Malcolm Young's Tone - It's Not What You Think...

[@toadman506]

I think it was Scott Ian (Anthrax) that put it the best I've ever heard. "Yeah AC/DC is easy to Play, yadda yadda yadda...Try playing it RIGHT!"

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Hard agree!

[@jonathanpoots2421]

If I recall, he then went on to play a riff wrong, if I recall…

[@davemoore4654]

Great review buddy, Malcolm young was the reason I picked up a guitar 30 years ago. The .45 calibre pedal was on my "check it out" list and you have just tipped me over the edge! I'm all in. Thanks for the review.

[@PorpSeymourMusic]

45 Calibre. Thanks for that great video and tribute to the greatest rock band ever, and especially Malcolm who got overlooked so often and overshadowed by his bro. I was on the Sydney band circuit at the same time as AC/DC were starting out. My wife remembered them playing at her high school formal in the early seventies. Malcolm and Angus's older brother George, who was rhythm guitarist for the Easybeats, came to my house when I had a rehearsal studio, because he was producing the Choir Boys band at the same time as he and Harry Vanda were producing AC/DC. I was lucky enough to rub shoulders with several icons back then and some of my friends even suggested that my songs and style influenced a few of them. I hope so. I'm still writing and producing and my songs are on porp.Bandcamp. I'd be honoured if you had a listen but it ain't all rock'n'roll.

[@msmoniz]

First mistake everyone makes(myself included when I was a young novice player) in trying to get AC/DC tone is TOO MUCH GAIN/DISTORTION! Their tone tends to be cleaner than you think. Angus has always said throughout his career in numerous interviews,(paraphrasing here); "Malcolm could play what I do, but he just never wanted to, preferring rhythm playing. I could never play what Mal does as well as Mal does."

[@TheGuitarGeek]

absolutely correct there!

[@AirbornePoet]

I am just starting this vid but I gotta say you have a real cool rock n roll look with that Afro and the rest of you like you could be from the British English royal family. What a cool mix. ANd i hope ya take that in a cool good way.

[@craigcarpenter9623]

45 caliber - It was easy to make it to the end - thanks for a great video - love the guitar and love the pedal!!!

[@nickfromnebraska]

Love the .45 Caliber and love the Malcolm tone and anything to do with studying his style and technique…great vid!

[@kevinhughes9200]

That was spot on! Malcom Young was always a favorite guitarist of mine, and the pedal, and the way you demonstrated it absolutely nailed it! 45 Caliber!! 🤘🤘

[@stevenlouden6836]

.45 Caliber ...very cool! Have you a video like this but on John McGeoch's tone (Siouxsie and the Banshees,Magazine, PiL)? I reckon that would be really interesting.

[@michaellosh1851]

Great points! I saw AC/DC about 1986 in a small city in mid-America (AKA "flyover country"), but I was blown away by how tight and professional they sounded while rocking out... they didn't phone it in at all. Oh, by the way, 45 caliber.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I imagine that must have been a heck of an experience

[@ddbrock9675]

Great tips, I'd add if you're the only guitarist, splitting the difference on the gain between Mal and Angus levels is usually the trick, and turn the volume up full on the guitar for leads. Filtertron-type pickups on the hotter side respond well to Angus level gain in those situations.

[@warrenroberts9386]

Loved the breakdown of the sound - 45 calibre !! - Malcolm legendary sound. I’m fortunate to live in Sydney and lived in the same area as Malcolm’s house in Balmain. Bumped into him often when he was healthy, really down to earth larrikin. We will hardly see another rhythm player like him. That being said really enjoyed your video and the way you explained the finer details. Keep it up. Cheers Waz

[@danz2611]

Another great video! Excellent advice for using the .45 Caliber with a lower gain setting. The pedal sounds great! Nice Job, keep up the good work!

[@ChristopherOrth]

Great vid! So many people play with way too much drive/dist and those really cool note combos Malcolm uses don't ring out, and just get squashed... like a 45 caliber squashing into a squasher.

