What Guitar Does Angus Young Play?

Angus Young has cemented his name in rock n’ roll’s hall of fame by co-founding AC/DC and serving as the lead guitarist throughout the group’s career. Widely viewed as one of the best guitarists of all time, people tune in every time he goes on stage to marvel at his performance and get a glimpse of the instrument that this musical legend chooses for his unmistakable solos, such as his guitar.

Angus Young usually plays a Gibson SG Standard guitar. He’s one of rock n’ roll’s most loyal musicians regarding instrument choices, as he’s stuck to various Gibson SB variations throughout his career. The only non-Gibson guitar he’s favored is the Jaydee Custom SG.

Though the Gibson SG Standard is Young’s indubitable go-to, he has dabbled with other Gibson models. This article will give you a more thorough run-down of some of the most memorable guitars Angus Young, the legendary AC/DC lead guitarist, has played over the years. In the following sections, I’ll also take you through some background info on the musician’s life and the answers to your FAQs, so make sure to stick around.

Angus Young: Some Background Information

Angus Young (A-Bomb) is a Scottish-Australian musician born on March 31st, 1955. Though he was born in Scotland, he moved to Australia when he was only 8 years old, so his musical training had a lot of Aussie influences.

Young grew up in a musical family, and both his brothers Malcolm and George went on to become successful musicians in their own right. If you’re already an AC/DC fan, you probably already know that Angus and Malcolm were actually the two co-founders of the band, with each taking over the roles of lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist, respectively.

After Malcolm and Angus founded AC/DC in 1973 and added Dave Evans, Larry Van Kriedt, and Colin Burgess, the group didn’t take long to grab the public’s attention. The members immediately stood out not only due to their individual talents but also because they worked great as a team.

Angus, in particular, quickly became a fan favorite due to his magnetic stage presence and high-energy guitar solos. As time passed, the public started recognizing him as one of the best guitarists in rock history, which is no easy feat.

Three decades after he and his brother founded AC/DC, Angus and the rest of the band were introduced to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, cementing his place in history as a living musical legend.

Though this is just a piece of the rich history of Angus Young’s background, it hopefully reminds you of the life and career of one of our greatest musicians and, in turn, some insight into why the following instruments hold such great historical value.

List of Guitars That Angus Young Plays

Without further ado, let’s dive into the list of guitars Angus Young most commonly plays. If there’s one thing I can say right off the bat, the man’s undoubtedly one of Gibson’s biggest ambassadors. 

Gibson SG Standard

If you’ve been following Angus Young as a musician, you probably already know how much he favors his Gibson SG Standard guitars. Since starting out in the music scene in the early 1970s, he has always been partial to the SG Standard, no matter how successful he got or how many other models were gifted to him. 

He switched between different releases throughout the years, as not all older SGs can withstand the pressure required for the average AC/DC tour, but rest assured, Young has rarely strayed away from his first love. 

As a result, this is the model most closely associated with his brand.

Though Young has juggled between releases, he seems to heavily favor older models, specifically ones from the 60s. These are the releases he seems to turn to repeatedly.

As it seems, these instruments not only fit Young’s technical and practical criteria but also hold immense sentimental value for the musician and his career. If you want to learn more about this iconic guitar, read on as I review some of its specs. 

Though there have been many Gibson SB Standard releases, I’ve chosen to outline the specifications of the ‘68 model, as that seems to be one of Young’s all-time favorites:

• Mahogany wood
• Double cutaway design
• Nickel-plated Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
• Grover kidney tuners
• Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
• Nickel-plated hardware
• 2x “Patent Number” humbucking pickups with black “P.A.F.” stickers on the back
• 2 volume and 2 tone controls
• 3-way toggle switch
• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• Thin profile, flat top
• 22 frets with dot inlays
• Rosewood fretboard
• Comes with a black hardshell case
• Available in various finishes (Cherry, Polaris White, Walnut)

If you want to see Young playing one of these beasts by yourself, you won’t have to look too hard. 

A Gibson SG Standard supports most of AC/DC’s live performances and studio recordings. For example, if you’ve ever seen a live performance of “Highway to hell,” chances are you’ve seen Young play his all-time favorite guitar. How he jumps around with it shows how light the guitar is and how easy it is for him to play.

