Killer Queen amp settings — Vault 10-G

The Queen guitar tone for “Killer Queen”, dialed in for a Vault 10-G with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Sheer Heart Attack (1974) solo and harmony parts

Original rig

Brian May Red Special (Burns Tri-Sonic pickups in series/out-of-phase) -> Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster -> Vox AC30 (Normal channel cranked)

Mid-focused, singing vintage British chime with rich harmonic upper-mid sustain

Amp settings — Vault 10-G

CHANNELOverdrive switch ON

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	4
Treble	7
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE8 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (or clone)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for true Brian May upper-mid saturation into a clean AC30-style voice.

Set / Boost 8

Why these settings

The Vault 10-G is a basic practice amp featuring only Gain, Bass, and Treble controls (no Mid, Presence, or Reverb knobs), so Mid and Presence are set to null. To mimic the heavily saturated Vox AC30 and treble booster combination without pedals, engage the amp's built-in Overdrive switch with gain at 6 and treble pushed to 7 for vintage British bite. Rolling the Stratocaster's tone knob slightly back to 8 takes off harsh single-coil glassiness to emulate the thicker series-wired Burns Tri-Sonic pickups.

PRO TIPBrian May famously used an old sixpence coin instead of a plastic pick. Use a rigid metal coin or strike with the hard edge of a heavy pick right against the bridge to reproduce the distinct metallic scrape and harmonic chirp on every note attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Vault 10-G. 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.