Thunderstruck (AC/DC) guitar tone and amp settings
Thunderstruck guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3: Crunch amp type, low gain (Gain 4.5), lean lows (Bass 2), forward mids (Middle 6.5), bridge pickup.
Tuning: E standard
Settings for your amp
Thunderstruck settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3
BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for every songAmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Variation
- Off
- Amp Type
- Crunch
- Gain
- 4.5
- Volume
- 7
- Bass
- 2
- Middle
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Booster
- 0
- Mod
- 0
- FX
- 0
- Delay
- 0
- Reverb
- 0
- Master
- Set to your room
- Power Control
- Set to your room
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Thunderstruck settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40
Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for every songAmpPositive Grid Spark 40
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Amp Type
- Crunch
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 2
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6
- Master
- Set to your room
- Mod
- 0
- Delay
- 0
- Reverb
- 0
- Output
- Set to your room
- App Amp Model
- Plexiglas
- App Drive
- Off
- App Comp/Wah
- Off
- App Mod/EQ
- Off
- App Delay
- Off
- App Reverb
- Off
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Thunderstruck settings on a Fender Mustang LT25
Fender Mustang LT25 settings for every songAmpFender Mustang LT25
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Amp Model
- 70S ROCK
- Gain
- 4.5
- Volume
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Bass
- 2.5
- Middle
- 6.5
- Master
- Set to your room
- Stomp
- None
- Mod
- None
- Delay
- None
- Reverb
- None
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A Filter’Tron-style pickup would add the original’s tighter midrange honk.
Thunderstruck settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble
Amp
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Gain
- 4.5
- Bass
- 2
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6.5
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A Filter’Tron-style bridge pickup adds the characteristic tight, open honk.
Why it sounds like that
Malcolm Young played a Gretsch Jet Firebird with a single Filter'tron humbucker at the bridge and a Badass wraparound bridge, into a 1971 100-watt Marshall Super Bass head dialed in clean but as loud as possible. Extra-heavy strings on the chambered body give a distinctive midrange honk, and the amp's bass control is turned way down low, leaving room for the bass guitar and kick drum. Angus Young's riff carries the first minute almost alone.
- Use extra-heavy strings on a chambered Jet Firebird for a distinctive midrange honk.
- Turn the amp's bass control way down low to leave room for the bass and kick drum.
What amp did Malcolm Young use on Thunderstruck?
- Guitar World says Malcolm Young's guitar on Thunderstruck was a Gretsch Jet Firebird with a single Filter'tron humbucker at the bridge and a Badass wraparound bridge. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World's original-gear list for Thunderstruck names a 1971 100-watt Marshall JMP Super Bass head for Malcolm Young. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World's original-gear list for Thunderstruck gives standard tuning. (on this song)[1]
- Malcolm Young turned the amp's bass control way down low on Thunderstruck, which leaves room for the bass guitar and kick drum. (on this song)[1]
- Extra-heavy strings on Malcolm Young's chambered Jet Firebird gave a distinctive midrange honk on Thunderstruck. (on this song)[1]
- Intro: Ultimate Classic Rock says Angus Young's riff carries the first minute of Thunderstruck almost alone. (on this song)[2]
- Guitar World says Malcolm's Super Bass was dialed in clean but as loud as possible, riding on power amp distortion. (on this song)[1]
Questions
What amp did Malcolm Young use on Thunderstruck?
The sources on this page document Malcolm Young's gear on Thunderstruck by AC/DC: guitar, Gretsch Jet Firebird [1]; pickup, Filter’tron humbucker [1]; amp, Marshall JMP Super Bass [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Thunderstruck settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3?
For the Thunderstruck guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3, set Amp Type Crunch, Gain 4.5, Volume 7, Bass 2, Middle 6.5, Treble 6.5, Booster 0, Mod 0, FX 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master and Power Control to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Thunderstruck settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40?
For the Thunderstruck guitar tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Amp Type Crunch, Gain 4, Bass 2, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, Mod 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0, App Amp Model Plexiglas; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master and Output to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Thunderstruck settings on a Fender Mustang LT25?
For the Thunderstruck guitar tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, set Amp Model 70S ROCK, Gain 4.5, Volume 7, Treble 6, Bass 2.5, Middle 6.5, Stomp None, Mod None, Delay None, Reverb None; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What tuning is Thunderstruck in?
Thunderstruck by AC/DC is played in E standard, according to the cited source [1]. Tune to it before you set the amp, or the riff will not sit right against the record.
Can I get the Thunderstruck tone on my own amp?
Yes. The settings above cover 3 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for Thunderstruck, using only the controls your gear has.
Get it for your exact rig
KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for this song.
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