I built a tribute to Brian May's Red Special, you won't believe how complex it is

Here it is at last, my way over-due film about the making of a Red Special replica !
As I've stated over and over again on this channel, I'm a huge Brian May fan. More than just a legendary rockstar, he's like a celebrity role model for me.
His careers, both musical and acadamic, his brilliant mind, his odd ways of approaching things, and his humility, have always inspired me.
As a kid I pretended to be part of Queen, and later on as a teenager, I kept saying that I wanted to be an astrophysicist (that was until my math teacher told me I was too dumb for that; and I must admit she was right).
As someone who grew up in the 90's and 00's, I've read a lot of rumors about the Red Special, most of which turned out to be false or imprecise. Those were urban legends spread across amateur Queen and Brian May's fanpages at the time (you know, the ones with flames GIFs and scrolling text all over the place). For example, for the longest time, I thought that the Red Special was either made out of a fireplace mantle OR a pine/oak table, and someone had to be wrong. Turns out it was both: the body is made out of pine, salvaged from a table, and the neck was a mahogany fire mantle, full of wormholes.
This takes me to where it all started.
When I released my "Shelf guitar", the video drew a lot of attention and people started to ask me in the comments if I'd ever consider building a Red Special. My answer was always the same: I'm not ready.
Now remember that I've always been a Brian May fan, but the fact is, I've never ever tried to play a Queen song in my entire life. The man is like a demi-god to me, and to this day, I find it very intimidating to even try to cover one of his solos.
I promised I would make this guitar/video as soon as I'd reach 100K subscribers on KZbin, it started out as a joke but someday it happened, I had to keep my promise.
So in Spring 2022 I started documenting. I bought plans from www.redspecial-library.com/plans (highly recommended!), and the Red Special book from Brian May/Simon Bradley and went to work.
I have been feeling extatic during the entire process. It really felt like bobsleighing in Dr. May's brain, asking myself the questions he answered 60 years before and recreating the parts he made with his dad, so long ago, but with my own kids.
Now I can see you coming: I didn't design the guitar, I didn't wind the pickups, and certainly did not build the hardware. Well, that occured to me too, it felt like cheating, and rightfully so. That's why in the middle of that summer, to make things right, I too decided to make a guitar of my own design, with furniture I had in my house. Sadly it was 2022 and not 1962, so no pine table or mahogany fireplace for me: I made a guitar using Ikea furniture.
I did not try to stay historically accurate for the entire build, as it is completely impossible. Here are the main differences between my build and the original:
- For starter, mine is not a mystical beast that rocked the world continuously during 6 decades
- I didn't paint the oak fretboard in black, I used dye, and I regret it. Don't do that.
- My pine core is a little shallower because my oak plywood was a bit thicker (I'm talking about 1 mm)
- I couldn't find any convincing mahogany veneer, so I made my own, once again, a bit thicker than the original. Still love it though.
- Same thing for the sides: I had to glue tiny square pieces together, like a monk, to respect the orientation of the grain. Lucky for me I had good company.
- I didn't make all the hardware, I bought it on www.guitarsandwoods.com (again, highly recommended). They made all the pieces of hardware according to the plans from the Red Special library
- I did use some electrical tools ! I find it mind bugging that Brian and Harold managed to do that without any electricity. I did make a guitar with one hand and no electricity once, but it was a tele, not the "engineer's guitar" that is the Red Special.
There's a ton of things to say about this guitar and its construction, this is why I'm definitely gonna make a voice-over version of this. If you have any topic you'd like me to expand on, feel free to ask your questions in the comments and I'll make sure to mention them it in the next video.
Sound demos are recorded on an Strymon Iridium, using the Chime setting, with the A speaker sim. On the last track you can hear it hard-panned on the left channel, the right channel is a Universal Audio Ruby 63. All of the signal is fed through Logic without any other pedal except for a homemade Treble Booster (I used the original circuit of the Dallas Rangemaster, in a custom point-to-point design, with a germanium transistor).
I have 2 videos in stock for you, and I'm working on a third right now (U-bass for my 6 year old girl; you can see her play a Harley Benton in the last clip, I'm so proud of her).
To keep track of my current builds:
tchiksguitars
Allez, Bisous !
tchiks

[@tchiksguitars]

Don't forget to post your requests, questions and comments here for the upcoming voiceover special ! Side note : I read out loud to my daughter Zoe any comment that mentions her.

[@thethesaxman23]

Another fantastic build video!! And the fact that you have your daughter help you out is so very wholesome! Maybe someday we'll get to see you helping her on her first build video!

