Hi everyone,
I've been considering finally giving in and getting myself a red special, and as I was thinking of picking one up 2nd hand I have the choice between the original Burns and the newer 'Brian May Guitars' red special models.
I'm aware that the main difference between the two is the tremolo as well as the 'half moon' plate behind the bridge (although that's only cosmetic), but are there any other differences between the two?
Has anyone played (or own) both, and if so which do you prefer?
Hello and welcome stranger!
I have played both, and to be honest I didn't notice much of a difference. If you have the opportunity to try out the guitar before buying, I'd say the individual setup quality of that specific copy makes more of a difference than the brand. Having a decent setup to begin with (no string pull or rattle, decent action) really saves you a lot of hassle with these babies. I really wanted the newer model to be better but I just couldn't hear/feel it, so in the end I had to be honest with myself and kept my old Burns. The tremolo doesn't feel any different and apparently there is a slight difference in the zero fret measurements, which I didn't notice either. I am either a very indifferent guitar player or the difference isn't worth fussing over. Hope that helps.
I would say that if you are buying a BMG online, you should buy it in a site with an easy return policy as it seems that a huge % of the BM guitars have quality issues, at least according to sites like musicians' friend...
What Fireplace said... set-up is EVERYTHING, most young guitarists buy a guitar off the shelf and never get it properly set-up, it makes a massive difference.
I would also go play it if you can before purchasing, they will all work, but you may find subtle differences are more your style.
I have the first incarnation of the Burns RS, plus a Super, and soon a Dansan... the Burns, works well sounds good it's just the trem that is a bit of a pain, i modified my to the traditional BM trem, but its a bit high for that guitar and obviously it's too close to the bridge so its stiff, but I still play it more than my Strats or LP's
BMG has better tremolo, better tuners, and better pickups.
Indeed, having a good setup is always beneficial, but the Burns gives you much less to work with.
IMO.
But if you want to get closer to the specs of the old lady, then grab the Super.
^^^^ true. Although I would say that the original Super in some ways is a better RS replica than the current model.
One point worthy of mention is that at the time BMG took over production from Burns they produced three prototypes of an RS fitted with a Wilkinson roller bridge and BM style trem. They were to be priced at £900 but the project was halted. I owned one of the protos for a while which was a really nice guitar.
The Real Wizard wrote:
BMG has better tremolo, better tuners, and better pickups.
Indeed, having a good setup is always beneficial, but the Burns gives you much less to work with.
IMO.
But if you want to get closer to the specs of the old lady, then grab the Super.
The Real Wizard wrote:
BMG has better tremolo, better tuners, and better pickups.
Indeed, having a good setup is always beneficial, but the Burns gives you much less to work with.
IMO.
But if you want to get closer to the specs of the old lady, then grab the Super.
The Real Wizard wrote:
BMG has better tremolo, better tuners, and better pickups.
Indeed, having a good setup is always beneficial, but the Burns gives you much less to work with.
IMO.
I'm curious Real Wizard, what do you mean the Burns gives you less to work with? I have an '04 Burns and I have to say it came in a perfect set up condition. It plays beautifully. Stays in tune no matter what I play of how much I use the tremolo. The tone & sound of the pups are excellent. Having said all that, I have not seen a BMG in person in order to A/B them. Maybe once properly set up the BMG's are truly superior to the Burns. One day I'll pull the trigger & get one in the natural finish. It's simply stunning looking.
P.S. Sorry about the triple post. Not sure why it did that.
I am very surprised your Burns was set up, but maybe if you purchased it the retailer did it? as they certainly weren't shipped set up. Have you checked the intonation? the pickup heights and action are all set up to the best possible setting? The only guitar I have ever purchased that was set up was the Super, which BMG did before delivery, they had a tech come in and set up each of the 10 built before shipping them out.
To get as close to Brian's guitar the pick ups need to be pretty high, the action needs to be low and obviously the intonation needs to be right.
MercuryArts wrote:
what do you mean the Burns gives you less to work with? I have an '04 Burns and I have to say it came in a perfect set up condition. It plays beautifully.
Well, then you really lucked out and got a good one.
I've played a half a dozen of them, varying from decent to downright horrid. The necks are all way too heavy, and the worst ones constantly went out of tune (even when bending a single note), and the pickups were way too hot, especially on the out of phase settings.
P.S. Sorry about the triple post. Not sure why it did that.
link
^ this is the best possible solution we've got at the moment.