Tone library / AC/DC / Let There Be Rock

Let There Be Rock amp settings — BCRich Insinerator

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Let There Be Rock”, dialed in for a BCRich Insinerator with a Gibson Les Paul Studio. Studio version, Let There Be Rock album (1977)

Original rig

Marshall JMP 2203 100W head, 1960 cab with Celestion G12M Creambacks, Gibson SG with bridge humbucker, Neve console preamp driven into distortion

Raw, explosive crunch with midrange bark and fizzy high-end bite, aggressive pick attack, no effects
Amp settings — BCRich Insinerator
CHANNELHigh Gain / Lead channelBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 7 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid7
Treble7
Presence5
Reverb0
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10
Why these settings

The BC Rich Insinerator is a high-gain solid-state amp with aggressive voicing. Angus's original 2203 tone was cranked tube saturation with tight low-end and prominent mids. I've set gain at 6 rather than maxing it because the Insinerator's solid-state clipping gets fizzy and undefined at higher settings—the 2203's warmth came from power tube compression, not preamp saturation. Bass at 4 keeps it tight like the original; mid at 7 pushes the guitar forward in the mix as Angus did to cut through Malcolm's rhythm. Tone knob at 7 on your Les Paul rolls off some of the harshness that solid-state amps can produce on the high end.

PRO TIPAngus controlled his clean-to-crunch dynamics entirely through picking attack and guitar volume—practice backing off your volume knob to 6-7 for verses, then slam it to 10 for solos. This is how he got that explosive feel without touching the amp.

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

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