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Red Special

The Red Special is a custom electric guitar hand-built by Brian May, the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, and his father Harold May starting in 1963 and completed in 1965, using scavenged household materials and innovative DIY techniques to create an instrument that has defined May's signature sound.^[1]^[2] Constructed over two years in a converted spare bedroom workshop in Feltham, Middlesex, England, the guitar features a mahogany neck sourced from an 18th-century Victorian fireplace mantel, oak from a recycled table for the body core, blockboard sides, and unique components like motorcycle valve springs for the tremolo system and a mother-of-pearl button for position markers.^[1]^[2]^[3] The guitar's name, "Red Special," originated from its reddish-brown finish—achieved with wood dye and multiple layers of Rustin’s Plastic Coating—and was first publicly used during a radio interview, though May initially referred to it simply as "The Guitar" or "Old Lady."^[1]^[2] Its design incorporated custom innovations, including a frictionless tremolo arm made from a bicycle luggage rack and knife-edge fulcrum, resonant chambers carved into the body for semi-acoustic tone, Burns Tri-Sonic pickups with a six-position switching matrix for versatile series and phase control, and a zero-fret nut, all crafted by hand with basic tools like planes, chisels, and sandpaper.^[3] These features allowed the Red Special to outperform many commercial guitars of the era, reflecting May's teenage ambition to create a superior instrument amid financial constraints during the 1960s "guitar slump."^[2]^[1] Since its debut in May's early bands like 1984 and Smile in the mid-1960s, the Red Special has been his primary instrument, featuring on every Queen album and countless live performances, including iconic tracks like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and events such as Live Aid in 1985, the 2002 Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, and the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony. As of 2025, it continues to be used in performances, such as the 2024 Red Special Meet-Up—marking its 60th anniversary and May's first play following a minor stroke—and has undergone recent modifications including new B & B pickups.^[2]^[4]^[5]^[6] Played with a sixpence coin as a plectrum, it produces May's distinctive layered, harmonic-rich tone that became central to Queen's sound, enduring through decades of touring wear and a major restoration in 1998 by luthier Greg Fryer to preserve its playability.^[4]^[3] The guitar's one-of-a-kind construction and cultural impact have inspired thousands of replicas and tributes, cementing its status as an enduring symbol of ingenuity in rock music history.^[2]^[3]

History

Development and Construction

In 1963, at the age of 16, Brian May found himself unable to afford a new electric guitar like the Fender Stratocaster, which cost around £100 at the time while his family budget allowed only £5 for the project.^[7] Inspired by the sound of amplified guitars from artists such as Buddy Holly, May approached his father, Harold, an electrical engineer, to collaborate on building a custom instrument from scratch as a father-son endeavor.^[1] This DIY approach stemmed from May's passion for rock and roll and the practical need for an affordable, high-quality guitar tailored to his preferences.^[3] Construction began in August 1963 in Harold's converted spare-room workshop in Feltham, Middlesex, with the pair working in spare moments over the next 18 months.^[8] They started by carving the neck, followed by assembling the body by October 1964, relying on trial-and-error methods without formal blueprints—only May's hand-drawn sketches based on admired guitar designs.^[9] The process emphasized functionality and tone, with Harold providing guidance on woodworking and finishing techniques honed from his engineering background.^[1] Materials were sourced improvisationally from household and salvaged items to keep costs low. The neck was hand-carved from a single piece of mahogany reclaimed from a Victorian-era fireplace mantel, approximately 100 years old and filled with wormholes that were sealed using matchsticks and wood glue.^[10] The body featured a central oak core from an old dining table for structural support, flanked by blockboard sides and topped with mahogany veneer also derived from the fireplace remnants.^[3] The tremolo system's bridge incorporated a brass swivel from motorcycle parts, valve springs from a 1928 Panther or Norton bike, and a bicycle saddlebag holder, while the arm tip was fashioned from a plastic knitting needle sourced from May's mother.^[9] Tools were basic and makeshift, including planes, chisels, saws, files, sandpaper, and a penknife for detailed carving, with no power equipment available.^[1] Techniques involved hand-shaping components, such as drilling and filing six cylindrical rollers for the bridge saddles, and multiple iterations for the tremolo mechanism to achieve stable pitch variation.^[3] The pickups were wound by hand using copper wire and button magnets from Eclipse Magnetics, tested iteratively for desired output.^[10] The guitar was completed in late 1964, receiving a cherry red sunburst finish achieved by applying multiple layers of wood dye and Rustin's Plastic Coating varnish, sanded smooth between coats for a glossy surface.^[1] It was named the "Red Special" for its distinctive reddish hue and personal significance to May, who later used it as his primary instrument upon forming Queen in 1970.^[7]

Early Use

The Red Special made its debut in autumn 1964 when Brian May, then a teenager, plugged it into an amplifier for the first live performance with his newly formed band 1984 in Hampton, England.^[11] The band, inspired by George Orwell's novel and comprising May on guitar, Dave Dilloway on bass, and others from Hampton Grammar School, played a 30-minute set to a small, unenthusiastic audience at a local youth club, marking the guitar's initial foray into the local music scene alongside contemporaries like The Others, another Hampton-based group.^[11]^[12] This early outing overcame the construction challenges faced during its handmade assembly, allowing May to experiment with its unique tone in rudimentary gigs around southwest London.^[13] During May's university years at Imperial College London, where he began studying physics and astrophysics in 1965, the Red Special became central to 1984's activities, including performances at college events such as a 1967 gig on campus.^[13] The band, which evolved through lineup changes and recorded amateur demos, relied on the guitar's distinctive sound for covers and originals in the burgeoning British rock scene, helping May balance academics with music until 1984 disbanded in 1968.^[12]^[11] As May transitioned to the band Smile in 1968 and then co-founded Queen in 1970 with Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon, the Red Special solidified as his primary instrument from the group's inception, featuring in early rehearsals and demo recordings.^[12] Notable among these was its use on the 1972 demo of "Keep Yourself Alive," Queen's debut single, where its layered harmonics defined the track's riff.^[14] Around this time, May made initial modifications for improved playability, including replacing the original plastic knobs with lathe-turned ones just before Queen's formation.^[15]

