Cliff Williams (AC/DC) - Setup/rig?

**mikeddd** · #1 04-07-2011, 10:27 AM

Talking about Cliff Williams from AC/DC. I like his sound on "Girls Got Rhythm" from Highway to Hell and "Shoot to Thrill" from Back in Black. Does he use rounds or flats? Sounds like flats to me. Also, anyone know if he was recorded direct or cabbed? Combo of both? I know he's currently endorsed by Ampeg; did he play an Ampeg on those albums? Thanks!

mcm · #2 04-07-2011, 08:31 PM

love cliff and acdc!! flats and a p-bass on highway to hell and stingray i believe on back in black. the tone on the highway to hell album is so fat. i love how the bass comes in on 'get it hot'.

LoGruvz · #3 05-20-2011, 04:54 PM

Today he uses a 1976 MM Stingray 2 band EQ and D'Addario Nickel XL160 or XL165, Ampeg SVT-4pro live but I think he uses flats recording. Google some pics you can find one that shows his amp and you can see the settings I have my rig tuned to it and I get more complimnets from the sound guys at clubs saying I have the best sound.

sonic assassin · #4 05-20-2011, 06:42 PM

maybe im crazy, did i read something about him playing a sabre at one point?

LoGruvz · #5 05-20-2011, 09:03 PM

May have. He played a lot of things in the beginning. Thunderbird, Precision, Custom Precision almost Billy Sheehan like with a subwoofer pickup up close to the neck.

Aussie Player · #6 05-23-2011, 10:42 AM

Back in 1981 Cliff and I were the first 2 bass players in OZ using the brand new Marshall 400W valve heads that were later recalled by Jim Marshall due to a technical problem with the compression units. They were great while they lasted.

jaywa · #7 05-23-2011, 11:46 AM

I thought the Back In Black album was tracked with a P-Bass... but I could be wrong.

Live, he's used a StingRay for as long as I've been following them which is going back to the mid-80s.