Steve Vai Reflects on Playing Brian May’s Iconic Red Special Guitar
When Steve Vai arrived in Los Angeles as a 20-year-old, he ran into Queen guitarist Brian May at the Rainbow Bar and Grill. May invited the young musician to a rehearsal. There, Vai finally saw and touched the famed Red Special guitar.
Early encounter
The meeting felt surreal to Vai. He had idolized Queen during his teens. Being led into a rehearsal by May was an unexpected milestone.
The Red Special’s origin
Brian May built the Red Special as a teenager. He worked with his father on the instrument’s construction. The guitar became central to May’s sound and public image.
A challenging first play
Vai recalled struggling to handle the guitar. The neck was much thicker than he expected. The instrument used very light strings and had very low action, which made it hard to adapt quickly.
He thought holding the Red Special might make him sound like May. In the end, he sounded like himself. That realization stayed with him.
Technical notes
- Very light string gauge (around .08).
- Extremely low action.
- Substantial, wide neck profile.
A modern reimagining
In January, Vai received a custom reimagining of the Red Special. Luthier Andrew Guyton, of Guyton Guitars, created the instrument.
The build retained the spirit of May’s DIY classic. It included several Vai-approved modern upgrades.
Features of the custom build
- Quilted maple top.
- Jumbo EVO-gold frets.
- Mahogany neck.
- Translucent green finish.
Reflection and legacy
Vai shared images and thoughts about the new guitar on Instagram. He described holding May’s instrument as a seismic moment in his youth. He also noted the awkwardness of adapting to the Red Special’s feel.
The encounter helped start a lasting rapport between Vai, Joe Satriani, and Brian May. Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments involving these artists and the iconic Red Special guitar.
