GuitarDistortedRiff
Somebody To Love (Live At The Montreal Forum / November 1981) Guitar Tone Settings
Queen · 1980s · rock
live
Original Recording
Guitar
Red Special (Brian May's handmade guitar)
Pickups
Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups (Burns, modified wiring for phase and series/parallel options)
Amp
Vox AC30 (multiple, cranked, with treble booster in front)
Pickup Position
Bridge and middle pickups in series (Brian May's 'in phase' setting, typical for Queen riffs)
Live performance, Montreal Forum, November 1981. Brian May is known for using his Red Special into a treble booster and Vox AC30s for Queen's classic rock era live shows. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff section. Year: 1981.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Treble Booster (model unknown, likely custom or Dallas Rangemaster type) · boost
Red Special → Treble Booster → Vox AC30 (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- British crunch
- articulate attack
- rich harmonics
- slightly compressed
- singing sustain
- tight and percussive rhythm
- clear note separation
- midrange-forward
- warm and full-bodied
- slight natural amp breakup