How To Sound Like Brian May - Guitar Sounds

A common question often asked is how do I get a guitar sound like Brian May of Queen?

Do I need a Red Special guitar replica?

Do I need a Vox AC-30 amp? 

Should I use a Treble booster?

Do I need to use a sixpence coin as a pick?










The truth is the sound is a combination of a lot of different factors. 
A Red Special replica guitar isn't going to magically produce the unique tones you've heard on your favorite Queen record.



The Red Special guitar gets it's unique tonal possibilities from the way the three Burns Tri Sonic pickups are wired with the in and out of phase selector switches. You can achieve a Brian May sound with a Stratocaster but it isn't going to have the same amount of tonal possibilties.

A Treble Booster is an essential piece of kit and without it you are not going to really get anywhere. There are number of different kinds available and I believe Brian May uses Greg Fryer Treble Boosters 

Brian May uses Vox AC30 amps live on stage. Brian's amp are modified to his own unique spec.
In the video below Craig Farley demonstrates the difference between an off the shelf AC30 and a modified version

In the studio Brian May didn't always use VOX AC30 amp like many think, He relied on the famous DEACY amp made by John Deacon. This was built from an old speaker and a radio circuit board and powered by a battery. Mixed with the Red Special and a treble booster many of the unique guitar tones we hear on Queen records were created

In the 2003 Vox produced the Vox BM1 with the help of Brian May to produce a Deacy sounding amplifier with a built in treble booster.
James Rundle of Rock Licks Guitar Tuition reviews the amp in the video below

WHERE CAN I BUY A BRIAN MAY GUITAR?

Now discontinues as is the Vox BM1 Digitech produced a Brian May pedal which produced many classic Brian May sounds.

In the below video we look at how to produced a Brian May guitar sound using Guitar Rig 5 Software