With Brian Mays Red Special from day one lasting the whole duration of Queen and is still going strong today... What about the other members instruments... John's bass, Roger's drums and Freddie's mic and piano? Did their instruments stand the test of time and the rigors of touring, was there a "pet" one or two favorites that lasted/played on every tour/album or where they swapped out with new manufacturer promotions..? And where are those instruments today..?
John Deacon had many Bass guitars... but from what I have read he had two favorites...? The Fender Precision 1962 model and the black 1967...? I would give my left one for that 1962 and with that sunburst finish... It looks amazing on the Rainbow..!!!
Vocal harmony · Member since
With Queen Brian used other guitars too, a strat and les Paul were used as back up guitars in the early years. Then the John Birch RS from 76 to 82. Then Guild Guitars RS for the 84 and 86 tours. He also had a Flying V during 82. For acoustics, Tokia, Martin, ovation and Gibson.
Freddie used an Ovaition 12 string from 79 to 82 then a Tele for 84 and 86. his pianos, Bechstein or Steinways were hired for tour prior to 78 when I bought a Steinway D9, which was modified for touring with a Hapenstil piano pickup and two 8ft long 2x1 pine "Rails" which were screwed to the long straight side of the piano to make it easier to slide in and out of flight cases.
Johns two most used basses were sunburst 68 Precisions which he had stripped back to bare wood and lacquered, one of these was sprayed black for the Magic tour. He also used a Music Man Stingray from 77 until 1980, although it was still toured in 82. he also used a red precision as a spare during the 86 tour and had a Kramer Bass as a spare for a short time. He bought the slab body 62 while on the Jazz tour and only used it on a handful of 79 shows. He also played a Tele on Staying Power.
Roger used various Ludwig kits through the 70's a light maple kit, and then the black cortex kit. Later a silver sparkle then a chrome finish kit. In 86 he used a Yamaha kit.
Rick · Member since
I believe one of John his bass guitars is being used as an exhibit in a Rock Cafe.
Also, the one used on Under Pressure was specially made for him, I believe. The grey finish (Fender Precision).
master marathon runner · Member since
Brian's red special was actually made from an old fireplace, by him and his dad. I once heard.
KumoNin · Member since
^ Not even attempting to be funny or contribute.
master marathon runner · Member since
Haha, or so you think.
winterspelt · Member since
I read that Brian used a Joe Satriani custom in Mother Love instead of the RS.
Roger gave as gift the kit used in the FM tribute to someone from Extreme.
As for Freddie's piano, I know it is in Garden Lodge but I dont know if its the same he used to take on tour.
Brian used a Washburn flying V which I think was used just for the POTU video...
ZBGM0 · Member since
It would be interesting to know where the white piano (Bechstein) is, the one used for recording Bohemian Rhapsody. I believe the same piano was used for Hammersmith gig 75. I think this piano is forgotten. It is quite possible that even the owner doesn't know its important history.
As far as black Steinway D with cosmetic damage at its left side is concerned (the one that you can see in all later gigs, also Live Aid). Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Brian owns it now at home. But I am not sure.
fras444 · Member since
I do remember seeing that piano in some doco or garden show short on you tube... Going around Brians house and garden and yeah the piano is the main focal point at the entry from memory
Sebastian · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]
I read that Brian used a Joe Satriani custom in Mother Love instead of the RS.[/QUOTE]
No, it was Nothin' But Blue. On Mother Love he played a Parker Fly.
Fred had a house piano (a Yamaha, still in Garden Lodge) and a touring piano (a Steinway, now in Brian's hill). There was also a recording piano in Montreux (another Steinway, now in Roger's studio) and of course plenty of other keyboards.
* Edited to correct the song where the Ibanez was used.
ZBGM0 · Member since
thank for confirmation. I believe that Freddie's Steinway D was shown at Brian's place during an interview few years ago.
Do you know where is white Bechstein? It should be regarded as one of the most (historically) important pianos of rock music. I think this piano supposed to be over a century old.
Vocal harmony · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]
I read that Brian used a Joe Satriani custom in Mother Love instead of the RS.[/QUOTE]
No, it was Lost Opportunity. On Mother Love he played a Parker Fly.
Fred had a house piano (a Yamaha, still in Garden Lodge) and a touring piano (a Steinway, now in Brian's hill). There was also a recording piano in Montreux (another Steinway, now in Roger's studio) and of course plenty of other keyboards.[/QUOTE]
The Ibanez BM used was a Chrome prototype built for him by Ibanez and given to him by Joe Satriani. The back if the head stock is stamped "Prototype" built for Brian May. It has no serial number. He in fact used it on the song Nothing But Blue from Back
to The Light album, the guitar was taken on that tour but not used live.
Although BM is on record as saying the stienway he has was the piano they toured with, it appears to have a high gloss finish. Freddies touring piano had the less expensive satin finish, and by the time of The Works tour it was looking almost matt. The reason for this choice was practicality, the satin finish was more durable and less likely to show scuffs and general abuse from loading in and out of it's flight case. It is of couse very possible that Brian had the piano refurbished.
Sebastian · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Vocal harmony wrote:[/b]
It is of couse very possible that Brian had the piano refurbished.
[/QUOTE]
According to one of the 1994 issues of the Fan Club magazine, Steinway (the company) had volunteered to refurbish that piano, so that might have been what happened.
The piano really looks high gloss, not satin. It probably was refinished. It was necessary, old tarnished finish looked terrible. Maybe the piano was also rebuilt. Try to imagine all the shit this piano went through when touring: loading, moving, extreme humidity and temperature changes, rain etc.
winterspelt · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
No, it was Nothin' But Blue. On Mother Love he played a Parker Fly.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, you are correct! I got confused.
I remember I had (or still have, I dont know) a Korg magazine with a Brian interview, the guys gave Brian a Parker Fly, I wonder if that's the guitar he used on ML...
I cant remember the year of the interview, I will look for it.
Also, Malmsteen have a RS Brian gave to him, does anyone knows if Yngwie had use it?
