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RS Classic Red Special Brian May Adeson Pickups

Brian May Red Special electric guitar in red with black pickguard, three pickups, and cream binding, displayed inside a black hard case with accessory compartment containing a tremolo arm, user manual, and book titled "Brian May's Red Special"Red RS Guitars electric guitar with black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, and silver control knobs inside a black hard case with plush interior, accompanied by an RS Classic Owners Manual and a photo of Brian May playing guitar.RS Guitars RS Classic Owners Manual displayed in guitar case with part of red guitar body and Brian May book visibleBrian May's Red Special guitar book and RS Classic Owners Manual inside guitar case with part of guitar neck and body visibleRed RS Classic electric guitar with black pickguard, triple single-coil pickups, and control knobs, displayed in a black plush-lined hard case with RS Guitars owner's manual.Red RS Classic electric guitar with black pickguard and multiple control knobs in a black plush guitar case with owner's manual and Brian May book in the backgroundClose-up of red electric guitar with black pickguard, three chrome pickups, and silver control knobs in black plush-lined guitar case with owner's manual in backgroundClose-up of red electric guitar body with two chrome pickups, bridge, multiple control knobs, and switches on black pickguardClose-up of electric guitar bridge and pickups showing Burns Tri-Sonic chrome pickups and string saddle on red and black guitar body with control knobsClose-up of red electric guitar with black pickguard and dual humbucker pickups, neck with dot inlays, resting in black plush guitar case with documentation visible in backgroundClose-up of red electric guitar body and neck with black pickguard and metal strings on black fabric backgroundClose-up of red RS guitar headstock with six tuning pegs and white tuning knobs on black plush guitar case liningRed electric guitar with black pickguard and three pickups inside a black plush-lined hard case with brochure beneath guitar bodyRed electric guitar with three single-coil pickups and black pickguard in black plush guitar case next to guitar magazine featuring musician and guitar.Back view of red electric guitar inside black hard case with plush interior and Brian May red special bookletBlack rectangular guitar hard case with metal latches and handle on gray backgroundRed electric guitar with black pickguard and three single-coil pickups, chrome tuning pegs, and multiple control knobs on a gray backgroundVintage red electric guitar with black pickguard and three single-coil pickups, close-up on body and fretboardClose-up of red electric guitar body with black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, two silver control knobs, and white toggle switches on gray backgroundClose-up of red electric guitar body with black pickguard, chrome pickups, multiple white switches, and silver control knobs on gray backgroundClose-up of RS Guitars red wooden electric guitar headstock with six tuning pegs and strings on gray backgroundCherry red electric guitar with black pickguard, three pickups, multiple control knobs, and cream binding on the body and neck edgeClose-up of electric guitar body with dark red finish, black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, chrome bridge, and multiple control knobs on grey background.Electric guitar with deep red finish, triple single-coil pickups, black pickguard, and silver control knobs on gray backgroundClose-up view of electric guitar neck with dot inlays and metal frets, showing black body with dual chrome pickups and cream binding on red edges.Close-up of RS Guitars red mahogany headstock with silver tuning pegs and white tuning keys on acoustic guitarBack view of a cherry red semi-hollow electric guitar with cream binding on body and neck, displayed on a gray surface.Back view of red electric guitar with glossy finish and cream binding on body and neck, showing tuning pegs and strap buttons on gray background.Back of red guitar headstock showing chrome Grover tuning machines and serial number RS2004106-54 on gray backgroundClose-up of the back of a red guitar headstock with six chrome tuning pegs and serial number visible, displayed on a gray surface.Close-up of glossy red finished guitar neck and headstock with tuning pegs on grey backgroundGlossy deep red guitar neck finish on gray surface close-up shotClose-up of cherry red electric guitar neck joint with cream binding and strap button on gray backgroundBack of dark red electric guitar with cream binding and strap button on gray backgroundClose-up of glossy red electric guitar neck and body joint with cream binding and strap button on gray surfaceClose-up of dark red guitar neck showing cracked wood finish and metal string tuner on gray surfaceClose-up of a red electric guitar neck showing a visible crack in the wood near the fretboard edge and tuning peg.Close-up of red electric guitar neck showing glossy finish, tuning pegs, and string detail on gray backgroundClose-up of a red guitar neck showing wood grain and a visible crack near the guitar string on a gray surface
Brian May Red Special electric guitar in red with black pickguard, three pickups, and cream binding, displayed inside a black hard case with accessory compartment containing a tremolo arm, user manual, and book titled "Brian May's Red Special"
Red RS Guitars electric guitar with black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, and silver control knobs inside a black hard case with plush interior, accompanied by an RS Classic Owners Manual and a photo of Brian May playing guitar.
RS Guitars RS Classic Owners Manual displayed in guitar case with part of red guitar body and Brian May book visible
Brian May's Red Special guitar book and RS Classic Owners Manual inside guitar case with part of guitar neck and body visible
Red RS Classic electric guitar with black pickguard, triple single-coil pickups, and control knobs, displayed in a black plush-lined hard case with RS Guitars owner's manual.
Red RS Classic electric guitar with black pickguard and multiple control knobs in a black plush guitar case with owner's manual and Brian May book in the background
Close-up of red electric guitar with black pickguard, three chrome pickups, and silver control knobs in black plush-lined guitar case with owner's manual in background
Close-up of red electric guitar body with two chrome pickups, bridge, multiple control knobs, and switches on black pickguard
Close-up of electric guitar bridge and pickups showing Burns Tri-Sonic chrome pickups and string saddle on red and black guitar body with control knobs
Close-up of red electric guitar with black pickguard and dual humbucker pickups, neck with dot inlays, resting in black plush guitar case with documentation visible in background
Close-up of red electric guitar body and neck with black pickguard and metal strings on black fabric background
Close-up of red RS guitar headstock with six tuning pegs and white tuning knobs on black plush guitar case lining
Red electric guitar with black pickguard and three pickups inside a black plush-lined hard case with brochure beneath guitar body
Red electric guitar with three single-coil pickups and black pickguard in black plush guitar case next to guitar magazine featuring musician and guitar.
Back view of red electric guitar inside black hard case with plush interior and Brian May red special booklet
Black rectangular guitar hard case with metal latches and handle on gray background
Red electric guitar with black pickguard and three single-coil pickups, chrome tuning pegs, and multiple control knobs on a gray background
Vintage red electric guitar with black pickguard and three single-coil pickups, close-up on body and fretboard
Close-up of red electric guitar body with black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, two silver control knobs, and white toggle switches on gray background
Close-up of red electric guitar body with black pickguard, chrome pickups, multiple white switches, and silver control knobs on gray background
Close-up of RS Guitars red wooden electric guitar headstock with six tuning pegs and strings on gray background
Cherry red electric guitar with black pickguard, three pickups, multiple control knobs, and cream binding on the body and neck edge
Close-up of electric guitar body with dark red finish, black pickguard, three single-coil pickups, chrome bridge, and multiple control knobs on grey background.
Electric guitar with deep red finish, triple single-coil pickups, black pickguard, and silver control knobs on gray background
Close-up view of electric guitar neck with dot inlays and metal frets, showing black body with dual chrome pickups and cream binding on red edges.
Close-up of RS Guitars red mahogany headstock with silver tuning pegs and white tuning keys on acoustic guitar
Back view of a cherry red semi-hollow electric guitar with cream binding on body and neck, displayed on a gray surface.
Back view of red electric guitar with glossy finish and cream binding on body and neck, showing tuning pegs and strap buttons on gray background.
Back of red guitar headstock showing chrome Grover tuning machines and serial number RS2004106-54 on gray background
Close-up of the back of a red guitar headstock with six chrome tuning pegs and serial number visible, displayed on a gray surface.
Close-up of glossy red finished guitar neck and headstock with tuning pegs on grey background
Glossy deep red guitar neck finish on gray surface close-up shot
Close-up of cherry red electric guitar neck joint with cream binding and strap button on gray background
Back of dark red electric guitar with cream binding and strap button on gray background
Close-up of glossy red electric guitar neck and body joint with cream binding and strap button on gray surface
Close-up of dark red guitar neck showing cracked wood finish and metal string tuner on gray surface
Close-up of a red electric guitar neck showing a visible crack in the wood near the fretboard edge and tuning peg.
Close-up of red electric guitar neck showing glossy finish, tuning pegs, and string detail on gray background
Close-up of a red guitar neck showing wood grain and a visible crack near the guitar string on a gray surface

