Queen guitarist Brian May talks about building The Red Special guitar
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2014
- Queen guitarist Brian May chats to Absolute Radio about how he built the famous Red Special guitar with his father many years ago, how important it's been to him and to Queen's work, and lots more detailed guitar-geekery.
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One of the few musicians who didn't let fame or money change him and the red special is a testament to that.
that’s what old music is about they spent time making music people would enjoy and not care about the fame and the money.
@@dgorm_ i don't think that's how it works
Eagles Center they definitely love money-freddie especially did-but they also have integrity and sentimentality
Sir Paul still uses his hofner bass
jan s agree, freddie had a lot of money and he admits that. (dont mind my name, i’m just a big fan)
just like a real Jedi who builds his own lightsaber
A Jedi doesn't choose their Lightsaber the Kyber crystal chooses them
Just as the ancient piece of wood he used for the neck picked him
@@RSwizard101vids Virgin lol.
now he’s a Jedi man Brian may is the best isn’t he
@@johnharwood194 please help me understand: What is it that makes people like you go "Hey, I need to be a total dickhead in an otherwise totally friendly and positive conversation". Where does that need come from? Maybe you should see a therapist about it.
The Red Special has such a heavy, regal sound - it suited the band perfectly.
It certainly does. You need to hear it through a stack or half stack though :). I think the reason for its sound, or part of it, is that it's actually a semi solid and the pickups are Burns Tri-Sinic
Tri Sonic, apologies
Brian runs the Red Special through several Vox AC30s, which are combo amps with 2 x 12 inch speakers inside. I think his onstage rig had 6 x AC30s...
Not sure which rigs you refer to, maybe in the past. As far as I know it's 3 amps with 3 spares and 3 empty cabinets.
inset name here Please 3 amps, 3 spares and 3 cabinets with spare tubes and speakers
this could be a full length movie
+twicefontana A movie I would gladly watch! :)
Me too!
I could watch this for hours
I heard him tell that story many times, and it never ceases to amaze me :D
ha thats funny to hear. A full length hollywood movie that is about just brian may's guitar. I actually would watch that to be honest
He’s loyal to that guitar like he’s loyal to that haircut
True
I thought it was gonna say Anita but no 😂
@@goluch7333 still, loyal to anita
Its not haircut its just a hair he never cut his Hair
Brian May did play the acoustic guitar, on Love Of My Life, and '39. As Brian May said, "I was born like this".
With the wood over a hundred years old a boy built a guitar with such power even he couldn’t know what it would yield. The guitar found him
The truly great guitarists are found by their instruments and not the other way around.
@@guyfawkes9951 Already an interesting thinker i have found. Is the profile picture a reference to animal house? or simply a overanylization?
We need a montage of Brian and his dad building the guitar to song on the Conan soundtrack Anvil of Crom.
Truly ripped from the elements. Both the guitar and he. It's a beautiful thing
R/writingprompts
When a millionaire rockstar still uses his childhood guitar, you know he's a keeper❤
what he and his dad made it with 2 years of hard work ,besides nothing like that existed that time .why would he throw away such a beauty
"It was 100 years old at the time, so it's about 300 years old now."
Yeah, that one just slid over the interviewer's head. No reaction at all!
Stop
@@markg1051 The s**t that musicians put up with from columnists stupidity....
And he is an accomplish scientist...
he obvisouly said this as a joke.
his hair is obviously genetically handed down from Mozart
Mr Peco and Isaac Newton ;-)
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that.
My hair looks basically the same. But I was never interested in physics...
He has the hair that somehow suitable for both of his professions; musician and scientist.
He's just a copycat pretender bitch. False humility be damned.
It must be very embarrassing for all those well known guitar manufactures who charge a fortune for their guitars to be outdone by a guy and his dad who had no experience of making guitars and used scrap materials.
