Tone library / Queen / Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Queen guitar tone for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. 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 / custom Treble Booster -> cranked Vox AC30

Mid-focused, singing, vocal lead tone with distinct upper-mid harmonic bite and smooth saturation
Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX
CHANNELOD1
GAIN 7 BASS 4 MID 8 TREBLE 6 REVERB 3 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass4
Mid8
Treble6
Reverb3
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPneck+middle TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Treble Booster (Dallas Rangemaster style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; adds Brian May's singing upper-mid saturation into a crunchy amp

Boost 8
Why these settings

The MG30CFX runs on the OD1 channel with mids pushed to 8 to mimic the cranked Vox AC30 mid-forward bark. Bass is pulled down to prevent the small 10-inch speaker from getting flubby on sustained bends, while treble is kept at 6 to tame standard Strat single-coil harshness compared to May's warmer Tri-Sonics. Rolling the guitar tone knob down to 7 helps emulate the out-of-phase vocal honk of the Red Special.

PRO TIPPick with the edge of an old sixpence or a hard, rigid metal coin right next to the bridge to capture Brian May's distinct, raspy harmonic chirp on pick attack.

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These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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