Design Features

Body and Materials

The Red Special's body employs a semi-hollow structure, consisting of blockboard with oak inserts in the central core for support, and mahogany veneer applied to the sides, top, and back to create a resonant, lightweight shell.^[9]^[3]^[16] This design incorporates acoustic chambers carved into the blockboard, enhancing the guitar's tonal warmth and sustain while keeping the overall weight low at approximately 7 pounds (3.2 kg).^[17] The oak elements, including the core sections, were sourced from recycled family heirlooms like an old table, contributing to the instrument's unique character.^[3] The body measures approximately 14 inches (35.67 cm) wide at its broadest point and 1.57 inches (40 mm) deep at the rim, providing a comfortable ergonomic profile suited to its double-cutaway shape.^[18] These dimensions, combined with the semi-hollow build, result in a responsive instrument that balances projection and feedback resistance, with the lightweight materials promoting extended note sustain essential for Brian May's layered guitar sound.^[9] The finish is a distinctive reddish-brown, achieved through wood stain and multiple layers of Rustins Plastic Coating lacquer, which not only imparts the iconic hue but also ensures durability against wear from extensive use.^[3] Notably, the body was hand-shaped without molds or specialized luthier tools, relying instead on household items such as a fireplace to dry the wood, reflecting the DIY ingenuity of its construction in the early 1960s.^[3]

Neck and Fretboard

The neck of the Red Special is crafted from a single piece of mahogany salvaged from an old Victorian-era fireplace mantelpiece, which Brian May and his father Harold selected for its stability and density.^[3]^[19] This material choice contributed to the neck's resonant tone and durability, despite initial challenges like woodworm damage that required filling with matchsticks.^[20] Brian May hand-carved the neck using a penknife, shaping it into a distinctive soft V-profile that provides a comfortable grip for extended play while maintaining structural integrity.^[20] The neck employs a 24-inch scale length and features a bolt-on attachment via a long tenon with a paddle-like heel, secured to the body using a central bolt and additional mounting screws for stability.^[14]^[21] The fretboard is hand-cut from oak, painted black using Rustin's Plastic Coating, and finished with lacquer to create a smooth, glossy surface that enhances playability.^[14] It spans the full scale with 24 frets—originally installed and never replaced due to their longevity—and includes a custom zero-fret design at the nut, added during a later restoration to optimize intonation and open-string tone.^[14]^[22] Key measurements include a nut width of 46 mm (1.81 inches) and a fretboard radius of 184 mm (7.25 inches), which together support the guitar's unique feel and responsiveness.^[17]^[14]

Electronics and Hardware

The electronics of the Red Special incorporate a custom wiring scheme designed by Brian May and his father Harold, enabling flexible pickup combinations through series and parallel configurations via dedicated switches. This setup allows for 14 distinct tonal variations by selecting any combination of the three pickups and adjusting their relative phases, providing a wide range of sounds from thick humbucking-like tones to bright, nasal leads.^[9]^[14] The control layout features three individual volume knobs, one for each pickup, permitting precise balancing of their levels in any combination, alongside three phase reversal switches—one per pickup—for independent out-of-phase operation that alters the tonal character dramatically. A master volume knob handles overall output, while a master tone knob, typically a treble-cut control, shapes the high frequencies across all selections. These controls are mounted on an aluminum plate beneath the black Perspex scratchplate, with the switches using simple slider mechanisms for quick adjustments during performance.^[9]^[23] Non-electronic hardware elements emphasize the guitar's DIY origins and resourceful construction. The volume knobs are repurposed from Bakelite radio dials, offering a vintage, textured grip that contrasts with the modern functionality. The tailpiece is a custom-made mild steel floating unit serving as the string anchor, contributing to the instrument's unique sustain and tuning stability. The bridge is handmade from Perspex and brass, featuring individual adjustable saddles for precise intonation control on each string. The output connection is a standard 1/4-inch mono jack, ensuring compatibility with conventional amplifiers without any onboard preamp or modern modifications in the original design.^[18]^[14]

Technical Specifications

Scale Length and Frets

The Red Special employs a scale length of 24 inches (610 mm), shorter than the typical 25.5-inch Fender or 24.75-inch Gibson standards, which eases string bends and enhances playability for techniques like those used by Brian May.^[17]^[24] The guitar has 24 frets made from medium jumbo gauge wire, with dimensions of 2.4 mm crown width by 1.2 mm crown height, providing a clean double-octave range up to the 24th fret.^[18] Its fretboard radius measures 7.25 inches (184 mm), balancing flatness for chords near the nut and curvature toward the higher frets to support fluid lead playing.^[18] Low action is facilitated by a zero fret at the nut position for responsive fretting without excessive buzzing.^[25] Intonation accuracy is maintained through custom saddle positioning on the bridge, compensating for the short scale and zero fret to ensure even tuning across the fretboard.^[26]

