Bohemian Rhapsody amp settings — M-Vave Blackbox
The Queen guitar tone for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, dialed in for a M-Vave Blackbox with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio cut, A Night at the Opera (1975) — guitar solo
Brian May Red Special (neck+middle pickups out of phase) -> Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster -> Vox AC30 Normal channel cranked
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 8 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 8 |
01M-Vave Booster / Treble Boost Block
Placed before the amp block to push the UK30 into May's signature rich harmonic saturation
02M-Vave Digital Delay Block
Post-amp/cab subtle studio ambience (slapback/short delay around 280-300ms)
May achieved the iconic solo tone using the Red Special's neck and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, slamming a cranked AC30 via a Rangemaster treble booster. On the M-Vave Blackbox, we pair the UK30 amp model pushed by an onboard treble boost block, running the mid and treble high with trimmed bass to mimic that vocal midrange notch. On your standard-parallel Strat, selecting the neck+middle position with the tone rolled down slightly gives the closest out-of-phase hollow vocal feel. Heavy rock section switch: switch to bridge pickup and push the amp gain.
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These settings are for a M-Vave Blackbox. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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