This page has photos and videos of the 3 Red Special replica guitars ‘John’, ‘Paul’ and ‘George Burns’ which I made for Brian May in 1996-1997.

10th February 2026:

First up is a video made by Kazutaka Ijuin and Daizo Tokuda when they visited my workshop in June 2025. In this video Kazutaka and Daizo ask me about the reasons why I made ‘George Burns’ for Brian May in 1996-97, how it differs to Brian’s Red Special, about Brian’s thoughts on the George Burns, and the uses that he has found for ‘George Burns’ over the years.

Kazutaka Ijuin and Kz Guitar Works in Japan are currently producing an authentic re-issue of George Burns due for release in 2026.

In this performance of ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ from Queen + Paul Rodgers in 2005, Brian was playing my Red Special replica ‘John’

Screenshots from the above 2005 Sheffield concert ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ with Brian playing ‘John’:

Brian May + Dappy performed ‘We Will Rock You’ filmed by the BBC. Brian was playing the Greg Fryer Red Special guitar ‘John’:

Premier Guitar’s detailed rig rundown of Brian May’s live rig with ‘Queen + Adam Lambert’ 2014:

You Tube video of Brian May using the Greg Fryer Red Special guitar ‘George Burns’ with ‘Queen + Paul Rodgers’ :

Photos of Brian May playing the Fryer Red Special guitars John, Paul and George Burns:

The following sequence of photos were taken by me in February 1998 at Brian May’s Allerton Hill studio during the recording of the ‘Another World’ album. On this particular night Brian was using my Red Special guitars, treble booster and the Deacy Amp to record one of the songs. I may have written the details somewhere in my diary or notes, and seem to remember that this was during the recording of either ‘Wilderness’ or ‘Why Don’t We Try Again’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photos from the great Babz. B. Photobabe taken in 1998 from the G3 concert at Wembley and Brian May’s UK concerts for the ‘Another World’ album tour.