Brian May Red Special Meetup/Convention U.K. 2024 Highlights Part 2 by dsgb

This is part two of my highlights package of the 2024 U.K. Brian May Red Special enthusiast meet-up held at the Holiday Inn Reading West in Berkshire and primarily features the guitars and musical equipment. Part 1 covers a selection of video clips of Brian’s time with us:
• Brian May Attends the ...
The event was hosted by Jon Underhill of The Red Special Guitar podcast @theredspecialguitarpodcast and his team of assistants including Paul Cottrill, Steve McCulla, Matt Netherwood, Jonathan Planner, Dan Thomas and Luke Timmins, guitarist in the Supreme Queen tribute band. The theme was a 60th birthday celebration for Brian’s original Red Special which he completed in October 1964.
Attendees included co-author of the Red Special book, renowned music journalist Simon Bradley, Nigel Knight of Knight Audio Technologies, Andrew Morgan of A Strings, Wales’s premier independent retailer of guitars, amplifiers and effects, Rafa Diaz guitarist with the Magic Queen tribute band, artist Sarah Rugg and classical guitarist and host of the Fret Not podcast, Rosie Bennet.
Chapters and Time Indexes
00:01 - Introductory montage.
00:36 - Colourful characters.
01:01 - Souvenir gifts and free merchandise.
01:27 - Luke Timmins’ stage rig and Guyton Time Warp Red Special demonstration.
02:10 - Crowd mingling.
02:24 - Rafa Diaz discusses his Magic Queen stage rig.
02:30 - Jon explains the structure of the day and evening sessions.
02:44 - Simon Bradley talk introduction.
03:05 - A look at the Red Special replicas on display.
05:33 - Red Special birthday card signed by all attendees.
05:41 - A glimpse of David Hersey’s Fractal Audio based KAT stage rig.
06:08 - A look at some of the raffle prizes.
06:51 - A surprise guest arrives: Dr Sir Brian May CBE.
07:15 - Bonus content of Brian May not included in part 1 highlights.
07:24 - A touch of Tie Your Mother Down (enthusiast code: TYMD).
08:03 - Brian explains how he attenuated his Vox AC30 amplifiers back in the day.
08:41 - Brian talks of first meeting Rory Gallagher.
08:52 - Brian talks about buying his Vox AC30 amplifiers.
09:25 - Brian discusses the electronic theory behind Vox AC30 amplifiers.
10:57 - Brian demonstrates the Red Special clean then with distortion.
11:47 - Guitar technician Steve Prior shows off Brian’s original Red Special guitar.
12:16 - Outro.
The event had been held at Theale Village Hall, four miles away since 2017 but Jon and his event team sought a new venue to accommodate increased popularity and to separate the customary band section from the quieter day activities.
Doors opened at 10.00 a.m. allowing people time to mingle, chat and browse the guitars and equipment on display before several talks and demonstrations in the morning session. Souvenir merchandise including various stickers and badges from businesses and enthusiasts associated with the community were provided in a Star Wars themed goodie box. Exquisitely detailed commemorative sixpence coins were produced to celebrate the occasion.
Many Red Special guitar variants were on display including Brian May Guitars Specials in various finishes and custom versions built by both amateur and professional luthiers. These included a double neck made by Raymon Guitars of Spain, a 1993 Guild and a Guyton RS Transporter.
A raffle of donated items raised a considerable amount of money for the Save Me Trust and Prostate Cancer U.K charity. There were some superb and valuable prizes on offer this year including a BMG ukulele and Queen I boxed set both signed by Brian himself, books, magazines and artwork by Sarah Rugg, a KAT Studio-One amplifier donated by Nigel Knight, effects units including amplifier attenuators donated by various enthusiasts.
After lunch, we watched a video compilation of photographs from previous meet-up events since 2017 with video messages from various enthusiasts on what the Red Special meet-ups and community mean to them. Afterwards, Jon dropped a bombshell on us. A very special guest had arrived… Dr Sir Brian May CBE. Not only that, but guitar technician Steve Prior was looking after the object of our interest, the original Red Special guitar.
He did not confirm that he would attend until around lunchtime of the meet-up so it was a surprise to everyone. He lost some mobility in his arm as you might have read on social media and had not played guitar for about two months until today.
Steve Prior was on loan from David Gilmour’s stint at The Royal Albert Hall for guitar technician duties until Pete Malandrone returns to work. He managed to guard the revered original Red Special but still allow many of us to hold it, photograph it and compare our own Red Special guitars with it.
Please check out my other KZbin videos which cover a wide range of topics related to Brian May’s guitars and musical equipment. Further information on all my guitar related projects is available on my website, dsgb.net.
#BrianMay #RedSpecial #dsgb