Pickups and Wiring

The Red Special guitar features three Burns Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups, one each in the neck, middle, and bridge positions, utilizing ceramic bar magnets for a powerful magnetic field.^[27]^[9] These pickups, originally sourced from 1960s Burns models, were modified by Brian May and his father during construction; the coils were potted in Araldite epoxy to reduce microphonics and feedback, and the units were direct-mounted to the body for enhanced sustain and resonance.^[18]^[28] Positioned along the guitar's 24-inch scale length, the pickups maintain standard relative spacing adapted to the shorter scale, with the bridge pickup around 12 inches from the 12th fret—optimized for balanced string coverage and tonal blend.^[18]^[29] The middle pickup is reverse-wound with south polarity (opposite the north polarity of the neck and bridge pickups), enabling hum cancellation when combined with either adjacent pickup, a configuration that minimizes 60-cycle hum in dual-pickup modes without altering the single-coil character.^[18]^[9] The wiring employs a custom circuit designed for maximum versatility, incorporating six miniature slide switches—on/off and phase reversal for each pickup—allowing 256 possible combinations, including out-of-phase pairings that produce thin, nasal tones reminiscent of early rock effects.^[9]^[30] This setup routes signals through a single 220 kΩ volume potentiometer and a treble-cut tone circuit with a 22 nF capacitor, preserving the pickups' raw output without active electronics or additional filtering.^[18] Tonal characteristics stem from the Tri-Sonics' low inductance (approximately 1.6–2.3 H) and DC resistance (7.0–7.4 kΩ), yielding a bright, treble-heavy response with pronounced midrange compression and clarity, ideal for both clean articulation and high-gain overdrive.^[18]^[28] The original wiring remains intact in the guitar, with no subsequent electronic modifications beyond routine maintenance, ensuring consistent performance across decades of use.^[18]^[27]

Tremolo System

The tremolo system of the Red Special, technically a vibrato unit, was custom-designed and hand-built by Brian May and his father Harold in the early 1960s using scavenged materials to create an effective pitch modulation mechanism on a limited budget.^[31] The arm itself incorporates a bicycle saddle bag support as the main shaft, silver-soldered to a brass swivel, with the tip formed from a plastic knitting needle end for smooth operation.^[32] The fulcrum employs a knife-edge pivot crafted from a knitting needle, allowing the hand-carved mild steel rocker plate to tilt freely while maintaining precise control.^[3] This design enables pitch variations, including dive bombs, by leveraging the arm's responsive leverage against the bridge assembly. The mechanism functions as a floating bridge system, where the rocker plate holds the strings and pivots on the knife-edge bearing, with downward or upward arm movement altering string tension to bend pitch.^[33] Tension is counterbalanced by two motorcycle valve springs—sourced from a 500cc Norton motorcycle—mounted on bolts within the body cavity, ensuring the bridge returns to its neutral position after manipulation.^[34]^[31] The bridge integrates directly with the body's mahogany structure, with the tremolo housing extending into a rear cavity routed specifically for the springs and arm clearance, promoting a compact and resonant setup. The brass saddles on the rocker plate are adjustable for intonation via slotted positions, accommodating the guitar's 24-inch scale length without the need for modern locking tuners.^[33]^[35] Tuning stability in the system arises from the precise balance between string tension and spring resistance, allowing reliable pitch return even after aggressive use, though heavy vibrato can introduce slight detuning that contributes to the instrument's characteristic warble effect.^[36]^[35] Brian May operates the tremolo using a two-handed technique, gripping the arm with one hand while stabilizing the bridge or strings with the other to execute dive bombs and subtle shimmers for expressive tonal modulation.^[35]

Musical Applications

Studio Recordings

The Red Special made its debut on Queen's self-titled 1973 album, where Brian May employed it for all lead guitar tones, leveraging its unique wiring and pickup configurations to craft the band's signature layered sound. On the opening track "Keep Yourself Alive," May used multitracking with the Red Special to build intricate guitar harmonies and solos, emphasizing the instrument's bright, articulate response during the recording sessions at De Lane Lea and Trident Studios. This approach set the foundation for Queen's orchestral guitar style, though May later reflected that excessive overdubs contributed to a somewhat stiff overall tone on the album.^[37]^[38] In subsequent albums, the Red Special continued to define key studio moments, particularly on 1975's A Night at the Opera. For "Bohemian Rhapsody," May multi-tracked multiple guitar layers using various Red Special pickup combinations—such as bridge and neck positions—to create dynamic riffs and the song's iconic hard rock section, blending overdriven leads with harmonic depth. On 1977's News of the World, the guitar featured prominently in "We Will Rock You," where May generated feedback on the E note, power chords in C, and melodic phrases in open A positioning during the track's climactic final seconds, complementing the song's percussive stomp rhythm. These recordings highlighted the Red Special's versatility in producing both aggressive and ethereal tones.^[39]^[38] Queen's studio techniques with the Red Special often involved stacking multiple Vox AC30 amplifiers to achieve the instrument's characteristic overdriven sustain and choral-like quality, with minimal effects beyond a treble booster for added bite. Direct injection was occasionally used alongside these amp stacks to capture clean signals for layering, enabling the Red Special's raw harmonics to shine in controlled environments without excessive room reverb. This setup remained largely consistent through the 1980s, as seen on 1986's A Kind of Magic, where May relied on the guitar's 14th-fret chord motifs and Mixolydian licks in tracks like the title song, preserving the overdriven edge with few alterations to his core rig.^[39]^[38] Following Queen's active years, May maintained the Red Special and its traditional setup for solo work, notably on his 1992 album Back to the Light. The guitar provided haunting instrumental textures on tracks like "Nothin' But Blue" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You," utilizing Vox AC30 stacks to retain the familiar overdriven warmth and multi-tracked harmonies that echoed his Queen-era sound. This continuity underscored the Red Special's enduring role in May's studio palette, even in post-band projects.^[40]

