Brian May

Brian May is quoted saying, “It’s kind of magic, that little amplifier. I don’t know how it really works and it’s amazing that Deacy put it together from bits out of a skip!" in this article.

Brian May's guitar tech shows us the Queen guitarist's onstage setup. May's rig incorporates three Vox AC30s, positioned at an angle and pointed off stage to slightly isolate the sound. "We have to stop the nasty reflections," May's tech says at (27:35). According to May's tech, "the center amp is straight through the rack, so there's no effects on the center amp. The wet stuff is all wet on the left and right [amps]."

“I went with Tim Staffell, who was our singer in Smile, and Roger I think, to a shop called Take Five in Tin Pan Alley that was full of second hand amps, including a few AC30s. "By that time I had a Rangemaster treble booster – I thought that if it worked for Rory it would work for me – so we pulled a few out, plugged in, and there was the sound. “I traded in my Burns transistor 60-watt amp and bought two 30-watt AC30s.They were very beaten up but sounded perfect, with that deep, throaty sound, and that was it forevermore for me.” You can also see May talking about the AC30 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyyTBeAmZIc.

In the opening scene of this video at about 0:02, Brian May's guitar tech can be scene flipping 2 80s Marshall-style rocker switches for Power and Standby. The only AC30 model I know of with a grey face plate and dual rocker switches is the PCB-based Dallas Arbiter version of the 1980s. It makes sense that May would gravitate toward this amp. Not only were they readily available as a current-production amplifier during Queens arena days, but they are solid state rectified -- and Mr May is well known for switching his 90s RI Voxes to solid-state rectification for more punch, volume and bass definition. Maybe the Rose Morris version hipped him to this modification... his current service guru talks about it all here:

https://fryerguitars.wordpress.com/amptech/

Brian May teaches us the guitar solo from Bohemian Rhapsody while staying home because of the Corona crisis. At 6:46 min. you can see that he uses the VOX Mini5 Rhythm Combo (Ivory version) in his living room. You can also see the settings.

At 28:26, Brian's guitar tech Pete Malandrone speaks about Brian's use of AC30's being ran on the normal channel, up full. He says "all of these amps are slightly modified (gesturing to the second row of amplifiers) and these ones, heavily modified (gesturing to the main/active row of amplifiers) to get rid of all the circuitry that wasn't needed taken out to improve reliability"

These amps show TB on the back but have been fitted with current re-issue Alnico Blues; Brian's preferred speaker.

In a photo from Queenconcerts, Brian May is seen using a Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp during the 1976 summer tour.

Brian May is playing his red special with Vox MV50 Brian May SET in this video.

Brian May is playing his red special with Vox MV50 BM in this video.

Celestion speakers have been an important part of my sound since day one. Nothing else sounds like a Celestion Blue.

Brian May performs a demo performance of Vox amPlug Brian May in this video.

Brian May is playing his red special with Vox AP-BM Set in this video.

Brian May's iconic sound with Queen is closely tied to the Vox AC-30 Custom Classic amplifier. As detailed in Guitar.com's feature "Artist Collection: Brian May's AC30-powered Queen Backline Up Close," this amplifier has been a staple in May's gear lineup, contributing to the distinctive tones that define Queen's music.

Premier Guitar’s rig rundown shows he favors bluebacks in his AC30s at 28:08 and the C2X comes from the factory with them.