Pickup for AC/DC toans

[stratjacket]

Agree with the above. I think most any medium gain PAF would do. There was a Gibson Angus Young Signature set, but not sure if they still make them.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Gibson 57 Classic set or the 500T set.

 

[angelspade]

I would think that snap, brightness and clarity of a Duncan Custom may work....as long as the amp was undergained.

 

[RaceU4her]

i think we all kind of generalize ac/dc tone, but Dirty Deeds dosent really sound much at all like back in black, and neither really sound like razors edge for instance.

 

[Brain Becker]

wasnt there a Gibson Angusbucker at some point? id try it

I had one in a 61 sg standard that was badass

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

i think we all kind of generalize ac/dc tone, but Dirty Deeds dosent really sound much at all like back in black, and neither really sound like razors edge for instance.

I really love the Powerage tones but love all the different tones. Also the Mesa rig on Live is amazing

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I have a Harley Benton SG that nails the older stuff. Not sure what pickups are in it. It through the Quickrod with the gain dialed back and the volume cranked sounds really close to the HTH tone.

 

[FourT6and2]

I mean, you can't get much better info than right from the horse's mouth in that video... custom SD pickups wound to 7.7/7.8 with 9-gauge strings. But I doubt he was using those 40 years ago... Really, any PAF-style should get the job done. The difference between pickups isn't all that huge.

Personally, my favorite low-output classic rock pickups are Lindy Fralin. For a hotter wind, I like the BKP Black Dog.

 

[Techdeth]

I will tell you this . If you want the nastier Let there Be Rock try a JB into your SL . Call me crazy but it works . I have a 78 2203 though I’ll add .

 

[romanianreaper]

I just saw Fiesta Red is selling some 57's.

 

[Floyd Eye]

i think we all kind of generalize ac/dc tone, but Dirty Deeds dosent really sound much at all like back in black, and neither really sound like razors edge for instance.

Almost definitely not because Angus changed guitars or pickups.

If we’re nitpicking pickups to cop someone’s tone you need to be focusing on live clips.

 

[CDawg]

Seymour Duncan Brobucker bridge and Pearly Gates neck. I have a Gibson SG and went from stock pickups to those and I always thought it did an excellent Angus tone. Had them in for about a decade with no complaints.

I believe Angus used the Pearly Gates neck and a modified Pearly Gates bridge around the 2000s/2010s in his signature guitars as well as his own equipment.

 

[Fusionbear]

I like DiMarzio 36th anniversary, Suhr SSV, Suhr Thornbuckers, Duncan 59's.

All these get you there. The rest is up to you...

 

[valve]

from what i've read Angus plays stock 60s and early 70s SGs in the studio.
So T-tops and patend# buckers.

a cheap but good option is a used duncan Jazz SH-2b (or APH-1b with a mag swap). way better for this than the SH1 59.
the gibson signature HB sucks (crazy scooped with woofy bass & brittle highs) and there is no evidence he ever used it. it's a bit like the duncan 59 but even more scooped and more highs. the 59 with a short A5 is good for AC/DC though.
the HV set is great but kind of overkill since his tone is not too hard to get. also probably never on any recording.
the pearly gates is great for that stuff. t-top clone too of course.
bkp riff raff also!
but guitar dependant of course (not all SG are the same)

for malcolm you need the heavy strings and the about 4k filtertron in a hollow-body if you really wanna nail it...

but yes it changed over the years. but the tones i like best from angus & malcolm are achievable with the listed options.
i think i haven't played AC/DC songs in 3 years? but i used to...