Tone library / Queen / Bohemian rhapsody

Bohemian rhapsody amp settings — Marshall Dsl1cr

The Queen guitar tone for “Bohemian rhapsody”, dialed in for a Marshall Dsl1cr with a Jet Js-400. Studio version, A Night at the Opera (1975) — Main Guitar Solo

Original rig

Red Special (Burns Tri-Sonic pickups in series out-of-phase) -> Dallas Rangemaster treble booster -> cranked Vox AC30

Mid-focused, singing, vocal lead tone with distinct upper-mid harmonic bite and smooth saturation

Amp settings — Marshall Dsl1cr

CHANNELUltra Gain

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	4
Mid	8
Treble	6
Reverb	2
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Fazley Vintage Vickey (Overdrive)

Used as a clean treble boost in front of the amp to push upper-mid bite into the Ultra Gain channel

Drive 2 · Tone 8 · Level 8

02Dallas Rangemaster Style Treble Booster

RECOMMENDED — not owned

Boost 8

Why these settings

The Marshall DSL1CR's Ultra Gain channel supplies the heavy power-tube-style saturation that Brian May got from cranked AC30s, compensated with mids pushed to 8 and bass rolled back to 4 to prevent mud. The Fazley Vintage Vickey acts as your front-end treble boost with Drive low, Tone high, and Level pushed to tighten the low end and mimic a Dallas Rangemaster. Note that the DSL1CR lacks a physical Presence control, so upper-harmonic edge is shaped entirely via the pedal tone and amp treble knobs. Operatic heavy section: switch to bridge humbucker with tone on 10.

PRO TIPUse an old British sixpence or a hard metal coin as a pick angled slightly against the strings; the serrated edge and rigid metal create the signature vocal chirp on Brian May's pick attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall Dsl1cr. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.