What guitar did Angus Young use on It's a Long Way to the Top?

Angus Young used a Gibson SG on this recording, which has been his signature guitar throughout AC/DC's career. The SG's dual humbucker pickups and mahogany body contribute to the warm, punchy tone heard on the track.

What amp did AC/DC use on It's a Long Way to the Top?

AC/DC used a Marshall JTM45 amplifier for the rhythm guitar parts on this song. The JTM45 was Marshall's first amplifier model and provides the warm, crunchy overdrive characteristic of early AC/DC recordings when pushed hard.

How to get AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top guitar tone?

Start with a Gibson SG or similar humbucker-equipped guitar into a cranked Marshall JTM45 or similar plexi-style amp. Use moderate overdrive settings and close-mic the cabinet with an SM57 slightly off-axis for that raw, punchy attack.

Where was AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top recorded?

The song was recorded at Albert Studios in Sydney, Australia. Albert Studios was a significant recording facility in Australian rock history and provided the environment for this raw, energetic guitar sound.

What microphone was used to record AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top guitar?

A Shure SM57 microphone was used to capture the guitar cabinet, placed close to the speaker cone. This is a standard technique that captures the direct, punchy attack while maintaining the amp's natural character.

rhythm guitar from "it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)" by ac/dc

it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)

ac/dc

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A raw, powerful, and slightly overdriven rhythm guitar tone that provides a solid foundation for the song. It's characterized by its punchy attack, warm sustain, and overall aggressive feel.

Gear

Gibson SGinstrument: Reverb$1421 Sweetwater
Marshall JTM45amp: Reverb Sweetwater
Shure SM57microphone: Reverb Sweetwater

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The Story

AC/DC recorded "It's a Long Way to the Top" at Albert Studios in Sydney, Australia, with Angus Young likely using his Gibson SG through a Marshall JTM45 amplifier. The raw, punchy tone was captured with close-miking techniques using a Shure SM57 microphone, and the recording may have included a direct input signal blended with the mic'd cabinet for added clarity and attack.

Production Credits

Producer: Harry Vanda, George Young

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Albert Studios, Sydney, Australia

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson SG

Amp: Marshall JTM45

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson SG equipped with humbucker pickups.
Use a Marshall JTM45 amp and set the gain to achieve a moderate level of overdrive.
Place a Shure SM57 microphone close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis.
In your DAW, blend the mic'd signal with a direct input signal to add clarity and punch.
Use a subtle EQ to shape the tone, focusing on the midrange frequencies.

Original Gear

Gibson SG(guitar)
Marshall JTM45(amp)
Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone SG Standard$400-$500

Alternative to: Gibson SG

Features dual humbuckers like Angus's SG and delivers that punchy midrange attack essential for early AC/DC rhythm tones at a budget-friendly price

Reverb Sweetwater

Marshall Origin 50H$600-$700

Alternative to: Marshall JTM45

Based on the JTM45 circuit with modern reliability, providing that warm, crunchy overdrive when cranked that defines this classic AC/DC sound

Reverb Sweetwater

Marshall JTM45 2245 Reissue$2800-$3200

Alternative to: Marshall JTM45

Faithful recreation of the original JTM45 circuit used on the recording, delivering authentic plexi-era Marshall tone and response

Reverb Sweetwater

Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite$120-$150

Alternative to: Marshall JTM45

Includes excellent Marshall-style amp models that can nail the raw, aggressive rhythm tone with proper speaker cab simulation

Reverb Sweetwater

Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The exact same microphone model used on the original recording, still the industry standard for capturing guitar cabinets

TONEDB...

it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

TONEDB...

rhythm guitar from “it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)” by ac/dc | ToneDB

it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What guitar did Angus Young use on It's a Long Way to the Top?

What amp did AC/DC use on It's a Long Way to the Top?

How to get AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top guitar tone?

Where was AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top recorded?

What microphone was used to record AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top guitar?

Community Insights