Brian May's tone!
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drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Brian May's tone!
indyguitarist.com made like 2-3 pedals for him
they also have like a huge interview with him for sale, and a video on his style for sale
I'm sure the interview has a good gear-based section
indyguitarist.com made like 2-3 pedals for him
they also have like a huge interview with him for sale, and a video on his style for sale
I'm sure the interview has a good gear-based section
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Brian May's tone!
I think he use's a comb filter effect? Witch is basicly a graphic EQ with
the levers staggered ( every other lever full boost and the others full cut)
If you have a graphicEQ try it??
I think he use's a comb filter effect? Witch is basicly a graphic EQ with
the levers staggered ( every other lever full boost and the others full cut)
If you have a graphicEQ try it??
Closed Eye
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
Harmonizer, Echo/Delay, Chorus, into a Vox AC-30 with a midrangry distortion. You'll also want to peg those singing leads with some kind of treble boost or Wah-Wah.
His fingers may also have something to do with the tone, but I could be wrong...
Harmonizer, Echo/Delay, Chorus, into a Vox AC-30 with a midrangry distortion. You'll also want to peg those singing leads with some kind of treble boost or Wah-Wah.
His fingers may also have something to do with the tone, but I could be wrong...
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Brian May's tone!
The Deacy amp is a HUGE part of his tone, add to that AC-30's, a Homemade guitar, and you're there...the delay and the layering andall that is just iceing on the cake...check out the Vox Brian May recording amp...it's very close to the Deacy...run that into an AC-30 and that will get ya going...also check out some Burns pickups, they make a hugh difference!!!
The Deacy amp is a HUGE part of his tone, add to that AC-30's, a Homemade guitar, and you're there...the delay and the layering andall that is just iceing on the cake...check out the Vox Brian May recording amp...it's very close to the Deacy...run that into an AC-30 and that will get ya going...also check out some Burns pickups, they make a hugh difference!!!
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Brian May's tone!
yeah the tri-sonics. Like a strat but ceramic. I'm sure that has a huge impact on the tone. The edginess and searing sound. The AC-30 is a key ingredient (haven't tied a May deacy clone). Boutique amps with a very mid-rangey overdrive would do it too(DC-30). I think his had Celstion silver back speakers. Also he used a treble boost like the Crispy Creme.....not the doughnuts. :laugh2:
Luke
yeah the tri-sonics. Like a strat but ceramic. I'm sure that has a huge impact on the tone. The edginess and searing sound. The AC-30 is a key ingredient (haven't tied a May deacy clone). Boutique amps with a very mid-rangey overdrive would do it too(DC-30). I think his had Celstion silver back speakers. Also he used a treble boost like the Crispy Creme.....not the doughnuts. :laugh2:
Luke
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Brian May's tone!
Brian May's early tone and his most classic tone, IMO, came from playing that homemade guitar he and his father built together, and I believe a treble booster or some kind of booster pedal plugged into the normal channel of a Vox AC-30 with Celestion alnico blue speakers.
I felt that I was able to get pretty close to that tone by plugging any of my Teles or Strats into a DS-1 or TS-9 plugged into my AC-30.
The AC-30 and Celestion Alnico Blue speakers are crucial to getting that tone, IMO, and are the key ingredient.
Lew
Brian May's early tone and his most classic tone, IMO, came from playing that homemade guitar he and his father built together, and I believe a treble booster or some kind of booster pedal plugged into the normal channel of a Vox AC-30 with Celestion alnico blue speakers.
I felt that I was able to get pretty close to that tone by plugging any of my Teles or Strats into a DS-1 or TS-9 plugged into my AC-30.
The AC-30 and Celestion Alnico Blue speakers are crucial to getting that tone, IMO, and are the key ingredient.
Lew
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NecroPolo
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
Good tips all above.
You will need some good Treble Booster as well. The stock Burns p-ups for some reason I don't know sound different. I had a pair for a while but I could not get a Queen-like tone, but I must add that the guitar wasn't a Red Special. May probably re-wound them or swapped the magnet, it's just a guess of mine. Ages ago there were 2 May-signature pickups (you will never find it out
) made by DiMarzio for Brian's Gulid sig axe. It is an early '80s stuff and it's pretty capable of producing the live tone can be heard on "Live at Wembley" but it cannot do that violinesque tone of the records. I know for sure because I have a bridge/middle set. Later in the early '90s, Duncan made some May-modded-Burns replicas for the updated Guild MAy models. I don't know anything about that p-up but it is rumoured that the SD replicas are way closer to May's original p-ups than either the stock Burns or the DiMarzio BHM.
Besides his incredible axe handling, the guitar is the most essential part of his tone. The body is virtually a micro-chambered oak solid chunk of wood with set-in oak neck (I'm not really sure if the neck is oak - it might be made of mahogany). If you want a close replica I'd suggest a Burns BHM model because structurally it is close and won't kill your money resources. I have played one this March through a Vox May sig amp and it had a pretty May-esque tone. The '93 Gulid is a superb axe but it has a pretty high price and limited availability.
