Tone library / AC/DC / It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)

It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll) amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20MFX

The AC/DC guitar tone for “It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-20MFX with a Donner D-100hss. Studio version, High Voltage (1975) — Bon Scott era

Original rig

Gibson SG Standard with PAF humbuckers → Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi cranked to full volume, no pedals

Raw, gritty crunch with forward mids, less scooped than later AC/DC — power tube saturation, no effects

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20MFX

CHANNELOverdrive/Crunch channel (if selectable via amp modeling)

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Overdrive pedal (TS-style or Blues Driver)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The HB-20MFX lacks the power tube saturation of a cranked Plexi. A basic overdrive pedal (Joyo Vintage OD, Boss SD-1, or Harley Benton's own TS clone ~$25) would add the harmonic compression and grit this tone needs. Without it, push amp gain to 8 and accept a thinner, more solid-state character.

Drive 4 · Tone 5 · Level 7

Why these settings

The HB-20MFX is a solid-state practice amp with digital modeling—it cannot replicate true power tube saturation. Gain pushed to 7 compensates, but the Bon Scott era tone has more raw midrange grit than the scooped Back in Black sound, so mids stay at 5 (not scooped). Treble/presence pulled back 1 point from the original Plexi settings because the Donner's HSS bridge humbucker is brighter and hotter than vintage PAFs. Tone knob at 8 rolls off the harshest fizz.

PRO TIPDig in hard with your pick right over the bridge pickup—Angus's attack is aggressive and percussive. If the tone feels thin, try palm-muting lightly on the low E during the main riff; the compression fakes some of that Plexi sag your amp can't produce.

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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-20MFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.