[@dcsabi1]

thank you!

[@dsgb]

You're welcome!☺️

[@davidwellings2783]

Didn’t know Brian had been so ill….😳😳 He’s such a lovely guy, softly spoken, self-effacing, heart-in-the-right-place and a cracking guitarist! What a brilliant event! A wonderful group of nerds - my kind of people! Thanks for sharing! 🥰🥰🍷🍷🎸🎸

[@dsgb]

Hi David. I guess if people aren't following him on social media, thrn they won't necessarily be aware of his illness. Thanks for leaving a positive comment. 💜😀

[@LuisRamirez47]

awesome,,thanks for sharing

[@dsgb]

Pleasure. I'm pleased that you enjoyed watching the video. 👍🏻😀

[@telekon809]

Many thanks ,so wish I could have been there ,what a great person Brian is attending the event 👍🏻👏

[@dsgb]

Hi. Thanks for leaving a kind comment. It seems that we could gave sold a thousand tickets! Doug 💜👍🏻

[@marsrideroneofficial]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Sir May. I was so immersed in Queen music when I saw in 1986 the Highlander movie and how their music enhanced that story.

[@dsgb]

I loved the Highlander movie too. There were so many epic tracks on A Kind of Magic that it didn't feel like a soundtrack album. Glenfinnan is always worth a visit if you're in Scotland. 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@andreasjohansson1990]

awesome!

[@dsgb]

Thanks!🙏🏻 🤘🏼

[@TheOlympianKing]

love it. great video as always

[@dsgb]

I appreciate your support. 🙏🏻😀

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

liked better this second part ! Congratulations to everybody organizing it , what a success!

[@dsgb]

Hi Rodrigo. Thanks for leaving a positive comment. 💜 Lots of viewers have been drawn in because of the Brian May content but for me, the event is about what us amateurs and semi-professionals are doing. There is a strong social element to the day which is why I like to feature as many regular attendees as possible in my highlights videos and why I chose to separate the footage of Brian. 👍🏻😀

[@jimmcdougall9973]

A dream event, and attended by the great man himself. I was fortunate to find a second hand Burns Brian May guitar, about ten years back, at what believe was a good price. I doubt, at our exchange rates, that I will ever have the means to purchase the latest iterations, but the Burns has all the tones. Thank you for sharing this with the world. Greatly appreciated. Cheers from South Africa

[@dsgb]

Thanks for commenting all the way from South Africa. Enjoy all the tones from your Burns. 😀👍🏻

[@jss902]

Brin May,thanks for the info,we in Germany,get some input,learn how great his music sounds. Wonderful melodies, his guitar can speak beautifully🙏❤️🙋🎶🎶🥁🪘🎸

[@dsgb]

Hi. I'm pleased that you appreciate this video and I hope Brian himself reads your comment and feels your appreciation. 💜👍🏻😀

[@MeadowMartin]

I would like to thank you all for your passion ! I was at the 70’ birthday of Freddie in Montreuil years ago and I was travelling with the red spécial book. I was dreaming of building it myself. Congrats for the évent and many Thanks for the content on your Chanel ! À Little live at the rainbow for me this morning 🙏 (And Brian mention Rory gallagher again….such a gentleman!)

[@dsgb]

Lovely story, thanks for sharing. I love Live At The Rainbow.🌈 👍🏻

[@spidey4fun]

Thanks Doug.

