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A note on book covers: while we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar That Rocked Queen and the World
Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar That Rocked Queen and the World
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In 1963, Brian May and his father Harold started to build the Red Special, an electric guitar meant to outperform anything commercially made. "My dad and I decided to make an electric guitar. I designed an instrument from scratch, with the intention that it would have a capability beyond anything that was out there, more tunable, with a greater range of pitches and sounds, with a better tremolo, and with a capability of feeding back through the air in a 'good' way" (Brian May). Brian used the Red Special guitar on every Queen and solo album that he recorded and at the vast majority of his live performances: the roof of Buckingham Palace, Live Aid, the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, and beyond. Here, Brian talks about his one-of-a-kind instrument, from its creation on. Along with original diagrams, sketches, and notes, May has included a great selection of photographs of himself with the guitar, in action from the last 40 years, and photographs of every stage of the Red Special's creation, which was fully dismantled and photographed inside and out just for this book, as well as close-ups and X-rays, and Brian will be commenting on it all. It is a unique guitar with a unique sound. Any fan of Queen, Brian, or electric guitars will find this book utterly fascinating. 200 color and black & white illustrations.
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A note on book covers: while we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
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One Line Summary
Homemade guitar's story of innovation and rock legend.
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Who is this book for?
If you're intrigued by the story behind legendary music instruments, this book offers an intimate look at Brian May's Red Special guitar. It's not just about the instrument itself, but about how a passionate DIY project became a musical icon, echoing through many historic performances. Fans of Queen or musicians who love a good craftsmanship story will find this a fascinating read with plenty of detailed photographs and insights.