Tone library / Queen / Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody amp settings — Harley Benton HB-10G

The Queen guitar tone for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-10G with a Harley benton BM 75 trans red. Studio version, A Night at the Opera (1975) — main guitar solo

Original rig

Red Special (Burns Tri-Sonic pickups in series, neck + middle out of phase) + Dallas Rangemaster treble booster + cranked Vox AC30 Normal channel

Saturated, singing, nasal out-of-phase midrange with smooth top-end sustain

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-10G

CHANNELOverdrive switch ON

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE10 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01Treble Booster (Dallas Rangemaster clone / Fryer style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Boost 8

Why these settings

The Harley Benton HB-10G lacks the harmonic complexity of a cranked tube AC30, so the built-in overdrive channel must supply all the saturation directly. Keep the mid control pushed to mimic the singing vocal quality of Brian May's tone while pulling treble back slightly to prevent the 6-inch speaker from becoming fizzy. Once you acquire a treble booster pedal, switch to the clean channel, keep the pedal level high, and trim the amp volume accordingly.

PRO TIPEngage the phase reversal switch on the middle pickup of the BM-75 alongside the neck pickup, and pick with a British sixpence coin (or rigid metal pick) angled slightly toward the bridge to produce Brian May's signature chirping harmonic bite.

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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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