If you’ve never heard “Highway to hell” live, check out the video below to see its performance on the 1979 tour:

That iconic SG sound can also be heard in the background of the “Back in Black” album, which is one of the band’s most popular releases, widely considered one of the best rock n’ roll albums ever.

Gibson SG Angus Young Signature

Considering the long-standing relationship between Young and his beloved SG Standard, it was only a matter of time before he got his signature version. However, many might be surprised to learn that this didn’t happen until July 2000, almost three decades after Young started his successful career.

This instrument was modeled after the very first SG model Young got in the early 1970s, but it came with some additional features to Young’s liking. 

Here are some of the specs of this one-of-a-kind Gibson Guitar:

• Mahogany
• Double cutaway design
• Available in cherry red or ebony finishes
• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• Comes with a custom hardshell case with AC/DC logo
• Distinctive lightning bolt graphics on the pickguard and headstock
• Thin profile, flat top
• 2x Gibson Angus Young Signature humbucking pickups
• 2 volume and 2 tone controls
• 3-way toggle switch
• Rounded “C” profile
• 22 frets with acrylic trapezoid inlays
• Rosewood fretboard
• Chrome-plated Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
• Vintage-style Keystone tuners
• Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
• Nickel-plated hardware

Young certainly made the most of this honor by bringing his signature SG to several tours and recording sessions, including the iconic Stiff Upper Lip tour in 2003, where he used this particular guitar to perform the song’s chill-inducing riffs. 

The model also re-appears in the group’s newer work, included in the “A shot in the dark” music video. Here’s a “Stiff Upper Lip” performance in Munich, where you can see the instrument in action.

Jaydee Custom SG

Though Angus Young is known for his loyalty to Gibson guitars, he has sporadically experimented with other models throughout his years. 

One of the most notable and only cases of this happening involves the Jaydee Custom SG guitar, which was gifted to him in 1981 by John Diggins himself. This piece was modeled after Young’s all-time favorite Gibson SG but featured a few alterations.

Here are some of the instrument’s most notable specs:

• Mahogany
• Double cutaway design
• Custom nut width
• A custom bridge and tailpiece
• Custom tuners
• Custom control knobs
• Gold-plated hardware
• Custom sculpted top
• 2x custom-wound humbucking pickups
• Custom wiring and switching
• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• 22 frets with custom inlays
• Rosewood fretboard
• Comes with a custom hardshell case
• Available in various finishes

After receiving this gift, Angus made a point to use it in many of his subsequent performances, which is why you’ll be able to spot the Jaydee Custom SG in many of AC/DC’s 80s and 90s performances.

Some of Young’s most notable appearances with this guitar include the 1985 “Fly on the Wall” tour and the 1988 “Blow Up Your Video” tour. If you want to see the iconic guitar in action, check out the video below from the “Fly on the Wall” tour:

Gibson SG Junior

The Gibson SG Junior offers one of the most unique sounds you’ll come across in the brand’s SG guitar line. It’s essentially the stripped-down version of the classic SG, creating a different sound and atmosphere than the original. 

While this model was obviously not Young’s first choice for live performances and concerts, it made several appearances during press or media. For example, you can catch Young and Brian Johnson performing “You Shook Me All Night Long” on the Howard Stern Show backed by this guitar:

If you like the sound of the Gibson SG Junior and want to learn more about its features, here’s what you need to know:

• Mahogany
• Double cutaway design
• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• Thin profile, flat top
• Vintage-style Deluxe tuners with white buttons
• Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
• 1x P-90 single-coil pickup
• 1 volume and 1 tone control
• 3-way toggle switch
• Nickel-plated hardware
• 22 frets with dot inlays
• Rosewood fretboard
• Chrome-plated wraparound bridge
• Comes with a black hardshell case
• Available in various finishes (Cherry, Vintage Sunburst)

Gibson Les Paul

Though Gibson Les Paul was never Yung’s first choice, the musician still used it on rare occasions. After all, he’s just as much of a Gibson fan as the rest of us, and he had to try their most popular model.

However, as mentioned, the instrument’s bulky nature never sat well with Young, so he always returned to his beloved SG Standard. That said, Les Paul is still one of the most influential guitars of all time, so it was worth mentioning.

