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Whatsitoosit · 04-02-2009, 10:01 AM

I own the Burns version of the Brian May guitar... got it from "American Musical Supply" about 4 years ago for $600... don't think they sell it anymore. Anyway, I enjoy playing it and "trying" to get the Brian May sound (which requires a modded high end Vox AC30, volume on 10... with a treble booster and probably something else Brian left out to lead fanboys off track).

As a guitar in general, it's pretty solid... I view it as more of a toy then a high quality instrument, but that's me. Something about the jumbo fret/ebony board combo mixed with the style of my playing makes basic open chords float in and out of tune at times (something that doesn't happen with my American Strat) which shouldn't happen considering it has a fret at the 0 position (which is pretty cool). Again, this I attribute to my playing style, you may find this is a non issue with you. The multiple switch positions on the guitar is a lot of fun as I've probably used them all for all different types of solo's and rhythm patterns. As far as getting used to them it just takes a basic understanding of both rows. One row affects each pick up in phase (what you're used to) and the other coincides with those pick ups out of phase. Sounds confusing, but if you play it enough it gets easy pretty fast.

I play it through a Vox-AC15 with a treble booster and sometimes either an ibanez tube screamer or a keeley modded Ratt pedal (which sounds awesome). A funny/embarrassing thing is that for 4 years now I've been winding the strings on this guitar the wrong way... with the grover tuner pegs on this guitar (which are sweet) you are suppose to pull the string all the way through and then start tightening, so when you cut the end off you don't see any string wound around the peg. I was doing it as I would with a strat and the result was it wasn't staying in tune the way grover tuners are suppose to... now it does, silly me.

Overall, a good instrument... but if you can get your hands on the Guild version of it ($1800 and up) that would be closer to what Brian May had in mind when he built his own guitar. The Burns is the best they could do while keeping the price under a grand. I'm thinking Brian has a new design/company in mind for his next line of guitars... the fact it's hard to get your hands on the Burns model leads me to believe they are working on enhancing it and will release a new version of it sometime in the future... but, who knows. Finding a case for it is also something I've had a lot of difficulty with... I use a gig bag since it's such an oddly shaped guitar and doesn't fit in most guitar cases correctly.

04-02-2009, 10:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Whatsitoosit Bringer of Carrots Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 648	I own the Burns version of the Brian May guitar... got it from "American Musical Supply" about 4 years ago for $600... don't think they sell it anymore. Anyway, I enjoy playing it and "trying" to get the Brian May sound (which requires a modded high end Vox AC30, volume on 10... with a treble booster and probably something else Brian left out to lead fanboys off track). As a guitar in general, it's pretty solid... I view it as more of a toy then a high quality instrument, but that's me. Something about the jumbo fret/ebony board combo mixed with the style of my playing makes basic open chords float in and out of tune at times (something that doesn't happen with my American Strat) which shouldn't happen considering it has a fret at the 0 position (which is pretty cool). Again, this I attribute to my playing style, you may find this is a non issue with you. The multiple switch positions on the guitar is a lot of fun as I've probably used them all for all different types of solo's and rhythm patterns. As far as getting used to them it just takes a basic understanding of both rows. One row affects each pick up in phase (what you're used to) and the other coincides with those pick ups out of phase. Sounds confusing, but if you play it enough it gets easy pretty fast. I play it through a Vox-AC15 with a treble booster and sometimes either an ibanez tube screamer or a keeley modded Ratt pedal (which sounds awesome). A funny/embarrassing thing is that for 4 years now I've been winding the strings on this guitar the wrong way... with the grover tuner pegs on this guitar (which are sweet) you are suppose to pull the string all the way through and then start tightening, so when you cut the end off you don't see any string wound around the peg. I was doing it as I would with a strat and the result was it wasn't staying in tune the way grover tuners are suppose to... now it does, silly me. Overall, a good instrument... but if you can get your hands on the Guild version of it ($1800 and up) that would be closer to what Brian May had in mind when he built his own guitar. The Burns is the best they could do while keeping the price under a grand. I'm thinking Brian has a new design/company in mind for his next line of guitars... the fact it's hard to get your hands on the Burns model leads me to believe they are working on enhancing it and will release a new version of it sometime in the future... but, who knows. Finding a case for it is also something I've had a lot of difficulty with... I use a gig bag since it's such an oddly shaped guitar and doesn't fit in most guitar cases correctly. __________________ "It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face." Last edited by Whatsitoosit; 04-02-2009 at 10:21 AM.