GuitarCleanRiff
'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