| Johnny Knoxville 22.05.2005 16:33 |
Hello, Does Brian's have his First top string on the RS loose, Tight or middle? |
| The King Of Rhye 23.05.2005 04:24 |
I dont understand the question.....to my knowledge, he mostly played in standard tuning, so the tension on the strings would be normal.....I do remember reading somewhere that he favored rather light-gauge strings, though.... |
| The King Of Rhye 23.05.2005 04:26 |
I think it was said that he used a 8-38 set....when a 9-42 set is considered standard (thats what I use, anyway! lol) |
| BHM1775 23.05.2005 06:20 |
Johnny Knoxville wrote: Hello, Does Brian's have his First top string on the RS loose, Tight or middle?Johnny explain what you're asking ...... |
| Son of Bryans Permed Poodle 23.05.2005 07:37 |
Johnny is still hunting for "THE" sound... Right Johnny? :-) |
| deleted user 23.05.2005 08:47 |
His first string was red and very tiny. |
| Johnny Knoxville 23.05.2005 11:36 |
Hello, what i am asking is, Did Brian have his top string in tune of tight, loose or middle? and what is the pickup switch combination for Bohemian Rhapsody? |
| BHM1775 23.05.2005 11:41 |
Johnny Knoxville wrote: Hello, what i am asking is, Did Brian have his top string in tune of tight, loose or middle? and what is the pickup switch combination for Bohemian Rhapsody?Tight, Loose, or Middle ? Sorry Johnny I don't understand what you mean ? It is tuned to E ...... |
| BHM1775 23.05.2005 11:43 |
Johnny Knoxville wrote: Hello, what i am asking is, Did Brian have his top string in tune of tight, loose or middle? and what is the pickup switch combination for Bohemian Rhapsody?A for switches Bridge and Middle in phase |
| Johnny Knoxville 23.05.2005 11:47 |
Hello, when you turn the metal knobs on the end of the Guitar, one way you turn it it goes tight and the other way you turn it the string loosens, does brian have his tight, loose or middleish? and could you explain fully the 6 pickup orders for the on/off and phase switches e.g up, down, up etc for Bohemian Rhapsody thanks, Johnny |
| BHM1775 23.05.2005 11:52 |
If you have them loose it sounds quite good. Tighten it just enough so that the string can be pulled about an inch from the guitar and let it go, (mind your fingers though) if you get a twang sound then you got it right. Just play with the knobs and switches a bit and you'll get the sound. |
| mr bad guy 5656 23.05.2005 13:01 |
I didn't know Brian wears strings. My god, this comes as a total surprise to me... :( |
| drinkovarious 23.05.2005 13:24 |
i think brian use 0.08...sissy strings...real men use 0.10 tuned in E like me! About your question...watch out the calibration!!! |
| Penetration_Guru 23.05.2005 14:07 |
yes, but is it a tight E or a loose E? |
| spod 23.05.2005 14:56 |
Listen - just put the guitar down. you are obviously way out of your league. Seriously I once ask Pete this question and I think he said brian used lighrt guage on the top three, ie 8s or 9s but lightly heavier guage on the bottom three, and thay are gold plated ones. Hey when yoo are a multi millionaire you can afford to buy individual strings not sets lol. I bet if you asked Brain he wouldnt have a clue now as Pete doews everything for him. |
| spod 23.05.2005 14:57 |
Sorry for spelling above...WAY too much beer. |
| Crazy LittleThing 23.05.2005 18:24 |
Well yeah, Brian's definitely first string . . . Queen's FIRST-STRING GUITARIST, that is! Some info that may help or may further confuse you ;-) Re: Strings The documentation that comes with the Brian May Guitars model I received around 1 January 2005, says: "In keeping with Brian May's preference, Burns* has fitted the guitar with lightweight strings. These may be too light for your personal taste and so you may wish to change them to a medium-weight string." -------------------------------------------------*yes, it says Burns even though the guitar box says "Brian May Guitars" and the headstock has no Burns logo. Same factory I've been told, same documentation I would guess. The phrasing/language would indicate this documentation was produced in the US or written/edited by an American, ("Burns HAS fitted" instead of "Burns HAVE fitted . . .") I have a Burns London model at the office, and I'll check to see if the documentation regarding the strings and switch phasing is the same. My guess is that they are. ------------------------------------------------- Regarding recommended string gauge: Also included with the Brian May Guitars model was a card that included, among other things, this: "The strings used at the factory are fine gauge and are designated 9s, consistent with those selected by Brian May. You may find that these are too light for your personal taste and you may wish to use a heavier gauge, such as 10s." ------------------------------------------------- OK, HERE'S THE TECH-GEEK