Brian used this guitar on the song “Long Away” from Queen’s 1978 album A Day at the Races. According to him, the inspiration for the song came from just playing this specific guitar.
I used this on Long Away. Funnily enough I think I bought it because I liked the pickups, but I fell in love with the guitar once I started playing around with it and the song materialised. The guitar actually inspired the riff that powers the song.
Brian May on 9 Queen guitars that aren’t his Red Special
This guitar is produced by Burns and features the exact same pickups that Brian used in his Red Special – the Tri-Sonics. This is, as noted in the quote above, the reason why Brian purchased the guitar in the first place. Also, it’s the exact same model that Elvis Presley pled in the movie “Spin Out”.
White Burns?
Brian was also photographed using the exact same Burns model but finished in white, during the A Night at the Opera studio session in 1975 – see Queen At Ridge Farm Studio – GettyImages). However, according to a 1983 interview with GuitarPlayer magazine, his Burn’s guitar was green.
I have one Strat and one Telecaster, and a green sunburst 12-strings Burns. I also have a Flying V, which is a recent acquisition.
Interview with Brian May “Guitar Player” magazine – January 1983
So, it’s possible that he owned the white model in 1975 and then switched to a green one by 1983.
In summer 1966, Sam Ash Music in Hempstead NY, had one of these unique, green-monster Baldwin 12-string guitars. We took it down to play/test out a bit. Was cumbersome, but sounded great thru a MagnaTone tube amp! Wound up buying Rickenbacker 12-strings any way, but have ALWAYS, ALWAYS wanted one of these. Saw a band called “The Bad Seeds,” at a L.I. discoteque called ‘The World’, 1966…Guitarist had one of these plugged into a Sun tube stage amp..sounded utterly fantastic!! Ringy-dingy, poignant, chimey, twinky, like a Rick. His style was McGuinn-like..Though I’m not playing prof.any more, still have my ’67 Fireglo Rick 12-string, would love to have one of these Burns/Baldwin Beauties!!
Sam A Burkes lll, Phila, MS
The Ridge Farm photo is from a Baldwin (or Burns) Bison, not a Double-Six. Different model, different colour and, more importantly, six strings instead of twelve.
a day at the races came out in 1976