunderstruckAC/DC Crazy trainOzzy Osbourne Scar TissueRed Hot Chili Peppers Seek & DestroyMetallica Beat itMichael jackson

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