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'39 Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Queen
Queen · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ovation 1658 Legend Custom 12-String
Pickups
Piezo pickup (Ovation factory, under-saddle piezo)
Amp
JMI Vox AC30/6 Bass
Pickup Position
Piezo pickup (Ovation under-saddle, only option on this guitar)
Studio recording, 1975 (A Night at the Opera sessions). Brian May played the main riff and rhythm section of '39 on an Ovation 12-string acoustic-electric, plugged into a Vox AC30/6 Bass amp. No evidence of electric guitar or Red Special on this section. No effects or pedals confirmed for the studio version riff.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- bright and chiming
- articulate and percussive
- crisp acoustic attack
- warm, woody resonance
- clear string separation
- open and airy
- natural dynamic response
- slight room ambience
- uncompressed
- no overdrive or breakup
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No explicit amp knob settings found for '39 studio recording; settings estimated based on typical Vox AC30 clean setup for acoustic-electric guitar in 1970s rock context.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the studio riff section; effects section left empty except for minimal amp reverb.
- All sources confirm Ovation 12-string acoustic for this part, not the Red Special or electric guitar.
- If referencing live performances, gear and effects may differ (sometimes electric guitar used live). This profile is for the original studio recording only.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Brian May used his Red Special and a Vox AC30 for '39', aiming for a bright, articulate, and slightly warm clean tone with strong mids typical of British rock. The gain is set just above clean for a hint of warmth, with mids pushed and moderate bass/treble for clarity; reverb is subtle, matching the 70s production style.