A special guitar, unique equipment, unmistakable sound. Brian May's guitar tone has powered some of the greatest rock anthems the world has ever heard. Its intricately layered harmonized phrases, powerful base rhythms and sweet clean sounds have blazed a trail of its own for all rock guitarists, proving that rock can have as much brains as brawn.
"This machine is wild!! It turns your guitar into a different instrument in a different universe - in this case, MY universe. Load one of the presets to dive into Hammer to Fall, Bohemian Rhapsody or Killer Queen. Make your own custom adjustments to refine and shape it to your liking and create your own tone. And… save it!!! Enjoy!”
Brian May
Available in a convenient desktop app and plug-in for your DAW, AmpliTube Brian May carefully replicates his rig, including 2 amps, 3 cabinets, and 5 effect pedals, all modeled under the supervision of Brian May himself.
You want it all and IK delivers. We worked meticulously with Brian May and his technicians to deliver the unmistakable sonic signature you've heard on countless albums and stages for decades.
From the treble booster to the three-pack of VOX® AC30™ amps and Brian's carefully curated selection of effects, the attention to detail when shaping this inimitable tone will make you a champion of guitar sound. Grab the sounds that rock thousands today!
It all starts with the guitar…
As far as effects and amps go, the real key to May's sound lies in his Red Special guitar. In the early 1960s, Brian and his father built this guitar from materials they had on hand, including wood from a fireplace frame and springs from a motorcycle! Even the Burns Tri-Sonic pickups have been changed.
For the AmpliTube Brian May, we knew we needed to deliver the unique sound of his instrument, so we went even further to develop a new effects pedal that helps simulate the tone and controls of the Red Special itself.
What's included in AmpliTube Brian May
AmpliTube Brian May introduces 10 new models, including 2 amplifiers, 3 cabinets and 5 pedals designed to recreate the guitar and gear used by Brian live and in the studio. A new pedal that models your Red Special guitar, the incomparable homemade “Deacy” amplifier (with adjustable drum power!), the famous triple amp set, its tone-shaping effects, and even a harmonizer for you to play the leads of Queen with precision and get the tone that ignited an entire rock revolution - they're all here.
2 Amplifiers
BM 30
Based on the classic VOX® AC30™ triple amp set, this model offers 3 amps with the effects chain in Wet-Dry-Wet configuration to match Brian May's iconic setup.
BM DK
Originally created by John Deacon after modifying an old radio. This little amplifier quickly became the hallmark of some of Queen's songs.
3 Cabinets
2x12 BM 30 Blue
Triple cabinet based on the VOX® AC30™ cabinet section equipped with Celestion™ Alnico Blue speakers.
2x12 BM 30 H70
Triple cabinet based on the VOX® AC30™ cabinet section equipped with Celestion™ G12H Anniversary speakers.
1x6 BM DK
Cabinet section of the BM DK amplifier, with 6” speaker, modeled after the mysterious “Deacy” amplifier.
5 Pedals
Red Special
Created through a detailed study of Brian May's famous guitar, it helps add to the unique sound and controls of Red Special itself.
Treble Booster
Based on the original KAT® Treble Booster, this effect pedal will enrich the sound of your guitar like Brian May by boosting it before it goes into the amp.
May Wah
Based on the Dunlop® Cry Baby® rack wah, modeled with the exact settings Brian uses to shape his sound.
FOX Phaser
Based on the fOXX® Foot Phaser, a footswitch-controlled phaser with a distinctive, unique sound.
stargate
This noise gate helps clean up the signal chain, minimizing noise in Brian's unique pedal set and amp.
Innovative Modeling Technology
For the Brian May AmpliTube, we used our state-of-the-art Dynamic Interaction Modeling™ technology to deliver the highest level of ultra-realistic sound when modeling Brian's gear. The product of 20 years of experience in modeling analog equipment, DIM™ models the behavior of EACH circuit component down to its smallest nuances and personality. IK models have set the industry standard evidenced by gaining recognition and creating partnerships with the industry's most influential manufacturers such as Fender®, Ampeg®, Orange®, Soldano® and many others.
Applied to Brian May's gear, the result is the same sound and feel you'd get from real gear as he used it in studio recordings and live concerts.
Legendary tones… free
AmpliTube Custom Shop is the free software package for your Mac or PC that includes a complete dual guitar signal chain; tuner section, pedalboard, amplifier, cabinet, microphone and effects rack. Comes with 24 pieces of gear and access to our incredible online music store where you can purchase Brian May AmpliTube models individually or as a complete collection. You can even build practically any set of equipment you dream of by combining AmpliTube Brian May equipment with the gigantic universe of equipment available to test or purchase in the Custom Shop.
When used as a standalone application, AmpliTube Custom Shop features a 4-track recorder section and a music player with play-along capabilities. The SpeedTrainer function allows you to slow down the audio so you can study Brian May's licks note by note without changing the tuning. Take a sixpence coin as a pick and try it…
