Queen’s Brian May launches new 12-string acoustic guitar with Gibson: “I wish my dad was here to see this”
Queen‘s Brian May has teamed up with Gibson to launch a brand-new limited edition 12-string acoustic guitar.
The Brian May SJ-200 12-String acoustic guitar from Gibson Custom was made in close collaboration with the iconic guitar player and rock icon. Created with significant design input from May, only 100 of the guitar models will be available worldwide in a limited run via Gibson.com, the Gibson Garage Nashville and London, and authorized Gibson dealers.
Speaking about the guitar and the collaboration in a press release, May shared: “The idea for this guitar came when I needed a 12-String on tour, and the one I was accustomed to wasn’t performing right on stage. The guys at Gibson very kindly said, ‘We’ll make you something special that you can use on the tours.’ One of the things I asked for was for the octaves to be placed around the other way from where it is normally done, because I like to pick upwards and hear the top notes when I’m playing.
“I like to hear the high octave coming through as then I can play tunes on it. If you look at this guitar, the beauty of it, and the beauty of the sound, and look at the science in this guitar, look how much technology and craftsmanship has gone into this guitar. Gibson was able to put the universe on it in a figurative way and the planet Mercury is here, and that is a little nod to a friend of mine that is always with me.”
Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson also added: “As a trailblazing sound pioneer, trendsetter, and one of the most influential musicians of all time, it’s an absolute privilege to be collaborating with Sir Brian May. Brian’s impact on music and culture is second to none and was a transformational influence on my personal music journey. We are deeply honoured that Brian has trusted Gibson with this SJ-200 12-string guitar, and we are excited to finally bring it to music lovers around the world. Thank you, Brian.”
The guitar features premium woods, including a AAA rosewood back and sides, a AAA Sitka spruce top with a Vintage Sunburst finish and a 2-piece AAA maple neck with a Rounded profile, walnut stringer, and a rosewood fretboard with agoya shell 8-point star inlays.
The headstock also features a stunning 8-point agoya shell star inlay, as well as a planetary-themed pickguard, which was designed by May as a celebration of his love of science.
Speaking about the guitar’s design and inclusion of a nod to his late former bandmate and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in an interview with Gibson, May shared: “Freddie is always with me because he was like a brother and the relationships in Queen lasted longer than any of our marriages. It was a big big thing and it still is. We still carry Queen around with us even though we don’t have Freddie, but I have a Mercury on the guitar now, which makes me very happy.
He continued: “I wish my dad was around to see it because this was the kind of thing which he dreamed of as well as I did.”
May and his father built the musician’s legendary and signature Red Special guitar when he was a teenager in the late 60s. The inspiration to build his own guitar alongside his father came after May realised he could not afford a guitar from a big name like Fender, Gibson or Höfner. The two began to work on the guitar in August 1963 and finished it a year later on October 1964.
In other news, May recently opened up about his fears that he would never play guitar again following suffering a stroke last year.
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Anagricel Duran
NME