[@tchiksguitars]

Also, another side note : the first little dude (the one with the mini tchiks hoodie), is actually my 2 year old son, it is his first appearance on the channel. This video took so long to be published that he is now 3. Zoé is 6, and you guys literally watched her grow up :)

[@robertruamps5680]

❤

[@emptyblissph]

Build a fender mustang pls 🙏❤ fav guitar

[@Matewoo_LKB]

​@@tchiksguitars that's just heartwarming

[@xdoctorblindx]

The fact Brian May made the original with his father and Tchiks is making his replica with his daughter makes this even more perfect!

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

Beautifully said.

[@msee383]

Was it true Brian Mays father used part of an old fire surrounding.

[@StockportJambo]

@@msee383 Yes it was. Also bits of an old motorbike, and his Mum's knitting needle for the trem bar.

[@hoerstimme5165]

@@msee383 Yea right and regarding Brian ist was 100 yrs old at the time. He made the neck of it.

[@fred613]

Thought the same thing. Very cool.

[@punkywozza4330]

When I watch people building Red Specials it always make me sit back and be amazed at just what a Genius engineer Brian May's dad truly was.

[@tchiksguitars]

imagine actually doing it, same experience but from up close :)

[@StockportJambo]

He really was. I remember Brian casually mentioning that Harold built their TV. Like, from scratch. As if this was normal! 🤣

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

@@StockportJambo they used to sell full electronics kits to build tube radios, tube tvs... there was an active community of DIYs that used specialized magazines and letters to communicate ... slow but effective. Brian's dad is a legend!

[@StockportJambo]

@@rodrigobelinchon2982 That's true, but it was the matter-of-fact way he said it - as if everyone's Dad did this as a matter of course. No, Brian, they don't. Your Dad was something else. But I think he knows that anyway.

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

@@StockportJambo I know what you mean, I've met several overachievers that grew up surrounded by overachievers and they do amazing stuff , but they think it´s a given ,that it´s nothing extraoprdinary, Some cognitive bias must explain it . Cheers !

[@craftedworkshop]

This is the weirdest guitar design ever, I had no idea the Red Special was built this way! Great work and I love the interactions with your daughter. Hoping to get my son out in the shop more. Also, I've been learning French using Duolingo for the past year and listening to you and your daughter talk is making me realize I still have a LONG way to go, hah!

[@pastxmas]

There's nothing like having the opportunity, at a young age, to learn how to respect tools and appreciate what they can do for us, but also not fear them. I will be forever grateful to my father, a brilliant custom cabinet maker, for giving me that gift. It will make you handy for the rest of your life.

[@tchiksguitars]

Oh man thanks for taking the time to watch this ! Means a lot, I started woodworking by watching your videos back in the day and seeing your channel growing never fails to put a smile on my face :) Don't worry about your french, I mumbled a lot, I speak fast and sometimes have a heavy Belgian accent ! I don't know about you but putting my kids in the workshop is the most intuitive thing to do. My grand father was a cabinet maker and had my dad in the shop growing up. I hung out (against my will, because he didn't let me touch anything anyway) with my dad in his work shop and on construction sites. So ... This is the way.

[@tchiksguitars]

Funny you'd say that, yesterday she was cutting a neck blank with a Japanese saw and it slipped out of her hands. She froze and thought I'd yell at her or something, instead I ceased the opportunity to teach her that you should never try to catch a falling tool ( and then yelled at her ) ( kidding).

[@paulpo999]

Extraordinary build. Incredible that the original was built with no power tools by people who had never built a guitar.

[@u000122]

The same way French cars are designed and made.

[@OblivionAviator]

Never seen you before. I'm sitting here in complete awe, admiring your skill & craftsmanship. A beautiful, stunning build. Jaw dropped. But, aside from all of that is the video itself. I've no idea what your other videos are like? But this is absolutely brilliant. If there were awards for KZbin videos this would, indeed, be up for best picture. At least on my ballot. No bs talking. No bs backing track. Just you & your daughter & the sounds of you 2 creating. Un. Believable. EPIC. Seriously. Wow. Smh.

[@oogkauwgum5123]

The way you involve your little girl in the builds make your videos so much more fun to watch than most other guitar building videos. Impressive build also!

[@peejay6930]

I think you'll find it's clever editing, She's letting him help :o)

[@Jake28700]

It's a great hobby to introduce to her. She will remember these when she's older!