If you have all the elements you'll only need a metal pick (or a penny) and the knowledge of how May plays. I guess, the latest is the most difficult part of the whole thing
Good tips all above.
You will need some good Treble Booster as well. The stock Burns p-ups for some reason I don't know sound different. I had a pair for a while but I could not get a Queen-like tone, but I must add that the guitar wasn't a Red Special. May probably re-wound them or swapped the magnet, it's just a guess of mine. Ages ago there were 2 May-signature pickups (you will never find it out
) made by DiMarzio for Brian's Gulid sig axe. It is an early '80s stuff and it's pretty capable of producing the live tone can be heard on "Live at Wembley" but it cannot do that violinesque tone of the records. I know for sure because I have a bridge/middle set. Later in the early '90s, Duncan made some May-modded-Burns replicas for the updated Guild MAy models. I don't know anything about that p-up but it is rumoured that the SD replicas are way closer to May's original p-ups than either the stock Burns or the DiMarzio BHM.Besides his incredible axe handling, the guitar is the most essential part of his tone. The body is virtually a micro-chambered oak solid chunk of wood with set-in oak neck (I'm not really sure if the neck is oak - it might be made of mahogany). If you want a close replica I'd suggest a Burns BHM model because structurally it is close and won't kill your money resources. I have played one this March through a Vox May sig amp and it had a pretty May-esque tone. The '93 Gulid is a superb axe but it has a pretty high price and limited availability.
If you have all the elements you'll only need a metal pick (or a penny) and the knowledge of how May plays. I guess, the latest is the most difficult part of the whole thing
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L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Brian May's tone!
I would disagree that the ax itself is the most important tool for that tone. I think it's the amp and speakers. But mostly it's Brian May himself and his phrasing, choice of notes and that violin-like vibrato...tho maybe he does that less with his fingers and more with the whammy bar. In which case, the guitar would be very important. Still, guitarists like Eric Johnson also get that kind of an amzing violin like tone...and Eric does it all with his fingers.
I would disagree that the ax itself is the most important tool for that tone. I think it's the amp and speakers. But mostly it's Brian May himself and his phrasing, choice of notes and that violin-like vibrato...tho maybe he does that less with his fingers and more with the whammy bar. In which case, the guitar would be very important. Still, guitarists like Eric Johnson also get that kind of an amzing violin like tone...and Eric does it all with his fingers.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
Of course, his tone consists of all the factors and the AC30 is an essential part. Your experience tells you the emphasis is rather on the amp+speakers side and my estimation is rather on the axe side. The different point of view is something that gives a reason for but one action: opening a can of Heineken and say "Cheers!" :beerchug:
Lewguitar said:
Of course, his tone consists of all the factors and the AC30 is an essential part. Your experience tells you the emphasis is rather on the amp+speakers side and my estimation is rather on the axe side. The different point of view is something that gives a reason for but one action: opening a can of Heineken and say "Cheers!"
:beerchug:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Brian May's tone!
Here here! :laugh2:
NecroPolo said:Of course, his tone consists of all the factors and the AC30 is an essential part. Your experience tells you the emphasis is rather on the amp+speakers side and my estimation is rather on the axe side. The different point of view is something that gives a reason for but one action: opening a can of Heineken and say "Cheers!"
Here here! :laugh2:
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Brian May's tone!
Lew you have an AC-30 TOO??? not fair at all!
I've always wondered about the blues so since you have speaker experience I'm going to hijack the thread temporarily. 
fftopic: What differences do YOU hear in ceramic an alnico speakers and the webers that use both?
Luke
Lewguitar said:
Lew you have an AC-30 TOO??? not fair at all!
I've always wondered about the blues so since you have speaker experience I'm going to hijack the thread temporarily. fftopic: What differences do YOU hear in ceramic an alnico speakers and the webers that use both?Luke
:headbang:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Brian May's tone!
I love AC-30's but I sold mine a few years ago. I just wasn't using it. To loud and to heavy.
I'm not crazy about any of the Weber 12's though I've owned a bunch of them. My brother Bruce (http://www.missionamps.com) is friends with Ted and Ted used to send us prototypes to test. I feel that some of Ted's 12's have to much cone cry and that when he puts dampening goo around the edge surround to kill the cone cry that it kills the livliness of the speaker too. Maybe that's changed with more recent production models.
I do like some of Ted's 10" speakers ALOT and feel they are the best 10's on the market: C10Q and P10RT and P10Q/30 watt especially. I just put a set of the Weber P10Q/30 watters in my '74 Super Reverb.
So what's the diff between alnico and ceramic in a speaker?
I hear the bass being a little looser and the overall tone being a little more compress-able or shape-able by my touch and my playing technique when I play through alnico speakers...but it depends on the speaker. Has to be a good one!
Ceramic seems to give tighter bass and a tighter tone in general.
My favorite of the Weber alnico 12's would be the one he used to call the P12B...similar to a Celstion G12 Alnico Blue but not quite as bright. My brother describes it as having a thumby tone! If you think about the shape of a thumb, that's what the sound reminds me of.
The other one I liked alot was called a P12Q and it was similar to a '58 Jensen P12Q...but not quite the equal of a real Jensen from '58.