Live Performances

The Red Special served as Brian May's primary instrument throughout Queen's touring years from 1973 to 1986, where it was employed for lead solos and rhythm work in virtually every concert.^[41] Its distinctive tone, derived from custom-wound pickups and a unique tremolo system, became synonymous with May's layered guitar arrangements on stage, often amplified through stacks of Vox AC30 amplifiers to replicate the band's orchestral sound.^[42] The guitar featured prominently in landmark events, including the band's triumphant two-night stand at Wembley Stadium in July 1986, which marked the finale of the Magic Tour supporting A Kind of Magic. May wielded the original Red Special for high-energy performances like "Another One Bites the Dust," delivering its signature crunch and sustain to a crowd of over 150,000 across both shows.^[43] To safeguard the instrument during demanding tours and shoots, replicas—such as the early John Birch model—were occasionally substituted in high-risk scenarios, including music videos like "I Want to Break Free," where physical mishaps or environmental hazards could damage the irreplaceable original.^[42] Adaptations for reliability included a custom flight case for secure air travel and road transport, ensuring the guitar's protection amid the rigors of international touring.^[41] Backups like the John Birch replica provided occasional redundancy during this era, stepping in when the original required maintenance, though May preferred its unparalleled warmth and sustain for core duties.^[42] The Red Special's studio-developed tonal characteristics, emphasizing rich harmonics and dynamic response, directly shaped live setups, allowing May to achieve similar multi-tracked effects through real-time performance.^[41] Following Freddie Mercury's death, the original Red Special remained central to May's post-Queen endeavors, appearing on tours with Paul Rodgers from 2005 to 2008, where it handled pivotal solos in sets blending Queen classics and Rodgers' catalog.^[44] This continued into collaborations with Adam Lambert starting in 2012, with the guitar deployed for essential leads in ongoing global tours, including the Rhapsody Tour from 2023 to 2024.^[45]^[46] As of 2025, the instrument's enduring playability was demonstrated during the Rhapsody Tour performances in 2023 and 2024, as well as at the September 2022 Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, where May performed Queen material with Foo Fighters members using the Red Special, honoring both Hawkins and Mercury in a set including "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions."^[47]

Replicas

Official Replicas

The first official replicas of Brian May's Red Special were commissioned from luthier John Birch in the mid-1970s, with the initial copy completed in 1975 by Birch and collaborator John Diggins. These guitars served as reliable backups during Queen's live performances and appeared prominently in music videos such as "We Will Rock You" and "Spread Your Wings." Crafted to closely match the original's handmade aesthetics and functionality, the Birch replicas featured a 24-inch scale length, three single-coil pickups, and a custom tremolo system derived from vintage motorcycle components.^[48]^[49] In the 1980s, Guild Guitars produced the BHM1 model as an authorized reproduction, manufactured in Japan with input from May to ensure fidelity to the original design. Equipped with Tri-Sonic pickups, a chambered body, and the signature 24-inch scale, these guitars addressed the need for durable stage instruments during Queen's peak touring years. Guild followed with the 1993 BM-01 limited edition of 1,000 units, incorporating custom Seymour Duncan pickups and an accurate remake of the original's tremolo, further refining playability and tone.^[50]^[51] The Burns London reissues in the early 2000s marked a return to UK-based production under May's endorsement, replicating the Red Special's exact specifications including the 24-inch scale length, three series-wired single-coil pickups, and Wilkinson-style knife-edge tremolo. These models, available in cherry red finishes, emphasized the guitar's acoustic chambering for enhanced sustain and were praised for their affordability while maintaining the original's tonal versatility. A 2012 limited edition highlighted refined craftsmanship during the transition to independent production.^[52]^[53] In the mid-1990s, custom luthier Greg Fryer crafted high-fidelity one-off replicas commissioned by May for his personal use as backups, including three guitars named 'John,' 'Paul,' and 'George Burns' completed in 1996-1997. These featured precise recreations of the original's wiring and pickup layout, using materials closer to the homemade specs, though with modern tweaks for reliability; for instance, 'Paul' later incorporated white slide switches for the pickups. Fryer's builds emphasized playability and tonal match, drawing from detailed study of the Red Special.^[54] Since the 2010s, Brian May Guitars (BMG) has overseen a dedicated line of official replicas, including the Special and Super models, developed in collaboration with May and luthiers to preserve the instrument's legacy. The BMG Special and Super variants, produced in facilities adhering to May's standards, feature hand-wound Tri-Sonic-style pickups, a 24-inch scale with 24 frets, and custom knife-edge tremolo systems for precise intonation and vibrato control. New colorways, such as Antique Cherry introduced in 2022 and Emerald Green in 2023, offer modern aesthetic options while upholding the original's structural integrity, with bodies crafted from chambered mahogany or sapele for balanced resonance. In 2023, BMG introduced the Vision model, blending the Red Special's short scale and pickup configuration with a Les Paul Doublecut-inspired body for added versatility. These replicas draw from the Red Special's inspirations in 1960s DIY engineering and household materials.^[55]^[56]

