The second US Brian May Red Special Enthusiast meet-up took place at the Linger Longer Lounge, 6522 N 16th Street in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, 26 March 2022. As in 2020, the event was again arranged by Luke Holwerda, supported by Jon Underhill of The Red Special Guitar Podcast. The video below is a ten minute compilation video of some of the highlights of the day and includes demonstrations by Ricky Peraza of his CQ Red Special, a modified BMG Special owned by Andrek Hernandez and a 1994 Guild Brian May owned by Gonzalo Plaza.
The three Vox AC30 amplifiers are owned by Luke and include TBX and CC2 variants and a replica fawn version he made himself. I took the main components of my replica Brian May touring and guesting mini rig made by Nigel Knight of Knight Audio Technologies (KAT):
- KAT rackmount MIDI controller module
- KAT rackmount wireless switcher module
- KAT floor MIDI switching unit
- TC Electronic G-Major 2 effects processor unit
- Sennheiser wireless receiver and bodypack transmitter
- KAT RED-18 Strap-Mounted Treble Booster
Jon brought and sold a selection of KAT equipment including a Load Star attenuator, Mini Rig, N-Channel tube amp emulator, Groundbreaker, two Plush treble boosters, one in kit form and one assembled. Greg Fryer sent a number of hand built and signed Fryer Super and Deluxe Treble Boosters for sale at special meet-up discounted prices.
Ron Smith from Red Special hardware supplier The Cybershop attended and displayed a selection of his exquisitely machined custom component parts. The next generation of Brian May Red Special enthusiasts was well represented by Branden Alten, Blakely Simonsen from Washington, Andrek Hernandez from California and Ricky Peraza from Florida. Carlos Mario Solares Lopez de Llergo travelled from Mexico and although he could speak very little English, sang vocal on TYMD and an impromptu Love Of My Life duet with Gonzalo Plaza on guitar.
Once again, a big thank-you to Susan Ermish-Gunther (saratogaspringer) for generously covering the venue hire fee and lunch and drinks for all attendees. Surplus funds plus raffle fees were donated to the Save Me Trust raising US$1,000. Luke’s synopsis of the day can be found in the April 2022 news section of BrianMay.com. Brian also posted a message on his Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcaMZONMqWb/
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