Riff Tone
Was It All Worth It (Remastered 2011)
Queen
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarRed Special (Brian May's handmade guitar)
AmpVox AC30 (likely multiple, cranked, as per Queen's 1980s studio rig)
PickupsTri-Sonic single-coil pickups (Burns, modified by Brian May)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1988 (The Miracle sessions, remastered 2011). Brian May is known to use his Red Special and Vox AC30 for nearly all Queen studio rhythm tracks in this era. No evidence of alternative guitars or amps for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
British crunchtight and articulaterich harmonic overtoneslayered rhythm guitarsslightly compressedfocused midrangesaturated but not high-gaindistinctive treble bitefull-bodied chordsclear note separation
Difficulty
The riff section features fast, articulate picking and complex chord work typical of Brian May's style, demanding advanced rhythm accuracy and stamina.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarRed Special (Brian May's handmade guitar)
AmpVox AC30 (likely multiple, cranked, as per Queen's 1980s studio rig)
PickupsTri-Sonic single-coil pickups (Burns, modified by Brian May)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
Notes
Studio recording, 1988 (The Miracle sessions, remastered 2011). Brian May is known to use his Red Special and Vox AC30 for nearly all Queen studio rhythm tracks in this era. No evidence of alternative guitars or amps for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
British crunchtight and articulaterich harmonic overtoneslayered rhythm guitarsslightly compressedfocused midrangesaturated but not high-gaindistinctive treble bitefull-bodied chordsclear note separation
Difficulty
The riff section features fast, articulate picking and complex chord work typical of Brian May's style, demanding advanced rhythm accuracy and stamina.
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