where can I get plans for a red special

phil_b

Im looking for some decent plans for a Brian May red special.

Ideally I want a printed copy 1:1 scale

there is a set on ebay but the seller is in Peru and with shipping will cost nearly £40

for to get this project going I really need to keep costs down. I am not a guitar builder so results are far from guaranteed. There are many pre built parts available at very high prices and is not the direction I want to go. If I cant build one for a reasonable price I would be better off putting the money towards buying one

WezV

Do you have woodworking skills and tools?  If so it's possible to build one cheaply, results still not guaranteed.  If not, it's just not going to happen.  I think cheap is a dangerous aim for any first guitar build. 

As for templates, I would make my own by finding a face on image and enlarging it until a known item is the correct dimensions.  Then use that to make a 1/2" thick template. 

Do you have the red special book?  Necessary if making a clone, but not so much if it's just the shape and look you are after

phil_b

I will explain my thinking and maybe you can tell me if im heading in the wrong direction.

Brian and his dad built the original because they could not afford to buy an electric guitar and it was made mostly with hand tools. I have become somewhat fascinated about the story of how the guitar got built and I would want to keep my build in that spirit. I would not be obsessed with making an exact clone  and in fact I am more likely to deliberately add some changes to make the guitar more of my own, If money was no object I could have one made foe 3k to 5k. I have tried out a BMG red special in a shop and to be honest I would be more than happy with one of those

there is a unfinished neck on for £315. the wood that went into making it will cost me about £45 (£30 for the neck £15 for the fret board). a coping saw, wood files and a drill is basically all you need to shape it. Although using hand tools will take along time. Im guessing the neck will be the most difficult part of the build. I have enough basic tools to make a start but I can see as the build goes on I would need to buy some specialist tools.

so my plan was this. start with the neck. If I can produce something I was happy with I could progress. If it becomes obvious the build is beyond me I would have only spent £30 on wood but I would have scratched the itch so to speak and at least I would know it was just a pipe dream. Then I could contraindicate my efforts on saving for a BMG

 

Gizmo

Take a look at https://www.electricherald.com/brian-mays-red-special/

Get a 1:1 Plotted printout from an online printer service or do a 1:1 Poster print from acrobat using the poster print feature with guides then tape them together.

FelineGuitars

https://guitarsandwoods.com/guitar-kit-templates/red-special-acrylic-templates-1765054787.html

phil_b

Gizmo said:

Take a look at https://www.electricherald.com/brian-mays-red-special/

Get a 1:1 Plotted printout from an online printer service or do a 1:1 Poster print from acrobat using the poster print feature with guides then tape them together.

this is not really a red special. it is a flying V with a reshaped body. It is a common short cut get something in the style of a red special. tell tail features are 22 instead of 24 frets. headstock angle is much greater than an RS. No trem no phase switches, the drawing also shows humbuckers rather than 3 single coils.

.

WezV

phil_b said:

I will explain my thinking and maybe you can tell me if im heading in the wrong direction.

Brian and his dad built the original because they could not afford to buy an electric guitar and it was made mostly with hand tools. I have become somewhat fascinated about the story of how the guitar got built and I would want to keep my build in that spirit. I would not be obsessed with making an exact clone  and in fact I am more likely to deliberately add some changes to make the guitar more of my own, If money was no object I could have one made foe 3k to 5k. I have tried out a BMG red special in a shop and to be honest I would be more than happy with one of those

there is a unfinished neck on for £315. the wood that went into making it will cost me about £45 (£30 for the neck £15 for the fret board). a coping saw, wood files and a drill is basically all you need to shape it. Although using hand tools will take along time. Im guessing the neck will be the most difficult part of the build. I have enough basic tools to make a start but I can see as the build goes on I would need to buy some specialist tools.

so my plan was this. start with the neck. If I can produce something I was happy with I could progress. If it becomes obvious the build is beyond me I would have only spent £30 on wood but I would have scratched the itch so to speak and at least I would know it was just a pipe dream. Then I could contraindicate my efforts on saving for a BMG

 

Have a read of the red special book.  You will see that Brian and his dad had a lot more going for them than just wanting to build a guitar.  The planning was particularly meticulous. 


Brian also wrote the forward to Melvyn Hiscocks "how to make your own electric guitar", which is worth a read anyway, but particularly good for its focus on making things your own.

With a RS, it really depends how far you want to go recreating specific features.  Or are you happy with correct shapes and sizes, similar parts and some of your own ideas? 

SteveRobinson

How about this?
http://bamon.free.fr/Guitares/Red_Special/Plans/brian%20may%20guitar%20plans.pdf

or 
http://myredspecial.blogspot.com/2007/08/por-el-momento-no-voy-seguir-avanzando.html

phil_b

WezV said:

Have a read of the red special book.  You will see that Brian and his dad had a lot more going for them than just wanting to build a guitar.  The planning was particularly meticulous. 


Brian also wrote the forward to Melvyn Hiscocks "how to make your own electric guitar", which is worth a read anyway, but particularly good for its focus on making things your own.

With a RS, it really depends how far you want to go recreating specific features.  Or are you happy with correct shapes and sizes, similar parts and some of your own ideas? 

I pre paid for the 2nd edition of the book that was due out in May 2020 but because of the lock down it is now likely I will not receive my copy until October. Yes Brian and his Dad were very clever and the whole design was original to them the story is amazing and fascinating. but I only have to build it and dont have to design anything

there are two things about the original I dont particularly like. One is the fact the rollers get lost if you break a string but I plan on using a tune-o-matic style roller bridge. the second is the body shape is not particularly comfortable to play sitting down as the horn ends up sitting in  the middle of your leg. but I will still keep the same shape

phil_b

SteveRobinson said:

How about this?
http://bamon.free.fr/Guitares/Red_Special/Plans/brian%20may%20guitar%20plans.pdf

or 
http://myredspecial.blogspot.com/2007/08/por-el-momento-no-voy-seguir-avanzando.html

thw first link it not working for me.

The second one looks very useful many thanks

SteveRobinson

The first link is downloading a PDF, check your download folder

phil_b

SteveRobinson said:

The first link is downloading a PDF, check your download folder

got it thanks again

phil_b

I ordered a set of templates from Guitars and wood. If im going to go for it I might as well do it properly. I dont think I will bother keeping tabs on the costs

WezV

phil_b said:

I ordered a set of templates from Guitars and wood. If im going to go for it I might as well do it properly. I dont think I will bother keeping tabs on the costs

That's the right answer.


Other hobbies can cost a lot more

dsgb

Hi.

I’m Doug, first post here. If the OP or any other members are interested in building a Brian May Red Special, I completed my RS build in June 2020. You can find lots of pictures and information on the project on my new website which I recently finished migrating content from a Facebook blog:

https://dsgb.net/projects/redspecial/

I have CAD plans but they are not for general distribution. However, the high resolution JPEG images of my CAD plans might still be useful for you:

https://dsgb.net/projects/redspecial/design/

https://dsgb.net/faqs/plans/

Best regards.

Doug

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

phil_b said:

I ordered a set of templates from Guitars and wood. If im going to go for it I might as well do it properly. I dont think I will bother keeping tabs on the costs

That's the right answer.


Other hobbies can cost a lot more

You're not wrong, when I rode sports bikes it eat money, i trashed all of them, went through a fireblade, zx6, gixxers etc

Last crash £3.5k down the drain with a 6 month old gixxer k1

Fun but had enough of it for a lifetime