Tools of the trade - Dr. Brian May’s “Red Special”

 

Few guitars in the world of rock can boast the fascinating history of Brian May’s Red Special. This instrument has accompanied the guitarist since he was sixteen, through the great successes of Queen, and has earned nicknames like “Fireplace” and “Old Lady.”

At the time, the Mays couldn’t afford to buy an electric guitar, so Brian and his father Harold, an engineer with a passion for modeling, decided to build one themselves. The name “Red Special” refers to the reddish color of the mahogany wood used to make it. It’s estimated that the value of the instrument at the time of its creation was around 8 pounds.

The nickname “Fireplace” has a more particular history. It seems that Harold and Brian used an old fireplace mantel to build the neck of the guitar, and they also used putty to fill the holes made by woodworms.

The Red Special has been a lifelong companion for Brian May throughout his long career.