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Average Price: $900
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$500
$1201+
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Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Brian May's Red Special". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash your inner rock royalty with Brian May's Red Special, a meticulously crafted semi-hollowbody electric guitar that encapsulates the spirit of Queen's legendary sound. Designed to meet Brian May's renowned standards, this guitar is not just an instrument; it's a piece of music history. The chambered mahogany body, enhanced by strategically positioned sound holes, produces a vibrant resonance that echoes the signature tones of an era. The mahogany neck paired with a sleek ebony fretboard offers seamless playability across all 24 frets, making it perfect for both aspiring musicians and seasoned pros.
At the heart of this iconic instrument are the Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, which deliver the unmistakable warmth and clarity that defined May's sound. These pickups are specially positioned to minimize interference while offering rich, bell-like highs and smooth lows. Whether you're nailing those intricate solos or strumming powerful chords, the Red Special's versatile tonal range adapts to your playing style.
Designed for comfort and precision, the set-in neck profile ensures you feel right at home, while medium gauge frets make bending and vibrato efforts a breeze. Adorned with dot inlays, the fretboard provides easy navigation, ensuring you're always in control of your musical journey.
Key Features:
- Chambered mahogany body for enhanced resonance
- Mahogany neck with a 24-fret ebony fretboard
- Burns Tri-Sonic pickups for rich, iconic tones
- Set-in neck profile with a 9.8" radius
- Medium gauge frets for effortless playability
- Dot inlays for easy fretboard navigation
Product specs
| Body Type | Double Cutaway Chambered Body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck shape | C-shaped |
| Joint | Set-in |
| Scale length | 24" |
| Truss rod | Dual-action |
| Material | Ebony |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Custom |
| Nut width/material | Graphite |
| Configuration | SSS |
| Neck | Proprietary Single Coil |
| Middle | Proprietary Single Coil |
| Bridge | Proprietary Single Coil |
| Control layout | Master volume Master tone |
| Pickup switch | 5-Way |
| Special electronics | Coil-split Phase switch |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | 6-point tremolo |
| Tuning machines | Locking |
| Number of strings | 6 String |
| Case | Gig Bag |
| Orientation | Right Handed |
FAQs
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What kind of wood is used in the construction of Brian May's Red Special guitar?
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Brian May's Red Special features an acoustic chambered Indonesian mahogany body with a set-in Indian mahogany neck, providing a warm and resonant tone.
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What is the pickup configuration on Brian May's Red Special?
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The Red Special has a proprietary single-coil pickup configuration with three pickups arranged in an SSS format, offering a versatile range of tones.
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How does the tremolo system on Brian May's Red Special differ from standard models?
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The Red Special features a 6-point tremolo/vibrato bridge, which allows for smooth pitch modulation and enhances the guitar's expressive capabilities.
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Is Brian May's Red Special suitable for playing a variety of music genres?
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Yes, the Red Special's versatile pickup configuration and coil-split phase switch make it suitable for a wide range of genres, from rock to blues.
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What are the standout features of the neck on Brian May's Red Special?
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The guitar features a C-shaped neck with an ebony fingerboard, offering a comfortable grip and smooth playability, ideal for both rhythm and lead playing.
Videos
Cristián Castro G
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - Guitar solo - (Brian May Guitars "Red Special" - BMG Special)
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Brian May's Red Special.
Features and functionality
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Unique wiring includes series connections and on/off and phase switches for each pickup, enabling diverse and unusual tonal combinations.
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The 24" scale length is shorter than both Gibson and Fender scales, contributing to its thick sound and facilitating easier fret reach and bends.
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The tremolo system is praised for maintaining tuning stability comparable to a Floyd Rose, aiding in dynamic playing without frequent retuning.
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Use cases and applications
User experience
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Owners praise the wide range of tones from experimenting with pickup and phase combinations.
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Some players find the guitar's unique design inspires versatility beyond expected styles, comfortably playing songs like "Alphabet Street" by Prince and "Shakey Ground" by the Temptations.
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Some find the neck shape uncomfortable, suggesting a try-before-you-buy approach due to its unique design, which may not suit everyone.
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The guitar is considerably smaller than expected, influencing visual appeal and playability, particularly for larger players.
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Build quality
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The standard Strat-style tremolo bridge results in a neck-heavy balance, making it uncomfortable to play standing up for some users.
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Comparisons
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The signature model is rarely seen outside of Queen tributes, unlike more common models such as the Ibanez AZ, which offers similar functionality with additional features like stainless steel frets.
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The Harley Benton version of the Red Special offers similar controls and is noted as a cost-effective alternative with good quality.
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Critic Reviews
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
As evidenced by this photo from a 2017 performance at London's O2 Arena (courtesy Wikipedia), and per this article from Guitariego, dated March 19, 2020.
Though there have been many replicas and reproduction made over the years, original Red Special, the actual guitar he built from scratch with his father when Brian was just a teenager, is still Brian's main guitar.
This is one of the few homemade guitars famous enough to have it's own Wikipedia page.
Album Usage
The Brian May's Red Special has been featured on the following albums:
Smoke On The Water
Rock Aid Armenia (2017)
Made in Heaven
Queen (1995)
Live At Wembley Stadium
Queen (1992)
Innuendo
Queen (1991)
The Miracle
Queen (1989)
A Kind of Magic
Queen (1986)
The Works
Queen (1984)
Hot Space
Queen (1982)
The Game
Queen (1980)
Flash Gordon (Deluxe Remastered Version)
Queen (1980)
Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack)
Queen (1980)
Live Killers
Queen (1979)
Jazz
Queen (1978)
News of the World
Queen (1977)
A Day At The Races
Queen (1976)
A Night At The Opera
Queen (1975)
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen (1974)
Queen II
Queen (1974)
Queen
Queen (1973)
At The BBC
Queen (1973)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Similar
Add recommendation10 alternative and related items for Brian May's Red Special, curated by the Equipboard community.
The RS Guitars Red Special is a high end, highly detailed recreation of Brian May's original Red Special guitar, in its original 1964 specification.
$899.99 - $991.80
The BMG Special by Brian May Guitars is the standard level, reissue version of the Red Special. This guitar features more modern appointments such as a Wilkinson bridge and Polyurethane finish.
$289.00
The K’z Guitar Works Red Special is a high end, highly detailed replica of the Red Special, crafted in Japan by luthier Kazutaka Ijuin.
A high end replica of the Red Special, built in France. Dansan uses Kent Armstrong pickups, closer in spec to the vintage Burns Tri-Sonic set used in Brian's original Red Special.
The Carpinteri Guitars Bohemian RS, formerly sold as the CQuadro Red Special is a high end clone of Brian's original, featuring chambered construction based on X-rays and Yonderbosk Sovereign '60 pickups.
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