[@tchiksguitars]

@@peejay6930 haha

[@tchiksguitars]

​@@Jake28700 hobbies, plural :) it's woodworking (she's grew up in that workshop), music (you can see and hear her actually play the bass part in the last clip), guitar making (the other day she asked me why the 12th fret was so important, she was blown away when she discovered the concept of scale length ...), .... I'm not the kind of dad who goes fishing or rock climbing with his kids, and I did once tried to braid her hair, but I figure there's a couple of other things that are worth teaching.

[@T1MKA_375]

​@@tchiksguitars , You are a great fellow for allowing a child to work with you!!! The very fact of this is very important to her! It does not matter whether this knowledge will be useful to her in the future. I'm already a grown man, but I want to cry after these videos. After all, my father almost always did not accept my desire to help when I was a child. And did not involve me in any work. First, I did not get the necessary knowledge. Secondly, (and this is the main thing) this approach gave rise to resentment in my childhood and indifference in the future. Sorry. But I really wanted to talk about it. All best to you! Eee... Super guitar!

[@xdoctorblindx]

I love that you built it the "right" way, even the parts that are, technically speaking, "wrong." Amazing work!

[@tchiksguitars]

I have no idea what that means but it sounds nice so thank you :)

[@xdoctorblindx]

@@tchiksguitars I just meant that, even though Brian May and his dad didn't use traditionally "correct" luthier techniques (regarding the body construction, in particular), you still replicated their techniques. It could be a museum piece!

[@tchiksguitars]

@@xdoctorblindx the thing that is still mind blowing to me, is that this guitar was made like 10 years after the first tele, which I consider to be the mother of all electric guitars (yeah I know it's debatable)

[@vinniedixon1140]

@@tchiksguitars Gibson made their first electric guitar, the ES-150, in 1936, 14 years before the first Telecaster. So Telecaster the mother of all electric guitars? I don't think so.

[@tchiksguitars]

​@@vinniedixon1140 that's what I meant by debatable, my bad. I talk about it in my tutorial, I see the tele as the mother of all electric guitars in the sense that it's the simplest form of solid body electric guitar ever, the purest if you will. All electric guitars today are in one way or another derived from that, whether it's intentional or not, because it is the pure essence of what a solid body electric guitar is. On the other hand, the ES150 .., apart from the fact that it also has 6 strings and a neck..., has little to nothing to do with the red special for example, construction wise.

[@robinjones6692]

I'm sure Brian May would be so proud to know that his creation is now being copied by such a talented craftsman as yourself, aided by your daughter. In my opinion, it is a work of art!!

[@Lrr777]

I can tell that you are good person by your comment 😊

[@robinjones6692]

@@Lrr777 Thank you!!

[@ScienceofLoud]

I'm only half way through the video at time of commenting, but I'm so very impressed with how you are doing this. There has been so much already that I'd have been like "nah, I'm finding an easier way to achieve this" - you could have done so much to simplify this build, but chose not to for the sake of authenticity. Mad respect for that. Those side laminations, square by square and no doubt trying to match up the grain all the way - unreal! I am 100% convinced that your build turned out better than what Brian May's did. And then to do it all with these camera angles... filming this stuff is such an inconvenience, but you make it look effortless. I'm just loving seeing your daughter helping out, passing tools, wearing her "mini tchiks" zip up, and the apprehensive pause when she stains over the fretboard inlay. Just all super adorable.

[@tchiksguitars]

wow thanks man for these kind words! And I'm pretty sure my daughter will someday have more subs than us two combined haha, a comedy show probably

[@Cthulhu_Awaken]

Hey Colin, nice to see you here!

[@schmoemi3386]

When is YOUR daughter starting to help YOU out, Colin?

[@Tim_Duran]

Wow. I never knew how the red special was actually constructed. It really is fascinating! It really is like someone built a guitar who has seen a lot of guitars, knows the basic functions, is really skilled in woodworking, but has no idea how it actually is constructed. 😅 Awesome!❤

[@tchiksguitars]

I didn't know either, until I tried :D

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Thank you for not putting in annoying background music!! Shop sounds and noise is always the best!!! Such a satisfying build to watch!!! I don't remember subscribing to your channel but even if it was on purpose or by accident I'm sure glad I did!! I sure would have missed out on a great build and video!

[@br14h]

Fr

[@Liesthroughisteeth]

Yes.....Everyone has different taste in music, and who doesn't like shop sounds? :)

[@Mujcanal]

Not only your guitar building skills are amazing, this video itself deserve an oscar !

