Red Special - Unusual Features

Unusual Features

  • Series wiring
    • The pickups are wired in series rather than the more usual parallel configuration. The output is also added together when wired in series meaning that with all 3 pickups turned on the output is tripled.
  • On/Off switches
    • Each pickup has its own dedicated on/off switch. This allows for the additional pickup combinations of "all 3 on" and "neck and bridge on", combinations not commonly available on three pickup guitars.
  • Phase switches
    • Each pickup has a phase switch which reverses the pickup wiring, therefore reversing the phase of the signal from the pickup. This means that when more than one pickup is active and one has the phase reversed, the resultant tone is what remains after the signal common to the two pickups is canceled out, and only the differences from pickup position remain.
  • Controls
    • The position of volume and tone controls is transposed compared to most guitars with the tone being nearest the pickups and the volume furthest away.
  • Tremolo
    • The tremolo is unique and was designed by Brian and his father. The tremolo system is known as the knife-edge tremolo as it features a knife-edge. The tremolo rocks on a knife-edge that is linked to a couple of motorbike valve springs in the guitar. The tremolo-arm itself was made from a saddle bag carrier from an old bike and a knitting needle from his mother.

Read more about this topic:  Red Special

Famous quotes containing the words unusual and/or features:

    The sea is very old.
    The sea is the face of Mary,
    without miracles or rage
    or unusual hope,
    grown rough and wrinkled
    with incurable age.
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)

    However much we may differ in the choice of the measures which should guide the administration of the government, there can be but little doubt in the minds of those who are really friendly to the republican features of our system that one of its most important securities consists in the separation of the legislative and executive powers at the same time that each is acknowledged to be supreme, in the will of the people constitutionally expressed.
    Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)