Review - Brian May Special Guitar
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มี.ค. 2016
- In this video Dan reviews The Brian May Special Guitar. The BMG Special is an affordable replica guitar based on the iconic Red Special guitar built by Brian May and his Dad in the 1960s. Dan made this his "Find Of The Week" in The Pro Tools Expert Podcast Episode 206.
Watch the video to hear how it sounds and to find out what Dan thinks.
The BMG Special is available in a variety of finishes and is an affordable alternative to something like a Fender Stratocaster.
The guitar was played through Guitar Rig 5 By Native Instruments.
For more information please visit Brian May Guitars:
shop.brianmayguitars.co.uk/ - เพลง
I just bought one. Mid life crisis purchase in a guitar shop near me. Makes my sound a lot better than I thought I could play. What it can do is awesome. Not a scientist but not thick either. But I do know that you can rhythm with distortion and solo without changing settings. This guitar will make me a better play. Plus feel faster with finger transitions. A very forgiving guitar.... With SO many sounds... Still learning. Going to be a very long relationship!!!
Can this guitar play soft?
subgrv27 watch brian mays 1983 star licks guitar tutorial. He goes through pretty much all the settings and tones and explaines everything about the guitar
Even making guitars is below scientists. It's more of basic engineering and base physics.
It doesnt matter how "thick" you are - you can have average or above average intelligence- science is just knowing what's been found and being open minded, knowing how to observe and ask questions.
Does the bridge have the 'zero friction' design like the original?
The Brian May guitar is decidedly a leap into the future of pickup tonality. Brilliant.
This is probably the best review of the Red Special. Other videos I've seen on TH-cam are too lengthy; they talk too much and demo little. This one has the perfect balance - professional AND straight to the point. Great job, Production Expert!
1:50 wow, the switch moves in its own
Theres actually a pretty simple method he used to capture this...witchcraft
Dav Bj Oh my god, really? Oh boo hoo. I’ll be sure to try better next time.
OMG love that tone at 1:38...
Excellent and extremely useful review. Thanks very much!
I heard if you purchase it from the Queen Website Brian delivers it to your house personally.
On what his biicccccyle....biccccycle! Lol
I would buy one right away
Yeah, right. LoL
Not during Lockdown
@@MyBiologicalInsanity r/woosh
Great review by the way
It's recommend that you use a flat out ac30 with a treble booster waked in front of it. play with a sixpence too. This is what I do with above
great review..im thinking of getting one of these!
Very, very good review. THX!
Hi. Thanks for the review. I think I was sold on adding one of these to my axe collection anyway! Btw, not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but on a Strat, you should also be able to put the trem arm anywhere, but you need to have the little spring in the hole. (That little spring that comes with new strats that people don’t even notice! Cheers.
Very nice review! Thank you!
There are 20 switch combinations (including all off), which produce 13 different sound combinations.
There are the 7 pickup combinations without phasing and 6 with phasing.Each of the 6 phasing combinations can be accomplished with 2 different switch combinations.
Thanks for the vid. Very helpful!
Great review, thanks. I have an early Burns model (Quite possibly the 1st lefty ever made), and I've wondered how the newer models compare. What are your thoughts? Anything you like better/worse than the Burns? I always found the tremolo on my Burns to be finicky and not willing to hold tune very well.
Excellent vídeo! Congratulations!
This video will leave its legacy as well as the own Red Special. Tkss!!!
Neck and bridge in phase sounds lovely.
lovely review ty
Hey man, great video! I have just two questions.. how good is it for blues, and how good is it for metal?
Do these pickups have the 60 cycle hum that regular single coils have? I am looking into getting one!!
Awesome review man this guitar has alot of tone!
Love the sound. I wonder where I can play one to get a feel it
Amazing review! Would you mind sharing your Guitar Rig Preset. I have a BMG guitar but I like the sound you have with Guitar Rig. Thanks
Brilliant! Really want one of these, as I'm super into the out of phase high harmonic tones that Brian gets. Almost sounds like he's using an octave fuzz. Doesn't cost an arm and a leg, either.
To a Poor Class family this is literally like 2 months of wages right there
@@MyBiologicalInsanity Of course, everything is relative - but compared to most other signature type guitars, this one is rather cheap.
@@Zebula77 True.
@@Zebula77 Yet the point still stands.
Great video thanks for uploading
Great video! Nice guitar, got one myself!
