Pickup currently unavailable
©Denis Pellerin
Throughout his long and continuing career, rock legend Brian May has relied upon his "Red Special" Guitar to create the sound that helped make Queen one of the world's most admired and celebrated rock bands. He has also relied on Seiko. For more than 40 years, Brian has worn a Seiko diver's watch whose enduringly popular design is the inspiration for the latest Seiko 5 Sports collection. Brian bought his Seiko watch while first on tour in Japan in the 1970's since when his guitar and his watch have travelled the globe together, making great music and keeping great time.
The guitar was made by hand, with only hand tools. The neck was carved from the wood of an old fireplace, 100 years old at the time. The body was made from blockboard with an ancient oak insert, and covered with a mahogany veneer that Brian stained and polished himself. The innovative tremolo system designed by Brian featured a hand-carved mild steel rocker plate pivoting on a knife edge, with the pull of the strings balanced by motorcycle valve springs. To complete the job, the tremolo arm was improvised from part of a bicycle saddlebag holder, capped with a piece of a sturdy knitting needle. The Red Special is a labor of love that has uniquely served Brian on stage and in the studio for over half a century.
The dial has the same red and black color scheme as the "Red Special" and features a delicate wood-like pattern like the body of the guitar.
The watch is offered as a limited edition with Brian's signature on the case back and comes with "LIMITED EDITION" and the serial number 0001/9000-9000/9000.
* In an actual product, the case back direction might be different from the photograph.
The presentation box also contains a commemorative coin that is based on the sixpenny piece that he has used throughout his career as a plectrum.
