Are these Brian May guitars any good?

[Gearjoneser]

I never though too much about Brian May's Red Special guitar, but these gold and black ones look like cool guitars to own. I just wonder if they feel cheap or high quality at that price???

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/brian-may-guitars-brian-may-signature-electric-guitar
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/brian-may-guitars-brian-may-signature-electric-guitar#used

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

They're pretty good, and very versatile, as you'd expect. Neck is not a tree-trunk like the original guitar, and the 24" scale + zero fret + 9s make it a very slinky player, it feels almost too easy . Top fret access is so-so, and if you have fat fingers, the short scale would probably feel cramped on the upper registers. The signature Burns pups are pretty well regarded too - for what you pay, they get you 'that' sound. I would've liked one but they were $1800 (!) when they were available here in Aus - killed any temptation.

As with most Korean axes, pots, switches, and jack aren't the best - have heard of people changing them out because they crapped out. Though you get a Wilkinson trem, Burns pups, and Grover tuners. For the $$ and compared to what else is out there, the guitar has its own niche and maintains it well.

Forum bro guitarded has a transitional Burns/BMG, and has spoken positively of it.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

someone went a little overboard on the dot inlays, I think.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

My brother is thinking of buying one early next year - well, when i go to the US, i will probably get one for him there (he's a Massive B.May fan).

What i like about them is their light weight and 24" scale.
However, the body feels a bit small against me, kinda like a EVH sig guitar feels small for me, and i am not even a 220pound PHATT bastard making the guitar look even smaller.
The body is just that . . . small.
Even though i love my SG, the B.May guitar 'feels' much smaller.
Weird.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I never though too much about Brian May's Red Special guitar, but these gold and black ones look like cool guitars to own. I just wonder if they feel cheap or high quality at that price???

When i picked one up last time i was n the UK, they deff did not feel cheap.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

Excellent guitars, very solid and well put together. I've been gassing after one for ages.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I love the black and gold one. I've really thought about them. I kind of want one for all the cool features. 24 inch scale, which I love for some things. And the cool pickups and proper Red Special wiring. But I would feel kind of embarrassed stepping on stage with a signature model guitar, especially one as singular as the Red Special...and especially not being able to play anything like Brian May (or even wanting to).

I also would like the white one a lot if I swapped out the tortoise shell pickguard for single-ply black.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

^^ Yeah, I like the white one too and would swap the tortoiseshell for black. Looks much better (this is a converted one).

someone went a little overboard on the dot inlays, I think.

According to Brian: triple dots for octave, double dots for fifth.

About the body size - the first time I played one, I immediately thought: 'well, this one wasn't meant to be played sitting down!'

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

^^ Yeah, I like the white one too and would swap the tortoiseshell for black.
About the body size - the first time I played one, I immediately thought: 'well, this one wasn't meant to be played sitting down!'

I'd prefer Cream with tortoiseshell ... if the guitar is actually white, it will turn cream/yellow very quickly in my environment.

I just looked to see how much to ship one down to Australia, and it says it's free for any order over $500 !! And seeing as how our dollar is stronger than the US unit at the moment, that means we could get them shipped down here for less than the USA price for the guitar !! (I just put the figures through a currency converter ... at the moment, it would cost us $746 Aussie dollars, delivered !!)

That body is okay in terms of size .... my little headless mini LP creation is much smaller and is no trouble to play sitting down. Very comfortable in fact.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

According to Brian: triple dots for octave, double dots for fifth.

right, I get the scheme. It just looks very busy with an already busy-looking guitar.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

someone went a little overboard on the dot inlays, I think.

That would be Brian May.

right, I get the scheme. It just looks very busy with an already busy-looking guitar.

The dots are one of the RS's most defining features...and easy enough to get right that there isn't much reason not to (unlike the knife-edge vibrato system on the actual RS).

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I really wanted to buy one of those a couple of years ago, but I wasn't sure if they felt cheap or not. That was a guitar I definitely wanted to play before I bought. I'm glad to read positive reviews here. I'd still like to play one though.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I really wanted to buy one of those a couple of years ago, but I wasn't sure if they felt cheap or not. That was a guitar I definitely wanted to play before I bought. I'm glad to read positive reviews here. I'd still like to play one though.

Same here. Wish I could just walk into a shop and try one. But there are only five U.S.A. dealers, at least one of which is online only (Musician's Friend). But since MF is owned by Guitar Center, I hope that means they will end up in GC stores.

 

[LedSabbath]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

^^ Yeah, I like the white one too and would swap the tortoiseshell for black. Looks much better (this is a converted one).

According to Brian: triple dots for octave, double dots for fifth.

About the body size - the first time I played one, I immediately thought: 'well, this one wasn't meant to be played sitting down!'

WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kam]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

God, that white one looks ****ing awesome.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

The best looking one for me, is deff the black one, but with a matching black scratch plate.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I'd prefer Cream with tortoiseshell ... if the guitar is actually white, it will turn cream/yellow very quickly in my environment.

I just looked to see how much to ship one down to Australia, and it says it's free for any order over $500 !! And seeing as how our dollar is stronger than the US unit at the moment, that means we could get them shipped down here for less than the USA price for the guitar !! (I just put the figures through a currency converter ... at the moment, it would cost us $746 Aussie dollars, delivered !!)

That body is okay in terms of size .... my little headless mini LP creation is much smaller and is no trouble to play sitting down. Very comfortable in fact.

I like the green one too. Given that they've gone with the tortoiseshell scratchplate, they should've done the binding in that as well - would look better than the way they have it now...

Oh? What is this place? That's really good, and considering it's under $1000, one won't get slapped with VAT. I've only seen them for $800 online from US vendors but no international shipping is offered. Astrings in the UK offers international shipping but the guitar is just under £600 off the bat.

I find even LPs uncomfortable sitting down, so... But standing up is ok.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

The green is Thee One IMHO. Having trouble finding it in the U.S.A. though.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

I didn't see a green one. But the gold or white with black guard would be awesome.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Are these Brian May guitars any good?

Interesting design. Reminds me of a DC LP Special, might of been some of the inspiration. The pickguard is huge; I think it would look better if it was the same color as the guitar, especially on the black model (black on black).

I don't know if you'd be obligated to only play Queen songs on it (I certainly wouldn't). If you had one that wasn't red, most people wouldn't know what it was. Price is reasonable.