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rhythm guitar from “keep yourself alive” by queen | ToneDB

keep yourself alive

queen

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

This rhythm guitar tone is characterized by its bright, aggressive, and slightly overdriven sound, providing a powerful and energetic backdrop to the song. It's a classic rock tone with a distinct bite and sustain.

Gear

Burns Brian May Signatureinstrument
Reverb$925Sweetwater
Vox AC30amp
ReverbSweetwater
Neumann U67microphone
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

Brian May recorded "Keep Yourself Alive" using his homemade "Red Special" guitar (not a Burns signature model, which came later) through a Vox AC30 amplifier with his signature treble booster engaged. The recording was done at Trident Studios in London with producer John Anthony and engineer Roy Thomas Baker. May used his characteristic technique of playing with a sixpence coin as a pick and employed extensive overdubbing to create the massive layered sound Queen became known for.

Production Credits

Producer: John Anthony

Engineer: Roy Thomas Baker

Recorded at: Trident Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Burns Brian May Signature

Amp: Vox AC30

Microphone: Neumann U67

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a guitar equipped with single-coil pickups to capture a bright, clear tone. A treble booster can further enhance the high-end frequencies.
  • Use a Vox AC30 or a similar-sounding amplifier with its gain set to a moderate level, achieving a slightly overdriven sound. Adjust the EQ to emphasize the high frequencies and add presence.
  • Experiment with different microphone positions in front of the amplifier to find the sweet spot. A condenser microphone like a Neumann U67 can capture the amp's nuances.
  • Double-track or even quadruple-track the guitar parts to create a thick, layered sound, as was typical in Queen's productions.

Original Gear

  • Burns Brian May Signature(guitar)
  • Vox AC30(amp)
  • Neumann U67(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Brian May Guitars Red Special$3500-$4500

Alternative to: Brian May's Red Special guitar

Official recreation of May's homemade guitar with the same pickup configuration and scale length that creates his signature bright tone

ReverbSweetwater
Catalinbread Galileo$180-$220

Alternative to: Brian May's treble booster

Designed specifically to recreate Brian May's treble booster circuit that pushes the AC30 into singing overdrive

ReverbSweetwater
Vox AC30C2$1200-$1500

Alternative to: Vox AC30 amplifier

Modern version of the same amp model May used, providing the chiming clean-to-overdrive character essential to Queen's rhythm tones

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio Vox AC30 plugin$200-$300

Alternative to: Vox AC30 amplifier

Accurately modeled AC30 plugin that captures the amp's compression and harmonic saturation for home recording

ReverbSweetwater
Guild Brian May Signature$800-$1200

Alternative to: Brian May's Red Special guitar

More affordable option with similar pickup configuration and electronics to approximate May's guitar sound

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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