brian may tone

[BluesNRock87]

i know he uses his little amp he built out of a car radio circuit board, that vox made a clone of (the brian may valve 15 watt amp deal)

what guitar(s) did he use?
what effects did he use? - id think alot of compression and some really creamy and smooth distortion?

isnt his tone just amazing?

 

[That90'sGuy]

His guitar was a custom one he made himself called the red special. Burns makes a copy.

He used a Rangemaster Treble Booster.

 

[59paul]

Well, his main Guitar, he and his Father made together. I read a really good article on it. It was made from a really old piece of wood, and they actually painted it with some Red Barn paint. ( No kiddin ). He used Burns pickups in it, and still uses em, as far as I know.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Yep, I thought the story went something like that... he did build it with his father.

 

[59paul]

Yep, and if I remember correctly, the wood was from an old fireplace mantle. ( I think )

 

[That90'sGuy]

Yeah, that's correct

 

[59paul]

Gotta find me an old fireplace mantle and some Red Barn Paint... LOL !!!!!!! It is an Extraordinary Instrument, isn't it !!! And....Quite an Extraordinary Player !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JOLLY]

Everything you need to know's right here: http://www.brianmaycentral.com

 

[Guitarist]

Re: brian may tone

isnt his tone just amazing?

His lead tone is to die for.

 

[59paul]

Sure Is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[StrangeDay]

Before I even played guitar, (back in '93?) I could already tell he had his own unique significant tone. I didn't care for it too much at the time, but NO ONE has ever sounded like him!

 

[Young Angus]

Go here:

http://www.vintageamps.com/brian_may.html

 

[rhmcfarland]

treble booster

treble booster

BSM makes a Brian May treble booster. The BMQ...

http://www.europeanmusical.com/BSM/bsm.html

 

[xerxes]

on the burns website they have a comparison with the red special and the burns red special. it is a really really good reproduction.

 

[Shnook]

I noticed on the SD Artist page that Dweezil Zappa uses a Seymour Duncan Brian May Custom pup. I've looked around on the SD site and can't find any info. Anyone know anything about the pup?

 

[JOLLY]

I noticed on the SD Artist page that Dweezil Zappa uses a Seymour Duncan Brian May Custom pup. I've looked around on the SD site and can't find any info. Anyone know anything about the pup?

from the FAQ page:

Do you make Brian May pickups?
We can build vintage-correct reproductions of the Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, as well as the pickups we made for Guild which were used on their Brian May Signature Model. The pickups are built, by hand, in the Custom Shop and can be ordered with either gold- or nickel-plated covers. The price is $120 each. For more information, please call 805-964-9610 between 8 am - 5 pm (Pacific) Monday through Friday and ask for the Custom Shop.

 

[Shnook]

That answers that. Thank you Jolly!

 

[tone4days]

i always thought he had an amazing signature tone, and highest calibre song and lick writing skills, and really enjoyable 'harmony creation' skills, .. but his tone strikes me as virtually useless as a versatile tone .. it isnt the kind of tone that i'd want to have to live with forever .. for a handful of Queen cover tunes - absolutely .. but to jam at an open stage night where the next tune called could be ANYthing but a Queen tune, nah - i'll pass

cheers,
t4d

 

[idsnowdog]

There is a parts caster at a local guitar shop that has a full set of Dimarzio Brian May pickups in it. The guitar plays like a baseball bat but I was thinking for $199 I would buy it just for the pickups!

Snowdog