I wish I were Brian May

TimmyPage

TimmyPage

New member
Well.. as of recently, my phrasing and playing has changed alot. Brian May has taken a central role as an influence for me. This reflects my next amp choice too; I've decided without a shadow of a doubt, after much testing, that I cannot live without an AC30cc.

But - straight to the point - To sate my Brian May-ness (harmony, cool lines, add some effect to my solos) I definitely need a Delay Pedal of some sort.

So now - which one should I get? Which one will work for that purpose.. doesn't need an exceptional amount of repeats, but needs some reasonable time on it.

I also like options in case my tastes change. I don't mind digital delays I've tried either, I find they keep my tone pretty much perfect. I'm curious also about the Line 6 DL4?

Yes.
 
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Re: I wish I were Brian May

For real Brian May style delays, you're going to need a three amp setup, one amp in the middle, and the repeats ping pong to the amp on the left and right.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D9rd942MF1s This gives a bit of a gear explanation. Watch the other videos too, they're great for learning some of his licks.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Well - it doesn't have to be.. real deal Brian May exact on.. but I would like to -ish it.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Well on Queen I and early Queen in general Brian used a tape delay, though I'm not sure of the model. He's also used digital delays. Tape delays need to be maintained, so maybe you're better off with a digital delay modeler like a DD-20 or DL-4. I'd like to try out the DL-4 myself...

to further your gas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs87GuoOvYo
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

I've watched that video.. several hundred times.. It's Genius. I think a Digital delay might do fine for it.. even a slightly simple one. It doesn't need to be dead on (I want it so I can do things in the area.. I don't intend to copy him)

This is also super awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTzY_QFtXFQ
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

BEFORE U BUY A VOX
May is also one of my favorite players, but back to my point, before u buy a vox searching for his tone: He uses a trebble booster.

Thats the key to his great tone with those amps. Buy a good OD (badmonkey!!) with a trebble controll and crank it. He also uses this really complicated delay system. Back in the day he used to use three amps, that would be set differently with his delay, really crazy stuff. i cant even begin to explain it without sounding like a moron... in case i havent already.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

thespricket is absolutely right, treble booster is just as important as an AC30(if not more) if you really want to be in that tone range, from my research(I am really into Iommi/Blackmore stuff now) this the compony:http://www.treblebooster.net/
Your stuff is in the Medium gain catergory.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Well - this is more for the delay and compositional part than the tone part. The treble booster is going to be my next buy after a good delay.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

or you can just get one of those digitech "brian may in a box" pedals. And his signature vox amp, with ONLY a volume knob, YEAH. Thunderbolts & Lightning!
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Brian May's AC30s are only the normal channel cranked, too. The reissues they make only have volume controls and built in treble boosters. Treble boosters are really easy to make, it's maybe a handful of components in a box. You should just build one, it'll be fun. The AC30CCs have the ability to link the normal and bright channels, which kind of give you the treble booster sound, but it's not the same, in my opinion.

His sound also comes from the pickups/guitar and the sixpence he uses, but if you're going for general tone, you don't need every little thing. A treble booster, AC30 and digital delay will give you a whole range of tones. Grab a foxx foot phaser and a single coil guitar with series/parallel switches (I'm pretty sure May has a new guitar line out, his guitars are only 800 dollars or so) to get even closer. I used to wish I was Brian May too... no wait, I still do.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Mattt said:
Remember that a lot of his 'guitar orchestra' tones did not come from the AC amp, but from a ****ty little practice amp called 'Deacy' that John Deacon pieced together.

Vox have made a replica though and it's a good little practice amp... i believe it's called the Vox BM-1.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know about that, and I was just remembering today when I saw that amp in a thread and people were saying "it's crap, doesn't sound like queen at all" but it's what he used for alot of the overdubs (though the main line would usually remain AC30)

I'm still mostly looking for a Delay Pedal so I can make harmonies and cool parts with it live. I've studied the crap out of ever aspect of his gear, and can't afford 3 amps, or the delay system he used. I simply want.. a good delay.. with some reasonable time.. so I can do some of his cool delay things, as well as U2 style stuff, possibly some slap back for blues.. and my own stuff.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

Well, I'd recommend the Ibanez DE-7, if you want to buy something cheap that still sounds great. It's $80 or so, two modes: delay and echo (this one self oscillates, sounds analog) and it goes up to 2.4 seconds.
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

holy CRAP
that video was AWESOME!!!
i am totally inspired to bust into a long and mcquade, crank 3 ac30's and go to town.
before they kick me out...
 
Re: I wish I were Brian May

i've always found a spot for my ole boss DD3 delay pedal, its simple and sounds good
 
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