Solo Tone
Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)
Queen
Guitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHomemade 'Red Special' (Brian May's original, semi-hollow, 24" scale, three Burns Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups wired in series with phase switches)
AmpVox AC30/6 (mid-1980s, likely Normal channel, cranked, no built-in effects)
PickupsBurns Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups (bridge and middle, in phase, series wiring)
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid7.5
treble8.5
reverb2
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostDallas-Arbiter Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster
modulationTC Electronic TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger
Notes
Studio recording, 1985-1986 for 'A Kind of Magic' album. Brian May's Red Special into a Vox AC30, with treble booster and likely modulation effects. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo. Effects chain inferred from era, genre, and audible effects in solo.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainaggressive upper-midrange attacktight, focused distortionharmonic feedbackcutting lead presencemetallic edgecomplex, layered harmoniesmodulated solo texturechorus/flanger swirlhigh output, saturated sound
Difficulty
The solo features fast, harmonized lead lines with complex phrasing, rapid picking, and expressive bends, requiring advanced technique and tight synchronization with modulation effects.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHomemade 'Red Special' (Brian May's original, semi-hollow, 24" scale, three Burns Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups wired in series with phase switches)
AmpVox AC30/6 (mid-1980s, likely Normal channel, cranked, no built-in effects)
PickupsBurns Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups (bridge and middle, in phase, series wiring)
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid7.5
treble8.5
reverb2
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostDallas-Arbiter Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster
modulationTC Electronic TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger
Sources
Notes
Studio recording, 1985-1986 for 'A Kind of Magic' album. Brian May's Red Special into a Vox AC30, with treble booster and likely modulation effects. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo. Effects chain inferred from era, genre, and audible effects in solo.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainaggressive upper-midrange attacktight, focused distortionharmonic feedbackcutting lead presencemetallic edgecomplex, layered harmoniesmodulated solo texturechorus/flanger swirlhigh output, saturated sound
Difficulty
The solo features fast, harmonized lead lines with complex phrasing, rapid picking, and expressive bends, requiring advanced technique and tight synchronization with modulation effects.
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