Top 5Seen using
Gibson
1967 SG Standard“If things go smoothly, Angus will only use this 1967 Gibson SG during the entire show.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Angus Young. Every item links to its public source.
16 items · Last checked What guitar does Angus Young play?
In Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown, Angus Young was seen with a 1967 Gibson SG running into nine 100-watt Marshall Super Lead heads and Marshall 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion Greenbacks. His rack held Shure Axient wireless and a SoloDallas Schaffer Replica Tower, and his SGs were strung with Ernie Ball Slinky .009-.042 strings.
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Top 5
Where to start with Angus Young's gear.
01
02
Top 5Seen using
Gibson
1970 SG Custom“His backup is a 1970 SG Custom that he used on the Back in Black world tour during the early '80s.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
03
Top 5Has said they use
Gibson
1968 SG Standard“Another guitar that I've got, a '68 SG, dates from the Highway to Hell days, and I've used it for backing tracks and stuff”
Said in Guitar World: Angus Young on his favorite Gibson SG from his collection, August 2026
No store page for this one.
04
Top 5Seen using
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky 9-42“All of Angus' guitars use Ernie Ball Slinky (.009-.042) strings and he rocks with Fender Extra Heavy picks.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
05
Top 5Seen using
Fender
Extra Heavy picksSeen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
What gear Angus Young uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars, strings and picks
Seen using
Gibson
1967 SG Standard“If things go smoothly, Angus will only use this 1967 Gibson SG during the entire show.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Gibson
1970 SG Custom“His backup is a 1970 SG Custom that he used on the Back in Black world tour during the early '80s.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Gibson
1968 SG Standard“Another guitar that I've got, a '68 SG, dates from the Highway to Hell days, and I've used it for backing tracks and stuff”
Said in Guitar World: Angus Young on his favorite Gibson SG from his collection, August 2026
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky 9-42“All of Angus' guitars use Ernie Ball Slinky (.009-.042) strings and he rocks with Fender Extra Heavy picks.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
Seen using
Fender
Extra Heavy picksSeen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
Amps and speakers
Seen using
Marshall
1959 Super Lead 100-watt head“For this "small" AC/DC show (normally the band packs stadiums), Angus was using nine 100-watt Super Lead Marshall heads.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
Find it on
Seen using
Marshall
4x12 cabinet“Angus' nine Marshall heads go out to an array of Marshall 4x12 cabinets that are loaded with Celestion 25-watt Greenback speakers.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
Seen using
Celestion
Greenback 12-inch speakerSeen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
Seen using
Marshall
2203 100-watt head“on Let There Be Rock and Powerage it was predominantly late-'70s Marshall 2203s.”
Seen using
Marshall
JTM45“he does own several of them and does use them in the studio from time to time, in conjunction with other amps”
Seen in Guitar.com: Angus Young's guitar gear myths, October 2021
Rack and wireless
Seen using
SoloDallas
Schaffer Replica Tower“This is the first tour that he's using the new Schaffer Replica Tower that was recreated by AC/DC fanatic Fil Olivieri”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
Seen using
Shure
Axient wireless“Angus' rack consists of Shure Axient wireless units and a custom-built Mike Hill amp switcher.”
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, AC/DC, September 2016
No store page for this one.
Records he loves
Has said they love
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Are You Experienced“when I heard 'Purple Haze', boy, that was it. I was so excited.”
Said in Blabbermouth: Angus Young recalls the moment he heard Jimi Hendrix for the first time, November 2020
Has said they love
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton“The only great album he ever made was the Blues Breaker album he did with John Mayall”
Said in Guitar World: Angus Young's thoughts on Eric Clapton, and the players he prefers, August 2026
Has said they love
Jeff Beck
Truth“I really like the early albums he did with Rod Stewart.”
Said in Guitar World: Angus Young's thoughts on Eric Clapton, and the players he prefers, August 2026
Has said they love
Jeff Beck
Beck-Ola“I really like the early albums he did with Rod Stewart.”
Said in Guitar World: Angus Young's thoughts on Eric Clapton, and the players he prefers, August 2026
Questions
About Angus Young's gear.
What guitar does Angus Young play?
A Gibson SG. Premier Guitar saw a 1967 SG as his main show guitar, backed up by a 1970 SG Custom and a Gibson Custom Brian Ray '63 SG built to his specs. He has told Guitar World that his 1968 SG dates from the Highway to Hell days.
What amps does Angus Young play through?
Marshalls. Premier Guitar saw nine 100-watt Super Lead heads feeding Marshall 4x12 cabinets with Celestion 25-watt Greenbacks. Guitar World says late-'70s 2203s were his main amps on Let There Be Rock and Powerage, and Guitar.com says he owns several JTM45s.
Does Angus Young play with pedals?
Not on stage. His rack held Shure Axient wireless, a SoloDallas Schaffer Replica Tower that recreates the boost of his old Schaffer-Vega wireless, and a Rocktron Hush for noise. Guitar.com reports he leaned on Schaffer Replica Towers in the studio for Power Up.
What strings and picks does Angus Young use?
Premier Guitar reported Ernie Ball Slinky .009-.042 strings on all of his guitars and Fender Extra Heavy picks.
What music inspired Angus Young?
He has said hearing Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze as a teenager was the moment, and he has told Guitar World he loves Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. He has praised John Mayall's Blues Breakers album and Jeff Beck's early albums with Rod Stewart.
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Angus Young
About this guide · Last checked
Angus Young is the lead guitarist and co-founder of AC/DC, the Australian band behind Highway to Hell, Back in Black and Power Up. This guide covers the Gibson SGs, Marshall heads, strings and wireless seen in Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown and named in his interviews, plus the records he has said he loves.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Angus Young didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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