Black Dog amp settings — Vox AC30C2

The Led Zeppelin guitar tone for “Black Dog”, dialed in for a Vox AC30C2 with a Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s. Studio album cut, Led Zeppelin IV (1971) - main triple-tracked riff

Original rig

1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard into direct injection (DI) mic preamp running through two UREI 1176 limiting amplifiers in series (no guitar amp used)

Fuzzy, ultra-compressed, direct-to-board clipping with aggressive upper-mid bite and tight low end

Amp settings — Vox AC30C2

CHANNELTop Boost Channel (High Input)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Treble	5
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Universal Audio UAFX 1176 Studio Compressor

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; set to Dual/All-Buttons mode to replicate the series 1176 desk distortion

Input 9 · Output 7 · Attack 8 · Release 9 · Ratio (Dual Mode) 10

Why these settings

Because the original was recorded direct into two cascaded 1176 FET compressors rather than a traditional tube amp, the Vox AC30 Top Boost channel is pushed to high gain to approximate that buzzy, compressed grit. The Vox AC30C2 faceplate lacks dedicated Mid and Presence controls (Tone Cut functions globally in the master section; set Tone Cut to roughly 4 to shave harsh glassiness without losing bite). If running purely amp-in-the-room without the recommended 1176-style pedal, cranking the Top Boost channel volume provides the nearest saturated fuzz-like character.

PRO TIPPick forcefully right next to the bridge saddles on the bridge humbucker with a medium-heavy pick to emulate the ultra-fast transient attack and squashed sizzle of the studio DI chain.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Vox AC30C2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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