Back in Black

The recording

On 'Back In Black' Angus Young’s lead is captured with his 1971 Gibson SG Standard plugged into a Schaffer‑Vega Diversity System wireless preamp, then run through a 1959 Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt head (and occasionally a JTM50) into a Marshall 4×12 cabinet loaded with G12‑65 speakers. The rhythm parts were played on Malcolm Young’s 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird through a Marshall Super Bass. The band recorded the album with engineer Tony Platt, who confirmed the use of multiple Marshall 50‑ and 100‑W heads and the SVDS unit’s built‑in compressor. Angus primarily used the neck pickup and emphasized a heavy pick attack with minimal amp gain, letting the natural overdrive of the Plexi amp shape the tone .

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1971 Gibson SG Standard (Cherry Red)

Guitar

Angus Young recorded his lead parts on a 1971 Gibson SG Standard in cherry red, his primary SG used throughout the Back In Black sessions, as confirmed by his longtime tech and interviews.

Schaffer‑Vega Diversity System (SVDS) Wireless Unit

Wireless/Preamp

The SVDS wireless unit, featuring a built‑in preamp and companding compressor, was used on the Back In Black recordings, adding subtle compression and boost to Angus’s tone.

1959 Marshall Super Lead 100W

Amplifier

Angus tracked his lead through a 1959 Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt Plexi head, delivering the high‑gain, aggressive tone that defines Back In Black.

Marshall JTM50 (1966‑67)

Amplifier

A rare 1966‑67 Marshall JTM50 with a solid‑state rectifier was also employed during the sessions, contributing a tighter low‑end response.

Marshall 4×12 Cabinet with G12‑65 Speakers

Cabinet

The amp was miked into a Marshall 4×12 cabinet loaded with vintage G12‑65 speakers, a setup documented by Angus’s tech and the band’s rig rundown.

Alternatives

Epiphone SG Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1971 Gibson SG Standard (Cherry Red)

$300 to $400

Marshall JTM45 Reissue (1978)

Reissue · for the Marshall JTM50 (1966‑67)

$2,000 to $2,200

SoloDallas SVDS Pedal

Modern equivalent · for the Schaffer‑Vega Diversity System (SVDS) Wireless Unit

$200 to $250

Marshall 1980 4x12 Cabinet (Reissue)

Reissue · for the Marshall 4×12 Cabinet with G12‑65 Speakers

$900 to $1,100

Marshall 1978 Super Lead Reissue

Modern equivalent · for the 1959 Marshall Super Lead 100W

$2,300 to $2,500

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Select the neck pickup for a warmer, fuller tone.
2. 2.Attack the strings with a hard pick and aggressive alternate picking.
3. 3.Use a heavy pick (≈0.88 mm) for clear articulation.
4. 4.Apply subtle palm‑muting on rhythm chords to tighten the sound.