[@kevincordell9539]

This is the second video I’ve seen on the .45 cal pedal and getting the Malcolm sound. Thanks for making this video.

[@timrobinson9192]

Watched again because its a great vid. 45 calibre! 👍👍👍☮☮☮🤘🤘🤘 PS: I got the 5222 double because of yours and other folks videos. Love it to pieces, what a lovely piece of kit for so little layout.

[@TeddScheckler]

Love your tone, and you rock that hair like a boss. Thanks for giving props to Malcolm.

[@saarangnarayan123]

That tone has 45 calibers and that's all the caliber a tone can have! It's really underappreciated how much a cleaner tone behind a dirtier tone can make everything sound massive. Lovely video, Andy!

[@nathanbrisson8515]

.45 caliber

[@peterlanglois1334]

Great intro - the 45 Calibre review content was much appreciated.

[@MatthewJudd-l8p]

Really nice video, very informative and clear as a .45 caliber! I like the style of presentation and the no nonsense approach! It makes me want to acquire that pedal.

[@shanemarcotte2062]

.45 caliber. Much enjoyed. AC/DCs tone is so simple yet hard to master. You helped me master it.

[@chrisgoudy1954]

Cool stuff. Thank you! With my current set up I’m struggling to get that lower gain setting, but this helps, and I’ll keep trying. 45 Caliber!

[@southernpanda33]

It’s amazing what you run across on a Channel in the older videos. Great use of the .45 Caliber, Andy. 🎉

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you! Still one of my favourite pedals

[@tomdameek]

A demo and a lesson? now you’re talking. I’m so glad you spoke up for Malcolm. He was at times quite subtle and complex with his rhythms and they can be quite hard to nail down properly. Thunderstruck is a good example. Angus is phenomenal but Malcolm was the foundation and the mix was explosive. That pedal is excellent. Top quality (45 calibre ) tone. Cheers- 😄👍👍❤️

[@thunderstruck01rocks]

one of the best demonstration on mals tone i've found so far! keep it up

[@LookieChannel]

Excellent breakdown of Mal's style, you are absolutely right about the gain, I found myself pushing too high often :) Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@LIGHTintheHALLS]

The 45 Caliber is my favorite OD. I'm a huge fan of bridge pickup players like Malcolm Young and Pete Townshend. Your 5 tips are a great education in that beautiful and complex guitar sound.

[@creativeguyontheloose]

.45 caliber! fantastic and useful. I am now a proud owner. Thank you for such great vids!!

[@zublacus]

This is true. I am Malcolm in an AC/DC Tribute band. I use a Malcolm Young Signature series Gretsch and previously used a 5150iii on the clean channel, not blue. I now use a Kemper using a Plexi modeler. I don't use any pedals. I just D'Addario NYXL strings, as I like the way they sound and durability. Playing Malcolm you have to HIT THE STRINGS SO HARD! Previously, I used other strings and twice I broke the D string!! Yes, I broke a wound string. Since I switched 5 years ago to NYXL strings I haven't broke a single string. 45 caliber.

[@SRguitar]

Great video Andy! Your Malcolm rig sounds killer 😊 45 Caliber btw

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Hey brother! Thanks. I need to go watch yours

[@coalcrackerchris]

Your channel is great!! I've got alot of questions answered from your content. .45cal

[@bobbymannersmusic2374]

Love your videos! Very amusing and informative 🙂 I've just ordered this pedal - thanks 👍

[@glinteastwood]

.45 caliber… Really appreciated the information in this video, and resonated with the spirit and humour in which it was presented. Well done, mate.

[@MLBa636]

45 caliber - man, thanks for sharing this. Looks like I'm going to have to roll off the gain a bit & dig more with my picking hand. That's a can-do 🤘

[@mattbradford1135]

Great video. I just got the 45 caliber and will play with the settings you recommended.

