Song Rig

We Will Rock You

Brian May · News of the World · 1977

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Almost entirely acoustic — the famous stomp-and-clap rhythm has no electric guitar until the guitar solo at the end. May's solo uses the Red Special through an overdriven Vox with massive sustain, contrasting sharply with the acoustic-only verse.

Signal Chain

1Burns Red Special (bridge pickup)
2Vox AC30 (fully saturated)
3Treble booster (germanium)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume9

Bass5

Mid6

Treble8

Presence7

Full saturation for the closing solo — every element of May's signal chain working at maximum. The treble booster drives the AC30 into complete saturation, producing the signature singing sustain.

Technique

How to Play It

The explosive dynamic contrast — silence/clapping for two verses, then a wall of saturated guitar at the close — is the entire sonic concept of the song.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Any Vox-voiced amp (AC15, Blues Junior with mid-focused EQ) + a treble booster. The Red Special's unique Burns pickups add character, but a semi-hollow with single-coils gets close.