Product: Guild Brian May Signature Preamp
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
08/16/2004
at
02:07am
by
Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
This is the second issue of the guild treble booster(metal box with 1 knob)... as opposed to the 2 knob red verson which is the first issue by guild.The reveiwer below seems very one sided in his opinion as there are many conflicting stories over what was the treble booster that Brian May really used back in the day.As far as I know everything post Queen II is the Pete Cornish booster which although based on the Dallas Arbiter Range Master which had been left behind by the roadie at an early Queen Show and was germainium based,Pete Cornish felt Improvements could be made to the circut such as a silicon transister which was more stable and quiet and would produce reliable results when temperatures fluxuate.By 1979,Brian felt he needed additional treble and had Pete install into brians pedalboard not only one booster with more treble which would remain on at all times,but a second booster that would be footswitchable during solos.The Guild Brian May signiture boost pedal is antempt to copy this 1979 booster with Pete;s additional treble modifications....hence this pedal has alot of bite with a capital....B...One knob Could not be simpler
Sound Quality
:
8
This is where things can very right or very wrong.When used with a VOX-AC-30 INTO THE NORMAL CHANNEL CRANKED it is absolutly wicked.A little noise is apparent but not bad at all considering the level is deafning in a small room.Your volume and tone controll on your guitar and how you play is your gas pedal.....if you suck...or choke IT WILL BE HEARD!!!This pedal is almost made for this amp.A brite amp will not work.A dark amp will have a chance,A VOX WILL BE KING!!! 8 BECAUSE OF THIS LIMITATION
Reliability
:
10
BUILT VERY WELL
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
WHAT?
Overall Rating
:
9
If you want the Brian May Vibe in your tone.This is one of four elements...guitar/pedal/amp/UN-EARTHLY GUITAR SKILLS AND SONGWRITING ABILITY.
Product: Guild Brian May Signature Preamp
Price Paid: 30 (# sterling)
Submitted
03/31/2003
at
02:21am
by
Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
i am doing this review so queen fans have an idea what it is like.
treble booster with volume control
input and output
no manual
Sound Quality
:
3
although some nice sounds come from this thing it sounds completely different to the brian may sound.it was built to complement guilds range of red special guitars.It has a different tonal quality to Brians trebel booster and utilises a completely different circuit.
It produces cruncy distortion on all tube amps but it is not the sweet creamy sound we all know as Brian mays sound.i used to use a vox ac30 tbx with it but i dont use it anymore because i now own a fryer brian may booster- these are absolutely brilliant and are official products.BRIAN MAY USES THE FRYER TREBLE BOOSTER NOW.
Reliability
:
10
its reliable, in a year i never had to change the battery. stands up well to being trampled on ,dropped into a crowd of moshing people and even having beer spilt on it
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
guild do not really exist anymore since fender took over them.These products are not very popular and you cant get them new anymore
Overall Rating
:
5
this will not give you Brian Mays sound but it will give you nice tube overdrive.If you want brian may sounds then get a Fryer treble booster or a scotts crispy cream treble booster:
www.brianmayworld.com
www.treblebooster.com
Product: Guild Brian May Signature Preamp
Price Paid: US $60 used
Submitted
05/06/1997
at
02:37pm
by
Andre G. Reid
Ease of Use
:
9
This item is quite easy to get a sound out of it. Being a Treble booster, it enhances the upper range of any sound created on a guitar. Having used it on a Strat copy,plugged into a CRATE amp on a clean channel I found it created an 'edge' to the sound, similar to the signature Brian May sound. There is a volume level adjustment knob to help increase the amount of boost desired. There is no manual with this item, and no serial#..
My particular unit hasn't been upgraded...
Sound Quality
:
9
The only noise that could create a problem would be with using a non-regular battery. If an alkaline battery, or battery-eliminator is used, this creates a nasty buzzing noise.
The effects, in my opinion, sound great, all the time..
The level of effectiveness of the effects is top quality.Very good!
Reliability
:
10
This is a very dependable item. The only slight problem might be in a weak battery.
I would definetly use it in a gig without a backup. If Brian May could use the one model with Queen, and solo, for all those years, then that says something about the unit's durability, and dependability. Very reliable!
Overall Rating
:
10
These preamps were made in a limited run, due to the fact that Guild Guitars reproduced Pete Cornish's Brian May model, without his consent. Therefore the number in the total production run was limited to about 60 or so. This limited production run therefore creates a desireable product, and therefore drives up the price of one of these units, if they are purchased used. What I like about this preamp is that, for the Brian May fan, it helps to create a sound that is similar to the true Brian May sound. It helps the average player, to play with a more refined sound.
