Brian May Signature

You're looking at the guitar style that served Brian May through everything from "Bohemian Rhapsody's" operatic complexity to stadium rock anthems - the kind of versatile instrument that handles both delicate fingerpicking and crushing power with equal grace.

When Brian May and his father built the original Red Special in the early 1960s, they weren't trying to recreate an existing guitar - they were solving problems that commercial instruments of the era simply couldn't address. Fast forward six decades, and Burns has managed to capture both the look and the functionality of that legendary homemade instrument.

The real magic here isn't just in replicating the aesthetics - it's in understanding why Brian's switching system was so revolutionary. Those three Tri-Sonic pickups wired in series, each with individual on/off and phase reversal switches, create tonal possibilities that standard pickup selectors simply can't touch. You're looking at 27 different pickup combinations, from glassy single-pickup clarity to massive three-pickup orchestral power.

That 7.25" radius fingerboard might feel unusual if you're used to modern flatter profiles, but it serves Brian's playing style perfectly. When you're executing those soaring melodic passages that made Queen's guitar orchestrations so distinctive, that vintage radius provides the comfortable grip you need for complex chord voicings and sustained bends.

The 24" scale length is where this guitar gets interesting for players used to standard 25.5" instruments. You get slightly easier string bending and a warmer, more singing sustain that serves melodic playing beautifully. Combined with that mahogany body and neck construction, the tonal foundation supports both delicate fingerpicked passages and crushing rock power.

Those Grover locking tuners and dual truss rod system solve real-world problems for working musicians. The tuners keep you stable through even aggressive tremolo work, while the dual truss rod setup provides the adjustability you need to maintain perfect neck relief across different string gauges and tunings.

But here's what makes this guitar special: it's not just copying the original's specs - it's preserving the innovative spirit that made Brian May's approach so groundbreaking. Every switch position serves actual musical purposes, whether you're layering harmonies in the studio or cutting through a live mix.

Model: Brian May Signature Special
Finish: Red
Categories: Solid Body
Made In: Republic of Korea
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Neck Construction: Set-Neck
Body Shape: Double Cutaway
Number of Strings: 6-String
Color Family: Red
Body Type: Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type: Tremolo Bridge
Fretboard Material: Ebony
Number of Frets: 24