Brian May Guitars

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
  • Start date Start date
Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
This is intriguing. I always knew that May played a home-built guitar (the Red Special, AKA "The Old Girl" :D). What I didn't know was that a couple of companies (Guild and Burns UK) have built reps of The Old Girl over the years.

Now May has brought the design and manufacture under his exclusive control.

Here's the web site: http://www.brianmayguitars.co.uk/

This is a really cool looking guitar. Three single-coil Tri-Sonic pickups are wired in series, and each pickup has an individual on-off switch and phase switch. Seems like the sound would be very versatile.

I saw this in my current Musician's Friend catalog, and they're selling for $799 I think, which would indicate that they're probably being manufactured in Indochina somewhere.

Does anyone have any experience with these guitars?
 
Zaphod B said:
This is intriguing. I always knew that May played a home-built guitar (the Red Special, AKA "The Old Girl" :D). What I didn't know was that a couple of companies (Guild and Burns UK) have built reps of The Old Girl over the years.

Now May has brought the design and manufacture under his exclusive control.

Here's the web site: http://www.brianmayguitars.co.uk/

This is a really cool looking guitar. Three single-coil Tri-Sonic pickups are wired in series, and each pickup has an individual on-off switch and phase switch. Seems like the sound would be very versatile.

I saw this in my current Musician's Friend catalog, and they're selling for $799 I think, which would indicate that they're probably being manufactured in Indochina somewhere.

Does anyone have any experience with these guitars?
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I've been lucky enough to handle both the original and most of the replicas.

The two are in no way the same. Thats all I'll say;)
 
muttley600 said:
I've been lucky enough to handle both the original and most of the replicas.

The two are in no way the same. Thats all I'll say;)
Click to expand...

Nor would I expect them to be.

The question would be, are the current replicas worth consideration?
 
Zaphod B said:
Nor would I expect them to be.

The question would be, are the current replicas worth consideration?
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I hate to be obtuse but only you can decide that mate. Get out and try one or two. The build quality is on a par with other similar priced guitars. If it works for you then it's the right guitar. Me, I wouldn't want one but that alone dosent make them bad.:)
 
muttley600 said:
I hate to be obtuse but only you can decide that mate. Get out and try one or two. The build quality is on a par with other similar priced guitars. If it works for you then it's the right guitar. Me, I wouldn't want one but that alone dosent make them bad.:)
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Got it, thanks. :)
 
muttley600 said:
I've been lucky enough to handle both the original and most of the replicas.

The two are in no way the same. Thats all I'll say;)
Click to expand...

OK, muttley, I'm not going to ask you what the differences are between the two. I know that with respect to comparisons, you've "said all you'll say."

But what is the real thing like? Is it resonant? Was it built well? Is there anything interesting about it (other than it's history)?
 
Yeah, muttley, I'd like to know your take on the original Old Girl. :)
 
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