[@frlfda]

.45 caliber Mate, loved the video. I've always played with too much gain, partially because at home I'm at lower volume but also, I never realized how clean the Young brothers played. Time to back the gain down some more.

[@ArtsIlluminated]

45 caliber! Got roped into doing the Malcom part in a drumlin cover band. Huge help you and your vid

[@newworld9133]

.45 cal lol I just started learning the whole Back in Black album and this will help. I am 6 songs in and now its time to fine tune a little bit and start getting the feel of the player, not just the notes. Thx.

[@christopherthompson3313]

Great! This video is fun and informative. I love the 45 caliber!

[@firstnamelastname6717]

The 45. caliber , yeah , I’ve got to check it out and get that pedal, I just bought this exact same electric guitar too! , it’s definitely a different type of feel to play with, I just love the Les Paul guitar, but i decided to try this guitar instead to see what I can discover as I’m playing it.

[@mathiasmas]

As a hardcore ac-dc and Malcolm Young fan I have too say this: your sound is waaaay too thin in my opinion. But let me, at the same time, show my appreciation of all your content, Im a big fan!!!

[@KelsterVonShredster]

One of my best pedals of all the time the 45 Caliber! Cool video!

[@KyleSG88]

Great video. Way to many people don't know how to get a Mal tone. It's easy to do with many amps and guitars if you set things up right.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Well said!

[@scouge]

People go on about tone and gear, but most of what you’re hearing when you hear a great guitar sound is great playing. Malcolm was the master of this.

[@rtsmudge7251]

45 Caliber. That was a blooming awesome video mate. Great setup, great tone and great playing. Also… Dammit Andy! Now there’s another pedal on my wish list!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

hahaha that is a long list mate!

[@rtsmudge7251]

@@TheGuitarGeek It’s growing by the day. 😂

[@alexanderacostaosorio]

That 45 Caliber is neat. I am getting one for my kid! great video.

[@HouseOfCouplePuffs]

I appreciate your approach to teaching. 45 caliber

[@gyslainbeauchamp9241]

the 45 calibre give you that power,that energy,to play rhythm guitar like malcom,r,i,p,,i'm going back listening through the mist of time🤟

[@TroyNaumu808]

"45 Caliber" great review and tips. nice guitar.

[@tonytrotter2708]

Great guide, love the set up and that sound WOW! 45 Calibre!

[@guyfawkes8873]

My first guitar was a Gretsch. Getting back into guitar after a decade of playing only bass, I bought a guitar with two normal humbuckers… I find myself missing those Filtertrons. Such an awesome sound.

[@rokkinranch6215]

This video delivers all that is promised in the headline and I mean all. And thank you for not starting the video with "Hey, guys!". That usually brings in my mind that I need a 45 caliber gun.

[@stevesmith7856]

I know you say you can use other guitars and get a similar result, but I cannot stress this enough: Malcolm only ever played a Gretsch Jet, which means his tone comes from the Filtertrons, specifically the bridge pickup. None of my guitars with other types of humbuckers come close. I play a Tennessee Rose, a bloody Hollowbody guitar, run that through a 'Klone' pedal (in my case a Mythos Mjolnir), and it slays a Malcolm tone, you don't need high gain, the pickup does the work. Filtertrons are unique, they do something no other pickup can. You won't get Malcolm's tone without them.

[@paulchoate1]

Love the 44 caliber pedal. I paired it with my Schaffer Storm and Marshall DSL20…sounds damn good.

[@VoxMax-dl3yx]

Wonderful sound. I really like it. Congrat!!

[@insearchoftone9602]

The pedal sounds great, can't wait to hear more of what it's capable of. .45 caliber

[@dhouse-d5l]

Its that clean, fresh jangly distortion that sets them apart from every other rock guitarist. Unique and flippin brilliant.

[@shaunfenwick2575]

Great video sir! 100% calibre never mind .45 calibre! Great tips. Cheers, Shaun.

[@boulderertim5986]

Malcolm Young gets overlooked but, he was at the heart of the AC/DC sound. .45 calibre.

