How are the pickups wired on Brian May's Red Special guitar compared
Chapter 1

The classroom meets the garage

Chapter 2

Junkyard engineering of a signature sound

Chapter 3

The studio as a laboratory

Chapter 4

Designing the stadium-sized opera

Ch 2 · Junkyard engineering of a signature sound
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suaz Wiring electric guitar pickups in series.

31m ago

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suaz Red Special Fretboard Buttons

A mother's old buttons of shimmering pearl, Now guide the Red Special to rock the whole world.

37m ago

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suaz How John Deacon built a music amplifier from dumpster trash

33m ago

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The fireplace that became a guitar

suaz Brian May and his father Harold constructed the Red Special using an 18th-century fireplace mantle and household matchsticks.

38m ago

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How a dumpster dive built an amplifier

suaz A salvaged radio circuit board inside a bookshelf speaker defined Queen's sound.

38m ago

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Junkyard engineering of a signature sound
BETA

suaz Build a guitar from junkyard scraps to discover how Queen engineered their signature sound.

35m ago

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Fun Fact

Red Special: Brian May's guitar tremolo system was built using motorcycle valve springs, a bicycle saddlebag carrier, and a knitting needle tip.

38m ago

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Glossary
amplifier (noun)
An electronic device that increases the strength of electrical signals, typically used to make sound louder. In 1971, John Deacon built one from a discarded radio circuit to create Queen's unique guitar tones.

38m ago

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Gossip

Which DIY instrument hack is the most impressive?

38m ago

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Quiz

What did Brian May use to fill the wormholes he discovered in the fireplace wood?

38m ago

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suaz Musician Brian May built his iconic guitar from an old fireplace

34m ago

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Quiz

What unusual household item provided the wood for the neck of Brian May's Red Special guitar?

38m ago

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suaz A famous guitar features fretboard markers made from old sewing buttons.

34m ago

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Quiz

What is the approximate power output of the custom-made Deacy Amp built by John Deacon?

38m ago

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Quiz

What did John Deacon salvage from a London dumpster to build the Deacy Amp?

38m ago

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Quiz

What does Brian May use as a guitar pick to achieve his signature metallic attack?

38m ago

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Quiz

How are the pickups wired on Brian May's Red Special guitar compared to standard electric guitars?

38m ago

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Quiz

Where did Brian May get the mother-of-pearl used for the fretboard markers on his guitar?

38m ago

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Quiz

What type of wood was used to construct the fretboard of Brian May's Red Special?

38m ago