How to Dial In "God Save the Queen" by Queen - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "God Save the Queen"
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 A Night at the Opera (1975). A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 28 November 1975, by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. For the album's guitar orchestrations Brian May overdubbed his homemade Red Special through the Deacy Amp John Deacon built, which Vox later released as the Brian May amplifier. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this particular recording, so a Brian May Guitars Red Special through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for Queen's other songs from A Night at the Opera, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "God Save the Queen" Tone
What guitar did Queen use on "God Save the Queen"?
The guitar on "God Save the Queen" (released 1975) isn't documented; the Brian May Guitars Red Special above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "God Save the Queen" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "God Save the Queen" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "God Save the Queen" 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.
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Tone references for "God Save the Queen" by Queen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.