[@gpgpgpgp1000]

Red Special has got to be THE most strange and unique guitar ever! This makes what Eddie Van Halen did like putting together a Lego kit!

[@Twominutedevotions]

The minute you post a video it is a 0 hesitation click for me.

[@tchiksguitars]

Notification crowd is the best crowd

[@andrewarnold3982]

Same bro

[@CoYoTdeLiMa]

Same here.

[@keymaker_coils686]

Same! Always eager to watch, laugh along, and learn!

[@TheBillStickers]

This is insanely accurate as I compare every step to my copy of Brian May's Red Special Book. Beyond satisfying!!!!❤

[@tchiksguitars]

Hehe. That's coz I followed the book :D

[@sapelesteve]

Having made a few guitars myself, I must say that your build was totally off the charts incredible! Bravo & I am certain that Brian would approve! Keep up the great work! 👍👍🎸🎸

[@tchiksguitars]

Lets find a way to show it to him

[@vansrenthlei79]

​@@tchiksguitarssir how much is your budget, where do you got pick up from ?superb ,,but is my ear doesn't fee right fret no 3 or 4 is ittle bit sharp ,,string no6&5,, but it may be out of tune ,,, just wow wow wow❤❤❤❤

[@cptbeto]

Your videos are a little pat on the soul for me. Silence, wood, the sound of tools at work, the occasional mumble of a child. Bit of a safe haven in the middle of everyday chaos. Thank you.

[@tchiksguitars]

What I'm showing you is my own island of tranquility too :)

[@christianwinger3796]

Fantastic build! The second you kicked on the treble booster the tone was unmistakable so I would say you nailed it. Wonderful job and your videography is also fantastic. Wonderful work all around. As a fellow DIY enthusiast and massive Queen fan I must say you are an inspiration!

[@tchiksguitars]

I'm glad you agree on that too ! The first time I plugged it in I played happy birthday like I was on the stage of Wembley in 86

[@DeeTee79]

This ain’t art, it’s a kinda magic. Beautiful work!

[@dirtbiker5182]

The level of detail here is beyond anything I've witnessed in guitar work. I've said it before, you are an artist.

[@tchiksguitars]

Thanks again then :)

[@darkestfugue]

i dont think ive ever seen a guitar with so many individual pieces of wood in it, incredible work and a great talent, best replica red special ive ever seen

[@micksguitarsarecool]

Amazing work bud, can't wait for Brian to watch this and comment. You've inspired so many amateur guitar builders and you will continue to do so. Thanks.

[@tchiksguitars]

I'm starting to get that, and you can't imagine how proud I am about that :)!

[@rauschguitars]

I knew the red special was a crazy build, but I didn't realise how crazy! Nice work, I think you did it justice.

[@barrywebber100]

That was awesome. How wonderful it would be to see Brian play your lovingly and skilfully made tribute to his unique and priceless original. Thanks for posting.

[@rodrigoechalar609]

i never get tired of watching you build guitars. its so incredible to watch

[@TmsMcfly]

Plus la vidéo passe plus on voit le travail monstrueux ! Félicitations. Et le faire avec ton enfant quand on sait que Bryan la fait avec son père c'est magnifique ;)

[@jacob_krause_official7286]

Wow, that finish is simply stunning. I want you to know that it's videos like these (all of your channel really) that have inspired me to pursue becoming a professional luthier. I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself in life until I started watching these. So thanks, for giving me some direction. Kind regards friend!

[@tchiksguitars]

wow ! THANK YOU for sharing that

[@AudioAtmos]

Incredible and beautiful work. That was such a cool learning experience. I’m 58 and have an electronics background, play guitar and heard much about the “Red Special” but never really totally geeked out about all the specs. Now you have shared quite the visual and educational record. Thanks!!…and your daughter is a real sweetie.😀

[@tchiksguitars]

Every aspect of this guitar is weird, strange, and never been done before, including the electronics :)

[@candanart]

Beautiful guitar coming out of your hands as always. The video production, your craftsmanship, and of course your protégé are all amazing. Keep these videos up man 🙏

[@FoulOwl2112]

Im not sure which I'm more envious of. That beautiful guitar, or that awesome workbench!

[@tchiksguitars]

That workbench is indeed a work of love too :)

[@jimmydevine4862]

I’m envious of the talent. Building and playing.

[@SpedSpedding]

I knew it was a special guitar but watching you move through it piece by piece is mind blowing. Amazing video.

[@igehring]

All this was amazing, the construction, the perfectionism, the filming, and of course the result. Voila my friend

[@tchiksguitars]

Thanks !

