Tone library / Queen / We are the shampions

We are the shampions amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

The Queen guitar tone for “We are the shampions”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 100 MkII with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, News of the World (1977) — the original recording with layered guitar harmonies

Original rig

Vox AC30 Top Boost (cranked), Brian May Red Special guitar with Burns Tri-Sonic pickups (all 3 in series, out of phase combinations), Treble Booster (Dallas Rangemaster-style) into the front of the amp, Deacy Amp for some layered tracks

Creamy, singing lead tone with pronounced upper-mids, violin-like sustain, and orchestral layering — thick but not muddy, with treble-boosted bite

Amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

CHANNELCrunch amp type — closest to AC30 Top Boost character with edge-of-breakup saturationBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE6 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss Katana Booster (built-in effect, accessed via Tone Studio or panel)

Emulates the Rangemaster treble booster Brian May used — set to Treble Booster or Clean Boost type in Tone Studio. Essential for the singing upper-mid push. If you want external gear, a TC Electronic Spark Booster or EHX LPB-1 gets you there — RECOMMENDED if chasing authenticity.

Drive/Gain 3 · Tone 7 · Level 7

Why these settings

Brian May's Red Special with series-wired Tri-Sonics has a thick, mid-heavy voice unlike a Strat's scooped single coils. To compensate, mid is pushed to 7 (vs his flat AC30 setting) and treble is held at 6 to avoid ice-pick brightness. The Katana's Crunch voice approximates AC30 Class A compression better than Brown or Lead. The built-in Booster is mandatory here — it replaces the Rangemaster's role of pushing upper-mids into a cooking amp.

PRO TIPBrian May uses a sixpence coin as a pick for that rounded, violin-like attack. Try a felt pick or the edge of a thick 2mm pick held loosely — dig in with the neck pickup's tone rolled to 6 and let notes bloom into feedback at volume.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 100 MkII. 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.