How to Dial In "Procession" by Queen - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Procession"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for the original amp. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Queen II (1974). The song's Wikipedia article calls "Procession" a short instrumental, a funeral march, that Brian May recorded as overlapping, multi-tracked parts on the Red Special played through John Deacon's custom-made amplifier, the Deacy Amp. The Deacy Amp article describes a circuit board from a Supersonic PR80 portable radio fitted into a speaker cabinet and powered by a 9-volt battery, with no volume or tone controls, and says May used it with the Red Special and a treble booster to get orchestral lines such as violin, cello or trombone, starting with an unreleased 1973 song and this one. The original is a one-off, so the Vox VBM-1 Brian May Special, which Vox built from the Deacy circuit with a treble booster of its own, stands in for the amp, and a Dallas Rangemaster stands in for the booster. No source gives the pickup selection, so start on the bridge pickup. Set a small-amp, compressed, saturated tone with the booster engaged and record each harmony as its own part. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Procession" Tone
What guitar did Queen use on "Procession"?
Queen recorded "Procession" (released 1974) before the Brian May Guitars Red Special came out; it is named above as a modern equivalent. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Procession" need?
On the original amp: Gain 7, Volume 6. 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 "Procession" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Procession" 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.
What pedals are on "Procession"?
The original signal chain for "Procession" runs through Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Procession" by Queen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.