Thank you so much for taking the time to review our guitars. Beautiful and thorough review. You obviously took the time to learn the specs and experience the guitar. Means a lot to me. Big love to you guys ! Arielle
I've owned a BMG Arielle for several months. The guitar is well built and was set up perfectly from the factory, and it's obviously created by guitar players - great tuners, the trem is the best I've ever played. One thing that the demo didn't show was how to use the Tone knob to make some of the out-of-phase sounds less ice-picky. The guitar really perfers a precise and light touch, like Brian May (and I assume Arielle) has, which has taken some time for me to get used to.
The look of this guitar is almost like Buck Owens gone Glam/Grunge...and I'm totally here for it. Loving this radically fresh yet vintage/retro look and sound of this guitar.
Yes. I actually prefer the Arielle layout to the regular Red Special. The Arielle vol/tone are closer to where you'd expect and the switches aren't in the strumming area.
One thing which I have started pestering people on in the comments sections of different demos and reviews of this model is whether or not the body of this guitar is equipped with semihollow cavities like the Red Special. Nobody specifies if it is a solid body, including BMG.
Something that is not specified anywhere that I’ve investigated is if this model is a semi-hollow model. The body shape would suggest that it’s a solid-body guitar, but both Brian May and his fellow master builder Andrew Guyten are known for assembling semi-hollow guitars. Could you clarify that for me please, Nick? I ask out of interest in possibly owning a Brian May model but already owning a solid-body parts caster equipped with the switching matrix and similar pickups. For me, having it be semi-hollow would be a prerequisite of a Brian May model. As I wrote in another comment here, I could Imagine purchasing this guitar and having the scratch plate removed. That could make it appear slightly less “gaudy”, and I am a finger-exclusive player anyway.
The Body shape is similar to the Washburn A series from the late 70’s early 80’s. Great sounding guitar with plenty of tone variation. Not real keen on the colour and pick guards, far too busy for my taste and for that I wouldn’t own one.
Because this particular models pick guard does not encompass the switching section, the idea popped in my head while I was watching this review that if I got one for me, I would have it removed and just have the finish colors. Since I am finger exclusive and don’t use any kind of plectrum, it’s not that big of a gamble for finish checking.
Eh, you can get sixpence for very little money from various retailers as long as you're not attempting to buy an 1820's issue or something else rare. I Gotta say I didn't care for the tones for the most part but there were a couple there that tickled my fancy.... Very marmite.
@@baj5025 5p for a late 60's version, I just looked......I think this would sound far better through a less dark amplifier, Ariel had some great tones last time I checked her songs out.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our guitars. Beautiful and thorough review. You obviously took the time to learn the specs and experience the guitar. Means a lot to me.
Big love to you guys !
Arielle
Very kind! Thanks for designing such a unique, killer instrument! 🙌
Saw you supporting Beth Hart in Bath a while back. You were superb.
Spent a while trying to work out what guitar you were playing.
The best review about this guitar I've seen till that day ... Quite useful actually ... Many thanx, Nick ...
I've owned a BMG Arielle for several months. The guitar is well built and was set up perfectly from the factory, and it's obviously created by guitar players - great tuners, the trem is the best I've ever played. One thing that the demo didn't show was how to use the Tone knob to make some of the out-of-phase sounds less ice-picky. The guitar really perfers a precise and light touch, like Brian May (and I assume Arielle) has, which has taken some time for me to get used to.
Hey I wonder how the pickups and guitar overall react to different string gauges as I feel like it would be best with 8s or something
This guitar sounds AMAZING, y'all! WTF!?
Thanks for this. I can refer back to it to get me on track with the tonal combos! Great review.
Very nice! The clean sounds are very nice too. Can I ask what signal chain you used for the beautiful clean stuff between 1:41-2:39 ?
The look of this guitar is almost like Buck Owens gone Glam/Grunge...and I'm totally here for it. Loving this radically fresh yet vintage/retro look and sound of this guitar.
Looks really cool! And the BMG pickup matrix is nifty. What are the knobs, regular volume & tone?
Yes they are ... Just like the Red Special ... Here's the link for the specs : shop.brianmayguitars.co.uk/products/bmg-arielle.html
Yes. I actually prefer the Arielle layout to the regular Red Special. The Arielle vol/tone are closer to where you'd expect and the switches aren't in the strumming area.
One thing which I have started pestering people on in the comments sections of different demos and reviews of this model is whether or not the body of this guitar is equipped with semihollow cavities like the Red Special. Nobody specifies if it is a solid body, including BMG.
I like it, very unique and interesting design and sounds.
Saw her live with Eric Johnson. She played quite a a few songs on guitar with him, which must have been a bit nerve-racking. :0
2:16 Diminished Chords
Major Scale Eight Chord
I like different it's just cool nice review Nick!☺🎸👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Does it come in standard scale length?
It's like the deformed offspring of a firebird and an explorer had a tryst with a red special and ended up with one of the Hapsburg dynasty.
Something that is not specified anywhere that I’ve investigated is if this model is a semi-hollow model. The body shape would suggest that it’s a solid-body guitar, but both Brian May and his fellow master builder Andrew Guyten are known for assembling semi-hollow guitars. Could you clarify that for me please, Nick? I ask out of interest in possibly owning a Brian May model but already owning a solid-body parts caster equipped with the switching matrix and similar pickups. For me, having it be semi-hollow would be a prerequisite of a Brian May model.
As I wrote in another comment here, I could Imagine purchasing this guitar and having the scratch plate removed. That could make it appear slightly less “gaudy”, and I am a finger-exclusive player anyway.
👍
Two tone
The Body shape is similar to the Washburn A series from the late 70’s early 80’s. Great sounding guitar with plenty of tone variation. Not real keen on the colour and pick guards, far too busy for my taste and for that I wouldn’t own one.
I have Washburn A5 and it's uncomfortable to play
Because this particular models pick guard does not encompass the switching section, the idea popped in my head while I was watching this review that if I got one for me, I would have it removed and just have the finish colors. Since I am finger exclusive and don’t use any kind of plectrum, it’s not that big of a gamble for finish checking.
Eh, you can get sixpence for very little money from various retailers as long as you're not attempting to buy an 1820's issue or something else rare. I Gotta say I didn't care for the tones for the most part but there were a couple there that tickled my fancy....
Very marmite.
Yeah, Brian May's guitar tech says he buys sixpence by the bag. They're cheaper than regular guitar picks apparently.
@@baj5025 5p for a late 60's version, I just looked......I think this would sound far better through a less dark amplifier, Ariel had some great tones last time I checked her songs out.
Hideous
Switching panel really let's it down