GuitarDistortedSolo
The Millionaire Waltz Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Queen
Queen · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Brian May Red Special (homemade electric guitar)
Pickups
Tri-Sonic single coils (Burns, modified by Brian May)
Amp
Vox AC30 (likely with Deacy amp for layered harmonies)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (for lead/solo sections, as typical for May's solos)
Studio recording, 1976 (A Day at the Races sessions). Brian May is known to use the Red Special and Vox AC30 for nearly all Queen studio solos of this era. Multi-tracking and orchestration are confirmed for this song. The Deacy amp may have been used for some harmonised layers, but the main solo is likely AC30. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass6
Gain5.5
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Red Special → Delay pedal → Vox AC30 (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- melodic and expressive
- layered harmonies
- clear note separation
- slight natural overdrive
- orchestral, multi-dimensional
- articulate lead voice
- baroque/classical phrasing
- bright but smooth top end
- moderate reverb for space