Imagine the man hours
It does rather blow away the tonewood argument, that body is a lump of old blockboard
Imagine how much better it would have sounded out of a solid piece of mahogany? 😋
Yeah but it's not just random blockboard. it's Oak. and even scrap Oak is good quallity wood.
So, to sum it up : they used scrap, but they chose the scrap they used carefully. they didn't use a damp old crate made of pinewood or worse.
I would prefer to use recycled timber as it is often better quality than you can buy new, it will be perfectly seasoned and stable for use. If there's no shakes after a lifetime of use there probably won't ever be.
I don't think people realize how incredible this is. This is like saying "I couldn't afford a space shuttle so I built one with my dad"
I love that!
Elon musk kinda be like that too
Couldnt bye a rocket from russia so he made his own
That can land!
@@martinstojcheski1567 - And one that's lasted his entire professional life, over 60 years
So well spoken, such a down to earth guy.
funny thing he studied astrophysics
@@NK-qp2fl Ha!
I'm not really a Queen fan but I AM a Brian May devotee, unless I'm terribly deceived he is an wonderful human being; the kind of example I would hope my grandson would follow.
Oh god he looked up at his dad when he talked about him :'(
Devin Tariel he was just thinking
OMG HE BREATHED WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS MUM 😭
He doesn't believe in heaven
@@anumberninelarge1391 He's a scientist after all.
Not all scientists are atheists.
I've heard this story a million times and I'd love to hear it a million more.
I've heard it a billion times
i've heard a bullshit
Haven’t I told you a gazillion times not to exaggerate …
I've been a Luthier since 1980, and I think the Red Special is a truly remarkable instrument when you consider when it was made (1964) and how it was made, and who it was made by. It has a unique homemade tremolo/bridge system that worked better than any other on the market, I don't feel it was improved upon until 1980. It has a very short scale length that made string bending easier and gave the guitar a very unique voice. It has a very unique (for the time) switching system that when combined with the scale length and construction technique, gave Brian the most unique and instantly identifiable guitar tone of any guitar player in the world. It's also unique looking. To think this was made by a father and son who had never built a guitar before or since is really amazing. It worked so well that Brian still uses it some 53 yrs later.
wanted to like this comment but wont as its on 69
.... by whom it was made. ;-)
Wasn't it based on the Les Paul special or whatever it was called, the one with two cutouts and a bigger pickguard? I don't think the shape was insanely original, he might have copied what he saw another player play or saw in a music shop. But then I don't even know if those particular les pauls were a thing back then, I'm rather a fender nut
Doesnt the tremolo concept alone blow your mind??
@@timklebel879 From what I know he said that he took a acoustic guitar shape and started modifying it until he liked it, so it should be original.
"There are too many other things I need to do in this life" -said a 70 year-old man
Yea haha
Hopefully his list never gets short
A 70 year old man who built his own guitar, became the guitarrist and songwriter for what was voted as UK's greatest band, wrote an hymn like We Will Rock You, played God Save the Queen on top of Buckingham Palace, had a solo career, is an astrophycist, worked with Stephen Hawking, published a book about stereo photography, founded an animal welfware charity and is vice president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
@@lauraboiocchi4666 he built his own guitar at 70?
Hyperfoxeye when he was 15
NEVER BEEN REFRETTED!!!??? That's what hand craftsmanship gets you!!!!
In 40 years of pro use. Amazing. Brian has a very light touch and he chose decent fret wire!
What a pleasure to hear this man talking. A true humble gentleman.
Brian May = Guitar Legend
who holds a legendary guitar
Gwilym Lee held the Red Special guitar. He played Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody, and imagine him holding Brian's Red Special guitar. He would probably be a bit nervous, if it was me, I would be.
Brian may is my hero
he is our hero
MR MELON he's our guitar hero
MR MELON him and Freddie are my hero's
My hero to
Him, Freddie, Roger, and Deaky are mine
I wonder if he ever thought he would record some of the most known songs in the world with that guitar while he was building it.
