Real AmpTuning: E StandardPickup: BridgeBeginner FriendlyBest for BeginnersMost AccurateCrunch
A Day at the Races Honk — Half-Volume Rhythm & Full-Volume Solo
The original chain is unusually well documented: Red Special bridge and middle pickups in phase, Dallas Rangemaster treble booster always on, and a mid-1960s Vox AC30 Normal channel with volume at maximum and cut at zero. May set the guitar volume around halfway for the rhythm and raised it to 8–10 for the solo. Source: Guitar World’s “Secrets Behind Brian May’s Guitar Sound on Tie Your Mother Down” (2018).
Signal Chain
Brian May Red Special→Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster→Mid-1960s Vox AC30→Vox AC30 2x12 with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers→Output
GuitarBrian May Red Special
Tone
10
PickupBridge
TuningE Standard
Volume
5
Pickup DetailBridge + middle, in phase
PedalDallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster
ModeAlways on
Boost10
AmpMid-1960s Vox AC30
Cut0
InputHigh
Volume
10
ChannelNormal
Cab / IRVox AC30 2x12 with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers
MicClose dynamic
Mic PositionOff-axis, cap-edge transition
Notes
Leave the amplifier cranked and control gain from the guitar volume. The rhythm should only just break up; the solo gets more sustain from raising the guitar, not switching channels.
Don't have this gear?
See the same signal chain mapped to another platform. Knob values carry over as starting points — gain ranges differ between platforms.