[@lewisworkshop]

Always delightful to hear your daughter in the shop. Great building and GREAT playing. Beautiful piece. Brian would be proud. Cheers from Seattle

[@jackbutler3504]

Yessss!! I've been so excited for this video to come out! I kept coming back to the page in case I missed it! (It gave me plenty of time to watch your old videos again and again) Watching your videos have inspired me to dream about making my own guitar one day - thank you!

[@tchiksguitars]

Haha how did you get here so fast, it's not even published yet :D

[@lubatux948]

why dont u try it i just went for a Telecaster, its far from perfect but i managed to get something playable that im very proud of

[@jackbutler3504]

@@tchiksguitars Right place at the right time!

[@StockportJambo]

@@jackbutler3504 Just do it. You won't learn everything by watching KZbin, so just give it a go and see what happens. You might surprise yourself.

[@fatpotanga]

Holy crap. Stunning. I mean, incredibly stunning. You must be over the moon with how that turned out.I hope Mr May himself gets to see this. I’m about to start guitar 3 and your 1 armed tele build was one of my main inspirations for having a go in the first place and I can’t thank you enough. But this? This is another level. Your little helper is getting bigger 🙂 Great to see you back after such a break. As always, huge respect 🙌

[@tchiksguitars]

I hope he sees it too :)

[@fatpotanga]

Hey, @brianmay! check this awesome red special build out!” @tchiksguitars That should do it 🙃

[@kurri9847]

Been watching for a little while now, but I love seeing how your craft has evolved, and the new and interesting tools and methods you use! Especially when it is captured so beautifully through some amazing shots, and cinematography! Always here for the interactions with your daughter too!

[@thomasdelabarre6923]

Tchiks is back ! Tellement content de voir enfin le résultat ! Et heureusement que tu prévoies déjà une version voice-over, j'allais le demander ! Me réjouis, ton travail est toujours fascinant !

[@tchiksguitars]

Merci !

[@MrGlmmns1996]

So happy to see a new video of yours! Absolutely favorite channel on KZbin. Beautiful work as always and what a piece of kit this guitar is... mindblowing!

[@guysmalley]

I love watching professionals doing their craft 👌🏻

[@jpmudkip1870]

He’s back! When we needed him most he returned!

[@tchiksguitars]

And I have looooads of videos for you !

[@pierrepaul7342]

Exceptionnel ! Quel travail en famille, comme la famille May il y a quelques années. Bravo pour ce résultat bluffant, de beauté, de son. C'est génial !

[@tchiksguitars]

Merci !

[@danieldupuys2002]

Incroyable complexité que cette guitare , si c'est l'exacte copie de l'originale on se demande pourquoi? sans doute à cause des dimensions des matériaux disponibles ( épaisseurs des couches du corps) manche vissé et non collé, alors que le principe des solid bodies est de simplifier la construction car inutile dans le son et l'usage. En tous cas même si je trouve la forme originale étrange et un peu "tordue" ici le travail est exceptionnel et elle sonne sacrément bien! bravo .

[@robertranford5574]

This is the most awesome AMSR video I’ve ever watched. I can feel my heart rate slowly dropping… at least until I hear the tones and see the playing. What an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@kevinkiso4579]

This is absolutely fantastic. I was fortunate enough to meet Brian when I was fourteen years old here in Seattle after Queen's second show on The Game Tour. I was standing with my good friend, Mark Renstrum, out behind the Seattle Center Coliseum because I (we) were just having a hard time pulling ourselves away from the venue in which we had just seen the most incredible thing we'd ever seen. Standing fifteen feet in front of Freddie, Brian, John, and Roger for two plus hours, and that pizza oven lighting rig where crew guys were strapped into welded seats in which they would use their body weight to make these huge panels of lights spin and roll around above the stage. They opened with Dead On Time from the Jazz LP from the year before, and if you go listen to that ... indescribable. So Freddie, John, and Roger each ran out that backstage door and took off in their own individual black limousines. Then Brian walked out with Ann Wilson from Heart. She took off in a red Ferrari, and Brian walked up to a small grouping of us, including Mark and myself. He had a big crew guy with him and he quietly acknowledged each of us. I'll never forget him standing there next to us. He was quiet, and very deliberate and measured in his speech and movements. Then he said farewell, and off to Portland or Los Angeles the Queen machine went. Even at fourteen I owned Queen 1, 2, Sheer Heart Attack, Night At, Day At, News Of, Jazz, The Game, and Live Killers. Plus an armful of bootlegs from their 1st tour of Japan. And I was learning all that I could, from Keep Yourself Alive, to Sail Away (Sweet Sister). All of my friends and I were little Queen freaks. Great job on this guitar. I viewed the entire thing. 👍

[@Giant_Guitars]

5 months or whatever it's been and I've thought about this build every day. Excited to watch this is an understatement!