[@ericpvk]

I never got to see malcom young live , but love(d) his guitar style. cheers & 45 caliber

[@night1964prowler]

45 caliber - Might have to try the .45 caliber. Great video

[@steeveaddkins3755]

Solodallas shaefer replica kicks butt too! Great video.

[@pierrelorthios851]

at last someone who get's it - bravo et merciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@OgamiItto70]

Yeah. Bands have secret weapons. It was Charlie Watts in the Rolling Stones, it was John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin and it was Malcolm Young in AC~DC. And you're absolutely right about not getting carried away with too much overdrive/distortion for replicating _either_ of the young brothers' tones. Less distortion is more dynamic and is a lot of what makes AC~DC tunes hop. Now I'm going to go find your other video featuring the JRAD Forty-Five Caliber.

[@MrTimcoronel]

12-56 strings?

[@polyphonicgroove]

Great video, thanks for the AC/DC info....45 cab!!

[@grahamaldridge]

I think this is a fantastic video. (I love that Gretsch BTW) Malcolm was an absolute LEGEND. And I love that pedal too. 🤦🏻‍♂️😂 (45 Calibre)

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you mate. That gretsch is hard to say goodbye to. Happy to say that pedal will stay and go on my board

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

45 Calibre…Danke for the video. I like my Bogner La Grange pedal to get my tone. Cheers!

[@wildatlanticman128]

Been an ACDC fan since the early eighties - and anyone who said anything bad about them would cause me to take out my '45 Calibre'.....ok back to work! Great vids btw, all honest and impartial of course? 😉

[@YokoDiAn]

45 CALIBRE! Well done and thanks for another great video!

[@Frettedchaos]

So right about the gain! 45 caliber

[@hotwheel6663]

Bloody well done mate! .45 caliber

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you!

[@trroland1248]

Good presentation. 45 caliber. 👍🏻

[@gazbopilot1]

Excellent! Someone who actually explains stuff well. Oh- &...45 CALIBRE !

[@tbc5853]

Great job! Rock on 45!

[@stevenlouden6836]

.45 Caliber...you should do this format but use punk legend 'John McGeoch' as the Subject (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Magazine, PiL). I always found his tone quite interesting and still haven't figured it all out completely. Absolutely loved this though Malcolm Youngs tone is notoriously misunderstood and you did an excellent job at explaining everything.

[@bruceharding4986]

Listoning to Malcome isolated guitar parts (45 Caliber) his sound is more layered. Probably because the break up come from multiple stages. Preamp gain. Power amp gain. Speaker break up. Basicly i think you did very well for low volume but ultimately you need to be loud to do ACDC.

[@MatthewTomich]

The JR 45 CALIBER pedal is one of my favorites. He absolutely nailed it! The G5222 is stellar as well.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks Matthew. It is a great pedal

[@iammoog]

Boy, howdy. That .45 caliber sounds rather lovely,

[@1970Richiez]

45 Caliber. love that G5222... I want one now

[@mickyp.1718]

That .45 Caliber is quite nice, I'd love to see it compared with the Joyo British sound (which I like a lot to get the AC/DC sound)!

[@RA.lightofwarz]

45 caliber Sweet sounds and Andy great presentation 👏❤

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks Ra, it is good to see you back!

[@johnvinings5652]

.45 caliber...points all well-taken. Thanks mate.

[@BXGuitars]

I like how you showed off how gain can be rolled back in music where people typically think it should be turned up higher. Tone that shoots like a 45 caliber.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

yep, less is more here!

[@terrygore115]

Your are absolutely right. Malcolm's playing is 80 percent of AC/DC's sound. You here that AC/DC groove, that's Malcolm and his Gretsch. Think "Shook Me All Night Long".

[@rockyfolksy8639]

Great demo Andy. Would love to see you compare this to the Wampler Pantheon, Jhs morning glory and the Snouse Blackbox.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I will do what I can!

