RED SPECIAL RUNDOWN

Our insider’s guide to the ingenious workings of Brian’s home-built guitar and how to dial in classic Queen tones

Hand-made by Brian and his father in the mid-60s, the Red Special is amongst the most iconic guitars ever made, and the ingenious pickup-switching system the pair designed allows it to produce some unconventional yet instantly recognisable sounds. We asked Simon Bradley, the man who quite literally wrote the book on the Red Special, to tell us how it works and how to dial in some Queen-esque tones equipped only with a Strat or a Les Paul-style guitar.

For in-depth information about the guitar plus a great deal more besides, an updated edition of the book Brianmay’sredspecial, written by both Brian and Simon Bradley, will be available in October, priced £16.99.