Tone library / AC/DC / Shoot to Thrill

Shoot to Thrill amp settings — Vox VT40X

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Shoot to Thrill”, dialed in for a Vox VT40X with a Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s. Studio version, Back in Black (1980)

Original rig

Angus Young: 1970 Gibson SG Standard into Marshall 1959 Super Lead / JMP 100W via Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS); Malcolm Young: 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird into 1971 Marshall Super Bass 100W

Punchy, dynamic, uncompressed British Plexi crunch with crisp upper-mid bite
Amp settings — Vox VT40X
CHANNELBRIT 1959 amp modelBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 6 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid6
Treble7
Reverb0
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Why these settings

The BRIT 1959 model replicates the Marshall Super Lead circuit Angus and Malcolm used. The Epiphone Les Paul ProBucker pickups have slightly thicker low-mids than Angus's SG and Malcolm's Filter'Tron, so bass is dialed back to 4 with treble pushed to 7 to preserve the crisp attack. The VT40X has no physical presence knob, so upper sparkle is balanced via the treble control.

PRO TIPAC/DC's tone is substantially cleaner than it feels—hit open chords with aggressive, authoritative right-hand pick attack rather than cranking the preamp gain to achieve their signature percussive crunch.

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These settings are for a Vox VT40X. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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