I would bet that was his original plan. Awesome guy!
They say that the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst is the holy grail of guitars, but I'd dare to say that the one and only Red Special would TRULY be it, being that there's only one. Also, that it was built and wielded by the lead guitarist of the greatest rock band to ever walk the face of the earth, and play the greatest song ever recorded (Bohemian Rhapsody). :D
+Brent Hewitson TBH its only a holy grail to collectors, you're right the red special is god damn special, most unique guitar everrr, take that eddie van halen ;)
+Notinserviceij Edward Van Halen and Brian May played together on Brian's "Starfleet" album. Edward said "Brian is GOOD, he gets a brown sound" and that's the only player I ever heard Edward say that about other than himself.
Queen is not by any means the greatest rock band to ever walk the Earth, but I get what you're saying. However, at the same time, The Red Special works well for Brian's sound, but sounds nothing like a Gibson Les Paul, nor could it achieve that sound given the fact that the Burns pickups in it are nothing at all like a Gibson PAF Humbucker. Each style of guitar is great unto itself, and there really is no "holy grail" because every style of guitar sounds different and therefore suits a different purpose and player.
"Holy grail" implies collectability, not playability.
Booker Dewitt it implies collectibility as well as desirable sound/tone. The Les Paul in that sense is the most legendary electric guitar of all-time due to it being used by some of the greatest rock/blues players in music history. Red Special was only used by Brian May in Queen. In that sense, the Les Paul is more renowned and desired by more players.
Nothing better than a father and son building stuff together, the best bonding moments are those
when he says "you don't need to touch it to play it" reminds me of a certain spinal tap moment
The sustain!
Apparently Brian's amps go up to 11.
Imagine what Brian May's one of a kind guitar would fetch in an auction. All the great songs recorded with it and all the great tours. I've never seen him without it, unless he's playing his 12 string acoustic. He probably sleeps with it.
An auction is beneath such a piece of rock history. It should be put in the Louvre.
@@otielcraft like dumbledore and the elder wand but wont you want u to preserve it
He should choose someone special to him to have it, that's what I would do
But like not tell publicly who he's giving it to because they would get robbed lmao
Look at the guitar brian was playing in live aid in the song crazy little thing called love
Young brian would have never imagined that the very guitar he built with his father would become legendary. The red special stands tall among only a few elites like Lucille, srv's Number one and jimmy Page's "number two" les paul.
what about the Frankenstrat
"I don't think I'll make another one. There's to many other thing I need to do in this life."
No power tools and made from parts laying about? Unreal.
hastyberford lots and lots ... and lots of sand-pappering :) He had a great dad I must say!
+hastyberford That's what people did before the internet. Spent hours sanding.
claims to not use power tools then says he used a drill moments after
Jordan Doucet hand drills do exist tho
Google "hand drill". You'll find plenty of drills that aren't electric...
Brian is being very modest, that guitar at the time of the interview would have been around 46-50 years old.. cant remember exactly when they built it.. but I am sure it was around 1965..
started 1963 finished 1965
Kazahmish it was on 1962-1963
No 1963
@@richardsyoutubechannel995 yeah
1964
I never knew until today, that he built that guitar from scratch. Guess that's why it has such a unique tone.
Brian has made millions of people smile..think wow! Respect! Brilliant musical mind.
So very well spoken, highly intelligent and yet so humble.....and just happens to be one of the most original guitar players in rock music history. Very rare indeed. Bravo, Brian May !!
You got to give it to him and his dad, I mean he really gave the guitar some serious Mojo. What I find amazing is that when he hit it big he did not get a better one, and amongst a plethora of Gibson Les Paul 59s and vintage Strats and this and that, Brian still plays his no 1 he made with his Pop. You cant make this shit up
Made a guitar from scraps!! I will never complain again.
Wonder what a musician! And his "Red Special" - a magic wand!