Hi,Can you get a clean sound from it without turning down the volume - eg Shadows, Dire Straits (Sultans)? The Strat and PRS guitars I have can get clean soundsThe Brian May guitar sounds good though with the out of phase options. Also, is it possible to add a switch to put the pickups in parallel - series is good for overdrive but for clean parallel would be goodThanks, Rick.
The pickup configuration/options seems akin to a 1980s Elite Strat? Cracking guitar the Red Special. Great review, demos and description, rather than just some guy noodling away👍😊 Thank you👍👍
Good review. Cheers.
why is it easier to bend with the zero fret? great review by the way
Here is a drinking game:
Take a shot every time he refers to a Stratocaster
1000 subscribers without a video hahah
It’s because a strat is like the vanilla of all guitars.
It’s because this is what Brian put together because he couldn’t afford a Stratocaster.
I like having a liver
Here is another drinking game:
Take a shot every time someone refers to a Stratocaster's tremolo problems.
PS: or, everytime you want to play neck+bridge on a Strat, and *cannot* .
Great review.
Thanks for the excellent review. I'm on the verge of buying the BMG Special from the Brian May website. Are there any issues with the instrument staying in tune when using the tremolo arm?
Stretch the strings in well before and you’ll be fine
Thanks for sharing. I’m a typical home studio guy. Think this is something for me.
I really want a bmg special and a bmg rhapsody but I'm not good at guitar, only have 1 (encore strat) and i've heard it has a wide neck, not sure if thats only on the bmg super and if that means the back of the neck being thick or the actual width of the neck, how does that compare to a strat?
Well the Special has a thin neck, closer to a strat. The Super is the only one with a fat neck.
for those that don't know and since it wasn't even mentioned in the video unlike 99% of guitars out there this guitar has the pickups wired IN SERIES - no parallel, so when you have 2 or 3 pups on at once they add their sounds together - say bridge and middle which is 90% of the time what Brian May uses - this makes 2 single coils add their sounds and create a sort of humbucking sound - ie much fatter than the bridge + middle on a Strat....most Brian May nerds know this already but for those out there that don't its one of the reasons Brian May sounds so full and big sounding - and of course as we saw demonstrated when you flip the phase of 1 pickup against another it loses a lot of bass and seems to hollow out the sound to so degree and cause the guitar to scream, screech or 'squawk' ie another favourite setting for Brian is the neck and middle out of phase - this is the screamy setting you hear on solos like Boh Rhap or Somebody to Love....that screamy Brian May tone is nearly always this setting.Also a HUGE part of the Brian May sound is the treble booster, take this out and the BM tone is gone!.....even the coin helps to get a more raspy attack on the strings over a plastic plectrum. couple all that up with a cranked AC30 and you know the sound that all adds up to - that glorious Brian May tone. Which without an attenuator is way too loud for any pub/club gig most of us might do and certainly too loud for in the house.of course all this is the vicar preaching to the choir here - BM nerds know all this stuff but just for those outsiders that look in and wonder how he gets that sound! Love the look of these new BMGs in Natural as in this video - closer to the original colour than the dark cherry red of the more popular colour for this guitar. Brians guitar looks like an orangey brownish colour in natural lighting more than red! Odd I know but that's what lights/flash often do to colours - make them look different to how they really are.
+1madaxeman you are right about the ac30 and coin combo. i demo this in another video that you can find at production-expert.com look under the recording category for recording an AC30 - DAN
Has this got the wider nut and is it neck heavy ? Heard that Brian May's one is ?
What`s the best: BMG special or Red Special by Burns?
Brilliant guitar. And BRILLIANT decent width neck. Necks today on strats and teles are too narrow at the nut. Making it hard for people with big hands to fret chords close to the nut.
The Brian May guitar is 47 mill at the nut. On a strat its that at the 5th fret.
SO what you are saying is....it goes to 11?
Really helpful !
Brillient review ... too the point! excellent sir!
You're brilliant. Thanks
I've had one of these for a few years now. I love the sound but hate the neck dive. It is probably the most stable guitar as far as tuning after using the whammy bar I've ever owned. I still haven't gotten to fall in love with the neck ( I don't have those bony, long spider fingers that Brian has) and if I could I would take the electronics out of this and put it in a chambered Strat body. It isn't the most comfortable to play while sitting down. I do give Brian props for making this guitar pretty affordable for most folks. And lastly, it can do more than just Queen stuff. It sounds pretty good thru a Fender amp as well as a Vox.
how much is it
@@justine2760 around 1000 bucks
What are Guitar Rig settings are you using?
