How to Dial In "Just One Life" by Brian May - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Just One Life"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Back to the Light (1992). Back to the Light is the debut solo studio album by English musician Brian May, the guitarist of Queen. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Brian May Guitars Red Special through a Vox AC30HW2 Hand-Wired (Greenback), the rig we use for Brian May's other songs from Back to the Light, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Just One Life" Tone
What guitar did Brian May use on "Just One Life"?
The guitar on "Just One Life" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Brian May Guitars Red Special above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Just One Life" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 8. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Just One Life" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Just One Life" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Just One Life" by Brian May are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.