Unofficial Replicas

Unofficial replicas of the Red Special have been produced by independent luthiers and manufacturers without Brian May's endorsement, often prioritizing visual similarity and affordability over exact replication of the original's handmade construction. These copies emerged in the 1970s as the guitar's iconic status grew with Queen's popularity, using more readily available materials to approximate the distinctive shape, red finish, and tri-sonic pickup configuration.^[57] In the 1970s, Japanese manufacturer Greco introduced the BM900 model through its Fujigen factory, marking one of the earliest commercial copies. Launched in 1976 as part of Greco's Project Series, the BM900 featured a solid mahogany body, set mahogany neck, and rosewood fretboard with 24 frets, mimicking the Red Special's double-bound body and deep red finish but employing a Gibson-style Harmonica bridge and Mustang vibrato instead of the original's knife-edge tremolo. These affordable imports used cheaper woods like mahogany instead of the original's oak and blockboard, with Greco-branded pickups varying in quality from the ceramic tri-sonics of the Red Special, yet they achieved notable visual accuracy for budget-conscious players. Production ceased in 1980, followed by more accessible BM-80 and BM-90 variants in the 1980s.^[57] German luthier Scheithauer Guitars has offered the Mayday model since the late 1990s, a Red Special-inspired design handcrafted in Mühlhausen with modern enhancements like locking tuners and a 24-fret neck. The Mayday employs a hollow chambered body with an oak center block, mahogany neck, and oak fretboard, paired with Burns Tri-Sonic style pickups wired in series for a dark, percussive tone, alongside a modified knife-edge tremolo for improved tuning stability. While visually accurate in shape and red gloss finish, it diverges with its semi-hollow construction and 628 mm scale length, using laminate hardwoods rather than solid pieces for lighter weight and resonance. Priced starting at €2,950, these custom pieces target enthusiasts seeking upgraded ergonomics over strict historical fidelity.^[58] DIY kits and plans for building Red Special replicas have been available since the 1980s, gaining momentum with the 2014 publication of Brian May's book Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar that Rocked the World, which includes detailed blueprints, X-rays, and construction notes derived from the original's restoration. These resources enable hobbyists to replicate the guitar using accessible woods like mahogany substitutes and aftermarket tri-sonic pickups, often resulting in variations in pickup quality and tremolo precision but strong emphasis on the signature aesthetic. International clones, such as those from Japanese builders like K'z Guitar Works, continue this tradition with high-quality unofficial copies using premium materials for tonal approximation, though typically at lower cost than official versions.^[59]^[60] In contrast to official replicas, which adhere closely to May-approved specifications for authenticity, unofficial versions frequently incorporate cost-saving materials and ergonomic updates, allowing broader access while capturing the Red Special's visual and sonic essence.^[51]

Variations and Modifications

Custom Variations

The Mini May, introduced in 2006 by Brian May Guitars, is a compact, travel-oriented adaptation of the Red Special design, featuring a three-quarter-sized body, distinctive headstock, and pickguard inspired by the original instrument. With a 22.9-inch scale length, it prioritizes portability and playability, equipped with a single Tri-Sonic-style pickup, through-body fixed bridge, and lightweight meranti construction, making it suitable for carry-on travel.^[61] In 2007, the Rhapsody electro-acoustic guitar emerged as a hybrid variant, blending acoustic projection with electric amplification while echoing the Red Special's iconic double-cutaway body shape for enhanced upper-fret access.^[62] This small-bodied model incorporates a solid spruce top, sapele back and sides, and a Fishman Flex Blend electronics system with a Sonicore pickup and soundhole microphone, allowing versatile tonal options from fingerstyle to amplified performance.^[62] The Bri-Bass represents a bass guitar reconfiguration of the Red Special aesthetic, featuring a longer 31.5-inch scale length to accommodate four strings and deeper low-end response, with a bound mahogany body, set neck, and dual pickups—a humbucker at the neck and Tri-Sonic single-coil at the bridge—for versatile studio experimentation across genres like rock, blues, and funk.^[63] Its compact double-cutaway form maintains the original's visual flair while enabling punchy mids and bright highs in recording settings.^[64] Post-2022, Brian May Guitars expanded the BMG Special series with non-red finishes, including natural wood grains that highlight the mahogany body and black variants like Black 'N' Gold and Black Classic, offering aesthetic alternatives to the traditional cherry red while preserving the core wiring and pickup configuration.^[65]^[66] These limited-edition options, such as the tortoiseshell pickguard on the Black Classic introduced in 2024, cater to players seeking customized visual expressions without altering the instrument's tonal heritage.^[67] In June 2024, Brian May confirmed discussions with Gibson for the production of official Red Special models by Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab, potentially introducing high-end replicas that adhere closely to the original design.^[68]

