Brian Mays Tone
- Thread starter Stratcat
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Brian May still is in Queen...
His set up includes echo units, in the old days it was a pair of Echoplex units and years ago he went digital which he still today...other than the echo units there has been somekind of treble booster for years (since the begining) early on it was a rangemaster then later it was a custom made by Peter Cornish unit based on the old rangemaster into the AC-30's...he also uses an amp John Deacon built for him that is very small, runs on batteries and has something like a 6.5 inch speaker in it for almost all of the multi layered guitar army parts...
Brian May still is in Queen...
His set up includes echo units, in the old days it was a pair of Echoplex units and years ago he went digital which he still today...other than the echo units there has been somekind of treble booster for years (since the begining) early on it was a rangemaster then later it was a custom made by Peter Cornish unit based on the old rangemaster into the AC-30's...he also uses an amp John Deacon built for him that is very small, runs on batteries and has something like a 6.5 inch speaker in it for almost all of the multi layered guitar army parts...
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Brian Mays Tone
It's also worth mentioning that his AC30's were modded a little but mostly just to keep them up and running...he never, ever used the top boost channel or the temolo channel, they were set up with SS rectifiers and he always used the alnico Celestions.
It's also worth mentioning that his AC30's were modded a little but mostly just to keep them up and running...he never, ever used the top boost channel or the temolo channel, they were set up with SS rectifiers and he always used the alnico Celestions.
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Thanks for the info bro,
I guess Brian is still in Queen. It looks like Paul Rodgers is the frontman, I wonder who is playing Bass?
IMHO, Queen without Freddy Mercury is like Led Zeppelin Without Plant.
Thanks for the info bro,
I guess Brian is still in Queen. It looks like Paul Rodgers is the frontman, I wonder who is playing Bass?
IMHO, Queen without Freddy Mercury is like Led Zeppelin Without Plant.
jerryjg
PinkElephantologist
Re: Brian Mays Tone
All it took was a ton of money to bring back Plant, who knows what type of voodoo it would take to bring back Freddy lol (respectfully RIP)
All it took was a ton of money to bring back Plant, who knows what type of voodoo it would take to bring back Freddy lol (respectfully RIP)
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Yeah, I bought one about 2 years ago for $119. It sounds pretty amazing. It can be used like a pre-amp or a pedal or as an amp. I have used it with 4x12 cabs--sounds amazing and even 2x15 Kustom bass cabs...again amazing. It REALLY shines, though when used as a pre-amp. It actually has an 'out to amp' jack on the top to run into another amp. It really gets the Brian May sound then....
-dave
Yeah, I bought one about 2 years ago for $119. It sounds pretty amazing. It can be used like a pre-amp or a pedal or as an amp. I have used it with 4x12 cabs--sounds amazing and even 2x15 Kustom bass cabs...again amazing. It REALLY shines, though when used as a pre-amp. It actually has an 'out to amp' jack on the top to run into another amp. It really gets the Brian May sound then....
-dave
Diego
New member
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Brian Mays Tone
This is per Sir Whah Whah
BSM treble booster are pretty close to what his Pete Cornish mod was, its expensive but not a small fortune that you would have to pay to Cornish.
This is per Sir Whah Whah
BSM treble booster are pretty close to what his Pete Cornish mod was, its expensive but not a small fortune that you would have to pay to Cornish.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Brian Mays Tone
But the Cornish will still be there when the roaches will be ruling the world.....hence the pricetag!
But the Cornish will still be there when the roaches will be ruling the world.....hence the pricetag!
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Rid,
And I know its true, trust me I have some serious fantasy GAS for Cornish's stuff, but I dont think I will be buying it in next 4 years. BSM stuff sounds really credible, and then Whah Whah confirmed it, so ......
