Is Brian May's Red Special guitar really worth $3,000? (US)

I was watching my WE WILL ROCK YOU DVD...the one where they perform in Canada back in 81?...anyways...I was reading their bio section (yeah like I really needed to do that, lol) and I read Brian's of course. Well, they were talking about how he and his father built his first guitar as a kid...and how it only cost his father $12 (US) at the time...and now a replica of the guitar is $3,000!!!!!!???...I was like, what?? Oh my goodness, is this guitar got platinum strings or something, lol!!! Can anyone explain to me why it cost this much....I'll have to save up probably about three months worth of paychecks to get that guitar...lol!!!!

Seriously, 3k? Just for a replica? Man, rip-off!

Certainly the Greg Fryer model and the more recent highly accurate Andy Guyton copies are indeed very expensive, The Guyton guitars are several thousand pounds, as they are exact replicas hand made, however, if you are keen on a copy the Burns, now Brian May copy is about £500.00, making it a little more affordable, and the tone is good.

As for Brian's original, well priceless!

$3,000 for a very good replica, $700 or so for the cheaper ones(like my Burns). Why is 3K a rip? It is the greatest sounding instrument in the world. The problem is that in order to make his sound you have to pay:

A.) 3 - 4 grand for a good replica(Guild, Fryer, KZ, RS, etc.)

B.) Around $1500 for an AC 30.

C.) Around $600 for a Fryer Treble Booster

We're talking costs in the realm of $6000 and that's not including any other added effects. Plus if you really wan't to go all out you need to buy 2 - 3 more AC 30's and an echoplex/delay setup to achieve his Brighton Rock solos.


The costs are a bitch!

Well, if it sounds like it and you are serious guitarist, then no, that's fair enough.

The best commercially available replica is the Guyton and its priced at aprox £7,000 or $12,200 USD

Kev

ps the real guitar is probably the most valuable in the world, well into the millions, impossible to price (priceless)

man whoever is putting prices on these things (tour merch and such) really have to get over themselves

Why not be yourself and come up with your own setup and your own gear? Brian would want you to do that. After all, he did not copy anybody and he came up with an original style (the harmonies) and sound. He would encourage you to do the same thing.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Richy Mercury wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Why not be yourself and come up with your own setup and your own gear? Brian would want you to do that. After all, he did not copy anybody and he came up with an original style (the harmonies) and sound. He would encourage you to do the same thing. [/QUOTE]

Well you've got a good point there!
BUT, I think the Red Special just has such an incredible sound, that if you use it your ont immediatly a Brain copycay. Someone who uses a Gibson Les Paul isn't a Clapton copy-cat is he?

SOme of you people need to look up what a '50s Les Paul would cost.

that does cost a lot but gibson sucks so not really specail there fender rules !!!

I wonder how much it would cost for like a rock'n'roll musuem to buy it if and when Brian.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Future Queen guitarist wrote: [/QUOTENAME]that does cost a lot but gibson sucks so not really specail there fender rules !!![/QUOTE]

Gibson sucks? Are you kidding? I happen to love the tone and feel of Gibsons...

Thank y'all for the feedback, deeply appreciated!!!

The original RS is probably priceless
The Burns copies were sold in UK for 500 pounds - decent guitar, good value.
The Fryers were made to order in the '90s - price, around 1998 I think, was 5000 pounds (source=Guitar player magazine review)