Guitar Description

An extremely rare and exclusive version of the famous red special guitar which was made, owned and played by Brian May. While there are a handful of different versions of this guitar available on the market this one is the American made RS version that is as close as you can get to the real thing. Lovingly made by a true enthusiast in small numbers to an extremely high standard and presented in it's original custom fit G&G case. Steve Turpin, the founder of RS guitars explains here why he gave up making these legendary instruments and also tells part of the story how these great guitars came into being. In the case is a copy of the book 'Brian May's Red Special' which chronicles the full story, specs and details of this historic instrument. It's worth noting that as a truly accurate replica of Brian’s original guitar the neck thickness is HUGE, and I mean HUGE. It's not for the faint hearted or small handed players. The pickups in this guitar have been replaced with Adeson hand made pickups wound by Ade Turner who makes the pickups that go into Brians actual guitars today. Andrew Guyton, who makes Brians guitars now uses these pickups in his builds. The previous owner of this instrument managed to track down Ade Turner and persuade him to supply a set. This is the finishing touch that makes this guitar about as authentic as you'll get. The pickups aren't availble to the general public due to being made from reclaimed 60s parts which are, for obvious reasons, in very short supply. The owner of the guitar worked in the industry and used his powers of persuasion to get them made for him. We are unsure of the date this guitar was made, but it's between twenty two and twenty four years old. The quality and finish is everything you'd expect from a small batch, hand made top quality American insrument, easily up there with the custom shops of the main brands in the industry. For the Brian May fans who want the real deal, there is only one Red Special worth considering which is the RS USA hand built version and thankfully, this is it!  

Guitar Specification

Country Of ManufactureUSA
Fret Board Radius7
BodyChambered Mahogany Body
Candyoriginal manual
CaseOriginal G&G case
FretsOriginal frets
NeckMahogany
Neck ShapeCustom HUGE neck
Number Of Frets24
PickupsAdeson Hand made

Guitar Condition

Very clean and in excellent condition. Very well cared for instrument owned by a fastidious and expert guitar enthusiast for over fifteeen years. A small crack in lacquer coming from the nut (See photos)

Condition Rating

92 out of 100

What did we do?

  • Action Setup String Height Adjust
  • Clean
  • Fret Dress Polish
  • Fret Level
  • New Strings
  • Nut Lubrication
  • Tremolo Balance Setup
  • Truss Rod Adjustment

View Full Details

At a glance

Manufacturer: RS
Year:
Colour: Red
Weight: 4.1kg (9lb 1oz)
Serial Number: RS2004106-54
Condition:
9.2 / 10
Regular price £3,999.00 | Save £-3,999.00 (Liquid error (sections/product-template line 229): divided by 0% off)
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Brian May Red Special electric guitar in red with black pickguard, three pickups, and cream binding, displayed inside a black hard case with accessory compartment containing a tremolo arm, user manual, and book titled "Brian May's Red Special"

RS Classic Red Special Brian May Adeson Pickups

RS Classic Red Special Brian May Adeson Pickups

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