On this day, 9th of August, many years ago, Queen did a legendary show...

^^^ yes your right. Over those two years it seemed to be an on going problem. In fact at a run of three shows in Europe in 82 the top E string broke during Now Im Here, and at another show it seemed to snag somewhere and go badly out of tune. The problem also occurred at Milton Keynes.

Of course tuning problems and breakages can always occur, unless you're David Gilmour! but it just seemed to be an on going problem in the early 80's for BM

Brian's guitar is irritatingly out of tune on the Rainbow '74 November show as well. During Liar in Houston '77 he breaks a string and then gets his replacement guitar which is already out of tune lol. I don't think Brian tuned his guitar between the songs during some of the shows, maybe he didn't hear it was out of tune.

Either that or the humidity of the place once it's packed had a part with it detuning.

[QUOTE] [b]Killer_queenIII wrote:[/b]

Either that or the humidity of the place once it's packed had a part with it detuning.[/QUOTE]

Also the heat generated under the huge par can lighting rigs they used wouldn't have helped.

Modern lighting uses less powerful bulbs to produce a similar optical effect, causing less heat.

[QUOTE] [b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b]

Brian's guitar is irritatingly out of tune on the Rainbow '74 November show as well. During Liar in Houston '77 he breaks a string and then gets his replacement guitar which is already out of tune lol. I don't think Brian tuned his guitar between the songs during some of the shows, maybe he didn't hear it was out of tune.[/QUOTE]

So that's two shows out of hundreds. Guitars go out of tune now and again, and there are any number of reasons why.

His tech is responsible for the guitar being in tune, not him.

But indeed, his guitar was having issues in the early 80s, and surely he must have had some work done around that time. It was a 15 year old guitar by that point that hadn't been teched in any major way, so it was time. It's amazing that it still works, considering it was the only one he made.

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[b]The Real Wizard wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [/QUOTE] His tech is responsible for the guitar being in tune, not him.

[/QUOTE]

Surely he could tune it himself between songs if it went out of tune. That's what other guitar players do. Breaking a string is a different matter of course and naturally his tech should have it in tune when he hands it over to Brian.

The problem is, with all that noise et al, it's hard to notice it too clearly.

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[b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b] Surely he could tune it himself between songs if it went out of tune. That's what other guitar players do. Breaking a string is a different matter of course and naturally his tech should have it in tune when he hands it over to Brian.[/QUOTE]

You have obviously never played a guitar with a floating tremolo. :) They are a bit of a pain to tune actually, because if you tighten one of the strings, the others go slightly flat. So normally you have to go two passes or so over all of the strings if the guitar is significantly out of tune. I have never played a RS specifically, but I imagine it's the same.

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[b]Oscar J wrote: [/b] [QUOTE]

[b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b] Surely he could tune it himself between songs if it went out of tune. That's what other guitar players do. Breaking a string is a different matter of course and naturally his tech should have it in tune when he hands it over to Brian.[/QUOTE]

You have obviously never played a guitar with a floating tremolo. :) They are a bit of a pain to tune actually, because if you tighten one of the strings, the others go slightly flat. So normally you have to go two passes or so over all of the strings if the guitar is significantly out of tune. I have never played a RS specifically, but I imagine it's the same.[/QUOTE]

I've got one. A good guitar should stay pretty well in tune, floating tremolo or not. If it goes significantly out of tune that's what the back up guitars are for.

[QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

You have obviously never played a guitar with a floating tremolo[/QUOTE]

I know it wasn't directed at me but: once again some people claim they can deduce such details based on an internet post.

I suppose my writing gives away whether I've ever owned a typewriter, a guitar plectrum, a flat-screen telly and a walkman. Wanna try and guess which one(s) I actually had?

[QUOTE] [b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b]


Surely he could tune it himself between songs if it went out of tune. That's what other guitar players do. Breaking a string is a different matter of course and naturally his tech should have it in tune when he hands it over to Brian.[/QUOTE]

If it went out of tune mid song ( an on going problem in the early 80's) or broke a string mid song there is no way he would stop. Playing and re tune. Another problem with the RS design is that if you break a string it's likely that the roller will drop out of the bridge. So it's not a quick fix.

Hence, like any pro or semi pro player the need for and use of a spare guitar.

Of course his tech, Jobby in the 80's and Pete now would hand BM a perfectly tuned guitar. It doesn't mean it would stay in tune.

Also anyone who has been close enough to watch BM play will be aware that the RS has always had a slight tuning issue, between songs BM often turns the volume down pushes the trem down then allows it to come back up allowing the strings to become friction/ tension free for a few seconds before returning to their natural tension together, thus getting rid of the guitars tendency to go slightly flat when used continually

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[b]Sebastian wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [b]Oscar J wrote:[/b]

You have obviously never played a guitar with a floating tremolo[/QUOTE]

I know it wasn't directed at me but: once again some people claim they can deduce such details based on an internet post.

I suppose my writing gives away whether I've ever owned a typewriter, a guitar plectrum, a flat-screen telly and a walkman. Wanna try and guess which one(s) I actually had?[/QUOTE]

Wasn't meant to be a dig at anyone, you don't have to take everything so seriously/literally (that was what the smiley was for, by the way, which you so conveniently deleted). 

I stand corrected, but still think saying "that's what other guitarists do" is not a great argument considering Brian has a floating tremolo, and a home made one at that.

By the way, Brians backup guitars were often hilariously out of tune as well.

I'm sorry about having deleted the smiley.

Out of curiosity, can you deduce which of those items I actually owned? If so, kudos to you! If not, then I guess it is true that you cannot really get to know a person just by reading what they post on a forum.

[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]
I'm sorry about having deleted the smiley.
. [/QUOTE]

Thanks. Now I'll be able to sleep tonight.

[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]

Out of curiosity, can you deduce which of those items I actually owned? .[/QUOTE]

No, but I am absolutely dying to know.

[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]

If not, then I guess it is true that you cannot really get to know a person just by reading what they post on a forum.[/QUOTE]

Wow, I guess you're right! Great minds at work here.