Burns USA Brian May Signature Electric Guitar

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
The official Brian May signature guitar

The Brian May Signature Guitar represents the culmination of years of collaboration between Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Guitarist Brian May and Burns London. With the goal of creating an affordable but artistically faithful copy of the legendary "Red Special", this guitar is like no other you've ever played.

The Brian May Signature Guitar delivers incredible replication of the Red Special's resonance and sound quality. The three Burns Tri-sonic pickups wired in series, handmade to the original design, deliver the punch, bite, and clarity you've always wanted.

Whether you are looking for the "Queen Sound" that Brian May helped make famous, or you are more into funk, blues or jazz, this guitar lets you express your artistry.

Features

21 possible pickup switching combinations

Fully accessible 24 fret neck

Mahogany neck and body with ebony fingerboard

Exceptionally comfortable whammy bar

Auto-locking Grover Tuners

Bi-Directional truss rod

Tuners: Locking Grovers

Fingerboard: Polished, grade-A ebony

Frets: 24 medium frets, plus a zero fret

Woods: Mahogany body and neck

Pickups: Triple Burns Tri-Sonic Pickups, wired in series

Electronics: On/off and phase reversal switches for each pickup

Controls: Master tone and volume

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (36 ratings)
Submitted January 3, 2007 by a customer from Cox.net

Burns USA Brian May Signature Electric Guitar Customer Review

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Would definitely replace it if lost. True Burns Tri-Sonic pick-ups are a major plus. (I have added them to two of my other guitars!) Artistics value alone is worth keeping this one.

Sound
Never gigged with it. I use treble boost frequently. (OK, sometimes I play with delay "Now I'm Here"!) Action is fast and the Intonation is good. Only use it for creative recreation since my hollow bodies are better suited to my music (Jazz & Bluesy Rock.) Suppose it would be perfect for live performance because it stays in tune!

Features
Zero fret really makes it nice! Whammy bar is thin, round stock. I like Bigsby style better. I love the pick-up switches (a lot better than other brands' 5-way blade switch.) Only wish they were white. Every pick-up combination you could ask for. Wired like Jimmy Page's - yields 21 different possibilities. Burns Tri-Sonic pickups are worth every penny! (Not all Brian May copies have true Burns TriSonics. Get the Burns guitar to be sure.

Ease of Use
If you want Brian May's sound you still need a treble booster & a good amp. Tuners lock: stays in tune even after dives on the tremolo.

Quality
Finish on my green model is flawless. I am a retired quality control inspector with a keen eye for flaws. I searched in vain to find dings, dents or dirt in the finish. I do wish it had the tortoise shell pickguard instead of the black. read more

Value
Very good value for the going rate of $800~$1000 USD. Personally I like the Burns Brian May model better than the Guild Brian May model. I have played them both with the same setups.

Manufacturer Support
Never needed support.

The Wow Factor
Best Brian May model under $2000. Also the best Burns model ever made. Fit & finish are awesome. I have a studio Les Paul with boutique pick-ups & custom wiring that achieves the same sounds. I still like the look & feel of this Burns.

Musical Background:
serious hobbyist

Musical Style:
Rock, Jazz, Folk
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