On The Road with Brian May of Queen Guitarist Magazine

[@MrUltraworld]

I have had the pleasure of seeing Queen (with Freddie) several times. You cannot comprehend the volume Brian plays at. One AC 30 will rip your head off. A dozen or so is nothing short of breath taking. His guitar into those amps are 90% of his tone. The delays & modulation effects round it out.

[@LRS905]

Nice to see David Gilmour working as an interviewer here, lol... ;-)

[@thesoupdragonat121]

Thank you for this video and the inside story!

[@myzoe24]

Brilliant! I love Brian, he's such an amazing guitar player!

[@rickyjones7282]

In the early days of "Nady" I remember getting the local taxi companies CB radio coming through which was absolutely hilarious!!!!!

[@superflea72]

Brian May = Awesome. :)

[@mitzelnation78]

From what i have read and seen, he has them set up like a "choir" using delay units for 2 repeats: Signal, repeat 1, repeat 2. To keep the sound as pristine as he can, he runs each delay into a set of amps so that the delays do not repeat in the same amp, but repeat into each set of amps separately to make a huge sound. You can check it out in full effect on his "Brighton Rock Solo". Also, check out the Wembley Stadium concert. He has eighteen Vox combos! Very cool.

[@ProbableCauseBluesBand]

Wow, what a rig!

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

I think at one point early on there was a treble booster built into the Red Special but was removed and a star was placed over the hole.

[@mandolingrass]

MrJohnnyDistortion it was a fuzz effect not a treble boost

[@djangotaylor]

well done Pete Malandrone...the best back stage tour ive ever seen!....I hope some of the usa dopes watch this?....an learn something!!!....

[@guitarist]

KZbin's pre-roll has screwed with the soundtrack. So sorry about that.

[@zackgto77]

the legendary queen

[@MrUltraworld]

If you want permanent ear damage, just sit in front of a cranked up AC30. They are incredibly loud. I had a AC30's pre/power section installed in a Marshall head case. It powers 2 4x12's with ease. 30 watts is a huge understatement. BM must be deaf by now.

[@joethrelfall6370]

brians amps are turned away from him an the stop the reflections on tge queen adam lambert tour by putting a perspex screen behind the amps to protect rodger Taylor. there custom ac30s just the normal input my ac30vr is built similar

[@ehcmier]

It's to aid in 'Net searches for "Queen", wiseguy, and it's good for people just learning about Queen.

[@GilvamCarvalho]

I got a six pence from Brian on his 1982 Show in Rio de Janeiro! :-)

[@Имбирнаяпеченька-ю6ь]

Was that just "his" show or it was the Queen's concert?

[@GilvamCarvalho]

On his solo tour Back to the Light

[@Имбирнаяпеченька-ю6ь]

@@GilvamCarvalho then you wanted to say 1992 instead of 1982

[@GilvamCarvalho]

My bad.... you’re right... lol... numbers were too close. Queen was not here in Rio in 82... just to São Paulo. Rio first time was in 85.

[@MenaPaws21]

What a lovely man :P

[@blueser202]

Nice to see David Gilmour checking out Brian May's rig...

[@TylerSchepers]

@jasfiona I don't think they want to modify the guitar to add the treble booster. The Treble booster is actually something that Brian found early in his years of playing guitar, and it's part of what makes his tone so recognizable. If I understand, it also adds a slight distortion to the tone.

[@donottawaguitar]

The Man

[@AntKorr]

Amazing! He's genius! I will see him in one week in Kiev!

[@heliobluesrock]

Loved that dog! Bet he uses one of those Voxxxxxssss

[@drakeonyou]

I didn't understand half the thing they were babbling about and yet I sincerely had a lovely time listening to these chaps... HAHAHH..

[@jasfiona]

Why can't the treble booster be put inside the guitar, or it is to compensate for the radio system's loss of top-end signal?

[@mezlizt]

its not david Gilmour its simon bradely from guitarist magazine

[@MarcelGrebMusic]

wow that's wicked!

[@czgibson]

What about the delays?

[@danvelgtr]

Best guitar tone in the world along with Santana.

[@metroshifter]

Stated by Brian May's professional guitar tech himeslf: "SS rectifier sounds the same" The guy has been dealing with hundreds of ac30's the past 20 years..

[@christopherderrell2527]

I think brian's guitar tech looks similar with jos klinghoffer's tech . Any ideas?

[@juana1483]

Boy, lets all go out and get wired now!! How could any of this possibly help most of us????

[@chrisdowling1997]

Anyone notice the "My arse" sticker underneath the radio recievers?

