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Brains Broken Birch Guitar

Posted on 19.05.2004 18:46:20

I just saw a smashed up birch copy of his "red special" on the BM web site. Whats the story behind this (err how'd it get broken)?? Also, i just got a copy on DVD of the "Hyde Park" 76. It has time code on the bottom left corner of the screen, the video quality is pretty poor. (looks like a very bad VHS copy) and the mono audio is pretty poor too. I know from the Greatest Hits Video (somebody to love) they used footage from this concert, and it looks really good. Anyone know of a good quality copy of this show?? Thanks,

Posted on 19.05.2004 22:29:26

Brian was playing on stage once and was unhappy with the sound and feel of it so at the end he threw it off stage for his roadie to catch who missed it and it smashed up. Apparently there was a big conspiracy rumour after that some people at Fender nicked it to make a RS copy. It was on a website somewhere, but I can't seem to find it now! > it was the VERY FIRST copy of my red Special ever made. Thats a lie isn't it? Wasn't it the Japanese copy he used in the GOFL TOTP film

	Posted on 20.05.2004 08:17:45
	Brian started using Birch around late 75 - early76 so: ezee63 - yes, in Hyde Park that's Birch David - it WAS the very first RS copy

	Posted on 20.05.2004 20:09:19
	> David - it WAS the very first RS copy I must be getting confused then - the Greco Japanese copy must have been the first copy made available to the public. Apologies and slap on wrist!... Cheers Martin!

	Posted on 21.05.2004 09:23:50
	Well my info may not be correct (you know about instruments much more than I do :) but you mentioned the Japanese copy in GOFLB and he certainly had Birch a long time before that.

Posted on 21.05.2004 19:54:07

That means it will probably be the first then. I always thought that he has the Birch around the time of WWRY/SPW (after GOFL), but you know more about what happened at concerts more than me :-) The quiz on the the Greatest Hits 1 Songbook has a question asking "Who made the first copy of the Red Special - John Birch, Fender or Gibson?" so if that says it is and Brian says it is and you say it is, then its safe to say it is! Nice to its found though - wonder whether Brian will restore it?

	Posted on 22.05.2004 00:18:50
	Brian at the end of Sheer Heart Attack tour in 1974 used the LP. At Japanese NATO tour in early 1976 he used the Birch. When did he get it? early `75? late `75? early `76? no idea.

	Posted on 22.05.2004 21:55:17
	Im almost certain the Birch was not made untill '77 and the Greco's were before the Birch as Brian asked Greco to make him a proper replica he could use on stage but Greco were not interested. The only other Guitar I have seen Brian using pre '77 was a sunbust Les Paul.

	Posted on 22.05.2004 23:31:24
	In this pic - http://sebastian.queenconcerts.com/electricguitars.jpg - you can see the Birch, and that`s in 1975/1976.

Posted on 23.05.2004 14:03:12

> Im almost certain the Birch was not made untill '77 and the Greco's were before the Birch as Brian asked Greco to make him a proper replica he could use on stage but Greco were not interested. The only other Guitar I have seen Brian using pre '77 was a sunbust Les Paul. Thats what I always thought, but seeing that Brian was never happy with the Birch, maybe he wanted to help somebody make a "proper" copy... That photo looks like its from the Jazz studio shots Sebastian... I'm probably wrong though, as Roger stil has his long hair...

	Posted on 23.05.2004 15:12:38
	Yep, Im wrong, you can see the Birch at the side of the stage at Hyde Park. I still think the the Grecos/Freshers could have came first though.

Posted on 24.05.2004 12:53:40

It`s difficult to put a date on the photo actually. It`s definitely not from Jazz ( http://sebastian.queenconcerts.com/mountaingear.jpg), you can tell by Roger`s hair. Reasons to believe they`re pre-Races tour: - Roger`s outfit - Both of John`s Fender Basses (no sign of Musicman which was his main in Races World Tour `77) - Roger`s hairdo and color (corresponds more to his early `76 period, note that later on he was getting darker) - The Les Paul Reasons to believe they`re post `76: - The acoustic guitar. Note it`s an Ovation, and Brian used Martin guitars before 1977.

	Posted on 24.05.2004 19:27:09
	I won't argue with that!

	Posted on 25.05.2004 11:14:52
	Apparently the Birch guitar can be seen in the Ham Xmas 75 video, anybody noticed that? That would mean Brian got it in 1975.

	Posted on 25.05.2004 13:27:10
	It's possible see the Birch guitar in the Ham Xmas 75 video, during the first part of "Brighton Rock", when Freddie sing.

	Posted on 25.05.2004 20:12:22
	> Apparently the Birch guitar can be seen in the Ham Xmas 75 video, anybody noticed that? That would mean Brian got it in 1975. Will have a look at that then!

	Posted on 26.05.2004 13:43:24
	Just checked it and there it is, you can note it in the second verse to be more exact (Brighton Rock). Now the big question is: did Brian get the Birch before the UK tour of NATO in `75 or did he get it for the World Tour of SHA at the beginnings of that same year?

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