Brian May played a homemade guitar called the Red Special, built by him and his father in 1963

Brian May, the guitarist for Queen, has used the same guitar for nearly all of his recording and live work since 1963: a Red Special that he and his father Harold built together in their garage. The guitar is not a famous brand name or a factory model—it is a one-of-a-kind instrument made from a piece of mahogany, a piece of oak, and parts they sourced or fabricated themselves. May was 16 years old when they finished it, and he has played it on every Queen album and in nearly every Queen concert since.

The Red Special is when ready recognizable by its deep red color, its unusual curved body shape, and the fact that May still plays it today at age 76. It has been repaired and maintained over the decades, but the core instrument remains the same one built in that garage. The guitar has become so linked to May's identity as a musician that most people who know Queen know the Red Special by sight, even if they do not know its name.

Key Takeaways

  • Brian May built the Red Special with his father Harold in 1963 using mahogany, oak, and salvaged parts, not a factory-made guitar.
  • The guitar's body was shaped by hand and features a curved design that May and his father invented themselves.
  • May has used the Red Special on every Queen studio album and in live performances for over 60 years.
  • The Red Special's unique sound comes from its handmade construction, its three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, and the way May plays it with a coin instead of a pick.
  • May has had the guitar repaired and refurbished over the decades, but the original body and neck remain intact.

How the Red Special Was Built

Harold May, Brian's father, was an electrical engineer and amateur musician. In 1963, he and Brian decided to build a guitar from scratch rather than buy one. They used a piece of mahogany for the back and sides of the body and a piece of oak for the front. The body shape was not based on any existing guitar—they designed it themselves, creating the curved, almost horn-like outline that became the Red Special's signature look.

The neck came from an old Spanish guitar, and they fitted it to the body they had built. For the pickups—the electronic parts that capture the guitar's vibrations and send them to an amplifier—they used three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, which were a popular choice in the early 1960s. They wired the pickups themselves and built the electronics from components they could find or afford. The whole project took months of work in their spare time.

The red color came from a special finish they applied by hand. May has said in interviews that the exact shade and method of that original finish are now lost to time, though the guitar has been refinished and repaired over the decades to keep it playable. The result was a guitar that looked unlike anything else on the market and sounded distinctive because of its unique construction.

Why May Chose a Coin Over a Pick

One of the most unusual things about Brian May's playing style is that he does not use a standard guitar pick. Instead, he uses a coin—specifically, a sixpence (a British coin no longer in circulation). He holds it between his thumb and forefinger and plucks the strings the same way a pick would, but the coin's different shape and material create a different tone.

May has said he started using a coin early in his playing because he did not have a pick handy, and he found he liked the sound it produced. The coin gives his playing a slightly sharper, more articulate attack than a standard pick, and it became part of his signature sound. Combined with the Red Special's unique pickups and body, the coin contributes to the bright, cutting tone that Queen fans recognize when ready.

The Red Special's Sound and Pickups

The Red Special's tone comes from several things working together: the wood, the pickups, the way it is wired, and the way May plays it. The three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups are single-coil pickups, which means they have a bright, clear sound compared to the thicker tone of double-coil pickups found on many other guitars. May wired them so he can switch between them or blend them together, giving him a range of tones from thin and cutting to thick and full.

The mahogany and oak body also shape the sound. Mahogany is known for producing warm, resonant tones, while the oak adds brightness and sustain. The combination, along with the way the body is shaped, creates a guitar that cuts through a mix—important for a rock band where the guitar needs to be heard over drums and bass. May's technique of using a coin instead of a pick adds to that cutting quality, making the Red Special sound sharp and defined even in a loud live setting.

Repairs and Maintenance Over Decades

The Red Special has been played hundreds of times a year for over 60 years, so it has needed repairs and maintenance. The frets—the metal strips on the neck that the player presses down to change the pitch—have been replaced more than once. The electronics have been updated and repaired. The finish has been touched up and refinished. But the original body and neck remain the same pieces of wood that May and his father shaped in 1963.

May has been protective of the guitar and has had it serviced by skilled luthiers (guitar makers and repairers) who understand its unique construction. He has occasionally played other guitars in the studio or on stage, but the Red Special has always been his main instrument. In recent years, he has had the guitar examined and documented by experts, and there is now a detailed record of its construction and condition.

Replicas and the Red Special's Legacy

Because the Red Special is so famous and so linked to Brian May's identity, guitar makers have created replicas. Burns, the company whose pickups May used in the original, has made Red Special replica guitars that are sold to fans and musicians. These replicas are based on the original's design and use similar pickups, but they are factory-made and do not have the same handmade quality or the exact same sound as May's original.

May has endorsed these replicas and has been involved in their design, but he is clear that they are not the same as the original Red Special. The original remains unique because of how it was built, the specific wood used, and the decades of playing and repair that have shaped it. For most musicians and fans, a replica Red Special is a way to own a guitar inspired by May's instrument without the cost of a custom handmade guitar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Red Special still playable, or is it just a museum piece?

The Red Special is still playable and May still uses it in live performances. It has been maintained and repaired over the decades, so while it is over 60 years old, it functions as a working instrument. May treats it carefully because of its age and historical importance, but he does not keep it locked away.

Can I buy a Red Special guitar?

You cannot buy Brian May's original Red Special, but Burns makes replica Red Special guitars based on the original's design. These are sold through music retailers and online. They range in price depending on the model, with some versions costing several hundred dollars and higher-end versions costing more.

What pickups does the Red Special have?

The original Red Special has three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups. These are single-coil pickups that give the guitar a bright, cutting tone. May wired them so he can switch between them or blend them together to create different sounds.

Why does Brian May use a coin instead of a pick?

May started using a coin early in his playing and found he liked the tone it produced. A coin creates a sharper, more articulate attack than a standard pick, and it became part of his signature sound. He has used a sixpence (a British coin) for most of his career.

How much is the Red Special worth?

The Red Special's monetary value is difficult to estimate because it is a one-of-a-kind handmade instrument with historical significance. As a piece of music history and a working guitar that has been played on some of the most famous rock albums ever made, it would be worth a very large sum if it were ever sold, but May has never indicated he intends to sell it.