I bought one of these, also B-stock. As a guitar, it's a decent pice of wood, which matters as does comfortable playable neck. - all else is bolt-on IMO. But you need a good foundation to start on. I didn't really intend to go down the modification rabbit hole at all, but that's what happened. So I find the neck very playable though it is narrow up near the nut. I would point out that the string path is not quite straight, despite this being one of BM's foundational principles. I did not tackle this, but it does definitely have a small negative effect on tuning with heavy trem use. If you work out how many variations are possible with BM's original design, there would be 27 of which about 18 are unique (two pickups are either in or out of phase, which one is which is irrelevant.) The HB as supplied can really only do about 4 (I forget the details, I'm old and it was a couple of years ago) To convert this to the same switching as BM had is not possible on the supplied scratchplate, there simply is not enough room. I should have bought a blank scratchplate and made my own, but I didn't. I'm a qualified electronics geek and decided to convert the supplied switching. I'm a lifelong Strat player, so the 5-way switch seems natural to me. It was a nightmare job but I eventually came up with a circuit that would work, although I had to add a micro-switch at each end of the 5-way to make it happen. As I said ....... I should have just bought another scratchplate. But it worked fine, I can get all of the combinations. I also moved the volume control to the Strat position because why not, it's what I'm used to. It still didn't seem Brian May enough so I reluctantly bought a set of "the proper BM pickups" which cost nearly as much as the guitar. They don't sound significantly different to me. I recorded some sounds before and after and the expensive pickups sounded little different to those supplied on the HB. I certainly regret that purchase. I found whatever slight advantage there may be miniscule in relation to the cost. So....... my conclusion. Good guitar, well made, nice to play, very good for the price. Can be modded to BM switching but you'll need to buy a blank and make your own plate. The pickups in it are good enough, once wired correctly.
Very nice demo! Not really a May tone as you say, but this BM75 seems like a great SE/CST/Strat mashup with it's 25" scale and 3x single pups (and in/out phase is fun too). 24" scale my fat fingers would never fit on the high frets, hard enough fitting them on 24.75". BTW, I sympathize with your weather predicament, living in Vancouver BC we get hot and muggy so I bought a portable aircon last year and what a relief it's been. I used to work surveying outside in +40C (and -40C as well) but now I'm old the heat is harder on me.
I am thinking of getting one.....not to emulate Brian Mays sound. Are there any reviews that dont play queen or queen like songs? I just want to hear what it sounds like with no reverb, delay, modulation ect Cheers!
Good enough for any Brian may fans on a tight budget. I would save up and buy a full blown Brian May Guitars one, they are somtimes on offer and well worth it if you want to play Queen and that to me is a limitation, yes i like Queen but not all of their output was to my tastes.
Headstock??? 😳😳😳 What’s wrong with it? You must mean the name. Listen, if you can play, then no one cares what the guitar brand is and you shouldn’t either!!!🤨🤨🤨 Just look at Matteo Mancuso... He plays inexpensive guitars. You think that anyone’s cares??? Get over the brand names and become a monster player..
Sorry, I missclicked on dislike, hope that comment will make sure you will reach more people, as this is great review for this guitar. Not overenthusiastic, ideal objectivity, thanks!
I bought one of these, also B-stock.
As a guitar, it's a decent pice of wood, which matters as does comfortable playable neck.
- all else is bolt-on IMO. But you need a good foundation to start on.
I didn't really intend to go down the modification rabbit hole at all, but that's what happened.
So I find the neck very playable though it is narrow up near the nut.
I would point out that the string path is not quite straight, despite this being one of BM's foundational principles. I did not tackle this, but it does definitely have a small negative effect on tuning with heavy trem use.
If you work out how many variations are possible with BM's original design, there would be 27 of which about 18 are unique (two pickups are either in or out of phase, which one is which is irrelevant.)
The HB as supplied can really only do about 4 (I forget the details, I'm old and it was a couple of years ago)
To convert this to the same switching as BM had is not possible on the supplied scratchplate, there simply is not enough room. I should have bought a blank scratchplate and made my own, but I didn't. I'm a qualified electronics geek and decided to convert the supplied switching. I'm a lifelong Strat player, so the 5-way switch seems natural to me. It was a nightmare job but I eventually came up with a circuit that would work, although I had to add a micro-switch at each end of the 5-way to make it happen.
