Brian May’s guitar is famously known as the “Red Special”. It was constructed by Brian himself and his father, Harold May in 1963 from various components of other guitars. The body of the Red Special is made from a block of mahogany with a maple top, both of which were taken from an old fireplace mantelpiece.
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The History of Brian May’s Guitar
Brian May’s guitar is an iconic instrument with a rich and varied history. This electric guitar, popularly known as the Red Special, was first built in 1963 by Brian May and his father, Harold. From its humble beginnings as a set of wood planks nailed together in the family garage, to its now-iconic design, this six-string has undergone an incredible transformation over the years.
The Red Special began life as two blocks of oak taken from a fireplace mantel that were then fitted onto a neck crafted from mahogany and held together by three vintage machine heads. Fitted with three custom-built pickups made from old Burns Tri-Sonic speakers, the guitar was also decorated with numerous mother-of-pearl inlays made from Brian’s own tooth enamel. The whole contraption was wired up to two home-made amplifiers for maximum power output and volume control – resulting in one of rock’s most beloved instruments.
Since its inception, the Red Special has become a permanent fixture on stage throughout Queen’s legendary career – having been used on hit singles such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Another One Bites The Dust’. Its influence can also be seen across many other genres too; virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani even went so far as to create his own replica version of the original called ‘The Cherry’ which he uses during live performances today.
Queen’s Influence on Brian May’s Guitar Choice
As one of the most influential rock bands in history, Queen has played an essential role in inspiring many musicians. Brian May is no exception to this, having been captivated by their sound and stage presence since his youth. His admiration for the band’s music led him to pursue a similar style when it came time to choose an instrument.
When he was only 12 years old, Brian received a special present from his parents: a homemade electric guitar. It was constructed out of wood pieces taken from his father’s workbench and fitted with three pickups and strings taken off an acoustic guitar – all thanks to his dad’s skills as an electrical engineer. The very same model he had been using ever since became famous worldwide after he joined Queen, being dubbed the “Red Special” due to its distinctive red colouring.
Brian didn’t just choose the Red Special because it looked cool – he chose it because of what it could do for Queen’s unique sound. Its thick tone and extra-long sustain helped shape several of their greatest hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “We Will Rock You”; something that wasn’t quite possible with traditional electric guitars at the time. To this day, many fans have made replicas of the original Red Special design in order to emulate Brian’s signature sound on stage or in their own recordings – proving how powerful Queen’s influence really was over the years.
The Unique Features of the Red Special
The Red Special is an iconic guitar designed and built by Queen’s legendary guitarist Brian May. Its construction is unique in that it uses woods from a fireplace mantel, scrap bike parts for tuning pegs and neck, and mother-of-pearl buttons as fret markers. This one-of-a-kind instrument has become famous in the music world for its distinctive sound, which was described by Brian May himself as being “warm, woody and alive.”.
This remarkable guitar has three pickups that can be individually activated with a 6 way rotary switch, allowing the player to select various combinations of single coils or humbuckers. There are two further switches located above the bridge pickup that give even more control over tone shaping. There are also two treble boosters on board – one located near the bridge pickup and another near the volume knob – both of which offer additional sustain when activated.
On top of all this, the Red Special includes an ingenious zero fret adjustable action system whereby strings can be set up at different heights to suit individual playing styles. These features combined create a truly versatile instrument that can easily adapt to almost any musical situation.
Brian May’s Love for His Guitar and Its Significance
One of the most iconic elements of Brian May’s career is his unmistakable Red Special guitar. This instrument, built by Brian and his father in 1963 out of a fireplace mantel and other spare parts, has become synonymous with the Queen guitarist. Its unique sound, combined with Brian’s own signature style, have made it an instantly recognizable part of rock history.
The Red Special was far more than just a guitar to Brian; it was an extension of himself that enabled him to express himself musically in ways he never thought possible before. When first building the instrument, he reportedly said: “I’d always imagined what kind of sounds I’d love to make but never had been able to achieve them until this moment.” It was a lifelong project that helped shape his playing style and develop as an artist.
Brian has also said that the Red Special gave him great joy during some dark times in his life; its creation proved cathartic for him during moments when he felt overwhelmed or frustrated by certain experiences or events. As such, the Red Special has come to represent something beyond music–it serves as a reminder for all musicians (and people) who need something special to help keep their spirits up during difficult times.
Impact of Brian May’s Guitar on Music Culture
Brian May’s guitar, affectionately known as ‘the Red Special’, has become an iconic instrument in the rock music world. An unassuming-looking device with a body crafted from fireplace mantels and bicycle spokes, it is known for its distinctive sound which helped to define Queen’s groundbreaking music in the 1970s and beyond. In addition to Brian May himself, the guitar has been used by numerous famous artists over the years, including Joe Walsh and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine fame.
The impact of Brian May’s guitar on modern music culture cannot be overstated. Not only does it feature heavily in recordings by Queen and other rock bands that draw inspiration from them; its influence can also be heard in many different genres, from alternative pop to heavy metal. Its unique tone lends itself particularly well to solos or layered rhythms – a fact made obvious by listening to any number of classic songs featuring the instrument.
In recent years, replicas of ‘the Red Special’ have become increasingly popular amongst musicians seeking to capture the same unique sound without having to pay exorbitant prices for an original vintage model. This means that anyone interested can experience the joy of playing this remarkable piece of equipment and hear firsthand why it remains such an enduring part of rock history today.
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