How to Dial In "Back in Business" by AC/DC - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Back in Business"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Fly on the Wall (1985). Straight-ahead AC/DC hard rock built on open-chord riffs, with a gritty tone that sits right at the edge of breakup. No source documents the guitar or amp on this track, so a Gibson SG Standard into a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue stands in. Set a medium-high crunch on the bridge pickup and keep the low end tight. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Back in Business" Tone
What guitar did AC/DC use on "Back in Business"?
The guitar on "Back in Business" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Back in Business" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Back in Business" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Back in Business" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Back in Business" by AC/DC are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.