Restorations

In 1998, luthier Greg Fryer conducted the first comprehensive restoration of the original Red Special at Brian May's Allerton Hill studio in London, following the construction of three accurate replicas in 1996–1997 that allowed the instrument to remain playable during the process.^[22]^[69] The work addressed wear accumulated over decades of use, including refinishing the fretboard by sanding it smooth and applying a coat of Rustins Plastic Coating to restore its original sheen, while inlaying new white epoxy resin dots and stripes for the markers. Veneer repairs focused on the mahogany edges, using period-appropriate materials and techniques to repair splits and dings without compromising the guitar's handmade character. The zero fret was replaced to improve intonation, and the fifth-fret dot marker was recreated by hand-shaping mother-of-pearl in May's original style.^[22]^[10] The restoration process, which spanned from December 1997 to August 1998, emphasized preservation of the instrument's authenticity; original components like the pickups were rewaxed in paraffin to prevent feedback, and binding issues were reglued using traditional methods. X-rays were taken during disassembly to reveal hidden structural damage and internal details, aiding precise repairs and contributing to documentation in the 2014 book Brian May's Red Special. This ensured the guitar's playability was enhanced while its unique tone—derived from the oak body and custom wiring—remained unaltered.^[22]^[10]^[70] A subsequent mini-restoration in April 2016 was handled by luthier Andrew Guyton, targeting cosmetic and mechanical wear from ongoing use. The body finish was repaired by filling cracks with superglue for stabilization, followed by flatting, repolishing, and touch-up painting to address edge and end damage. The tremolo and bridge assembly were disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and reinstalled for smoother operation, while a cracked central dot inlay at the twelfth fret was replaced to prevent further issues on the notably thin fretboard. Electronics received basic cleanup to maintain reliable switching, and all work prioritized retaining original parts.^[71]^[72]^[10] As of 2025, the Red Special remains fully functional and serves as Brian May's primary instrument, recently featuring new pickup installations during live demonstrations and showing no major structural concerns after these interventions.^[73]^[6]

Legacy

Influence on Guitar Design

The Red Special's DIY origins have profoundly inspired amateur and professional guitar builders, encouraging a wave of home-crafted instruments since the release of Brian May's 2014 book, Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar that Rocked Queen and the World (updated edition 2020), which provides detailed construction plans and materials sourcing guidance based on the original 1960s build.^[2]^[74] This resource has fueled countless replicas, emphasizing accessible woodworking and electronics modifications using household items like fireplace mantel wood for the body and neck.^[75] Its tonal characteristics, driven by custom-wound Tri-Sonic pickups—originally adapted from 1960s Burns designs—have been revived in contemporary instruments, with modern replicas capturing the pickups' bright, feedback-prone response and "rushing" harmonic overtones during bends.^[76] The guitar's innovative phase-switching circuit, allowing out-of-phase combinations for nasal, quasi-acoustic tones, has influenced boutique wiring schemes in high-end models, enabling versatile sound sculpting without external effects.^[77] The 24-inch scale length, shorter than standard Fender (25.5 inches) or Gibson (24.75 inches) designs, promotes easier string bending and lower tension for fluid vibrato, a feature adopted in some compact shred-oriented guitars to enhance playability during extended leads.^[55] This ergonomic choice, combined with the guitar's thin, chambered mahogany body, prioritizes comfort and resonance, setting a precedent for player-centric modifications in custom builds. Manufacturers such as Burns London have directly echoed the Red Special through official reissues since 2001, incorporating authentic Tri-Sonic pickups, Wilkinson tremolo hardware, and multi-switch selector systems to replicate its visual and sonic hallmarks.^[78] Similarly, collaborations with Guild and the Brian May Guitars line have produced limited-edition models, while luthiers like Greg Fryer have crafted high-fidelity customs, extending the design's principles into professional-grade production.^[79]^[80] The Red Special's setup has popularized techniques like harmonic layering via delay echoes and tremolo arm warbles for ethereal swells, emulated by modern players seeking its signature blend of orchestral depth and rock aggression; its specific 24-inch scale and lightweight construction enable these expressive methods with minimal physical strain.^[81]

Cultural Significance

The Red Special stands as an iconic emblem of Queen's signature sound, embodying Brian May's innovative spirit and the band's groundbreaking rock style. Replicas of the guitar were meticulously crafted for the 2018 biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody, where luthier Andrew Guyton produced period-accurate versions to depict its role in the band's early years, earning praise from May for their fidelity to the original's details.^[82] The instrument's story has been chronicled in media, including the 2020 updated edition of Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar that Rocked Queen and the World, co-authored by May and Simon Bradley, which details its creation and enduring legacy.^[83] May has frequently discussed its profound sentimental value in interviews, calling it his "lucky charm" and the "most expensive object in the world" due to its deep emotional ties to his father, with whom he built it as a teenager.^[84] The Red Special's DIY origins have also inspired broader cultural interest in engineering and craftsmanship, exemplified by an 18-year-old Bristol student's 2025 project to construct a guitar from scrap wood inspired by Brian May's DIY approach.^[85] Due to its irreplaceable role in Queen's history, the original Red Special is regarded as priceless, while official replicas command significant value, with some selling for up to £11,600 or US$20,000 at auction. High-fidelity replicas are prized by collectors and displayed in private collections, underscoring the guitar's status as a cultural artifact. Tributes continue through enthusiast events, such as the 2024 Red Special Meetup in the UK, where May joined fans for a Q&A session celebrating the instrument's impact.^[86]^[87] In 2025, amid Queen's 50th anniversary retrospectives for Bohemian Rhapsody and A Night at the Opera, May highlighted the Red Special's contributions to the band's iconic performances, including the legendary 1985 Live Aid set, in exclusive interviews for the YouTube series Queen The Greatest. These commemorations reaffirm the guitar's place in popular culture as a symbol of creativity and perseverance.^[88]

