Tone library / The queen / Bohemian raphsody

Bohemian raphsody amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV

The The queen guitar tone for “Bohemian raphsody”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Yamaha EG112c. Studio version, A Night at the Opera (1975) — rhythm parts double-tracked hard L/R, solo sections multi-layered

Original rig

Brian May Red Special (Tri-Sonic pickups, series wiring, middle+bridge in-phase) → Dallas Rangemaster treble booster → Vox AC30 Top Boost channel cranked, recorded to 24-track tape

Creamy, compressed midrange with vocal-like sustain; warm but with cutting upper-mid presence; harmonically rich with natural tube compression
Amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
CHANNELFAT switch engagedBRIGHToff
GAIN 7 BASS 4 MID 7 TREBLE 5 REVERB 2 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass4
Mid7
Treble5
Reverb2
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge+middle TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Fuzz (owned) — used as treble booster substitute

Set fuzz gain LOW — you want boost and upper-mid push, not fuzzy saturation. Tone knob high to simulate treble booster's bright voicing. If your fuzz has a tone bypass or flat setting, use that with tone at 8.

Level/Volume 7 · Tone 8 · Fuzz/Gain 3
Why these settings

The Blues Junior is darker and more scooped than a Vox AC30 Top Boost, which has a pronounced 2-3kHz peak. Compensate by pushing mids to 7 (vs AC30's flat mid control) and keeping treble moderate at 5 — the Fender treble shelf is higher than Vox and will get shrill if pushed. The FAT switch adds low-mid warmth that approximates AC30's Class A compression. Your Yamaha's ceramic humbuckers are hotter and darker than Tri-Sonics; the fuzz-as-boost with high tone setting pushes the necessary upper harmonics Brian got from his Rangemaster.

PRO TIPUse a coin (UK sixpence or US dime) instead of a pick — Brian's attack comes from the rigid, angled strike of metal on wound strings, creating that distinctive harmonic-rich 'singing' quality. Strike closer to the bridge for the solo sections, closer to the neck for the operatic rhythm parts.

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

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