The 'Red Special' guitar was designed and built by Brian May and his dad Harold between 1964-1966. His guitar has become one of the most extraordinary and innovative electric guitars ever built.
The Red Special is a work of mastery which addresses many design issues found in other guitars at that time. From the roller pins on the bridge system, to the simple articulation of the tremolo on a knife edge and headstock design with the straight string pull over the zero fret. This design was found to be far better than any of the other very successful contemporary guitars of the time. Very few guitars since the mid 1960s have bettered Brian and Harold's innovative design.
The unique beautiful flowing lines of the Red Special's guitar body and neck have few equals and are on a par with some of greatest electric guitars ever designed such as the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul.
Since the 1960s, due to Brian's equally extraordinary playing, the Red Special has become one of the most iconic rock guitars.
This Rotten Red Special guitar has been constructed as Brian and Harold constructed the original. Utilising and researching the original the Rotten version is also built with a Mahogany Neck and oak fret board. The Body is chambered blockboard with oak block inserts. Finished with 2.5mm mahogany veneer front, back and sides.
Hardware has been manufactured by hand as per the original Red Special guitar drawings.
Original colour has been recreated utilising Rustins Red and Black dye. The colour has been locked in place by nitrocellulose clear lacquer.
Pickups have been hand wound in Yorkshire by Matt at Yonderbosk pickups to the original 1960s specification as used in Brian Mays Red Special. Matt's pickups are now being used to upgrade many factory built Red Specials around the globe.
Specifications
Body: Blockboard and oak with tonal chambers, white binding, 2.5mm mahogany veneers to the top rear and sides
Neck: One piece African mahogany, long tenon, bolt-on
Fretboard: Lacquered black painted oak, radius 7,25″, scale 24″, mother of pearl inlays, 9619H frets and Dunlop zero fret.
Nut/string guide: Vintage brown bakelite, 46 mm width
Neck profile: Original BM style fat profile
Tuners: M5 Guyver professional locking tuners with white pearloid buttons
Bridge: Original BM style roller bridge replica
Tremolo: Steel tremolo with two valve compression springs
Strap pins: Original BM style
Pickups: Yonderbosk Sovereign BM replicas with vintage correct specs
Electronics: 6 Switchcraft switches ON/OFF and PHASE, 0.33 capacitor
Colour: Original vintage Rustins Red and Black.
Accessories: 6 x spare rollers, 4mm & 5mm Allen keys.
Case: Custom Rotten ABS case