[@jacqueschouette7474]

I don't play guitar (but someday, I would to) but I'm kind of confused when you talk about the .45 caliber pedal. Since it's called a pedal, I would assume that you use your foot to turn it on/off. However, the button doesn't look like it's designed to do be turned on/off with your foot and with the adjustment knobs being at your feet, it would seem hard to adjust them. So is this something that you actually have within reach of your hands somewhere and it's just called a pedal because earlier devices that accomplished the same function actually were turned on/off by your foot?

[@jimmybrooks1059]

Hi. I liked your video. 45 cal. That Gretch was so cool.

[@jeronimomartinezfabregas]

45 Caliber I just recently acquired my first SG style guitar, so I am lately playing a lot of AC/DC just because of that, mainly using tabs that follow Angus' parts, but I'm just using a modeller that emulates a JCM800 (I just like it better than the Plexi) with the gain knob just around 3-4, and a clean boost just to give it more oomf...sounds pretty decently in the ball park of AC/DC tone to me, atleast since I never usually listen to either Angus or Malcolm in isolation. I might try and see what gives when I change the SG style for a cabronita tele I have with the bridge filtertron-esque PU it has. Very nice and comprehensive video Andy! I can't tell wether your hair is growing or shrinking btw...🤣🤣

[@scottwalters624]

.45 Calibre. Enjoyed the video 👍

[@andres8297]

I was being patient until i got the money for the Malcolm Signature Gretsch replica, 'The beast', and I'm sure i'll get It one day. But that G5222 seems just like a perfect affordable choice to really reach that sound. The looks are cool, but I'm also more than happy with my 360€ Epiphone SG G-400 PRO. Heck it, as soon as I can I'm getting It.

[@MikeKabatt]

While it's an older video, I like it and 45 CALIBRE !

[@humane7273]

45 caliber. Very nice video.

[@antilaw9911]

My DSL 40C vintage gets great ACDC tone just stock plugged in. It's a very warm amp comes stock with an made in UK vintage 30 speaker. The clean gets a old marshall plexi super lead tone. But obviously the amp has gain on each channel.

[@darthfaderlives89]

Lead guitar gets all the love, but everyone who knows anything knows the rhythm section is what makes a hit song where the lead can shine! And that makes Bob .45 your mother’s caliber brother.

[@juanjan__]

45 caliber! I'd like to propose a video with "easy guitar players" who had "minimal gear" mostly aimed for beginners (yes, me haha). If you like the idea, I'd say Malcolm and Johnny Ramone should be the in the list 🙂

[@aprilkurtz1589]

That countdown clock was awesome, man!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Trippy wasn't it!

[@aprilkurtz1589]

@@TheGuitarGeek Brought back some fond memories indeed.

[@RJW14]

NGL, Malcolm is (he passed but man, can't deny his chops that won't fade as long as the music is alive) one of the best rythm players in rock and roll history. Definitely 45 caliber or way way bigger.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Yeah, researching this video i was in awe

[@RJW14]

@@TheGuitarGeek Scott Ian of Anthrax actually caused me to listen to some of his isolated tracks after he did a demo of the gretsch Malcom signature guitar. Really good stuff. Such punch.

[@stovepipe9er]

Great video, 45 caliber

[@m.malina6797]

Appreciate the Gretsch call out and that bit about the master volume. It certainly adds more control over the tone and slots in nicely between heavier tones found in something like the Les Paul and brighter tones like a Tele. That 45 Caliber has a nice tone. Can the JHS Twin Twelve pull it off too?

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Good to hear! Regarding the JHS, I’ve never played it but I think that’s a bit crispier isn’t it?

[@m.malina6797]

@@TheGuitarGeek - Definitely crunchier. JHS mentioned its a transistor-based OD. Must be those 18v.

[@carlBigSpoonjohnson]

Love the 45 caliber and Gretsch

[@ekartpa]

45 Caliber Rocks! So does Malcom!