Anyone want one of these???

[Whitestrat]

I don't mind... Heheheh... Not really a Brian May fan, but I like the look of his baby...

RS Guitars - Custom Red Special Style Guitars

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[Dime]

what the f**k is up with the inlays?

 

[Whitestrat]

what the f**k is up with the inlays?

You really don't know what this is do you?

Red Special - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The inlays were a system done by Brian May to mark out the seventh and 12th frets... Quite simple, and quite smart.

BTW, the original red special was made by brian and his father, with centuries old wood taken from his fireplace mantle. I think it was oak or something... He made even the bridge and wound his own pickups. Then he formed Queen. And the rest is history...:twisted:

 

[jasonbruce]

This guitar is a legend in its own right, as was its owner.

Definitely a piece of must-know history for any self-respecting rock musician.

This was my first inspiration many, many years ago to find out more about guitars, in addition to playing them. Of course, not everyone is a genius like Brian May, both in terms of his musicianship and academically too. He just finished his PhD dissertation in astrophysics for crying out loud!

 

[jasonbruce]

When I was a kid, I tried eschewing my plastic pick in favour of a 5-cent coin (ala Brian May).

It didn't work out...

Whitestrat, you planning on ordering this in?

 

[OhamtaroO]

Don't really like the headstock hmmmm..

 

[arsegras]

Is it me or is the fretboard on the first pic glossed?

 

[ShredCow]

I only view an instrument as what it is... an instrument, regardless of what heritage it might have. In fact, heritage does nothing except to serve as inspiration or mojo.

So yeah, I wouldn't mind the guitars - the switching system is versatile. But I wouldn't want the trem

 

[jasonbruce]

I only view an instrument as what it is... an instrument, regardless of what heritage it might have. In fact, heritage does nothing except to serve as inspiration or mojo.

Couldn't agree more. Which is probably one reason these RS's haven't been selling in huge numbers (nor should they, based on reputation alone). Brian's guitar was good for him, and what he did (and still does). Matter of fact, I've never owned a signature series to this day, cos I haven't come across one I'm confortable with.

As for mojo, well that's not really my thing. But inspiration, all of us can claim to have had some of that in our own guitar playing histories.

And what the RS does for me, is to inspire me as a player to find my own voice.

 

[guitarsan]

Once you got this, the urge to buy a Vox AC30 will be very strong!

 

[Whitestrat]

So yeah, I wouldn't mind the guitars - the switching system is versatile. But I wouldn't want the trem

Yes you would... This trem actually allows you to bend a string without the tension change affecting the pitch of the others. By itself is a marvel in design... And to think this was thought of by a kid...

 

[Whitestrat]

When I was a kid, I tried eschewing my plastic pick in favour of a 5-cent coin (ala Brian May).

It didn't work out...

Whitestrat, you planning on ordering this in?

I'm thinking of it... heh... might order this in with a friend... :twisted:

 

[Whitestrat]

Is it me or is the fretboard on the first pic glossed?

Yes, it's lacquered. It's Ebony, and might be a good idea to protect it from hummidity. But you can order the guitar with the fretboard unfinished.

 

[ShredCow]

Yes you would... This trem actually allows you to bend a string without the tension change affecting the pitch of
the others. By itself is a marvel in design... And to think this was thought of by a kid...

As long as its firmed that the bridge design is stable - I can use it.

hmmm? Why wouldn't the other strings pitch change?

The design has springs - so it could move unless its tension was so high, that bending strings don't move it at all.

 

[Whitestrat]

As long as its firmed that the bridge design is stable - I can use it.

hmmm? Why wouldn't the other strings pitch change?

The design has springs - so it could move unless its tension was so high, that bending strings don't move it at all.

That's the mystery... It doesn't shift because it's not based on tension.

 

[ShredCow]

Hmmm... while I don't doubt Mr May's prowress on the guitar... what's the mystery behind the trem?

There's a knife edge that is screwed to the guitar's body.

There are 2 springs.

But the springs aren't placed in front of the trem block like traditional systems - which pull on springs to counter string tension. The Red Special uses springs behind the trem block... which pushes on the springs to counter string tension.

Which is similar to the old Ibanez backstop system, of which a derivative is found in the ZR/Edge-Zero trems too, albeit these are on the opposite side as opposed to the RS.

I'm not a techie, just trying to figure it out.

 

[Whitestrat]

Hmmm... while I don't doubt Mr May's prowress on the guitar... what's the mystery behind the trem?

There's a knife edge that is screwed to the guitar's body.

There are 2 springs.

But the springs aren't placed in front of the trem block like traditional systems - which pull on springs to counter string tension. The Red Special uses springs behind the trem block... which pushes on the springs to counter string tension.

Which is similar to the old Ibanez backstop system, of which a derivative is found in the ZR/Edge-Zero trems too, albeit these are on the opposite side as opposed to the RS.

I'm not a techie, just trying to figure it out.

The mystery is that those were motorcycle springs, which are stiff enough to absorb the tension caused by string bending. But for some reason, the arm isn't as hard to push down as you'd think,,,

I'm not sure, but I think this system by Mr May predates the Ibanez backstop system...

 

[ShredCow]

It does it does... the system DOES pre-date lots of things.

Interesting...