STUFF! Get out your pocket protectors and your nerd glasses with tape on the bridge! And stop breathing through your mouth! ;-) Oh wait--tech geeks are SUPPOSED to be mouth breathers! OK, the good stuff . . . Re: Bohemian Rhapsody Wire Choir--The Secrets of Tone . . . Revealed, By Brian May (Guitar World) Remember, Brian is discussing his own Red Special here, ours are merely faithful—to an extent—reproductions, but the wiring and switch phasing is supposed to be the same as Brian’s home-built original. Somewhere I have a wiring diagram, but you can easily find it on the web. Brian writes: "I have an on-off switch and a phase reversal switch for each pickup, so I can easily mix and match every possible pickup combination. My pickups are also wired in series (as opposed to Fender pickups, which I believe are wired in parallel.) If you put two pickups in series with each other and have them wired in phase, you'll get a very warm sound, like a huge humbucker; but if you turn one of the around (change the polarity of the wiring,) they will work against each other, canceling out the lower end. Then all you're left with is a beautiful accentuation of the higher harmonics. That's where my trademark "screech" comes from.” “For example, on the solo to "Bohemian Rhapsody," I've got the neck pickup working out of phase with the center pickup. In this particular setting, I have the two switches for the neck and middle pickup turned on but the bridge pickup turned off. On top of that, one of the phase switches is clicked up instead of down (it really doesn't matter which one.) This setting produces a very sweet harshness.” Another favorite combination of mine is having the neck pickup workout of phase with the bridge pickup (with the middle pickup turned off.) This setting enhances much of the top end and accentuates the classic Telecaster-type crunch. I used that tone on the opening riff to "Stone Cold Crazy" as well as on most of the song, and on "We Are the Champions." If you're in the US/Canada and looking to acquire a new Brian May Signature model guitar (Brian May Guitars model, maybe a few Burns USA remaining in stock) I can give you a recommendation. Not a relative, but the authorized dealer from whom I purchased mine. Huge Queen fan and good guy. Now, you geeks, take off t |
| Crazy LittleThing 23.05.2005 18:28 |
That should read "phase switching" not "switch phasing." Now I'M confused. More vodka please! |
| Crazy LittleThing 23.05.2005 18:36 |
clarification: the first paragraph shown here is what Brian wrote: "Another favorite combination of mine is having the neck pickup work out of phase with the bridge pickup (with the middle pickup turned off.) This setting enhances much of the top end and accentuates the classic Telecaster-type crunch. I used that tone on the opening riff to "Stone Cold Crazy" as well as on most of the song, and on 'We Are the Champions.'" (end of quotation.) ------------------------- From here down are MY words--not to be misconstrued as Brian endorsing any guitar dealers--sorry for any confusion here.--Crazy Little Thing ------------------------- If you're in the US/Canada and looking to acquire a new Brian May Signature model guitar (Brian May Guitars model, maybe a few Burns USA remaining in stock) I can give you a recommendation. Not a relative, but the authorized dealer from whom I purchased mine. Huge Queen fan and good guy. Now, you geeks, take off the nerd glasses and the pocket protectors, put on a Bart Simpson t-shirt, switch into rock star mode, get into your power stance and start raging through "Tie Yer Mother" as if your hands were on fire! While you do, give a nod of thanks not only to Brian May, but to his father, Harold May, as the two of them combined their brilliant musical and engineering talents, effectively merging art and science with a lot of stuff that had been consigned to the scrap heap, as well as items purloined from Brian’s mother’s (Ruth May’s) sewing kit, to build the extraordinary and exquisite instrument that we know as Brian May’s Red Special. |
| John S Stuart 23.05.2005 18:48 |
Dear John, I agree with an earlier poster. Put the guitar down. You are way out of your league. Also: God gave us two ears (or eyes) and one mouth for a reason. Stop asking so many stupid questions - and do a bit more reading/listening. You will learn more that way. John |
| NTL 24.05.2005 08:16 |
John S Stuart wrote: Dear John, I agree with an earlier poster. Put the guitar down. You are way out of your league. Also: God gave us two ears (or eyes) and one mouth for a reason. Stop asking so many stupid questions - and do a bit more reading/listening. You will learn more that way. JohnDont listen to him Johnny, keep the questions flowing, they are working wonders for my depression and are quite often the highlight of my day. |