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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  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.



Read more
Jam Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer
Artists Stu Mackenzie and Jam Pedals team up to bring you the secret behind his KGWL guitar tone
 
 
Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature
Artists A baby blue amp for a Green Day frontman: Marshall launches Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Dookie Mod” head
 
 
Joe Bonamassa
Artists “I wanted to dislike it, but I couldn’t!”: How Joe Bonamassa opened up to digital amps
 
 
Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi perform as Earth, just before the band was renamed Black Sabbath
Artists How Tony Iommi found the secret to his Black Sabbath tone (and how he lost it)
 
 
Blackstar DA5 Ruby Doug Aldrich Combo
Artists Blackstar shrinks Doug Aldrich’s fire-breathing tube head into a compact 5-watt combo
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Brian May attends the "Masters Of The Universe" UK premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on May 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Artists How Brian May ended up playing his 'Sword of Power' Red Special on the Masters of the Universe theme
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
Simon & Garfunkel perform on Ready Steady Go in 1966
Artists The melancholy classic that made Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel the world’s hottest songwriting duo
 
 
Jack White and Charley Crockett composite image
Singers & Songwriters “You get in the Lamborghini and put your kids in private school”: Charlie Crockett gets personal with Jack White
 
 
Brian Setzer wears a red neckerchief and plays a Gretsch in traditional Round-up Orange in this Stray Cats performance from 2019.
Artists Rockabilly icon Brian Setzer on his recovery from the autoimmune condition that stopped him playing guitar
 
 
Jam Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer
Artists Stu Mackenzie and Jam Pedals team up to bring you the secret behind his KGWL guitar tone
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore takes a solo on his Fender Stratocaster
Guitarists The guitar genius of Ritchie Blackmore in 5 classic tracks
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore performs with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
Guitarists Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform onstage with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
 
 
Latest in News
MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 20: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performs on stage during Noches del Botanico music festival at Real Jardin Botanico Alfonso XIII on July 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mariano Regidor/Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals "Some of you probably know there’s a new man in town”: ZZ Top return days after Frank Beard’s death
 
 
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14:  Drummer Chris Slade of AC/DC performs during the AC/DC Rock Or Bust Tour at Madison Square Garden on September 14, 2016 in New York City.  (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Drummers “I've had a good innings”: Ex AC/DC drummer Chris Slade announces that he’s retiring
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 29: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Dr. Dre speaks onstage during 2026 Recording Academy Honors Presented by The Black Music Collective at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Tech Dr Dre has words for those who are against the use of AI in music
 
 
Calendar desk place on table. Desktop Calender for Planner to plan agenda, timetable, appointment, organization, management each date, month, and year on wooden office table.Calendar Concept.
Gigs & Festivals “Virality is overrated": Meet the singer-songwriter who’s playing a gig every day in 2026
 
 
Donna Lewis Bei "Rsh Gold Verleihung" In Kiel 010297 . (Photo by Franziska Krug/Getty Images)
Artists How going back to her Korg M1 demo helped Donna Lewis to create one of the biggest US hits of 1996
 
 
Aston Origin deal
Microphones I've recorded everything from vocals to guitars with this unbelievably versatile mic – and it just plummeted to only $79. That's so cheap I had to check the price twice
 
 

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 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...