Brian May's Red Special

About

Brian May's Red Special is a custom-built electric guitar crafted by May and his father, Harold, in the early 1960s. The guitar's body is made from blockboard and oak, covered with mahogany veneer, while the neck is constructed from wood taken from an old fireplace mantel. Its distinctive tone is partly due to its three single-coil Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, which are wired in series to produce a fat, loud sound. The Red Special features a unique switching system with individual on/off and phase switches for each pickup, allowing for versatile tonal combinations. The Red Special has been integral to Brian May's career with Queen, known for its distinctive sound and durability. Despite opportunities to use other guitars, May has remained loyal to the Red Special. Its design and construction reflect the ingenuity of Brian and his father, who sought to create an instrument that would interact with the player and environment. The guitar's legacy extends beyond its use in music; it has inspired numerous replicas and variations, cementing its place in guitar history.