I have 9 guitars. [ I’m not wealthy, just built up a collection over the years , and I’m quite old ] Had this one for about a year now , i seldom pick the others up now. Absolute value for money, I am a bit of a BM fan but nonetheless it’s a quality machine.
It's like a rolls royce
How does it compare to the Burns?
Is that the "natural" finish model? Is Brian's red special closer to the "natural" finish or the "antique cherry" that is advertised on the BMG site?
This is the natural finish. Brian's is red but looks different in certain lights - DAN
Thanks for that. Is the BMG Super the closest to the original in finish then?
+Bee yes, the Super is hand crafted so is very close in spec and finish to the original, hence the price and a limited run of 100 units per year.
Pro Tools Expert Thanks for your time and great video!
+Bee thank you for your support - DAN
Great review! Times have changed since you did it though - you mention £650 in the video, but they are £895 now!
economy destruction moments :((
Have you ever had tuning issues with the Special? I really want to get one but I’ve had a lot of bad experience with tremolo bars - they often don’t keep the guitar in tune
the trem on the red special is super good, keeps tune very well
@David Wang I was just asking a question pal, no need for the passive aggression
@David Wang well actually , if you'd actually do some research, you'll find that the BMG models had big tuning issues when the trem bar was being used
You should take sixpence, not plastic picker.
What’s the point, Drago Grgić? He kills it with the parts, but since he’s him and Brian May is Brian May, why should he push it by reaching for the same plectra?
@M47theduck Internet.
Playing with a standard pick shows the diversity of the guitar. It shows the guitar is great for everyone, not just Brian May enthusiasts
M47theduck well you can use any coin with a serrated edge of a similar size
Where are you going to get a sixpence now even some banks don’t keep them now. Brian hardly ever uses a sixpence now he’s even said he’s gone to using his fingers more so ye he’s not using a pick but the guy probably doesn’t want to grow his finger nails either
Sounds great! What amp/setup are you using in Guitar Rig 5?
+ricomajestic Used the red "Treble Booster" with both the Boost and Bright set to 2 o clock. This feeds into the AC BOX with Normal and Brilliant both wound in full and Tone Cut is set to 9 o clock. I also set the matched box to AC BOX set closer to dynamic mic and dry - DAN
Anyone know what online shopping website I should use to get this guitar???!?!?!
they sell directly from shop.brianmayguitars.co.uk/the-bmg-special.html
Are the frets stainless steel, just like the original?
Make a comprehensive pickup combination demo video, every possible combination, clean, distortion, lead.
Question. Is there much difference between special and super? Like i know one is around 700 and the others like 2000 something. Other than the pricing, what’s different? Thx
I've been looking into this and so far I found the bridge is different .much further back on the super and the black plate is in a different position. I believe also the wiring is different? (Might be wrong on that one) they sell conversion kits online and make a special into a super for a lot less.
The Super is more a replica, where as the BMGs are copies, nothing more need said
Killer queen is Brians fave solo right?
wow, this seems like the "something different" i'm looking for
Want one.
Which colour shall I get? I'm torn between the natural and antique cherry. What's the closest to the real thing??? Help!
Paul Furniss Cherry is based on the real one.
Hey Dan, what is this guitar like for hard rocking and metal songs? Since it has single coils, would you recommend it? Are they better than Strat single coils for that kind of music? :)
the wiring on the red special actually allows for a sort of pseudo humbucker sound. Brian's primary sound is the bridge and middle pickup in phase in series which is essentially the same as a regular humbucker but just with a little bit of single coil flavor. The most important thing is that in those positions the guitar is indeed hum bucking meaning that there won't be any 60 cycle hum that you find with other single coil guitars. It wouldn't be my first choice for metal but it would certainly work and it would be rather unique.
Jonathan Nelson great! Thank you very much:)
Listen to queen i & ii,
Should give ye an answer
That's a great answer from you too:D Ty!
Great review! I really like Red Special guitar sound, join to a Vox amplifier. I would like to have one of that, but it's very expensive in Brazil! That's what I don't understand: why does it cost about £650 in UK, but R$9,500 in Brazil for a new Red Special, if the exchange rate is about GBP 1 = BRL 4.80 now in November/2018. Calculate it, you gonna see we're paying 3x more for the same guitar. It's very sad for me :-(
Bruno Leo Coelho Maybe you were looking at the BMG super.
