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Another One Bites the Dust Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Queen
Queen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Homemade Red Special (Brian May's Red Special)
Pickups
Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups (Burns, wired in series, custom modded)
Amp
Vox AC30 (1960s Top Boost, studio modded, no reverb/tremolo)
Pickup Position
Bridge + Middle pickups in series (Red Special, in phase)
Studio recording, 1980. For the riff section, Brian May's guitar is used for noise effects and stabs, but the main riff is played on bass by John Deacon. Guitar parts are minimal and textural. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain4.5
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- dry, no reverb
- slightly gritty
- short, choked notes
- minimal sustain
- focused attack
- no modulation
- sits behind bass in mix
- edge-of-breakup
- not lush or ambient
Notes & Caveats
- The main riff is played on bass by John Deacon; Brian May's guitar is only used for noise stabs and textures in the riff section.
- No direct source gives exact amp knob settings for this song; settings are estimated based on typical Brian May studio AC30 setup for dry, percussive rhythm.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff guitar part; all modulation/delay effects are reserved for other Queen songs or solo sections.
- No reverb or delay is audible on the riff guitar; amp reverb circuit was removed from May's AC30s per Premier Guitar.
- No chorus, flanger, or phaser audible or cited for the riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Brian May's guitar on 'Another One Bites the Dust' is clean with just a touch of breakup, very mid-forward and dry, reflecting his typical British rock amp settings (likely a Vox AC30), with minimal reverb and a tight, focused EQ to sit alongside the bass-driven groove.