As I said ....... I should have just bought another scratchplate.
But it worked fine, I can get all of the combinations.
I also moved the volume control to the Strat position because why not, it's what I'm used to.
It still didn't seem Brian May enough so I reluctantly bought a set of "the proper BM pickups" which cost nearly as much as the guitar.
They don't sound significantly different to me. I recorded some sounds before and after and the expensive pickups sounded little different to those supplied on the HB. I certainly regret that purchase. I found whatever slight advantage there may be miniscule in relation to the cost.
So....... my conclusion.
Good guitar, well made, nice to play, very good for the price.
Can be modded to BM switching but you'll need to buy a blank and make your own plate.
The pickups in it are good enough, once wired correctly.
Think it's a really nice guitar for the money
What a brilliant track, John. Reminds me of restraining a parent! Just shows what you can do with a budget guitar and tons of talent
😆👌
What a fantastic video John have a wonderful day 😊
Very nice demo! Not really a May tone as you say, but this BM75 seems like a great SE/CST/Strat mashup with it's 25" scale and 3x single pups (and in/out phase is fun too). 24" scale my fat fingers would never fit on the high frets, hard enough fitting them on 24.75". BTW, I sympathize with your weather predicament, living in Vancouver BC we get hot and muggy so I bought a portable aircon last year and what a relief it's been. I used to work surveying outside in +40C (and -40C as well) but now I'm old the heat is harder on me.
Great demo, holy moley!
That track is Smokin' John!
Great stuff John! Enjoyed the Guitarmonies 👌
Tis a versatile beast
I would liked to have seen a full runthough of all the pickup combinations in a guitar review.
I have a BMG special. the 24 inch scale lengh makes things feel very different
I am thinking of getting one.....not to emulate Brian Mays sound. Are there any reviews that dont play queen or queen like songs?
I just want to hear what it sounds like with no reverb, delay, modulation ect
Cheers!
Look's like a really nice guitar for the money, ive got the bmg , its a really good guitar
Mine was just ok. I think it was ok, but i got an offer from a buddy and traded it off for a squire cv70 strat.
What is Squire?
@@jasujokelainen5073 auto correct
You flash git! As always the playing is awesome sir! :)
They look a decent bit of kit for the money, really should buy a hb geetar as a modder 😈
So, its not possible to use bridge and middle position like a humbucker?
No, unfortunately not
I can't believe it's not Butterly May!
Plays iff you are in Queen heaven, with the right Vox amp and staple delay you are......
In heaven!
Why make a copy & not wire it the same as the original?
I also wondered that. Apparently they used to wire it as the original. Then Mr May's lawyers got in touch.
Interesting...
@@JRobsonGuitar dam 😢
Good enough for any Brian may fans on a tight budget.
I would save up and buy a full blown Brian May Guitars one,
they are somtimes on offer and well worth it if you want to play Queen
and that to me is a limitation, yes i like Queen but not all of their output
was to my tastes.
Nice tones I still think you are an eighties hair metal player underneath it all😁😁.
I lack the hair 🤣👍
That headstock would stop me buying one, shocking.
Same as original I'm pretty sure
Headstock??? 😳😳😳
What’s wrong with it?
You must mean the name.
Listen, if you can play, then no one cares what the guitar brand is and you shouldn’t either!!!🤨🤨🤨
Just look at Matteo Mancuso...
He plays inexpensive guitars.
You think that anyone’s cares???
Get over the brand names and become a monster player..
@@jamiemorgan4146 Not the brand, the shape.
Climate? wow it has been freezing all day in the Midlands.
can't turn all three, its a fail.
Was gonna buy one of these before lockdown happened. Then lockdown happened! One day…
Sorry, I missclicked on dislike, hope that comment will make sure you will reach more people, as this is great review for this guitar. Not overenthusiastic, ideal objectivity, thanks!