[@dsgb]

You're welcome Brad. Thanks for commenting. 👍🏻😀

[@MartynCampbell-ib5gr]

Great vlog I own an AC30 with Alnico blue speakers 2x12 C2X and it’s a blinder of an amp it does Brian Mays tone all day I use it with a 1995 Les Paul Gibson standard and a Rickenbacker 330 as I love The Jam also x but the amp cranked with Tone cut fully up with the master volume flat out is pure Queen tone with either guitar and a six pence like the Edge with his Herdims picks x I use the top boost channel but sometimes jump channels from normal to top boost . Brian’s tone is those VOX amps with blue speakers for sure and his hands 🌈❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The guitar red special is amazing but you can nail his tone with a Les Paul x I find my Rickenbacker gets nearer x great vlog this 🌈❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@dsgb]

Hi Martyn. Thanks for leaving a detailed and informative comment. In 2018 if I recall correctly, we did a blind test with 14 different guitars played by Luke Timmins through his stage rig. There was a variety of guitars including a commercia BMG Special, enthusiast DIY built Red Specials, a Guyton RS Transporter, my converted Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul that Dan Thomas brought. The guitars sounded very similar so most of us were only making wild guesses at what Luke was playing. The Les Paul was distinctively different but nobody actually identified what it was. 👍🏻😀

[@alanchow5465]

Fantastic second video 👍🏼👍🏼 Well done Doug

[@dsgb]

Thanks Alan. Keep liking, commenting and subscribing from Singapore.🇸🇬

[@colegattisilvinaanahi1907]

Que instrumento mas hermoso!!!

[@dsgb]

It is unique, very well designed and aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. 💜😀

[@chickenlickin3820]

Awesome thanks x

[@dsgb]

You’re welcome 💜👍🏻

[@sierrabianca]

Great footage, thanks. I rarely go in for Specials of different colours but the sky blue version at 3:40 is a looker!

[@dsgb]

I love the Windermere Blue BMG Special too. Close association with Sir Donald Campbell, his record breaking Bluebird boats and Lake Windermere in Cumbria, England where I grew up. 😀👍🏻

[@sierrabianca]

@@dsgb Wow, that's great background info..appreciate it 👍

[@dsgb]

I might as well correct my own comment but Sir Donald Campbell and his Bluebird boats are associated with Coniston, not Lake Windermere. However, the two lakes are very close geographically so I assume there is some intentional connection. 👍🏻😀

[@markdagger8882]

Doug, brilliant video as always. I love how Brian (after all these years) still refer to the VOX AC30 as a Class A amplifier! It never has been and never will be a Class A amplifier - It is in fact, Class AB! Small point, and probably something that Vox (back in the 60's and 70's) were erroneous over in their advertising. I think the biggest factor on the AC30's Tone is its lack of Negative feedback. Keep producing the videos! 😃

[@dsgb]

Hi Mark. Thanks for your kind comments and clarifying. A number of people have pointed this out. I'm sure that Brian just misspoke here so we'll have to forgive him for that. He is advancing in years and has had a rough time with his health recently. Later on he referred to Nigel Knight probably telling him he was wrong about biasing and jokingly acknowledged that he was spitballing a bit. I think secretly, we it like when he errs because it demonstrates that he is just as capable of making mistakes as us mere mortals. 😀👍🏻

[@walterevans2118]

So interesting to hear Brian describe why the Vox AC 30 sounds different from a Marshall because I’ve played through Marshall’s all my life…I always loved the crisp ‘immediacy’ of the Marshall with hardly any time delay between what you do on the strings and what you hear coming out of the speakers but I’ve got to admit that Brian is right about the TONE of the Vox being better, and the way the Kerrang SINGS so much better at low volume with the Vox….As a chocoholic to my ears the Marshall is like Cadbury’s Dairy Milk but the VOX is more like GALAXY chocolate which is RICHER ,,,lol,,,, Like Peaches and Cream is richer than ideal milk deserts…lol….But a lot of Brian’s sound also comes from the way his unique guitar with its hollow body out of phase options COMBINES with the Vox AC 30 ….and of course his touch on the strings and that consonants articulating sixpence.😊 (Paul)

