Brian May Gear Pictures
I have been a Queen fan for over 30 years, during that time I have been fascinated by Brian May's guitar sound and technique. Along the way I have collected a number of different items relating to Brian's sound and gear, these include guitars, amplifiers, treble boosters, effects pedals, sixpences and so on. I felt it might be a good idea to put some pictures and sound files on to a page so, when discussing various items with other interested people, I can point them to a ready built itinerary. So here we go ....

Document Links:
 This site links to PDF formatted files. To view these files you need Adobe Reader. Click here to download the program from its official distributor.

THE ULTIMATE QUEEN TRIBUTE ROCK BAND
www.queenband.co.uk

 Click here to download the Conversion document for the AC30BM to Dave Petersen Brian Special AC30 (PDF 2.41MB)
 Click here to download the BMG Super techical questionnaire (PDF 966KB)
 Click here to download the BMG Super Review- January 2008 (PDF 262KB)

Sound Files
(click here for backing tracks)

Hammer To Fall (Solo)
Recorded with my Guyton RS through a Aribiter AC30. Used a PC TB83 treble booster and had the amp in my amp-booth up full, no attenuators!

Silent Night
Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

We Believe
Chris Wills and I recorded this song in its entirety. Chris gave a stunning performance on vocals IMHO, very similar to Paul Rodgers.

Through The Night
Intro solo from the Queen & Paul Rodgers track (The Cosmos Rocks), I just love Brian's tone on this track. I used the AC30BMS (Dave Petersen), Fryer 2005 Touring and KZ Pro. The amp was mic'd up with GT-1a tube mic at the front and an SM57 at the rear. TLA & Focusrite mic pre-amps were used.

Demo of modified AC30BM
'Someone to Die For' solo played on a 2006 Vox AC30BM - modified to the Dave Peteresen Brian May Special specification.

Killer Queen
Vocals, Piano and rhythm section by Aric. I used a KZ Pro, old AC30 and TB83. For the guitar orchestrations I used the Orchestrator with a GF 2006 touring TB pedal.

It's Late
Vocals by Aric. I used the Super for the rhythms and the KZ Pro for the solos. The amps were the old AC30 and the Vox VBM-1 for the Deacy tones.

Say It's Not True (GF TB Deluxe comparison)
Q+PR in left channel and me in the right. I'm using the new GFTB Deluxe pedal through an old AC30 (up full). Harmonies are done on the Orchestrator (through Greg's pedal again). Usual mics and pre's.

Into the Fryer
Song demo'ing the Greg Fryer TB Deluxe (2008). Used an AC30 (1962), Guild 93 and BM Acoustic. Mics were MD-421 and GT1a valve mic into TLA and Foucusrite pre-amps.

If You Can't Beat 'Em
Vocals by Aric.

I Want It All (solo)
Based on the 2005 live version. Guyton RS, Arbiter AC30 and PC TB83.

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy - Solo (live version from Huston 1977)
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, '62 AC30, MD421, Orginal 70's Foxx Phaser.

Dead On Time (Intro)
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, 1962 Vox AC30 using a GT 1a mic into a TLA Preamp.

Orchestrator Demo 2- 'Regal March'
.

Dreamers Ball (Intro) 2 -Demo using the Orchestrator
Recorded with Guild '93 BM->Pete Cornish TB-83 Extra (set to about 2 o'clock)->Orchestrator-> Sure SM58 mic->TLA Preamp


Dreamers Ball (Intro)
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, Vox BM1 using an Sennheiser MD421 mic into a Focusrite Preamp.

Dragon Attack Solo
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, Vox AC30 1962, Pete Cornish TB83 using GT 1a mic into a Focusrite Preamp.

It's Late (Intro)
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, Vox AC30 TBX 1997, Pete Cornish TB83 using an Sennheiser MD421 mic into a Focusrite Preamp.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Solo)
Recorded with Guild '93 BM, Vox AC30 1962, Pete Cornish TB83, GT 1A Valve mic into TLA preamp.

We Will Rock You (Guitar Solo)Played on my Guild '93 through both the Vox AC30BM and 1962 AC30 (linked via TB out on BMAC30) using the re-issue Foxx Phaser into the internal TB. I also had a go at the vocals.

Sisters!
Left to right ...KZ Pro, Guyton and Super,


Guyton Red Special and the 'Super' (Prototype Super Serial No: 003., Greg Fryer's is 002 and Brian's is 001)


KZ Pro, Fryer Touring TB and modifed AC30BM,


Prototype BM Accoustic (left)
Greco BM900 (right). This was the first commercial copy of the RS.
Brian used one on Top of the Pops when performing Good 'Old Fashioned Loverboy'

Pete Cornish TB83 Extra Duplex (left)
Pete Cornish TB83 Extra Duplex - Retro design as BMs original pedal board.


A few TBs (Greg Fryer TB was loaned by
A-Strings, many thanks!)


The JMI Rangemaster (Clone of the Dallas Arbiter Germanium Treble Booster)


Greg Fryer Treble Booster Deluxe 2008 (left)
Greg Fryer Treble Booster Touring - 2006 US Tour Spec. (centre)
Greg Fryer Treble Booster Touring - 2005 Spec. (right)


Greg Fryer Treble Booster Touring 2006 (left)
Greg Fryer Treble Booster Plus- (right)
(loaned by A-Strings)

BM 2008 Rig

Modified Vox AC30BM
now fully upgraded to the correct
Dave Petersen specification


AC30s

Pete Cornish 3 way splitter-mains (right)
Boss CE-1 Chorus Effect Unit (left)


Origial '70s Foxx Phaser (left)
Re-issue Foxx Phaser (right)

Peterson Strobe Tuner - 590 (left)
BOSS TU-60 Tuner as used in the 1982 Pete Cornish Pedal Board (Rlight)