The Red Special Guitar

The Red Special

The Red Special is an electric guitar owned by Queen guitarist Brian May and custom-built by May and his father. The Red Special is also sometimes named in reviews as the Fireplace, a nickname May uses, besides Red Special. May has used it on Queen albums and in live performances for more than 30 years. The name Red Special came from the red/brown colour of the guitar after it was stained and painted with numerous layers of Rustin's plastic coating.The Red Special has been used on every queen song ever produced with guitar except for 3 odd songs. The guitar was home-built by May and his father Harold in the 1960's. Brian uses this guitar in unison with the Vox AC30 amplifier to produce a signature sound. One that countless guitarists over the years have been trying to create. Nobody has ever perfectly re-created his sound.

                                                        Brian May with his legendary creation