Here are some of the specifications of the latest Gibson Les Paul release:

• Mahogany with carved maple top
• Single cutaway design
• Mahogany with rosewood fingerboard
• 22 frets with acrylic trapezoid inlays
• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
• Vintage-style tuners with green “keystone” buttons
• Amber top hat knobs with silver inserts
• Nickel-plated hardware
• 2x Gibson humbucking pickups, typically Burstbucker Pro or ’57 Classic
• 2 volume and 2 tone controls
• 3-way toggle switch
• Comes with a black hardshell case
• Vintage-style cream binding
• Available in various finishes (Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Honey Burst)

Though it’s not easy to find one of Young’s performances with a Les Paul guitar, he brought the model out during some of his high-profile appearances, including the “Let There Be Rock Tour” in 1977. 

Here’s a full concert of that tour: 

Gibson Flying V

Though one of Young’s rare choices, Gibson Flying V still appears in several AC/DC live performances and studio recordings. Though this isn’t the model Young favors the most, it’s often the one most closely associated with his fiery persona.

Here are some of the specs this iconic Gibson release boasts: 

• Mahogany with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• V-shaped design
• 2x Gibson humbucking pickups, typically Burstbucker Pro or ’57 Classic
• 2 volume and 1 tone control
• 3-way toggle switch
• White pickguard
• Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
• Slim-taper profile
• Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
• Mini Grover tuners with kidney buttons
• Chrome-plated hardware
• 22 frets with acrylic dot inlays
• Comes with a black hardshell case
• Available in various finishes (Ebony, Alpine White, etc.)

Young has most famously used his Gibson Flying V in the group’s albums “Ballbreaker” and the song “Thunderstruck.” If you’ve never heard the song, you can find its official video:

Gibson Explorer

Last but not least, we have the iconic Gibson Explorer. Because young’s performances with this model are few and far between, this is the last guitar on today’s list. 

However, it’s still one of Gibson’s most popular models, boasting the following specs:

• Mahogany with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
• Explorer-shaped design
• White pickguard
• Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
• Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
• Mini Grover tuners with kidney buttons
• Chrome-plated hardware
• Slim-taper profile
• 2x Gibson humbucking pickups, typically Burstbucker Pro or ’57 Classic
• 2 volume and 1 tone control
• 3-way toggle switch
• 22 frets with acrylic dot inlays
• Comes with a black hardshell case
• Available in various finishes (Ebony, Alpine White, etc.)

Young most famously brought out this guitar during the “For Those About To Rock” (1981) tour, a clip of which you can find below:

FAQs

Now that you’ve learned more about Angus Young’s most commonly used guitars, it’s time to answer some more commonly asked questions about the topic.

What Is Angus Young’s Favorite Guitar?

Angus Young’s favorite guitar is undoubtedly the Gibson SG Standard. He’s played the model since his musical beginnings in the early 1970s and hasn’t stopped since, which means he’s made a decades-old commitment to this guitar. However, he has switched between different releases from time to time.

Just because a guitar is old doesn’t mean it won’t continue producing the deep rich sound Angus Young is known for. 

Why Does Angus Young Prefer SG Over Les Paul?

Since Les Paul is by far Gibson’s most popular guitar, fans often wonder why Young has been adamant about choosing the SG Standard over it all throughout his career.

Angus Young prefers SG over Les Paul because the former features a thinner neck and provides better access to the upper frets. Playing is also lighter and generally more practical, especially during long, movement-heavy concerts. As a 5’2” (157 cm) person, Young avoids too-heavy models.

If he had a heavy guitar, he would most likely be unable to perform his signature move on stage, as it would weigh him down too much. 

Does Angus Young Use a Guitar Pick?

Angus Young does use a guitar pick. Specifically, he seems to favor the Fender 351 Extra Heavy picks. This choice is because these heavy-duty picks can take a lot of stress and won’t wear out after a few intense playing sessions.

If he had a lighter pick, he would probably need to replace them much more frequently.

Conclusion

Hopefully, by reading through Angus Young’s favorite guitars, you have a better insight into his character as a musician. Throughout his decades-long career, Young has shown a level of loyalty uncommon in the rock n’ roll world, where guitarists are always searching for the next best thing.

Though the man’s obviously partial to his Gibsons, he’s still not entirely closed off to experimenting with other models, especially if they hold the technical and sentimental value he wants. 

As you can see, there’s a lot you can learn about a musician from his instrument lineup choices.