I'm not a big fan of Rock & Roll, but this is an awesome video about a great guitarist and a guitar that he and his father created from discarded scrap material. My Respects.
JD RS
Not a big fan of Rock & Roll! That’s the saddest thing I’ve heard in a while
@@generalkenobi6869 it's sad that people have different tastes than you? What?
Mr.Pastorius
That people don’t appreciate rock and roll
General Kenobi you can appreciate it without liking it, the OP clearly does considering his undivided respect to Brian
Brian is precious and MUST be protected at all costs
In many ways the Red Special was so ahead of it's time, a tremolo system that would stay in tune was unheard of in 1965, 24 fret necks didn't become common until the Ibanez JEM in the 80s.
Nice to to see someone remembering Clifford Essex in Earlham street. I used to go through their drawers for ebony fingerboards and mother of pearl when I was a young lad. It's a shame such places don't exist any more.
Cheers
Andrew
Nice to meet you here on UA-cam, Andy! :)
The neck thick is ridiculous! I'm impressed Brain can wrap his hand around it and do what he does. Hat tipped.
I'm surprised it's never been refretted
But he also prefers the bigger neck. When they were recording Long Away for A Day At The Races, he tried a Rickenbacker 12-string, the model of which I don't remember, but found the neck too thin and uncomfortable. He used a Burns 12-string for in the end probably cuz it was closer to the neck profile of the Red Special. He has his own line of guitars now too.
But he also prefers the bigger neck. When they were recording Long Away for A Day At The Races, he tried a Rickenbacker 12-string, the model of which I don't remember, but found the neck too thin and uncomfortable. He used a Burns 12-string for in the end probably cuz it was closer to the neck profile of the Red Special. He has his own line of guitars now too.
But he also prefers the bigger neck. When they were recording Long Away for A Day At The Races, he tried a Rickenbacker 12-string, the model of which I don't remember, but found the neck too thin and uncomfortable. He used a Burns 12-string for in the end probably cuz it was closer to the neck profile of the Red Special. He has his own line of guitars now too.
But he also prefers the bigger neck. When they were recording Long Away for A Day At The Races, he tried a Rickenbacker 12-string, the model of which I don't remember, but found the neck too thin and uncomfortable. He used a Burns 12-string for in the end probably cuz it was closer to the neck profile of the Red Special. He has his own line of guitars now too.
The other wonderful thing, he and his father built that together. Anytime he performs he always has a part of dad with him.
This man amazes me. An astrophysicist,an animal rights activist,a clog enthusiast,an amazing craftsman and most of all probably one of the best guitar players to ever walk the earth.
And a stereoscopy enthusiast.
I love how Brian speaks he's such a laid back guy for being a rockstar
Take it to the Pawn Stars : "I give you 18 bucks for it"
- Can you do 2 million pounds?
- "Look I`ll give you 19 dollars and I`m taking a big risk here"
Fred Rodrigues it’s so true
-Right here I have over 4000 autographs some consisting of Babe Ruth, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and more.
-Ok cool i get my buddy over
-Yep it’s authentic probably go for 55 thousand pounds.
-Ok you heard him I’ll give you a nickel
I think he had holly not valens sadly
@Black metal fan That's a real treasure!!! Rick would probably offer you 100 bucks for that!
@Black metal fan I know...just making fun of how rick from pawn stars offers peanuts for prize
Let me call in an expert I know on one of a kind, handmade guitars. He'll be able to get us in the ballpark.
"Makimg guitars is quite low in my priority... and I have my guitar, y'know..."
Brian my man...
*making😊
Those frets are the ones who first played the infamous Bohemian Rhapsody guitar solo. Wow.
Brian is such a cool, intelligent man, as were all the members of Queen. It's such a special thing to have made a one of a kind guitar with his father.
legend!
big legend
I could listen to Brian all day. So well spoken and soft spoken, but speaks with a purpose. You listen to what he has to say. Pure genius, building that guitar at such a young age with basically scraps.