References

[1]
How I built the guitar that rocked the Queen (with a lot of help from ...
Sep 27, 2014 · Starting in 1963, we made my Red Special, my dad and I, in the workshop he had converted from our spare bedroom, in about two years of spare ...
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Press Release: Brian May's Red Special Book – brianmay.com
Brian May and his father Harold started to hand-build an electric guitar in 1963 – a project that would take over a year to complete. Brian dreamed of a guitar ...
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The Red Special: Brian May's Handmade Guitar - Hackaday
Jun 13, 2017 · Brian originally wanted the guitar to be semi-acoustic, so he carved resonant chambers into the block board. He even planned to make an F-hole ...
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Sir Brian May – Biography
Feb 10, 2023 · ... guitar style, produced from his revered homemade 'Red Special' guitar using a sixpence as a plectrum. A Queen and Paul Rodgers joint ...
[5]
Celebrating Brian May's Red Special Guitar - Louder Sound
Oct 1, 2014 · What makes the guitar so, well, special, is that Brian conceived, designed and built it from scratch with his father Harold over an 18 month ...
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNQx3iTteVi/
[7]
Mod Garage: Inside Brian May's Red Special - Premier Guitar
Sep 5, 2014 · The body is made of oak and blockboard, and topped with a mahogany veneer. ... wood taken from an old fireplace mantel, and the fretboard is oak.
[8]
Brian May's Red Special Guitar - GroundGuitar
This is the guitar that Brian built together with his father Harold in the early 1960s, and the one that he used as his main recording instrument ever since.
[9]
1984 - Queenpedia.com - Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor ...
Jul 31, 2011 · By 1964, Brian and Dave Dilloway were already recording amateur duets together, and by linking up their two reel-to-reel tape decks, they ...
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Sir Brian Harold May Biography - Ultimate Queen
Dec 30, 2023 · Brian formed his first band in 1964, titled '1984'. They split up in 1968, and several months later he formed 'Smile' with Roger Taylor and ...
[11]
Brian May: A life in science and music — the full story | Astronomy.com
Jul 23, 2012 · On May 13, 1967, the band played at Imperial College ... It marks one of the rare times that May used a guitar other than the Red Special.
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details about the Red Special - Brian May
a knitting needle end that would soon find a new home as a vibrato arm tip. The guitar featured 24 frets - "a nice, neat double octave", according to Brian - ...
[13]
In pictures: Brian May's Red Special up close | MusicRadar
Oct 3, 2014 · The neck is made from a piece of mahogany cut from the remains of a century-old fireplace, and is mirror-smooth after 50 years of use. Although ...
[14]
Brian May "Red Special" - InSync - Sweetwater
Nov 5, 2008 · They used pieces of oak for the fingerboard and the guitar body (along with blockboard “wings”), over which they placed a mahogany veneer.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Brian May Guitars Specifications
### Summary of Red Special Guitar Specifications (BMG Special)
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Brian May Red Special Specifications - dsgb
Brian May Red Special Specifications ; Neck material, Mahogany timber reclaimed from a Victorian fireplace surround (likely Swietenia mahogani), Quarter sawn ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Brian May's Legendary Red Special - Then and Now
May 9, 2019 · Brian May and his father designed and built the Red Special when he was a teenager in the early '60s. Few guitar players can say they've ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[18]
Research | Red Special Library
The Red Special guitar is the probably one of the best made at home projects ever, and it has quite the history being over 40 years.
[19]
Brian May Red Special Guitar Fixings and Fasteners - dsgb
Neck Tenon Mounting Screws: #12 x 1 3/8″ to achieve 1 1/4″ (2 off). Nearest metric equivalent M5.5 x 35 mm; Neck to Body Securing Bolt: 5/16″ x 1 1/2″ (1 off).Missing: attachment | Show results with:attachment
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Brian May's Red Special - What To Know & Where To Buy
Rating 1.0 (1) · $4.90 deliveryThe 24" scale length is shorter than both Gibson and Fender scales, contributing to its thick sound and facilitating easier fret reach and bends. Source. 0 0.
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Brian May Guitars / Brian May Special Red | Reverb Portugal
Fret height is sufficient. String height(bass string side)|2.0mm above 12th fret. String height(treble string side)|1.5mm above 12th fret. Nut width|46.0mm
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How to get Brian May's Red Special tones from a Strat or Les Paul
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Tri-Sonic History by Adrian Turner - The Red Special
Tri-Sonic pickups originated from European designs, with early versions having exposed magnets. The larger version with ceramic magnets was used in the Red ...
[28]
Scale Length and Bridge Placement - Red Special Library
The scale length starts where it leaves the zero fret. Not the nut! The nut on Brian Red special guitar is merely a string guide, to keep the strings in place, ...
[29]
Brian May Red Special Replica Build Part 60: Electronics Wiring
I completed wiring up my Brian May Red Special replica guitar's electronics on 6th June 2020 and thankfully, all was well on the first test.
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The Tremolo arm - The Red Special workshop - WordPress.com
Hand made from Mild Steel, Two motorcycle valve springs, part of a bicycle rack and even a plastic end from one of his Mothers knitting needles. The picture ...Missing: frets | Show results with:frets
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Brian May Red Special Tremolo System - dsgb
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[33]
Brian May's Most Googled Questions – Radio X – brianmay.com
Aug 16, 2021 · The tremolo is balanced with motorbike valve springs from a 500cc Norton I think. It's just it was made out of bits because I couldn't afford a ...Missing: Red | Show results with:Red<|control11|><|separator|>
[34]
The Secrets of Brian May's Red Special Part 1 - Guitar Tricks Forum
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[35]
https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/t/30506
[36]
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[37]