[@tchiksguitars]

I'm happy and sorry to notice that my work has been missed :)

[@samsboringchannel]

I really enjoyed watching that, definitely worth the wait. Youve done yourself proud there bro! Im so stoked for you!

[@berberlowish]

That's the best tribute red special I've seen done on video, the attention to details and characteristics from the original (including doing it with your daughter) makes it perfect. Brian May is an inspiration, as you mentioned, as a person, not only as a musician or academics, and I really hope he gets to see this video, it really deserves his acknowledgement. Great job and content, as always!!!

[@partyxplays]

5:49 Such a wholesome moment. Brian May had his Father help him with his guitar. It's heartwarming to see you guys do the same thing for a brief period of time 😊

[@herbalathlete2865]

Amazing work man, I was always fascinated with luthiers work, and this is masterpiece. I know whole story about Brian Mays guitar, how he couldn't afforrd not just Fender or Gipson guitars, but also even cheap copies, and whole story how they build it, the materials they used, with no luthiers experience, and no power tools is totally mind blowing. Brian said in one interview that whole process of build was more than a year! And also that he played just that guitar whole career it's unbelievable.

[@Irkennalpha]

Yeah, that part in which he kept the guitar (or at least replaced with exact replicas) is something to admire. Often guitar players are just looking for what’s next. I bought my first real guitar, a Gibson Explorer by sanding and varnishing the doors of my parents house (I got so high with the varnish, haha) the other half was by saving money by not eating at my school. I remember I was running late for a class and my pants fell off. I realized that I was just getting super skinny at that time. That didn’t stop me from selling that guitar a couple of years ago. The case from Brian May I think it was not attachment, more like a tribute to his dad and the perseverance of achieving things by hard work.

[@ol.grumpy.bastard]

It's very cool to see you building guitars (and memories) with Zoe! My dad was a carpenter/woodworker, and some of my earliest memories are of him bringing me to work with him on Saturdays when I was ~4 or 5. I'm 59 now and, every time I smell sawdust, I'm instantly back in my dad's shop with him showing me how to plane a board or use a chisel to cut hinges into door blanks. The guitar is beautiful! The two of you did yourselves proud. Im looking forward to your next project. (Give Zoe a raise! Good apprentices are hard to find.)

[@tchiksguitars]

I'm working hard on force feeding her all of those memories :) My dad used to take me on worksites and every time I smell wood being cut or concrete being mixed I think of my childhood

[@aleksandrsbaranovs2861]

Высший пилотаж 👍 Золотые руки👍 Браво Маэстро 👏

[@parkerbob99]

Man. I cant even. This is amazing craftmanship!! Love the relationship you have with your family!!

[@Omegon]

For xmas my dad got a me a copy of the BMG book on the Red Special. The diagrams and tales of it's construction are truly amazing to see. Watching you build a version, based on the ways it was produced is like watching the original being given form. Truly wonderful work.

[@fivefingerfullprice3403]

Impeccable work, really adorable that you did it with your daughter.

[@tchiksguitars]

Thanks :)

[@MikeFurth]

I keep rewatching this video over and over. It’s such an interesting construction that May used for the guitar. And seeing you put such care into this is amazing. Looking forward to your commentary version to hear about your experience putting it together!

[@johnpfeiffer112]

Well worth the wait! It’s a real milestone that you finally tackled this project. You’re an inspiration.

[@oguzhanbayoglu4902]

The "mini tchiks" badge was heartwarming :) and a killer guitar as always. cheers

[@tchiksguitars]

Thanks ! It's more than a badge though, he goes to school in that sweater haha

[@oguzhanbayoglu4902]

@@tchiksguitars how cute :D

[@mojangmicah]

the way your guitars have improved is amazing love your work!

[@tchiksguitars]

Haha thanks for noticing !!

[@dianeruiz0721]

My goodness that is magnificent work my friend! I love ❤️ hearing your little, daughter’s voice, and hearing her giggle. I’m a grandma with two granddaughters and three daughters.

