Solo Tone
Bijou
Queen
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarBrian May Red Special (original, handmade by Brian May and his father)
AmpVox AC30 (likely 1970s/80s model, cranked, with KAT Treble Booster in front)
PickupsTri-Sonic single-coil pickups (modified, Burns brand, wired in series, phase switching)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble7
reverb4
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostKAT KAT Treble Booster
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely rack or studio digital delay)
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely studio rack chorus)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Innuendo' album, 1990/1991. Solo section. The Deacy amp is referenced for other Queen tones but not for 'Bijou' solo; main amp is the Vox AC30 with treble booster. Effects chain based on era-accurate Brian May rig and audible effects.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainsmooth, violin-like lead toneemotive vibratomelodic and expressivelush ambient delaywarm and harmonically richclear note separationgentle attacknot overly saturatedtouch-sensitive dynamics
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of bends, vibrato, and phrasing to achieve the emotive, singing quality of Brian May's playing, along with precise timing for delay repeats.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarBrian May Red Special (original, handmade by Brian May and his father)
AmpVox AC30 (likely 1970s/80s model, cranked, with KAT Treble Booster in front)
PickupsTri-Sonic single-coil pickups (modified, Burns brand, wired in series, phase switching)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble7
reverb4
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostKAT KAT Treble Booster
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely rack or studio digital delay)
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely studio rack chorus)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Innuendo' album, 1990/1991. Solo section. The Deacy amp is referenced for other Queen tones but not for 'Bijou' solo; main amp is the Vox AC30 with treble booster. Effects chain based on era-accurate Brian May rig and audible effects.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainsmooth, violin-like lead toneemotive vibratomelodic and expressivelush ambient delaywarm and harmonically richclear note separationgentle attacknot overly saturatedtouch-sensitive dynamics
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of bends, vibrato, and phrasing to achieve the emotive, singing quality of Brian May's playing, along with precise timing for delay repeats.
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