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Feb 15, 2023 · In this career-spanning interview, one of the all-time greatest guitar players talks through every era of Queen's career, and charts the evolution of rock's ...
[38]
Brian May reveals the inside stories behind 13 classic Queen tracks
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[39]
Press Release: Brian May Back To The Light shines on
Jun 22, 2021 · Brian's Red Special speaks on haunting instrumental versions of 'Nothin' But Blue', 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' and 'Just One Life'. 'Driven ...
[40]
Brian May Guitars & Gear - GroundGuitar
Discover Brian May's guitars, gear, and equipment, including his iconic "Red Special," Vox amps, and other gear behind the Queen guitar sound.Missing: England | Show results with:England
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Queen The Greatest Live: Another One Bites The Dust (Episode 23)
Jun 30, 2023 · ... Wembley crowd and May coaxed off-the-cuff funk licks from his Red Special guitar. Next Week: Queen The Greatest Live – Crazy Little Thing ...
[43]
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This page features a brief overview of Queen and Paul Rodgers performances from 2004 to 2008. The tracks given for each tour reflect the standard setlist, ...
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Brian May and Roger Taylor join Foo Fighters for Queen set ... - NME
Sep 4, 2022 · Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor joined the Foo Fighters to perform a five-song set of their own hits at the first Taylor Hawkins tribute concert.<|separator|>
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Brian May's John Birch Red Special Replica – Ground Guitar
This is the first replica ever made of the Red Special. The guitar was made by John Birch in 1975 and became widely known after its appearance in the “We Will ...
[47]
Brian May's John Birch guitar - Guyton Guitars
The John Birch was then shipped to the US to be copied for a future replica. After this, things get a little hazy and after a few years the guitar was assumed ...
[48]
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A limited edition of 1000 pieces, is a far more accurate copy including an accurate remake of Brian's original tremolo and specially-made Seymour Duncan ...Missing: BMG100R | Show results with:BMG100R
[50]
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In stock $95 deliveryIn the early 2000's, Burns started reissuing Brian May's handmade "Red Special" -- also available in Sunburst finish. It features a chambered mahogany body ...
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Stories of the construction of the Red Special – the use of motorcycle saddle springs, knitting needles and pearl shirt buttons, not to mention a ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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The BMG Special
### BMG Special Specs Summary
[53]
1979 Greco BM900 - Tym Guitars
Nov 3, 2017 · The idea of these Red Special copies dates all the way back to 1972 when Mr Shokai asked Mr. Hidesato Shiino to come over from Yamaha and work ...
[54]
Greg Fryer Red Special guitars
This page has photos and video of the 3 Red Special replica guitars 'John', 'Paul' and 'George Burns' which I made for Brian May in 1996-1997.
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MAYDAY - Scheithauer-Guitars
Die Mayday vereint eine authentische Konstruktion mit hervorragender · Bespielbarkeit und dem nötigen Durchsetzungsvermögen. · Eine Gitarre, die mehr als nur Spaß ...Missing: founded | Show results with:founded
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In 1963, Brian May and his father started to build the Red Special—an electric guitar meant to outperform anything commercially made.
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Commercial Copies of Brian's Guitar - Latest Rock Music News Today
K'z Guitar Works is a Japanese company which produces probably the best quality unofficial Red Special copy which has ever been commercially available.
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The Red Special is the electric guitar designed and built by Queen's guitarist Brian May and his father, Harold, when Brian was a teenager in the early 1960s.Construction · Appearances · Replicas · Variations
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The BMG Mini May
### Mini May Guitar Summary
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The BMG Rhapsody
### Summary of BMG Rhapsody Electro-Acoustic Guitar
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The BMG Bass
### Summary of BMG Bass - Antique Cherry
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Jan 26, 2024 · JUST ARRIVED AT BMG HQ The brand new Black Classic Special with tortoiseshell pickguards and chrome hardware joins our limited edition ...
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Sep 21, 2023 · Just type "Brian May's Red Special" into Amazon etc. Kit. newbe Avatar. newbe. Apprentice Shielder * Nov 7, 2023 at 12:05pm, Quote. I have ...Missing: fretboard | Show results with:fretboard
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I used Rustins Plastic Coating (RPC), obtained from Amazon.co.uk to clear coat the entire guitar body and neck, including fretboard.Missing: construction | Show results with:construction
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Red Special – new images #17
... Andrew Guyton during his 2016 restoration of the guitar. It was, by all accounts, 'wafer thin'. Image (c) Duck Productions. Image (c) Duck Productions. And ...
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Brian May reveals the off-the-wall Red Special mod from his pre ...
Oct 14, 2024 · At a recent Red Special meet-up event in the UK, May revealed he ended up removing the circuit because he “just didn't like the sound of it”.
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Aug 12, 2025 · In this video, Brian May shares his expertise on the new B & B pickups from Ferrari, which he recently installed in his Red Special guitar.Missing: Picnic Basket
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The Official Home Of Brian May Guitars
### Summary of Red Special Guitar Electronics, Wiring, and Hardware (Original Design Features)
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Brian May Tri-Sonic Pickups, Burns Guitars London
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Jul 22, 2024 · May famously built the original with his father while in his teens, crafting its neck with wood from an antique fireplace.
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This includes the Red Special replica guitars effect pedals and Vox AC30 amplifiers which I handmade for Brian May from 1996-2007, the Brian May/Fryer effect ...<|separator|>
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