Solo Tone

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Queen

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Telecaster (likely 1970s, possibly black or blonde, used for solo section)

AmpVox AC30 (likely 1970s Top Boost, studio recording)

PickupsFender single-coil Telecaster bridge pickup

Amp Settings

gain4

bass5.5

mid7

treble7

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1979. Brian May used a Telecaster for the solo at producer Reinhold Mack's suggestion to achieve a James Burton-style rockabilly tone. The rest of the song uses different guitars, but the solo is confirmed Telecaster. No pedals are confirmed for the studio solo; May's usual treble booster may not have been used. No evidence of modulation or time-based effects in the solo section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and twangyarticulate and percussiveedge-of-breakup claritydynamic and touch-sensitiveminimal sustainquick note decaytight midrangeslightly compressedclean with a biting edgeclear separation between notes

Difficulty

The solo requires intermediate-level technique due to its rockabilly phrasing, hybrid picking, and dynamic articulation, but does not involve advanced speed or complex fingerings.

Sources

Brian May's Guitar Gear, Pedals & Amps | Equipboard Brian May's guitar gear: how to sound like the iconic Queen guitarist Brian May on reworking Queen's regal debut & bad reviews

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