Riff Tone
Keep Yourself Alive (Live at The Rainbow)
Queen
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarHomemade Red Special (Brian May's Red Special)
AmpVox AC30/6 (Top Boost, 1970s, three amps in live rig)
PickupsTri-Sonic single coils (modified, series/parallel, phase switching)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7.5
treble7.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
boostUnknown Treble Booster (Pete Cornish or Dallas Rangemaster style, model unknown)
Notes
Live performance at The Rainbow, 1974. Brian May used his Red Special with custom switching and three Vox AC30s, center amp dry, side amps for effects. No evidence of additional guitars or amps for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
distinctive crunchbright and cuttingtight, percussive rhythmrich harmonic overtonesdynamic response to pickingclassic British amp breakuparticulate note separationslight phasing effect from pickup wiringaggressive, energetic riffingcorrosive, palm-muted attack
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, consistent palm muting, precise picking, and dynamic control via the guitar's volume and pickup switches, making it challenging for most intermediate players.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarHomemade Red Special (Brian May's Red Special)
AmpVox AC30/6 (Top Boost, 1970s, three amps in live rig)
PickupsTri-Sonic single coils (modified, series/parallel, phase switching)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7.5
treble7.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
boostUnknown Treble Booster (Pete Cornish or Dallas Rangemaster style, model unknown)
Notes
Live performance at The Rainbow, 1974. Brian May used his Red Special with custom switching and three Vox AC30s, center amp dry, side amps for effects. No evidence of additional guitars or amps for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
distinctive crunchbright and cuttingtight, percussive rhythmrich harmonic overtonesdynamic response to pickingclassic British amp breakuparticulate note separationslight phasing effect from pickup wiringaggressive, energetic riffingcorrosive, palm-muted attack
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, consistent palm muting, precise picking, and dynamic control via the guitar's volume and pickup switches, making it challenging for most intermediate players.
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