What guitar did Angus Young use on Thunderstruck?

Angus Young used a Gibson SG on "Thunderstruck," which has been his signature guitar throughout AC/DC's career. The mahogany body and humbucker pickups give his tone its characteristic midrange bite and sustain.

How to get AC/DC Thunderstruck guitar tone?

Start with a Gibson SG or similar mahogany guitar with humbuckers into a Marshall JTM45 or plexi-style amp. Set the gain for slight overdrive, emphasize midrange frequencies, and avoid excessive distortion to maintain the raw, cutting character.

What amp does Angus Young use?

Angus Young primarily uses Marshall JTM45 and plexi-style amps. For "Thunderstruck," he used a Marshall JTM45, which provides the signature Marshall midrange crunch without excessive gain.

What studio was Thunderstruck recorded at?

"Thunderstruck" was recorded at Miraval Studios in France with engineer Tony Platt. The studio setting allowed for proper amp miking techniques that captured the natural overdrive and presence of Young's Marshall stack.

What microphone was used to record Thunderstruck guitar?

The guitar was likely recorded with dynamic microphones such as the Shure SM57, placed close to the amp speaker. This technique captures the midrange attack and presence that makes the guitar cut through AC/DC's dense mix.

lead guitar from "thunderstruck" by ac/dc

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Tone Profile

The guitar tone is bright, cutting, and slightly overdriven, with a pronounced upper-midrange that allows it to cut through the mix. It has a raw, energetic character, characteristic of AC/DC's signature sound.

Shop This Rig

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Gibson SG(instrument)
Marshall JTM45(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)

The Story

Angus Young's lead guitar tone on "Thunderstruck" was captured at Miraval Studios in France, engineered by Tony Platt. Young used his signature Gibson SG through a Marshall JTM45, creating the bright, cutting sound that defines the track. The recording utilized close-miking techniques with dynamic microphones to capture the amp's natural overdrive and midrange presence.

Production Credits

Producer: Harry Vanda

Engineer: Tony Platt

Recorded at: Miraval Studios, France

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson SGShop on Reverb

Amp: Marshall JTM45Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson SG and a Marshall JTM45 amp.
Use a Shure SM57 close to the amp speaker.
Adjust the amp's gain to achieve a slightly overdriven tone.
Focus on the midrange frequencies to get the guitar to cut through the mix.
Avoid excessive gain or distortion, as the tone should be raw and energetic, not overly processed.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone SG StandardShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Gibson SG

Offers the same mahogany body and humbucker pickup configuration as Young's Gibson SG, delivering that signature midrange bite at a budget-friendly price

Marshall Origin 50HShop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Marshall JTM45

Based on the JTM45 circuit but with modern reliability, provides the same plexi-style overdrive and midrange character essential to Young's tone

UAD Marshall Plexi ClassicPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Marshall JTM45

Precisely models the JTM45/plexi sound with the same harmonic content and compression characteristics, perfect for direct recording

Gibson SG StandardShop on Reverb$1,400-$1,600

Alternative to: Gibson SG

The same model Young has used throughout his career, with mahogany construction and humbuckers that provide the exact tonal foundation

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The same microphone used on the original recording, still the industry standard for capturing guitar amp midrange presence and attack

Sources

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lead guitar from “thunderstruck” by ac/dc | ToneDB