Blow Up Your Video album cover - AC/DC
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Nick of Time" by AC/DC - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Nick of Time"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble7
Presence6
Volume8

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone10
Volume10
Recording notes

From Blow Up Your Video (1988). Blow Up Your Video is the eleventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 1 February 1988. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for AC/DC's other songs from Blow Up Your Video, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Nick of Time" Tone

  1. What guitar did AC/DC use on "Nick of Time"?

    The guitar on "Nick of Time" (released 1988) 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).

  2. What amp settings does "Nick of Time" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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.

  3. Can I play "Nick of Time" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Nick of Time" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Nick of Time" by AC/DC are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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