Killer Queen amp settings — Zoom G1X Four

The Queen guitar tone for “Killer Queen”, dialed in for a Zoom G1X Four with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. Studio version, Sheer Heart Attack (1974) - Main solo and multi-tracked lead harmonies

Original rig

Red Special guitar (Burns Tri-Sonic pickups in series/out-of-phase), Dallas Rangemaster treble booster, John Deacon's custom transistor 'Deacy' Amp & cranked Vox AC30

Saturated, singing vocal-like mid-range with crisp treble bite and compressed sustain

Amp settings — Zoom G1X Four

CHANNELUK 2x12 amp model (Vox AC30 style)BOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	8
Treble	7
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Booster / Treble Boost block (Zoom G1X Four)

Placed first in chain to emulate the Dallas Rangemaster driving the preamp

Gain 6 · Tone 8 · Level 7

02UK 2x12 Amp + Cab Block (Zoom G1X Four)

Internal Zoom amp model simulating cranked AC30 / Deacy voice

Gain 7 · Tube 6 · Bass 5 · Middle 8 · Treble 7 · Presence 6 · Level 70

03Room Reverb Block (Zoom G1X Four)

Subtle room reflection to recreate Trident Studios room sound

Decay 3 · Tone 5 · Mix 2

Why these settings

Brian May achieved his signature smooth, sustaining bite by running a germanium treble booster into the cranked solid-state Deacy amp and Vox AC30s. Since your Les Paul's humbuckers are warmer and thicker than his series-wired Burns Tri-Sonics, we push the Treble Boost tone and amp mids while trimming guitar tone slightly to 8 to avoid mud. The Zoom G1X Four's UK 2x12 block handles the foundational breakup without needing any external drive pedals.

PRO TIPBrian May famously picked with a British sixpence coin; use a rigid, heavy pick or the edge of a coin angled against the string close to the bridge to capture that metallic, chirping attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Zoom G1X Four. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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