[@lkzprd]

its practically a vox show room up there ! haha :D awesome tone !

[@Aceandbob23]

At 3:22, who know's what that rack system is? The one with the screen display above the wireless unit 1A/2A???

[@mikusguitarius]

I think it's a Peterson strobe tuner

[@ssdravidian]

mikusguitarius It is...

[@vasquez87]

What smell did Pete describe when the amps caught fire?

[@TheRockChanal1]

I wish I had his rig...

[@MrManus64]

it's part of May's lifetime live solo. Best version is on Live Killers

[@lucrativeelfmongrel]

I love the 'Say No To Crack' postcard!

[@PhantomNote]

Why dont they build the treble booster into the guitar?

[@EZLennard]

Very much alike in both appearance and manners / sense of humour. Not many explanations though ... besides both are obviously British.

[@MarcelGrebMusic]

is he using really all those vox combos?? or are they just as "show" for the stage?

[@lucas_bndr]

@Dr. Bri-Borg Do you know what mics he uses?

[@DReidGuitars]

So many Voxxxxx'sssssss

[@theoneandonlymf]

Very funny guy..."I use rack effects, because I work for a millionaire and he can afford it..." - cool comments throughout the video...;-)

[@ixis99]

@vasquez87"He said SCALECTRIX"....model motoring slot cars make a hot electric smell as they whiz around the track.

[@AlexRomagnoli_gtr]

Treble Booster... Treble Booster everywhere.

[@joedell71]

The hells angels are world wide they have chapters everywhere including london.

[@Joepepelombardo]

He loved Zappa

[@mikeysteward9]

Epic

[@BAJARACER43X]

all the people you have just listed dont really have signature guitar tones

[@johnsaville2235]

Yes!! spit and dab!!

[@nomeansno2335]

The Roadie even has the same haircut as Brian

[@leomanl]

'46664 my arse' written under the channel buttons! at 2:59

[@LUKE490sky]

OMG! This guy is Rick from Pawn Stars...but with hair!!

[@chrislestermusic]

Taylor Hawkins and the Coat Tail Riders! Nice!

[@gprice1978]

Just watching this video, saw this comment from 9 years ago, sad that Taylor Hawkins is no longer with us

[@nickeax]

So was my comment :-)

[@nickeax]

I was attempting humour also. :-)

[@V100BB]

What? Loads of artists use the Ac30 for rock.

[@ehcmier]

Calling Bradley "David Gimour" is a purposeful and gentle joke.

[@derangedband]

haha! i like this guy! hes funny :D

[@andersbrink4809]

3:00; Hells Angels London???? :)

[@brunoweb4]

Treble boosters everywhere...

[@nickeax]

If that's David Gilmour, why'd he call him Bradders???

[@dennisfacundolopezr5424]

heyyyy

[@rmccaw7]

coolest roadie ever?

[@akaski777]

When you've made it just knock out a few tunes then back to hotel and leave to stress to someone else.

[@pedalesanimaldemos]

well... have to say...david gilmour made a great show

[@bluebb1000]

I can't believe brian may use those small 9 volt transformers that are not even stabilized...... a serious and stabilized power supply with more outputs for pedals have it as well the amateurs

[@jamgroup2215]

Interesting

[@gordontubbs]

You *would* need that many AC30's just to get loud enough for a modern rock show... lol.

[@clapton79]

Brighton rock is still killer, anyway....

[@motormouth1970]

Man... back away or get a wider lens.

[@MrObelisk2290]

Gilmour and Knopfler

[@BD12]

I reckon if he went to a party with enough drunk people, the Guitarist Magazine guy could dress himself up like David Gilmour and (if he spoke softly enough) probably fool a few people. Sign some autographs, get some photos taken. Fuck that would be funny.

[@diegomax]

why ?

[@BAJARACER43X]

the beatles would of had their sound with any kind of amp

[@zzznakedoctur2681]

lol "because...well...I work for a millionaire and he can afford it!!"

[@joshrob12345]

he remind anyone else of bill bailey? (a younger bill bailey. . . . with more hair. . . that is)

[@guitarist]

I wish I had his money...

[@Papallazarou]

Why?

[@atomic3939]

Or even the 10th best. ;)

[@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible]

Vox populi !

[@UncleCaptainMidnight]

Love the Brits, not dry like the Americans. "Nice to see you in men's clothing."

[@Tom_SDM]

I'm sorry if I offended you, it just seemed a bit odd to me. Also, not helping with what?

[@ukguitarnoodle]

something to go wrong or batt to go flat?

