Brian May has been referred to as a virtuoso guitarist by many publications and musicians.He has featured in various music polls of great rock guitarists, and in 2011 was ranked number 26 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.Former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar stated, “I thought Queen were really innovative and made some great sounding records.. I like the rockin’ stuff. I think Brian May has one of the great guitar tones on the planet, and I really, really love his guitar work.”May mainly used the “Red Special”, which he designed when he was only 16 years old. It was built with wood from an 18th century fireplace. His comments on the guitar:
“I like a big neck – thick, flat and wide. I lacquered the fingerboard with Rustin’s Plastic Coating. The tremolo is interesting in that the arm’s made from an old bicycle saddle bag carrier, the knob at the end’s off a knitting needle and the springs are valve springs from an old motorbike.” —Brian May