Burns USA Brian May Signature Electric Guitar
The official Brian May signature guitar
Overall User Ratings (based on 36 ratings)
Submitted January 3, 2007 by a customer from Cox.net
Burns USA Brian May Signature Electric Guitar Customer Review
Would definitely replace it if lost. True Burns Tri-Sonic pick-ups are a major plus. (I have added them to two of my other guitars!) Artistics value alone is worth keeping this one.
Sound
Never gigged with it. I use treble boost frequently. (OK, sometimes I play with delay "Now I'm Here"!) Action is fast and the Intonation is good. Only use it for creative recreation since my hollow bodies are better suited to my music (Jazz & Bluesy Rock.) Suppose it would be perfect for live performance because it stays in tune!
Features
Zero fret really makes it nice! Whammy bar is thin, round stock. I like Bigsby style better. I love the pick-up switches (a lot better than other brands' 5-way blade switch.) Only wish they were white. Every pick-up combination you could ask for. Wired like Jimmy Page's - yields 21 different possibilities. Burns Tri-Sonic pickups are worth every penny! (Not all Brian May copies have true Burns TriSonics. Get the Burns guitar to be sure.
Ease of Use
If you want Brian May's sound you still need a treble booster & a good amp. Tuners lock: stays in tune even after dives on the tremolo.
Quality
Finish on my green model is flawless. I am a retired quality control inspector with a keen eye for flaws. I searched in vain to find dings, dents or dirt in the finish. I do wish it had the tortoise shell pickguard instead of the black.
Value
Very good value for the going rate of $800~$1000 USD. Personally I like the Burns Brian May model better than the Guild Brian May model. I have played them both with the same setups.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed support.
The Wow Factor
Best Brian May model under $2000. Also the best Burns model ever made. Fit & finish are awesome. I have a studio Les Paul with boutique pick-ups & custom wiring that achieves the same sounds. I still like the look & feel of this Burns.
Musical Background:
serious hobbyist
Musical Style:
Rock, Jazz, Folk
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Submitted April 26, 2021 by a customer from gmail.com
"Burns Brian May signature Red Special electric guitar."
I am the proud owner of a 2001 Burns Brian May signature Red Special electric guitar with the serial number BHM 2599 in a beautiful hardshell case.I had to replace the jack plug input socket which was faulty and I've trimmed the frets and adjusted the truss rod and bridge saddles myself. It's now an amazing guitar with extremely playable action. I use Thomastic Infeldt electric roundwound nines strings and I select the pickups from a warm jazz tone to a clean Shadows style and a twangy Duane Eddie rock sound, as well as a well-balanced strumming tone for chord accompaniments for my songs.Voted the best electric guitar of the year 2001 and I totally agree. How many of these exact guitars were actually built ?
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Submitted May 31, 2005 by a customer from sbcglobal.net
Burns USA Brian May Signature Electric Guitar Customer Review
Even though this guitar sounds really good, I will never buy another Burns product again due to the poor quality control shown on this guitar, which is pretty high-end model from this company.
Quality
It came in a really poor (can't-be-any-poorer-level) manufacturer original packaging - not the seller's. Mine had a major deep scratch in front, but since the packaging did not have any damage, I believe it was a manufacturer defect. Moreover, the one I had received did not even have a Burns logo anywhere on the guitar or packaging without any paperwork (warranty card, user's manual, etc.) except one copied paper talking about grover tuners and neck adjustment, which was yet almost impossible to read.
Manufacturer Support
(I didn't contact the support, so I will give it the high score.)
Musical Background:
ex-professional, currently a hobbyist
Musical Style:
Classical, Rock
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