Bushman Goes Guitar Shopping
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Photos by MJ Klein
Lately I’ve been looking to expand my horizons. I’m getting bored with the same thing, musically speaking. Since my 1958 Epiphone has been unavailable, all I have been using for the past few years is a Fender Stratocaster that’s been highly modified. I don’t really like the Strat and I’ve grown tired of it.
I wanted to get a guitar that wasn’t just the same old stuff made pretty. There are a ton of absolutely gorgeous guitars that are basically all the same as far as capability goes. They are mostly based on Fender or Gibson designs, and rather limited. So, the choice was clear for me. I had to get a Red Special.
I had made arrangements with a guitar shop boss down in Kaohsiung, to take a look at 2 different color. Even though the sunburst looks great (on the right) I decided to go for the original color. These are made by Burns London.
What makes this guitar so unique is the pickup choices and the electronics. The Red Special uses 3 Burns Tri-sonic pickups, wired in series (as opposed to parallel in other guitars). There are 3 slide switches for turning each pickup on and off, and 3 more switches for each pickup that reverse the phase. This guitar has more settings than anything I’ve ever seen before. Plus those great Queen sounds are all there too. I can go from the searing solo on Bohemian Rhapsody to the heavy chords of We Will Rock You, with just a few switch changes. The number of sounds and the outright versatility of this guitar are mindblowing. I’m going to use this guitar on stage at the Taoyuan Stadium gig coming up on April 13. I’ll get some more photos of it soon.
Click here to read about the original Red Special.
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March 5th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
A great guitar! I like the fact that it looks different from the “classic” look and at the same time pretty!
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March 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Speaking of Brian May, did you ever hear the Star Fleet Project EP he did with Edward Van Halen? Listening to those two cats jamming on some blues was definitely a treat. I’ve still got a copy on vinyl somewhere in storage in Australia.
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thenhbushman
reply on March 10th, 2008 10:38 am:
cfimages » i heard something on YouTube with Eddie and Brian playing together. pretty interesting combination, and quite frankly, not one that i would have picked myself.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:42 am
It was quite surprising. The “b” side was a 12 minute long blues jam in the style of John Mayall Bluesbreakers / Cream era Eric Clapton. Very sweet.
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thenhbushman
reply on March 10th, 2008 6:11 pm:
cfimages » have you heard “Sleepin on the Sidewalk”?
March 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
No, I haven’t heard that track.
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thenhbushman
reply on March 12th, 2008 11:41 am:
cfimages » it’s remarkable because its Brian May singing with Roger and John, with a single guitar track. very smooth and creamy guitar tone too.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Dude-I so avoid guitars and guitar shops because they are so frigging beautiful and awesome. This of course is way up there. Play it well my friend!
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thenhbushman
reply on March 13th, 2008 11:56 am:
Mark Forman » i was thinking that you are one of the friends that i would like to play this thing for. properly handled, it sounds amazingly like the original. i’ve been using my Mitutoyo to set up the pickup heights like Brian’s and so far it’s very close.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
MJ. I am looking forward to hearing you play in person one day. And in the wayout looking bar where you go with all the Thai people would be a good place.
Do you have any videos of you belting out any tunes?
Brunty.
Brunty’s last blog post..Practicing for Graduation Day in Thailand.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Brunty »
it would be my pleasure Brunty. i’ve been considering having the Fong Band play on my roof for a big spring party! unfortunately the only existing video these days is on my YouTube account. you’re welcome to check it out.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:50 am
[...] I’ve done my best to keep The Bushman entertained and he has continued to throw his readers my way by including me in his weekly picks. Thanks for your support! Now here’s what I’ve been enjoying on his blog: Special Homecooked Foods (Stop will ya! My salivary glands can’t stand the torture!) Blue Sky Hoedown and Bushman Goes Guitar Shopping. [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
AS a lifelong fan of Queen I have always wondered what owning a guitar like this may be like – I have heard the switches that control the pickups along with being able to go in and ou of phase is fantastic
I will stick with my 5 selection pickup at the moment!
thenhbushman
reply on June 22nd, 2008 6:20 am:
Olly@Guitar Books » i have one of those guitars with the 5 position selector switches and i no longer play it. some positions on the Brian May guitar are redundant but the sounds are fantastic, nevertheless. it’s exceeded my expectations.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
For a long time I’ve looked at pictures of these Brian May guitars. They always looked a bit odd, but for some strange reason, looking at the pics you’ve posted here is giving me a serious change of heart.
They’re quite positively beautiful.
One word that comes to mind about Brian Mays guitar sound, and his choice of notes, is Majesty.
Interesting that the band was called Queen.
Do you know if those guitars are available in South Africa?
I feel a need coming on.
thenhbushman
reply on August 4th, 2008 10:04 pm:
Andrew » they are odd at first. but after you play one for awhile you’ll wonder how you ever got along without one.
i’m sure the Brian May company will ship you one if there is no local dealer in your area. they’re pretty good guys.
here is the URL for Brian May Guitars:
http://www.brianmayguitars.co.uk/
let us know how you make out!
Andrew
reply on August 4th, 2008 10:59 pm:
Thanks for the link, I’m there right now.
– Keep rockin
thenhbushman
reply on August 5th, 2008 12:27 pm:
Andrew » let us know if you end up buying one.