My favorite of the Weber ceramic 12's is the ceramic version of the P12B...used to be called a C12B. He gave all his speakers new numbers a couple of years ago and I lost touch with the designations when he did that.
Just for the record, my favorite alnico 12's of all time would be original alnico blue or silver made in the UK Celestion G12 alnicos like those used in the early to mid 60's in Vox AC-30's. I use original Celestion G12's in my two '58 and '59 Fender tweed Deluxes. I'll take those over original Jensen P12N's anyday!
And my favorite ceramic 12's of all time would be the Celestion G12H-30, followed by the Vintage 30 and then the G12M-25. I use the G12H-30 in my two blackface Deluxe Reverbs and think they are the best speakers available for those amps.
I'm kind of prejudiced towards '51 through '66 Jensens and UK made Celestions. Been using them most of my life.
Luke Duke said:Lew you have an AC-30 TOO??? not fair at all!
Luke
I love AC-30's but I sold mine a few years ago. I just wasn't using it. To loud and to heavy.
I'm not crazy about any of the Weber 12's though I've owned a bunch of them. My brother Bruce (http://www.missionamps.com) is friends with Ted and Ted used to send us prototypes to test. I feel that some of Ted's 12's have to much cone cry and that when he puts dampening goo around the edge surround to kill the cone cry that it kills the livliness of the speaker too. Maybe that's changed with more recent production models.
I do like some of Ted's 10" speakers ALOT and feel they are the best 10's on the market: C10Q and P10RT and P10Q/30 watt especially. I just put a set of the Weber P10Q/30 watters in my '74 Super Reverb.
So what's the diff between alnico and ceramic in a speaker?
I hear the bass being a little looser and the overall tone being a little more compress-able or shape-able by my touch and my playing technique when I play through alnico speakers...but it depends on the speaker. Has to be a good one!
Ceramic seems to give tighter bass and a tighter tone in general.
My favorite of the Weber alnico 12's would be the one he used to call the P12B...similar to a Celstion G12 Alnico Blue but not quite as bright. My brother describes it as having a thumby tone! If you think about the shape of a thumb, that's what the sound reminds me of.
The other one I liked alot was called a P12Q and it was similar to a '58 Jensen P12Q...but not quite the equal of a real Jensen from '58.
My favorite of the Weber ceramic 12's is the ceramic version of the P12B...used to be called a C12B. He gave all his speakers new numbers a couple of years ago and I lost touch with the designations when he did that.
Just for the record, my favorite alnico 12's of all time would be original alnico blue or silver made in the UK Celestion G12 alnicos like those used in the early to mid 60's in Vox AC-30's. I use original Celestion G12's in my two '58 and '59 Fender tweed Deluxes. I'll take those over original Jensen P12N's anyday!
And my favorite ceramic 12's of all time would be the Celestion G12H-30, followed by the Vintage 30 and then the G12M-25. I use the G12H-30 in my two blackface Deluxe Reverbs and think they are the best speakers available for those amps.
I'm kind of prejudiced towards '51 through '66 Jensens and UK made Celestions. Been using them most of my life.
Norman_T
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
You will need at least 3 AC30's and also a couple of delay pedals to get that rich sound that he gets. Getting the deacy amp as a treble booster will also get you almost there but it is to do with the man, his gear and how he brings it all together.
AC30's are IMO the biggest load of cr*p and were totally useless for gigging purposes as they kept breaking down and my one, spent more time in the repair shop either getting new valves or having something repaired. I eventually sold mine and got something more reliable. BTW I know some of the guys who do the WWRY shows and they have exactly the same problem at least 2 or 3 of them break every other night and they have real problems getting them fixed.
You will need at least 3 AC30's and also a couple of delay pedals to get that rich sound that he gets. Getting the deacy amp as a treble booster will also get you almost there but it is to do with the man, his gear and how he brings it all together.
AC30's are IMO the biggest load of cr*p and were totally useless for gigging purposes as they kept breaking down and my one, spent more time in the repair shop either getting new valves or having something repaired. I eventually sold mine and got something more reliable. BTW I know some of the guys who do the WWRY shows and they have exactly the same problem at least 2 or 3 of them break every other night and they have real problems getting them fixed.
gordon_39422
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
http://guitargeek.com/rigview/409/
Here is a diagram of his gear, of course, as many have already said, the gear listed is modded by pros. And of course, the individual techniques Mastered by Biran himself!!
http://guitargeek.com/rigview/409/
Here is a diagram of his gear, of course, as many have already said, the gear listed is modded by pros. And of course, the individual techniques Mastered by Biran himself!!
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Brian May's tone!
I have a video of Queen live and Brian played a Flying V for a large part of the show...still sounds like Brian!!!
Lewguitar said:
I have a video of Queen live and Brian played a Flying V for a large part of the show...still sounds like Brian!!!
Biu
New member
Re: Brian May's tone!
Crispy Creme Treblebooster!
www.treblebooster.com
A Sixpence for a pick
And Tri-Sonics wired in SERIES
Crispy Creme Treblebooster!
www.treblebooster.com
A Sixpence for a pick
And Tri-Sonics wired in SERIES