[@tchiksguitars]

Then you'll love my last video where I build a bass with her

[@mikegibsonincognito4580]

Awesome video, beautiful job of the whole project, the guitar build exceptional and the video timing and camera locations spot on. Thank you so much for taking the time to show us your craftsmanship. I hope it is a guitar you keep for life. Just love your workshop big envy there. One of the best videos on KZbin ❤

[@michaelbrenton4380]

It looks exactly like Brian May's Red Special. Awesome job man. It also sounds exactly like Brian May's Red Special too

[@miserychannel666]

I had no idea that Brian's guitar was constructed like this. Fascinating, fantastic work of art.

[@kylejmcardell]

This was simply a joy to watch! Such an incredible instrument and I really enjoyed seeing the process of making it, thank you for taking the time to do it!

[@alinasirpour-xc7yq]

loved everything about this video, the craftsmanship, the details, your daughter's voice. all amazing

[@PanaMethul]

What a great build! You and mini Tchiks did an awesome job.

[@tchiksguitars]

Thank you !

[@angakok]

Impresionante, suena de lujo, gran trabajo y como siempre es un placer verte trabajar con esa meticulosidad y perfección.

[@nofcereal]

Tout est d'une qualité hallucinante : le travail du bois, les finitions, l'électronique, la vidéo et même le jeu. C'est vraiment toujours un plaisir de regarder tes vidéos ! Et félicitations à Zoé qui a l'air d'être "un très bon second" !

[@miltontuffpuff]

Your videos are like a lullaby for me. I often put them on and slowly fall asleep. Such a soothing thing it is for me. Thank you so much.

[@arcturusartamo6806]

В этом мире еще есть место чуду . СПАСИБО ! ❤🤘👍👏

[@user-lw1pr6hs9r]

You're a real master mate! I wonder tho what Brian himself would say after playing it!

[@johnskerlec9663]

Brilliant work Sir. Such patience is rare. I loved May's guitar sound when growing up and was blown away that he had such a cool custom, and made with his Dad. Thanks for the share.

[@anabidingdude8079]

Amazing build and result. An insane amount of work and detail. Bravo, monsieur!

[@hururuk]

한글로 댓글을 달아도 번역이 되겠죠? 중간에 딸아이와 함께 만드는 장면 .. 나중에 딸아이가 크면 멋진추억이 될것 같습니다. 기타만드는 영상은 볼때마다 힐링이 되는것 같아요. 멋진영상 고맙습니다.

[@tchiksguitars]

It has been translated and I thank you :) best Wishes for your family

[@AmpleOhms]

KITTY APPEARANCE

[@rejerh8731]

Oh boy.... I was waiting for this for months!!! Soooo happy!

[@larsfrandsen2501]

Beautiful documentary. Yes, get kids into woodworking! There is nothing like it for grounding them and bonding with parents. My late father was a cabinet maker. Some of my fondest memories of my childhood with him are through woodworking. Thanks for making such a beautiful tribute film to Brian May and the guitar he made with his dad.

[@marinbegovic8500]

Tchiks, you are such an inspiration! Excellent craftmanship and most interesting guitar building content out there, with barely speaking a word!

[@khristopherkomodoensis4734]

Tchiksguitars in 5 years: Daughter's first guitar build It's really amazing seeing your daughter help you for certain parts. I hope that when I become a parent in 10+ years that I'll be able to include my kids in my hobbies like you do with yours. As always, wonderful video and I look forward to the next!

[@noahfreeman8115]

so excited to see this pop up on my dashboard. also, i started my guitar build the other day largely because of the confidence i’ve found through this channel!

[@jjcollins]

Watching this brought a huge smile to my face as I have been a lifelong Queen fan and a huge fan of Brian May. Your work is incredible and I know you put your heart and soul into it. I can only imagine how long it took to do this and to do it the way you did. Absolutely inspiring to watch, and the filming was also done extremely well. Also the fact that your daughter was involved and helped you along the way makes it priceless. To see you play it at the end was great. I can not express how much I enjoyed it. Seriously, this is one of the best videos I've seen on KZbin in a very long time. Extremely well done!

[@tchiksguitars]

Thank you so so much

[@douglassloan6831]

Wow. I am kind of speechless. What an amazing job. And the fact that the little one was involved along the way is so incredibly meaningful. I hope that Brian May runs across this at some point. It really is a true work of art.

[@Ripperx121]

I am simply in awe of your work. Also the filming and editing of these videos is top notch too. These videos for me are very relaxing. Just think someday your daughter will surpass the master!

[@dethbyfatgoats7627]

I don’t usually leave comments but this was both so impressive and wholesome. Your daughter is a natural and I love the dynamic you two share.

