Thunderstruck amp settings — Line 6 Helix LT

The AC/DC guitar tone for “Thunderstruck”, dialed in for a Line 6 Helix LT with a Fender Player Telecaster. Studio version, The Razors Edge (1990) — Malcolm Young's rhythm tone

Original rig

1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird (bridge Filter'tron pickup), 1971 Marshall JMP Super Bass 1992 head, Marshall 1960B 4×12 with Celestion Vintage 30s, Gibson Pure Nickel .012–.058 strings, no pedals

Raw, midrange-forward rhythm crunch with scooped bass for clarity — aggressive honk

Amp settings — Line 6 Helix LT

CHANNELBrit Plexi Brt amp model + 4×12 Greenback 25 cab IR

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	1
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	4
Reverb	0
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME7

Why these settings

Your Tele's bridge single-coil is brighter and thinner than Malcolm's Filter'tron humbucker, so bass is pushed to 1 (vs 0 on the original) to retain body, and mid is set to 6 to compensate for the Tele's natural scoop. Gain is 7 because the Helix Brit Plexi model saturates its preamp at this level to mimic the power-amp crunch of a dimed 100-watt Marshall — the original had NO preamp gain, all power-tube saturation. Your Tele will sound sharper and more percussive than the original's thick honk; rolling volume to 7 tames the single-coil's ice-pick attack.

PRO TIPUse a wound G string if possible (.012–.058 set like Malcolm) — the wound third adds harmonic density to the open-string rhythm parts and reduces the wiry tension that kills sustain on fast downstrokes. Hit the strings HARD with a thick pick; Malcolm's tone lives in the attack, not smooth sustain.

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These settings are for a Line 6 Helix LT. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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