MODEL 2. “Bohemian Rhapsody,”
A Night at the Opera
,
1975
The multi-part harmonies alone on this landmark recording took over 80
hours to complete. The entire song was recorded in about three weeks.
The song’s promotional video is widely considered to be the headwater
for the entire music video industry, and the song itself frequently appears
near or at the top of “best rock song” lists.
Toe (Green) Mode
– Based on the vocal-like and sustaining guitar tone
from the first solo. The Red Special (with neck and middle pickups turned
on and out of phase) is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox
TM
AC30.
Heel (Red) Mode
– Based on the hard rock rhythm and finale tones af-
ter the a cappella section. The Red Special (with neck and middle pickups
turned on and in phase) is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox AC30.
Control Knob
– Increases or decreases the midrange.
Expression Pedal
– No function in Toe Mode, but in Heel Mode it
gradually morphs into the Deacy tone as you rock it forward.
MODEL 3. “Tie Your Mother Down,”
A Day at the Races,
1976
Brian wrote this song’s opening riff one morning while working toward
a Ph.D. in astronomy in the Canary Islands. He jokingly associated the
words “tie your mother down” with the riff because those words had a
similar rhythm. But Freddie Mercury loved the line, and the rest of the
lyrics grew from it.
Toe (Green) Mode
- This is the song’s intro tone, with the Red Special’s
volume backed off to ¾, and the bridge and middle pickups turned on.
The Red Special is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox
TM
AC30.
Heel (Red) Mode
- This is the solo tone, with the Red Special’s volume
all the way up and the bridge and middle pickups turned on. The Red
Special is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox AC30.
Control Knob
– Increases or decreases the midrange.
Expression Pedal
– No function for this model.
Summary of Contents for BRIAN MAY RED SPECIAL PEDAL
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