[@walterevans2118]

Apologies for the silly ear/taste bud analogy and I have to stress that if people love the sound of their Vox AC 30s I’m not advocating that they should EAT them 🤔🙄😖…..lol

[@dsgb]

What an great analogy to compare Vox amplifiers and Marshall amplifiers! I'm also more of a Cadbury's Dairy Milk man and it has got nothing to do with their use of purple in the brand image. 💜😀

[@walterevans2118]

@@dsgb Yes, indeedy...lol ..One tends to associate Marshalls with Purple also because Ritchie Blackmore used them when he was in the BAND (DP) lol (Paul)

[@dsgb]

I mean purple is obviously the best colour if you think about it deeply. 😂💜

[@walterevans2118]

@@dsgb As a kid I always used to chew the whole Cadburys confectionery because it looked so purple tasty but the tin foil would always hurt my teeth ....lol

[@walterevans2118]

DOUBLE NECK Red Special ?? That would be interesting. Hearing a 12 string version of that unique hollow body design….The original instrument is 60 years old ? ….Wow. (Paul)

[@dsgb]

Hi. Check out my highlights package of the 2023 event. Andrew Guyton of @GuytonGuitars brought a number of instruments he has made for Brian over years including the Guyton 12/6 double neck. Luke Timmins demonstrates them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpzGk5ihgZlppas

[@Slg-slog]

I’ve got maybe a stupid question but do you need a red special to attend this meet-up (I know it’s called the red special meet-up for a reason) and does every one who attends the meet up need to play a song or not?

[@dsgb]

No. You just need to be interested in Brian's guitars and musical equipment. Bringing some of your own is not an entry requirement. 👍🏻😀

[@Slg-slog]

@@dsgb oh nice to know I’ll keep it in mind when the next one will happen and I maybe will be there

[@dsgb]

O.k. Hope to see you at one of our events in future 😀👍🏻

[@timnotbrianmay]

I can't believe you actually left out the part with the q&A with the first question from Mark Reynolds! He was ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL, AND ESSENTIAL TO THE RESTORATION OF THE RED SPECIAL! COME ON! HE'S EVEN IN THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!! I mean, at LEAST the portion where he recognized Mark immediately!

[@dsgb]

The full day recordings will be officially released by @theredspecialguitarpodcast in due course. I only produce informal highlights videos, not comprehensive vlogs. Jon asks attendees to not film guest speakers but obviously this was too important so some people did. The two main reasons I chose not to film the Q&A session at all were that I had to stand up which was blocking some people's view and is inconsiderate for long periods of time and that it is physically uncomfortable. I hope you now understand the reasons and will check out the official videos when they are released. 👍🏻😀

[@timnotbrianmay]

@@dsgb OF COURSE! I meant no disrespect to you! Mark's a friend of mine, and he sent me early clips of this... I just really liked The immediate recognition from Brian after he asked the question!

[@dsgb]

No problem. 👍🏻 Netiquette tip: avoid using upper case type because it indicates SHOUTING which can be construed as aggressive. Same goes for multiple exclamation marks !!!!!!!

[@timnotbrianmay]

@@dsgb But, I did use them CORRECTLY!

[@deanbembridge8640]

I bought a Brian may burns a few years ago , a cracking guitar for the price , I paid about 500 pounds for it I don't know how much it's worth now

[@dsgb]

Burns Specials in original condition (not modified and in good cosmetic order) are worth £700-900 at the moment. I bought one locally and upgraded it: dsgb.net/projects/burns/

[@slottygw2wvw842]

@@deanbembridge8640 not much tbh not a good guitar overall they were hommage guitar priced cheaply

[@dsgb]

I beg to differ. While they certainly have some shortcomings related to commercial budget constraints, they are basically a good quality guitar that can easily be customised and upgraded and which allow the player to access Brian May tones with a treble booster and valve amplifier or modelling software and an interface.