Brian May

Brian May Amp Settings

EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp

Vox AC30 Top Boost — Dial Settings

Sourced
8
Gain
4
Bass
6
Mid
7
Treble
Vox AC30 Top Boost — volume cranked for natural class-A harmonic breakup. Bass restrained, treble forward. Rangemaster-style treble booster before the amp to push the input stage. Homemade Red Special with tri-rail humbuckers, bridge pickup.

All values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.

Choosing the Right Amp

vox acVox AC15/AC30 — class-A British chime. Unique compressed response at volume.

Amp at Every Budget

£200 · Beginner
Vox Pathfinder 10
$100
Full rig →
£500 · Sweet Spot
Vox VT20X Valvetronix
$189
Full rig →
£1,000 · Pro-Level
Vox AC30C2
$634
Full rig →
£2,500 · Premium
Vox AC30C2
$1,396
Full rig →

Getting the Most From Your Amp

  • Use the amp's own drive channel rather than stacking too many pedals —Brian May's tone benefits from amp-driven saturation.
  • Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.