Solo Tone

Bohemian Rhapsody

Unknown Artist

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarHomemade Red Special (Brian May's Red Special)

AmpVox AC30 (1960s, cranked, no master volume, Celestion Alnico Blue speakers)

PickupsBurns Tri-Sonic single coils (custom wired, middle and neck in series, out of phase for solo)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid7.5

treble7.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

boostDallas Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster

Notes

Studio recording, 1975. The solo used the Red Special with unique pickup wiring (neck + middle in series, out of phase), a Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster into a cranked Vox AC30. No chorus, phaser, or flanger on the original studio solo. Delay was used for harmonies and doubling, but not as a pedal effect in the main solo. No reverb pedal; any ambience is from the studio or amp room.

Tone Character(10)

incisive and nasalsinging sustainhigh harmonics leap outsmooth transition into distortiontouch-sensitive and dynamicbright and articulateorchestral and layeredunique out-of-phase pickup soundBritish class A amp throatharmonics sound an octave higher

Difficulty

The solo requires advanced phrasing, precise bends, and dynamic control, as well as familiarity with Brian May's unique pickup wiring and touch-sensitive playing style.

Sources

Brian May goes deep on Bohemian Rhapsody: the gear, the solo and the magic of Freddie Mercury’s finest hour | Guitar World Watch Brian May make a TV presenter's day with an unaccompanied Bohemian Rhapsody solo through his epic Vox AC30 rig | Guitar World How to get Brian May's Red Special tones from a Strat or Les Paul | Guitar World

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