Song Rig

Hell's Bells

Angus Young · Back in Black · 1980

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

A deliberate tonal step back from the maximum-volume Bon Scott era — cleaner, more measured, with the opening single-note riff built around the open A string. Hell's Bells was the first Brian Johnson AC/DC recording and the tone reflects a slightly more controlled, stadium-scale approach: still Marshall cranked, but not quite at the limits of Let There Be Rock.

Signal Chain

1Gibson SG Standard
2Marshall Super Lead 100W
3No effects

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume6

Bass7

Mid6

Treble7

Presence7

Less gain than the earlier Bon Scott tracks — the slower tempo and deliberate note selection suit a slightly cleaner setting. The heavier bass setting gives the riff its weight without muddiness. The SG's bright, resonant character on the A string is the defining tone element here.

Technique

How to Play It

The riff plays behind the beat rather than pushing it — a subtle but important distinction that gives it the heavy, swinging quality. The single-note lines mostly use downpicks. Practice playing at a relaxed tempo before gradually increasing: rushing this riff kills the feel entirely.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

SG (or Les Paul) into Marshall DSL at gain 6 — resist the temptation to add more distortion. EL34 tubes give the characteristic British harmonic overtones. The key is finding the threshold where the amp breaks up naturally rather than using pedal-added saturation.

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