Rid,
And I know its true, trust me I have some serious fantasy GAS for Cornish's stuff, but I dont think I will be buying it in next 4 years. BSM stuff sounds really credible, and then Whah Whah confirmed it, so ......
viewaskew2k5
New member
Re: Brian Mays Tone
pull the trem/reverb from an ac30 and its tubes ( if it has any ) put in a better output tranny, use Vintage Ei tubes or Modern Long Tube JJ's. If your doing it through a 15w cc, make sure it has a celestion blue, you to the top boost mod and replace the output tranny. Take out the reverb/trem unit. Crank it. I remember brain may stating he took all that out because he was cooking the amp too soon.
pull the trem/reverb from an ac30 and its tubes ( if it has any ) put in a better output tranny, use Vintage Ei tubes or Modern Long Tube JJ's. If your doing it through a 15w cc, make sure it has a celestion blue, you to the top boost mod and replace the output tranny. Take out the reverb/trem unit. Crank it. I remember brain may stating he took all that out because he was cooking the amp too soon.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Brian Mays Tone
A CC is not gonna get the Broan May tone, and an AC15CC sure won;t get you there...Brian uses the NORAMAL channel, the AC15CC is a Top Boost amp...sure you could "mod" it but it's still only gonna be so close.
Plus I think the question was asked less for a "how can I do that" reason and more for a "how in the hell does he do that" reason...
A CC is not gonna get the Broan May tone, and an AC15CC sure won;t get you there...Brian uses the NORAMAL channel, the AC15CC is a Top Boost amp...sure you could "mod" it but it's still only gonna be so close.
Plus I think the question was asked less for a "how can I do that" reason and more for a "how in the hell does he do that" reason...
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Barring feel - which is a road this thread probably shouldn't take because discussing Brian May's feel on the guitar is something that could go on for pages and pages - you also have to take into account the crazy-assed homemade guitar he has always used.
Barring feel - which is a road this thread probably shouldn't take because discussing Brian May's feel on the guitar is something that could go on for pages and pages - you also have to take into account the crazy-assed homemade guitar he has always used.
Brow
New member
Re: Brian Mays Tone
I'm going to have to disagree with this post.
I have a good friend thats a HUGE Brian May fan. Hes has 1 of those Burns Red Special guitars and has even gone so far as to build a copy of the guitar himself (yeah, he's that big of a fan!).
He has 3 AC30s in total (2 CCs and 1 early 90s re-issue Blonde AC30) and with the guitar and Treble Booster, any of his Vox amps sounds like the Brian May tone.
As said previously though, I'd say the guitar itself has more to do with the tone than anything (apart from his fingers), but an AC30 and a Treble Booster help
I'm going to have to disagree with this post.
I have a good friend thats a HUGE Brian May fan. Hes has 1 of those Burns Red Special guitars and has even gone so far as to build a copy of the guitar himself (yeah, he's that big of a fan!).
He has 3 AC30s in total (2 CCs and 1 early 90s re-issue Blonde AC30) and with the guitar and Treble Booster, any of his Vox amps sounds like the Brian May tone.
As said previously though, I'd say the guitar itself has more to do with the tone than anything (apart from his fingers), but an AC30 and a Treble Booster help
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Yes, that's good advice, we probably shouldn't go on for pages and pages about Brian May's feel, but maybe just one post? Brian May's feel is absolutely, stunningly exquisite. Ok, now back to the thread!
As an aside, I'm also enjoying the accidental typos of his name in this thread. So far, he has come up as Brain and Broan, hopefully there's more to come.
Cheers............................wahwah
Yes, that's good advice, we probably shouldn't go on for pages and pages about Brian May's feel, but maybe just one post? Brian May's feel is absolutely, stunningly exquisite. Ok, now back to the thread!
As an aside, I'm also enjoying the accidental typos of his name in this thread. So far, he has come up as Brain and Broan, hopefully there's more to come.
Cheers............................wahwah
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: Brian Mays Tone
Yeah, I know. We could discuss his feel for days! His tone was always so thick and singing... Like a human voice. He's about the only player that could be in a band with F. Mercury and match him for inflection and bombast.
But yeah... not to derail...
Yeah, I know. We could discuss his feel for days! His tone was always so thick and singing... Like a human voice. He's about the only player that could be in a band with F. Mercury and match him for inflection and bombast.
But yeah... not to derail...
thespricket
New member
Re: Brian Mays Tone
He also used an early boss chorus pedal along with his treble booster in front of the Vox amps. Most of his tone came from that guitar he used.
He's also got my favorite tone ever, i should add.
He also used an early boss chorus pedal along with his treble booster in front of the Vox amps. Most of his tone came from that guitar he used.
He's also got my favorite tone ever, i should add.