Ballbreaker album cover - AC/DC
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Whiskey on the Rocks" by AC/DC - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Whiskey on the Rocks"

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.

Gain5.5
Bass5
Mid6.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7.5

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

Get the settings for my amp
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
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Ballbreaker (1995). 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 light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Whiskey on the Rocks" Tone

  1. What guitar did AC/DC use on "Whiskey on the Rocks"?

    The guitar on "Whiskey on the Rocks" (released 1995) 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 "Whiskey on the Rocks" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Whiskey on the Rocks" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Whiskey on the Rocks" 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 "Whiskey on the Rocks" by AC/DC are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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