DSP Rig
Brian May Tone — Plugins & Amp Sims
The Red Special (three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, out-of-phase switching) into a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster into Vox AC30s. The treble booster sharpens the top end and drives the AC30 into harmonic saturation — the result is bright, complex and layered. May uses a sixpence coin as a pick for a brighter, more articulated attack.
Brian May's signature amp-driven tone — built around Vox voicings — can be replicated in the box using modern amp sim plugins and IR cab loaders. This page maps the full DSP signal chain: guitar sim → amp sim → FX → IR, so you can dial in that layered, orchestral character without physical gear.
Full DSP Chain
Est. £1,063Brian May Red Special (replica)
£499
HX Stomp (A30 Fawn model)
≈ Vox AC30
£549
Helix: Super Tramp (Treble Booster)
Helix: Transistor Tape Delay
Celestion Pulse Blue IR
£15
Hybrid Option
Est. £1,063Real guitar into a DSP amp chain — best of both worlds.
Brian May Red Special (replica)
£499
HX Stomp (A30 Fawn model)
≈ Vox AC30
£549
Helix: Super Tramp (Treble Booster)
Helix: Transistor Tape Delay
Celestion Pulse Blue IR
£15
Tone DNA
Gain Structure
amp-driven
Amp References
Vox
Key FX
Treble Boost, Delay
Tonal Character
layered, orchestral, treble-boosted, warm