Generally speaking, most guitars boast the same general anatomy of framing, bracing, pickups, and hardware, but then again, Queen co-founder Brian May’s guitar isn’t most guitars. From the outside looking in, his iconic Red Special doesn’t look that different from your run-of-the-mill electric. With the exception of its distinct color and interestingly shaped pickguard, the semi-hollow body seems to be notable only in aesthetic.
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Perhaps that would be a reasonable guess, assuming one hadn’t heard what kind of soaring and driving sounds May can produce with his go-to ax. But after hearing the story of how the Red Special (also called Fireplace or the Old Lady) came to be, there’s no denying that May’s guitar is one-of-a-kind.
The Curious Anatomy Of Brian May’s Guitar
Brian May, future lead guitarist of iconic rock band Queen, grew up in Middlesex with his mother, Ruth Irving, and his father, Harold May, who worked as an engineer for the Ministry of Aviation. After Ruth and Harold noticed their son taking an interest in learning how to play the guitar, they set out to equip Brian with his first instrument. The only problem, however, was that quality instruments were expensive. The Mays didn’t have a brand new Gibson or Fender in their budget. So, Harold, being the engineer and craftsman he was, decided to build a guitar with his son instead.
Using only hand tools like chisels, sandpaper, and hand-cranked lathes for heavier jobs, the man who would one day craft classic rock anthems like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are The Champions” painstakingly formed his dream electric guitar using various bits and bobs around his childhood home. For example, Brian and his father used a piece of wood from a centuries-old fireplace to build the neck. (Hence the “Fireplace” nickname.) The duo filled in wormholes in the fireplace wood with matchsticks, and the sanded down holes are still visible along the sides of the neck. A large oak panel bears the brunt of the weight on the back of the body, which came from an old table.
But it’s not just Brian’s father who contributed to this guitar. The father-son team used Ruth’s button collection to make fret markers. And for the guitar’s strap button, they had the ingenious idea of using a large knitting needle. The guitar is not only an impressive feat of craftsmanship and engineering. It’s also a touching time capsule of Brian’s childhood home.
The Instrument Is A Reflection Of Its Player’s Entire Career
During a 2014 interview with Absolute Radio, Queen guitarist Brian May described his father as an innovative go-getter. “We thought, ‘We can make a guitar. Maybe we can make a guitar that’s better than anybody’s ever made.’ My dad had that attitude, which I inherit. You know, if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly. I kind of extend that. If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing. That’s kind of a Queen thing.”
And indeed, Brian May’s guitar is a perfect testament to the musical legacy he created with Queen bandmates Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. The British rock band enjoyed their tenure as one of the most eccentric and influential groups of the era for just under two decades, from their formation in 1970 to frontman Mercury’s death in 1991. During that time, Queen incorporated theatrics, powerhouse vocals, and stunning riffs unlike anything else that was going on at the time.
Moreover, just like Queen’s music, which is as beloved today as it was when they first released it (if not more so), Brian May’s guitar was built to last. Although he has made several replicas for backups and different tuning options, the original Red Special is the same as it was when he and his father built it in the 1950s—the tuner pegs being the only exception. May has never had to re-fret the guitar, something most factory-made electrics can’t even boast after decades of near-constant playing.
It just goes to show: if you build it right the first time, it’ll last.
Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
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