Red Special - Unusual Features

Unusual Features

  • Series wiring
    • The pickups are wired in series rather than the more usual parallel configuration. The output is also added together when wired in series meaning that with all 3 pickups turned on the output is tripled.
  • On/Off switches
    • Each pickup has its own dedicated on/off switch. This allows for the additional pickup combinations of "all 3 on" and "neck and bridge on", combinations not commonly available on three pickup guitars.
  • Phase switches
    • Each pickup has a phase switch which reverses the pickup wiring, therefore reversing the phase of the signal from the pickup. This means that when more than one pickup is active and one has the phase reversed, the resultant tone is what remains after the signal common to the two pickups is canceled out, and only the differences from pickup position remain.
  • Controls
    • The position of volume and tone controls is transposed compared to most guitars with the tone being nearest the pickups and the volume furthest away.
  • Tremolo
    • The tremolo is unique and was designed by Brian and his father. The tremolo system is known as the knife-edge tremolo as it features a knife-edge. The tremolo rocks on a knife-edge that is linked to a couple of motorbike valve springs in the guitar. The tremolo-arm itself was made from a saddle bag carrier from an old bike and a knitting needle from his mother.

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