Tone library / Acdc / Hell's bells

Hell's bells amp settings — Harley Benton HB 10G

The Acdc guitar tone for “Hell's bells”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB 10G with a Harley Benton DC 200. Studio version, Back in Black (1980) — main intro riff and rhythm

Original rig

1970 Gibson SG Standard (T-Top humbuckers) into late-'70s Marshall JMP 2203 100W Master Volume head through Marshall 4x12 (Celestion G12M Greenbacks), with Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless unit boosting the front end

Classic British Marshall crunch with punchy upper midrange bark, tight low end, and crisp top-end bite
Amp settings — Harley Benton HB 10G
CHANNELOverdrive switch ON
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 7 TREBLE 6 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid7
Treble6
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Marshall-style Overdrive / Boost (e.g. Plexi Drive or Blues Driver)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Drive 5 · Tone 6 · Level 7
Why these settings

The Harley Benton DC-200 dual humbuckers match Angus's SG configuration directly. On the HB-10G practice amp, engage the Overdrive push-button with gain at 6 to simulate the cranked Marshall 2203 preamp crunch without overwhelming the small 6-inch speaker. Keep bass at 4 to prevent the small cabinet from farting out, while pushing mids to 7 for the iconic AC/DC punch. Presence and reverb do not exist on this amp faceplate and are set to null. If you later add an overdrive pedal, switch to the clean channel, keep amp gain at 2, and use the pedal as your dirt source.

PRO TIPPick aggressively with a heavy pick right near the bridge saddles; Angus gets much of his snappy percussive attack and harmonic bite from striking the open D and G strings hard while letting the chord ring cleanly.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley Benton HB 10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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