Queen’s Brian May Guitar

The guitar we all heard on Queen’s hits through the ‘70s and ‘80s

is called The Red Special. Gibson? Fender? Another brand?

Nope. It was built by Brian May himself with the help of Harold, his father.

At the time, Brian couldn’t afford a major brand guitar.

He got mahogany from an old fireplace mantle. He made an oak fingerboard.

He made neck inlays with mother of pearl buttons. The sound of Queen began

as a father/son project and that guitar stayed with him on stage and in studio.

Last week, Brian gave a special gift to his old friend, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath..

He had a replica of The Red Special made for his left-handed buddy.

Now there are two one-of-a-kind guitars, a right handed and a left handed.

That pair would be the ultimate collector set played by two of the greatest.

Brian May Queen's Guitar

^{The Red Special used to be a fireplace mantle.}

^{Here’s on we found that used to be a pig sty:}

^{Subscribe to the YouTube channel after you watch this episode:}

^{https://youtu.be/NSvwu3T9fhU?si=YOiRqsSRcAWS8lNQ}

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai

The coolest guitars that get the most attention are the ones that have been in the hands of legendary players. The thought that you could play the very same instrument is appealing to so many.

Two legends are going on tour this Spring. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have a few dates on the East Coast, followed by a West coast run, then up through the Midwest. Those tickets go on sale today.

Satriani has been nominated for a Grammy 15 times. Vai started his career by taking lessons from Satriani.

Vai has 3 Grammys.

Steve Vai

^{We met a luthier that caught Steve Vai’s attention. He even signed the masterpiece guitar.}

^{Subscribe to the YouTube channel after you watch this episode:}

^{https://youtu.be/eLs1h0iWbLk?si=RYBK7qofQ_Tb2pFS}

Joe Walsh Donates Guitars

Collectors and Christmas Shoppers with deep pockets can circle December 16-17 on the calendar.

Joe Wash is donating 800 items to VetsAid. 400 of those items are guitars. He says, “ I have played every one of them.”

If you wanted to actually see all the items, including a Mclaren super car, Joe Walsh’s stuff is at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Imagine 400 guitars played by Joe Walsh.

Two of them are pretty interesting. There is a 1966 Framus 12-string from the Barnstorm album that he played on tour.

The other is a 2014 Duesenberg Joe Walsh Signature semi-hollowbody electric guitar that he played live with the Eagles. That’s about a $3000 guitar before Joe Walsh played it on tour for the Eagles 40th Anniversary. I’ll track the sale of that one, just for amusement.

Here’s a celebrity owned guitar that makes me smile:

https://youtu.be/Qw8exGaS19c?si=h7Ap4OtHCpW0NV0k