That is the handcrafted replica of Brian May’s guitar. And they are substancially more expensive.
They say on the website they sell the red special for 579.
You would obviously have to pay the transport costs.
But all in all that would be no where near 2000 pounds.
Do you prefer the Burns or the BMG?
cool guitar
How would you describe the differences between the Burns version and the new BM guitar?
Build quality is greatly improved, the neck is slightly wider, the bridge/trem system is smoother, the balance of the guitar with a strap is perfect... The burns model used to be neck heavy, the BMG is better balanced when standing. The jack output is better quality and switches seem firmer. In short a better thought out, designed and built instrument. The new colours are also very welcome - DAN
+Pro Tools Expert
I have a Burns (it's currently strung with Brian May's actual tour-used Optima Gold strings I bought at a charity auction!) and I have always had the strap-balance issue. Other then that, I'm very satisfied with the quality. It plays like butter and I've not had any other trouble with it. I wish the Burns had white switches (instead of black) and the pickup surrounds, but I guess I could add those if I really had to...
+Michael Sumners switch the switches or paint them. I found it difficult to see the burns black switches against the black scratch plate when performing live. Don't get me wrong Burns did a great job, the BMG is just a massive step forward in development - DAN
love it
Yes, you CAN have the neck and bridge together AND all three on a Strat. Mine is capable of that.
Dan ... you the man
I'd be interested to know how the BMG model compares to the Burns.
I know Brian's Burns kept dropping out of tune, and he didn't like the neck as well. That's why he threw it over the amps and broke it. He was just frustrated because it was out of tune, he didn't smash it like some claim. I have never heard much about the Burns other than they do not hold tune well.
kutzbill You are talking about the John Birch replica, made around 1975 for Brian, which Brian threw over his amps in 1982
***** You are absolutely right! I stand corrected. Duh! I do remember that it went to Fender and got set aside. One of the luthiers found it and Brian was happy to see it again. I'm not sure if it was going to be repaired or not. Fighting Dementia is not fun! I apologize to all Queen fans!
Thank you and smiles!
kutzbill It's all right mate. You're right about the fact that the Burns doesn't hold the tuning as well as the Old Lady ;)
I sometimes wonder if Brian holds her and remembers the things his Dad taught him while they made the Old Lady. Kind of a sad place to go, but I'd bet he never dreamed what was in store for both of them. How many epic notes were played, how many stages all over the World. Strange how someone, inexperienced, could make such a masterpiece, and an experienced Luthier makes one that does hold tune.
It just boggles the mind what can, and did happen.
Have you seen any BMGs with a cracking problem in the wood around the bridge?
m.th-cam.com/video/85B4zJm4c6Y/w-d-xo.html
Question.. how does the guitar feel in the hand? Is it thick neck like a les paul or thinner like a fender? Im really interested in getting one, but have never seen one in the flesh let alone held one. I prefer les paul style necks
It's got a really thick neck
@@abdullahshanawaz3483 awesome. I prefer thick neck guitars.
Also, regarding the trem. Brian may fitted a roller bridge on the original, this is just a knife edge trem. How good is the trem and does it keep in tune well?
I don't own one so I don't know exactly how it holds up ... A friend's friend has one and I saw it once.. the pick ups, switches and the thick neck were the striking features. Let me link you to a review of it.
@@briw4647 th-cam.com/video/zMmAC3EJw38/w-d-xo.html
hope this helps :)
@@abdullahshanawaz3483 ah.. thought u owned one. Thank for the link though
Is this in the cherry red or the natural finish
The natural, look at the headstock
The red one has the white colored brand logo.
and in this one is black
I thought he was Kurt Cobain😂
Me too 😂
R I P
Yeah, Kurt and Freddie just started a new band!!
Got one it's sweet
Nice last name
Nice
I bet strings go lower (a bit) after you do a big bend. Nothing you can do about it unless you put a locking nut. The thinner the gauge, the worst the problem is.
What about that Pro Tools Expert?
Can you also tell us about your pedal rig configuration for BM's sound?
The guitar was DI straight in to Guitar Rig. Kept it simple for this - DAN
+Pro Tools Expert
What about the Guitar Rig preset? any insight there you can share?
See, I have also a SR replica but half of the sound is made by the pedals he is using so I'm always interested in info about it cause your examples sound quite close to his sound.
Does the guitar have built in harmony
No no, external effects for that
Great video. And great guitar.
