Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Angus Young recorded the rhythm and lead parts on a 1970/71 Gibson SG Standard with the bridge pickup selected, tuned to standard E‑A‑D‑G‑B‑E. The guitar was sent straight into a cranked Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi, with the volume near full and the EQ set for a balanced mids‑heavy bite. No effects pedals were used; Malcolm Young’s doubled rhythm chords were tracked with a Gretsch White Falcon panned opposite Angus. The tone comes from natural power‑tube breakup and aggressive down‑picking.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1970/71 Gibson SG Standard
Guitar
Angus Young’s primary rig for the track was his 1970/71 Gibson SG Standard, plugged straight into his cranked Marshall, with the bridge humbucker selected for the raw attack.
Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi
Amp
The tone was achieved by driving a Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi into natural overdrive, with the volume turned up high and the EQ set for a balanced bite.
Alternatives
Epiphone SG Standard
Modern equivalent · for the 1970/71 Gibson SG Standard
Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue
Reissue · for the Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Select the bridge pickup and crank the volume to full.
- 2.Attack the strings with aggressive down‑strokes for the rhythm parts.
- 3.Use tight, palm‑muted chugs on the low E and A strings.
- 4.Play the lead lick on the bridge pickup, letting the amp’s natural overdrive sing.
- 5.Avoid any effects; rely on the amp’s breakup for sustain.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the You Shook Me All Night Long guitar tone?
The available research points to 1970/71 Gibson SG Standard into Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original You Shook Me All Night Long amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is You Shook Me All Night Long in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the You Shook Me All Night Long tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
