Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

Unboxing: Queen guitarist Brian May's Deacy Amp Replica

News
By Simon Bradley published 13 May 2011

The final piece of the Queen legend's tonal arsenal

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica - The Original

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica - The Original

“It’s kind of magic, that little amplifier. I don’t how it really works and it’s amazing that Deacy put it together from bits out of a skip!” Brian May told us. “Many people have spent hours, days and weeks trying to figure out how it makes that noise. The thing with getting those sounds was all about having the microphone in the right place, moving it onto and off the axis of the speaker, putting it round the back, to the side. All those trumpet and trombone sounds came from that and also using a wah-wah pedal as a tone control. It’s all very crude, there’s no electronic processing at all.”

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine.

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

The extremely cool (and optional) flight case...

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine.

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Looking good so far... The amp comes with a full-colour booklet that explains the R&D and construction processes in intimate detail. Brianhimself was integral to the amp’s production, along with Greg Fryer, Nigel Knight and Pete Malandrone...

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine.

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

The Deacy Replica in all its glory. Just like the original it runs on a single PP9 battery, which is included with the amp. The Fryer Treble Booster, also pictured, is not. ...

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine.

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

The rear of the amp, plus the guitar input. The baffle is made from 12mm chipboard: again, wholly authentic...

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine.

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Brian May Deacy Amp Replica

Just add a Red Special and you’re good to go. The amp will retail for £765 and will be produced in limited numbers, with further developments waiting to be confirmed.

The Deacy Replica and Fryer Treble Booster, is available from A-Strings, call 0292 047 1157 for more.

The Brian May Deacy Amp Replica will be reviewed in a future issue of Guitarist magazine

Visit My Favourite Magazines to buy the latest issue of Guitarist.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
CATEGORIES
Guitars
Simon Bradley

Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.



Latest in Guitarists
Gary Clark Jr plays his signature Cobra Burst ES-355 live onstage.
Gary Clark Jr channels the King of the Blues for limited edition Gibson Custom Shop collab
 
 
Nile Rodgers and John Mayer
How the gift of a divisive Rolling Stones album scuppered the chance of a collaboration between Nile Rodgers and John Mayer
 
 
Vernon Reid [left] wears a brightly patterned suit and plays his signature Reverend onstage; [right] a still of the late great Arthur Rhames performing.
“I was scared to say it – but he played at the level of John McLaughlin!”: Vernon Reid pays tribute to a lost genius
 
 
Cory Wong with his Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II
How Cory Wong reimagined Ernie Ball Music Man’s iconic bass for a signature electric with “that George Benson sound”
 
 
Guitarist Greg Brown is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Cake on November 12, 1996
His creative contributions were immense”: Greg Brown, co-founder of 90s band Cake has died
 
 
Billy Corgan holds his picking hand to his head as he holds a note on his Reverend signature model
Billy Corgan says virtuosic guitar solos mean nothing in the social media age – and argues guitar influencers need to make a bigger impact on popular music
 
 
Latest in News
Pitbull
“Know you’re about to have the time of your lives”: Pitbull fans will attempt to break a world record in July
 
 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 08: Michael Stipe attends Netflix's "Goodbye June" New York screening at Whitby Hotel on December 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Augello/Getty Images)
Michael Stipe returns to Springfield to sing a rewritten version of one of REM's biggest hits
 
 
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 15: Raye performs live on stage at Accor Arena on February 15, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Producer Mike Sabath on starting Raye’s “outrageous” second studio album at an Airbnb
 
 
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 16: Billy Steinberg performs onstage at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 42nd Annual Induction and Awards at The New York Marriott Marquis Hotel - Shubert Alley on June 16, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame)
Tributes paid to Billy Steinberg, one of the defining songwriters of the '80s and '90s, who has died
 
 
look mum no computer
The UK’s shock Eurovision 2026 entrant is none other than Look Mum No Computer
 
 
Labi Siffre
After going viral on TikTok, Labi Siffre is returning with his first new album this century
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...