It’s a shame they discontinued or cannot achieve the colour that your guitar has! All the Naturals are much brighter now. Unless you wanna go with honey-sunburst and order or make a black pickguard, tremolo half moon plate and a truss rod cover.
Cherry-Red BMGs are too dark and look too plastic-ish.
There appears to be an earthing fault with my new BM Special guitar. When the strings are not depressed the volume control produces a crackling sound. Is this a design or manufacturing issue? Should I return the guitar for repair?
+cloud squeezer contact your dealer, that isn't right. The BMG in this video does not have that issue, the problem you are experiencing can only be an isolated issue.
Thanks for your quick reply. BMG after-sales and product support has been unresponsive to my emails and online contact requests so far. I will trying calling them tomorrow to see what BMG has to say on the matter.
WD-40 contact cleaner didn't fix it - seems to be a defective potentiometer - BMG sending replacement for me to repair myself.
It was a bad potentiometer! I've replaced and now much better - but still, it shows that BMG quality control sucks - as it's a new guitar it should have been tested before being dispatched from the factory. I've never had this problem with a new guitar before - not even the budget ones!
It's korean made, dont expect perfection.
Why does it not have the original roller bridge?
Cost reasons, check out the Brian May Super, £3k though
@@ProductionExpert Is that the whole difference?
Where can i buy it now?
brianmayguitars.co.uk
Production doesn't seem to keep up with demand... the whole of the BMG Special range is showing "Currently SOLD OUT". :( I have my eye on a Black 'N' Gold or Antique Cherry.
+UKIP Calypso contact BMG guitars directly, they're good people
@@ProductionExpert I've got the stock BMG Special - and have never got the potentiometers (pots) to work since it was brand new - crackly noises all the time - on and off. Used WD-40 contact cleaner - didn't work. BMG sent me replacement pots - didn't work. :( I'm really fed up with this guitar. Every time I see Brian May's face I think low quality 'scratchy pots'. What pots do you recommend? - the full-size CTS 250k log / audio taper (
Would you ever buy The BMG Super ?
Just bought one for my daughter, she's going to go bananas.Her hero is Sir Brian Of May.
Of topic she said to me last night can we get tickets for our local pantomime as Anita Dobson is starring I bet Brian will be there (opening night) we got tickets for the 19th December ,she sent me a picture from school today her friend went last night guess who sat behind her Brian May I can't put the pic on but devastated for my daughter he was in Hull new theatre to see his wife's first night .BUGGER.X
charleigh195 where can you buy this guitar and sorry about the news with your daughter hope all goes well
Hy I managed to find one at Gears 4 Music I believe they have several in stock hope this helps.Merry Christmas x
charleigh195 thank you
I love that guitar...the finish it's a good option to the classic red, but the difference in color between the headstock and the body it's a little bit off-putting
+erwerc rwerwer it's the studio lighting in the room not the guitar. The finish is even
Guitar tone is unique
Just me or does it seem this natural finish he has is closer to the RS than the cherry finish available?
+Nate Chevalier depends the light. The natural looks very different in different environments
Pro Tools Expert Gotcha!! Will be buying one later in the year, thanks for the video.
Is that a guitar that Brian play? I mean like is that the guitar has been used by Brian May?
Not the exact one but yes
12 different pickup configurations. Each one alone: 3. Each two in and out of phase: 3x2=6. And thre of then with each one with a different phase than the other two: 3
Plus all 3 in phase. That makes 13.
1:14 That eye movement is quite disturbing
+Ilari Manninen Dan has an eye condition called Nystagmus, look it up.
Okay, I thought that it had to be something like that. Thanks!
Art... No
Art No
Art no.
You just hit 1k likes
so this is the actual red special that is going to be mass-produced? Because I haven't found a legit red special guitar until this video.
Check out BMG guitars.
4:21 £650? They've gone up then. =(
They're £745 - £795 now.....
Still want one though. =D
I bought one of these guitars from BMG Guitars but sent it back. I've owned many guitars since the 60's....there was no problem with the sound but the balance of it didn't feel comfortable me. You will notice when guys are demoing seated the heel inlay fits on top of your right leg but it's always wanting to slide off backwards. Compare it with the Strat and the inlay is more to the centre of the body which balances it perfectly. Shame.
It sounds like a dobro too
I just wish the tremolo system was the one Brian May created, it seems to work better
Dansan guitars make a more faithful replica. Bmg use this bridge because it’s cheaper
you can get the BMG Super they are selling but a tad pricier
He did Spinal Tap ha