Tone library / Queen / Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody amp settings — Marshall MG15

The Queen guitar tone for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, dialed in for a Marshall MG15 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, A Night at the Opera (1975)

Original rig

Brian May Red Special guitar with Burns Tri-Sonic pickups → Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster → Vox AC30 (Top Boost channel, cranked)

Chiming, harmonically rich overdrive with singing sustain, prominent upper-mids, and layered multi-tracked guitars

Amp settings — Marshall MG15

CHANNELOverdrive

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	5
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	7
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPmiddle TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The MG15 is darker and more mid-scooped than the AC30's chimey Top Boost. Pushed mids to 7 to recover the vocal midrange presence Brian May's tone is famous for. Gain stays moderate at 5 because the original's saturation came from a cranked Class A amp plus treble booster—the MG15's solid-state overdrive channel compresses differently and gets fizzy above 6. Without a treble booster pedal, you're missing the harmonic sparkle that defines this tone.

PRO TIPRECOMMENDED: A treble booster clone (TC Electronic Spark Booster in mid-boost mode, or an EHX LPB-1) running into the Clean channel at low amp gain would get you significantly closer to Brian May's singing sustain than the Overdrive channel alone—the booster should provide the grit while the amp stays cleaner underneath.

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These settings are for a Marshall MG15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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