Bohemian Rhapsody — solo
Smoother and more vocal: neck pickup, booster backed off, amp sweet rather than cutting.
- Guitar
- Red Special, neck pickup
- Guitar volume
- 8
- Guitar tone
- 8
- Treble booster
- On, low
- Amp — Volume
- 6
- Amp — Treble
- 6
- Amp — Bass
- 6
All musicians
BM
Queen
Brian May
Rock1970–presentUK
Built his own guitar, the Red Special, with his father, and drives it through stacked Vox AC30s with a sixpence for a pick.
Known for: Bohemian Rhapsody, Brighton Rock, We Will Rock You
4
gear entries
4
with sources
Rig rundown
Pedals
1Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
PedalThe treble booster in front of the AC30s is the core of his tone.
Amps
1Vox AC30
AmpStacked three at a time for his signature chime.
Guitars
1Red Special Home-built with Harold May
GuitarOak and mahogany from a fireplace, Burns Tri-Sonic pickups.
Other gear
1British sixpence Coin used as a pick
OtherA worn sixpence instead of a plectrum.
Dial-in specs
What to dial in to chase Brian May's signature sounds — knob positions, pickup choice and amp EQ as documented.
Brighton Rock — solo
Treble booster into AC30s, every pickup on, long delay answering each phrase.
- Guitar
- Red Special, all three pickups
- Guitar volume
- 10
- Guitar tone
- 10
- Treble booster
- On
- Amp — Volume
- 7
- Amp — Bass
- 5
- Amp — Treble
- 8
- Delay
- Long, single repeat