If you’ve ever watched Brian May walk out with the Red Special and thought, “I need that sound”, this is your moment. We’ve just taken in a pre-loved Brian May Guitars BMG Super – Antique Cherry at Colemans Music Melbourne – a seriously rare, high-end take on one of rock’s most storied guitars, now available in our South Melbourne store and online Australia-wide.
What Is the BMG Super?
The BMG Super is Brian May Guitars’ flagship, ultra-premium recreation of the original Red Special – not just a look-alike, but a meticulously engineered instrument developed with Sir Brian May himself, long-time tech Pete Malandrone, House Music MD Barry Moorhouse and a hand-picked team of “Red Specialists” from around the world, including Aussie luthier Greg Fryer.
Designed to sit above the more common BMG Special, the Super is aimed at players and collectors who want as close as you can reasonably get to the feel, response and switching magic of the original home-built Red Special – without jumping into full-blown custom replica territory.
Premium Build, Vintage-Inspired Feel
This pre-loved Super is finished in Antique Cherry, the classic deep red that Queen fans know instantly. The guitar is handcrafted in the Czech Republic by New Bohemia Electric Corp., using quarter-sawn mahogany with a book-matched mahogany cap – a nod to old-school construction and sustain.
Key feel & build highlights:
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Set mahogany neck with a broad, comfortable profile for that familiar Red Special “hand-filling” feel.
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24-fret ebony fingerboard on a short 24" scale, giving a slightly slinkier string feel and effortless bends, especially with Brian’s preferred light-gauge strings.
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Traditional-style Antique Cherry gloss finish that shows off the grain and looks right at home under stage lights.
The glued-in neck joint and dense mahogany construction give the guitar excellent resonance and sustain, making those long, singing Brian May leads feel very natural under the fingers.
The Heart of the Sound: BMG Super Pickups & Switching
What really sets the Super apart is the electronics. This model is fitted with UK-made BMG Super pickups, hand-wound single-coil units voiced to replicate the legendary Adeson Tri-Sonic pickups from Brian’s original Red Special, using ceramic magnets and wax potting for clarity and controlled output.
They run into the classic Brian May switching system:
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Two rows of three mini switches –
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One row for individual pickup on/off
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One row to flip each pickup in or out of phase
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Master volume and tone on the lower bout.
That setup unlocks a huge palette of tones:
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Glassy, almost single-coil Strat-like chime
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Thick, mid-forward humbucker-ish voices when pickups are combined
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Wild, honky, harmonically rich out-of-phase sounds that instantly say “Queen” when you hit them with a treble booster and a cranked amp.
If you’re a tone tweaker, this guitar is a playground. If you’re in a Queen tribute, it’s almost a cheat code.
Tremolo, Hardware & Strings – Built to Be Played
The BMG Super doesn’t just copy the switching – it goes all in on the hardware too. This pre-loved Antique Cherry features:
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Enhanced roller bridge developed with Ron Smith and Woody Thomas, designed for smooth movement and rock-solid tuning when using the trem.
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Knife-edge tremolo system with a correctly radiused arm, set up for expressive vibrato and wide bends without fighting the guitar.
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Graph Tech Black TUSQ-XL nut to minimise friction at the nut and improve tuning stability.
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Gotoh Magnum Lock tuners with pearl buttons – a modern, road-worthy upgrade that still looks vintage.
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Factory spec Optima 24K Gold Brian May Signature Strings, chosen for longevity, tuning stability and that bright, singing top end.
All of this adds up to a trem system that feels sensitive and musical, but doesn’t leave you constantly reaching for a tuner after every solo.
What’s Included With This Pre-Loved Super?
Our pre-loved BMG Super – Antique Cherry comes with all the good stuff you’d hope for from a high-end Brian May instrument:
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Original Hiscox moulded hard case – lightweight, tough and form-fitted to the guitar
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BMG vegan strap
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BMG / Red Special commemorative sixpence – an essential part of the Brian May picking experience
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Official paperwork and certificate of authenticity
It’s described as near-new and in excellent condition, making it a fantastic option if you’ve been hunting for a Super without paying full new-stock price or waiting for overseas stock to land.
Who Is This Guitar For?
This pre-loved BMG Super is perfect if:
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You’re a dedicated Queen or Brian May fan who wants the sound and feel as closely as possible.
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You’re a studio or session player looking for a unique voice that can cover classic rock, indie, cinematic and experimental textures.
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You’re a collector who appreciates limited, high-spec instruments with a direct connection to the artist’s legacy.
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You’re used to premium instruments like Gibson Custom, PRS, Nik Huber or other boutique builds, and you want something equally serious but with a very specific personality.
Try It at Colemans Music Melbourne
We’re genuinely excited to have this pre-loved Brian May Guitars BMG Super – Antique Cherry in the shop – it’s not the kind of guitar that walks through the door every day. Our team can talk you through the switching system, help you dial in classic Brian tones, and set you up with the right treble booster, amp or modelling rig to complete the signal chain.
📍 Play it in person:
Drop into Colemans Music, 266 Coventry St, South Melbourne and plug it in.
🚚 Shopping from interstate?
We ship Australia-wide, carefully packed and fully insured, so this Red Special-inspired beauty can safely make its way to your studio or stage anywhere in the country.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to grab a BMG Super, this could very well be it – and once this pre-loved example is gone, there’s no guarantee when we’ll see another one.