[@sideslick1024]

He keeps saying that Brian could do everything with a coin, guitar, treble-booster, and an AC30. What he's missing from this equation is the EXTREMELY-PROMINENT DELAY EFFECT IN THE INTRO AND OUTRO OF THE VIDEO. Brian May is pretty well-known for his work with delay-pedals. I'm kind of sad that his guitar tech isn't mentioning anything about it... ...Or that Brian is a millionaire actually paying someone big money for that mess-of-a-rack. That is truly the ugliest rack-wiring I have ever seen. Professional-act or otherwise.

[@LEGOStarWarsIIVideos]

There is an updated version of Brian's rig. Search up 'Rig Rundown Brian May'

[@Isaac.Garcia666]

sideslick1024 Looks are the least you should have for that type of equipment

[@joethrelfall6370]

It's a lot tidier these days this was the tour with Paul Rodgers an Pete mentioned in a interview that he was inexperienced touring wise back then but the guy has worked for brian for twenty years. He's still Brians main man. The rack these days is tidier neater an keeps the amps running smoothly check out Mike hill guitar services ;)

[@evankeal]

sideslick1024 i love what gilmour a nd edge have done, but May delay work does not entertain me at all. So I disagree delays are really part of his sound beyond the live guitar solo section he does. My rig looks as bad as that, i hate it, but I am in a room no other human ever enters, this is pretty worrying. Almost seemed like maybe this was pre tour rehearsals?

[@joethrelfall6370]

@@phatman1478 yes it was. Its brighton rock solo.

[@markyncole]

Brian's guitar tech said they're "Notoriously difficult to work with,notoriously unreliable and they catch fire" so maybe he's right about them being shit.

[@joethrelfall6370]

wrong he loves working for brian. hes made the amps more reliable with the help of mike hill go check out mike hill services.

[@snatchedstrings]

a.k.a. David Gilmour! :') lmao

[@batmandeltaforce]

He obviously has the wrong pups in his guitars, if he has to add treble boost to it.

[@Joeyd123abc2]

Wrong, if you plug ANY guitar into a fully opened up AC30 it will be muddy and unpleasant. That is the purpose of a treble booster

[@joethrelfall6370]

+RS Guitarist some people have no idea. me an you do of course ;)

[@andrewwachter8096]

batmandeltaforce who are you to say he has the wrong pups in his guitar, your comment is really dumb, do you play with Queen? No you don't, he has the right pups duh that's how he does it your comment makes you sound really dumb

[@joethrelfall6370]

+andrew wachter I know that person that commented has no idea

[@stonerh]

He could at least SHOW us the guitars?

[@BAJARACER43X]

Brian May is the ONLY person on the planet to get a decent sound out of those piece of shit over rated crap Vox amps

[@joethrelfall6370]

there not crap you arent using it properly

[@musicthebestlover]

This man has the same hairstyle as Brian May too funny xD I obviously hate him because he works with him and I don't xD

[@ThePoochie101]

'nice to see you in mens clothing for once' LOL

[@69zenos1]

Jesus Fucking christ..... the 70's were much more tolerable compared to this shit.

[@johnduffy9887]

sure, if you don't count mike campbell, the fucking beatles, blur, oasis (a shit band but i always though their tones were alright) blue rodeo...do i need to keep going? yeah, i've played one and they are notoriously tempremental. but if i had a full-time amp tech at my disposal you bet i would use it more. but i don't, so...i don't

[@TristanJCumpole]

Pete sounds a bit like on over-privileged kid playing with somebody else's toys.

[@rdp281089]

It is really embarassing I could only dream of owning 1 AC30 and Brian has 9 sitting there life is so unfair!

[@Locoandchooch]

"I work for a millionaire"? Really? Spend some of those millions to get a real roadie, at least send that rack to Dave Friedman, cause dam, what a mess. Who does that?

[@Trials-and-Tribulations]

Say No to Crack.

[@rrippp]

I'd assume he knows what he likes

[@joethrelfall6370]

its a lot better now a days. if you have a rig like that you are going to have wires all over the place. the rack has been slimmed down as he uses rackmount tc electronic g major two boxes which his tech operates via a midi board for certain songs. watch the new rig rundown by premier guitar itll make sense

[@Kewtopia]

It's way cleaner now thanks to the help of Nigel Knight

[@RQBassist]

Guitar tech sounds like Johnathan Ross at some points :L

[@6StringBuckeye917]

eeew

[@chymist66]

Because he's Bradders and a Gilmour Imposter.... It's an attempt at humour.

[@ConorSloane118]

for Vox sake look at the amps!!!

[@idkyeah6214]

Conor Sloane lol