Replicas
Official replicas of the "Red Special" guitar have been manufactured in varying numbers and in multiple models (i.e. a higher-end full-featured model, and a lower-cost one lacking some of the intricacies of the former) several times during the 1980s and 90s, most often by the Guild Guitar Company from 1983 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 1995 and by Burns Guitars from 2001 (mass-produced models made in Korea). The Burns model, produced with guidance from May, was awarded "Best Electric Guitar of the Year 2001" by Guitarist Magazine. Currently two separate companies manufacture "Red Special" models, Brian May Guitars (taking over manufacture from Burns) and KZ GuitarWorks (replica-quality, hand-made in Japan by master luthier Kazutaka Ijuin). Dillion Guitars (built in Korea) also makes unofficial "Tribute Guitars", in two models. A second unofficial manufacturer, RS Guitars (hand-built in Arizona, US), discontinued production of their models in January 2011, partially due to the company owner feeling upset after a meeting with May.
The Brian May Guitars version differ from the Burns original in a few points; for example, the tremolo was now a two-point synchronized tremolo with rear access plate. The Brian May Guitars models also feature a half moon scratch plate behind the bridge to emulate the original. The switches were also changed from black to white to match Brian's guitar. They still use the Burns Tri-Sonic pickups. 24 guitars were made in a rare baby blue color with a pearloid pickguard and gold hardware. The guitars come in Antique Cherry, White and 3 Tone Sunburst with chrome hardware. They also have Honey Sunburst, Black and Gold with gold hardware.
Greg Fryer, an Australian guitar luthier, produced 3 copies of the Red Special in 1996/97 with permission from May, who allowed Fryer to x-ray the body for information on the internal cavities in the body, taking exhaustive body measurements for CAD/CAM reproduction. Fryer named his three replicas John, Paul and George Burns (after 2 members of The Beatles and the famous American comedian). May has two of these guitars, John and George Burns, while Fryer kept Paul. While the woods used in John and Paul are more faithful to the original, George Burns was built with New Guinea rosewood for a "more aggressive edge" tonally. John is Brian's main back up Red Special, and is tuned to standard. When Brian plays George Burns live, he tunes it to Drop D tuning, to play "Fat Bottomed Girls", and occasionally "Another One Bites The Dust".
In 2004, Andrew Guyton, a guitar luthier from East Anglia in the UK, manufactured 50 copies of the Red Special: 40 in red to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the guitar, and 10 in green, as he had previously seen a Guild copy available in green and liked it. May has recently had another Red Special copy made with a scalloped fretboard made by Guyton.
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