Soft spoken the brilliance of Brian May and his Dad Harold what a very famous Guitar old Red Special
Thank you Brian for inspiring me and my grandpa to build our own homemade electric guitar
Is it just me or is Brian's voice relaxing to hear?
He's the most generous, down to earth and sweetest person I've ever seen. I feel really lucky to get to know him. He's a gift from God. Love and respect to you Brain❤
How I love this man!
I love this man with all my heart
God bless Brian May!
I love that man.
AWESOME!
He is always so calm
How absolutely amazing
Fantastic story
I love hearing to Brian he is such an idol of mine and such a humble and calm person.
i never get tired listening this incredible history
I genuinely look up to this man
This definitely has to be in a museum at some point. It's so well taken care of.
that it one of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen
That's a lot of memories in it.
This story never gets old . Amazing .
Brian May is one amazing talented clever chap!
What an amazing story. More people can appreciate this than just musicians. The guitar is even aesthetically appealing as well.
Excellent humor !......Wonderful man.......Thanks for the music....
I love his voice!
maybe get a reporter that knows perhaps a single damn thing about guitars...like delay?
Dan Edgar yea aha
Yeah that was cringy
"It sounded like there was three of you. Also, what's a string?"
Dan Edgar totally agree, even though im a woman. But then I play and own a few too and know a LOT about them. They dont hire these people based on skills or knowledge any more though, just on being politically correct and so called equal opportunities
Dead💀💀💀💀😂😂😂😂
I am blown away. This is one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock, and he handcrafted his guitar with shit lying about the house.
Hi there
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my UA-cam channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕
Oh god this is my favourite guitar now
I would listen to his stories for hours.
He is such a lovely man. A total nice guy, intelligent and always great to listen to 👍👍👍
Cool guitar and very sympatic man
Love that guitar
Simply amazing of how it was built. The red special. Magical.
He has all the money in the world and still uses the same guitar, the one his dad made for him, I RESPECT THAT !
Brian May and Eddie Van Halen -- proof that you don't need overpriced name brand instruments and can build phenomenal guitars with great tone from cheap and readily-available materials and launch a musical revolution!
Hi there🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my UA-cam channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕💕
That's why the sound is so unique and remarkable. Love it!!
I could listen to him talking all day and all night❤
a real Master Piece. like your Dad said maybe better than any other guitar.
i have no idea what he's talking about but i'd give him my heart
Thank you for sharing this piece of historic musical art. Brian May is a hero.
Such a gentle man. Softly spoken and humble.
What a guitar God, Dr Brian May is, he is a living legend. Thank you, for an amazing video, telling the world, and UA-cam about your trademark Red Special guitar, Dr Brian May.
Brian May is One Of The Greatest Guitarists ever
Never been refretted. Incredible.
watch this guy over the years, modest gentle man, kinda guy that would be great to just chat to. lotta respect for him.
Hi there🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my UA-cam channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️❤️
I wish they made a brian may movie and use the actor eho played hik in bohemian rhapsody and there's a scene where brian and his dad building the guitar
Pure Legend!
i really like it its such a iconic yet simple looking guitar.
Just purchased one. Can't wait till it gets here.
It's going to worth a gazillion bucks after Brian passed away..
+Tiyo Prasetyo
What do you mean?
Haha
Brian will never pass away..........................right? RGHT?
Ha-ha yeah not in a million years. He just fade away...
+Astro Girl Arts Then I'll be a grave digger. LOL
best bet it will go to his family or a museum lol
+Tiyo Prasetyo Most of the zillion people who watch, will find you rude for bringing that up. Shame on you.
What a nice dude...
It had to be the best day when Brian & his dad finished making the guitar. And then referring to her as The Red Special . Brian & his Lady put out the most beautiful sound & then listening to her talk/sing is the most beautiful sound ever to hear. 🎸🎶💖
Two legends together.