[@StealthBeeKid]

This was the most relaxing guitar making video ive ever seen, props for including your kids on the build, I'm sure it was a fantastic moment for you guys

[@andylk3318]

Just wanted to say that your Tele videos convinced me that I could build guitars at home too! I've finished 2 now (one with a fuzz pedal built-in) and I've got more in the works, so thank you for your inspiring videos! This Red Special really is something else, it's easy to see just how much time and planning went into everything even before you started filming. Looks amazing!

[@jeff1872t]

Seeing the way you build is inspiring. Thanks for putting these up.

[@DevanSabaratnam]

This was so much fun to watch! Thank you for posting this. I always love watching master craftsmen/craftswomen at work, and I especially loved that you involved your daughter in this build too (craftskid?). Was very magical, and I love the results. Brian May was one of my guitar heroes and earliest influences, and I think you built a worthy tribute. 👏

[@tchiksguitars]

haha, craftskid

[@erichfranz08]

Man, I was amazed by your work and commitment to realise your dream of making your idol's guitar. What also moved me was not only the achievement of your extraordinary work with the guitar... but also sharing it with your daughter!!! I thought that was really cool! I made a point of sharing your video with my friends. May God continue to protect you and inspire you in your future endeavours. Cheers.

[@dh9228]

To be able to build this is incredible and I’m in absolute awe, well done to you and you’re little ones who helped you, as a fellow guitar player I salute you, keep doing what you do 🤘🏻

[@user_ninefoureighttwoseventwo]

So happy you uploaded again, love the result!

[@stevepbyrne]

Far and away the best red special guitar build video I've seen. A beautiful guitar, and it's great to see that you allowed your daughter to join in.

[@Jake28700]

Been waiting for a new build and you never fail to impress!

[@The68lespaul]

I too,like yourself, am a Big Brian May Fan, me and my Father were driving to a small public airport, where he kept his plane, on the way there Bohemian Rhapsody came over the cars radio, the music coming out of the cars radio made me stare at the radio as the song was playing, i couldnt believe my own ears, I made it my personal mission to find out what that was, I heard the radio announcer say the bands name, then the name of the song, thats all I needed , I was Hooked ever since, I was 7 yrs old during this drive, I ended up becoming a Guitarist, I had no idea at all what type/kind of guitar Queens guitarists used, I started out on lespaul copies, only to find out finally seeing Brian May playing on stage, i was way off in my search for finding the guitar that he was playing making that sound, i had to have it, though i dont have a red special, my rig pretty much gives me the exact same sound as his, but playing for me became more personal, i wanted my own sound, like Brian, I too, wanted a unique sound i could call my own, thanks be to God, ive done just that !!, just for the sake of asking, would you ever consider building a red special to sell, say if someone were to ask you to build them one is that something you might entertain ?? just asking ? P.S. I thought you did an Awesome Job Building the Red Special , it looked like Brians to me !!! Very Well Done !! 2/5/24

[@Robsacousticfoolishness]

Literally one of the most amazing things I've watched in a long time. Your craftsmanship is utterly exquisite. Just wow

[@Gibgraf]

Priceless! The patience and level of skill is a wonder to watch and and even her dad is pretty good!😅 fantastic to watch and long awaited. Keep up the great work.

[@msmith2961]

Well worth the wait to see this spectacular build! Loved the mini scraper you used to take the pink edges away and leave it crisp and white. Perfect.

[@DavePilotCH47]

Your daughter is a very lucky girl! It’s truly a blessing to be spending such quality time together. I hope you enjoy every minute of it!!! Awesome guitar btw!!

[@kcmsterpce]

I can't really say how emotional this was for me to watch. From the crazy design of the guitar itself, to the charming moments you allowed your kid to help build this guitar, all the way down to your personal investment in the project as a testament to your reverence for Brian May... it all comes together through your amazing editing and visual style. Congrats on one of my most favorite videos on KZbin.

[@tchiksguitars]

Thank you so much !

[@BogdanBacila301]

Once again, such a fantastic build coming from you! Thank you for sharing your work, it is truly a work of art. I can't wait to see your next builds. Well done!

[@tchiksguitars]

Thanks !

[@alobee470]

Des vidéos toujours superbement bien montées ! c'est un régal. Je suis bouche bée devant autant de précision, de patience, de minutie. Bravo !

[@user-fh5mj7bx1u]

I am very glad that you are okay, missing your videos for the last couple of months! Awesome build and thanks for the inspiration - currently building my own Tele style guitar because of you!

[@tchiksguitars]

Way to go ! :)