Brian May, voted on as one the top 5 best guitar players in the world, designed and built this “Red Special” electric model himself (…with a little help from his father).

The guitar dates from 1964: it was made with wood from a Victorian fireplace.

The first official replica of the Ed Special was produced as a limited edition by Guild in 1984. The same company introduced a second Brian May model nine years later, but it was not until 2001 that an affordable version was launched by Burns London.

Each of the three pickups on the guitar has a dedicated on-off switch, and, below it, a phase switch, allowing the creation of a wide variety of sounds.