The Greco BM-900 (also written BM900) is often considered the very first Brian May copy ever made. It appeared in Greco’s 1978 catalog as part of the Project Series, priced at ¥90,000, and it wasn’t an exact replica of the Red Special. This article shows how it differed and what came after it. For the brand behind it, see the Greco Brand Guide.
Greco BM-900 Quick Facts
- What it is: Greco’s copy of Brian May’s Red Special
- In the catalog: 1978, in the Project Series, ¥90,000
- Began as: a one-off custom order through Greco’s Order-Made System
- Biggest differences: solid body, parallel wiring, a 14° headstock
- Successors: BM-80 (1983) and BM-90 (1987)
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own short video below.
The First Brian May Copy: How the BM-900 Began
There have been many Brian May-style guitars since, but the BM-900 is often considered the very first. It began as a custom order through Greco’s Order-Made System, where customers chose specs from set templates. A Japanese magazine feature on the one-off guitar set off a wave of inquiries, and Greco turned it into a regular production model.
Considering this was the late 1970s, the builders were probably working only from photos of the Red Special. Brian May himself was later seen with a BM900 in the video for Queen’s “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy,” a story told in my Greco history.
BM-900 vs the Red Special: What’s Different
The BM-900 looked the part, but it wasn’t an exact replica. Here is how it compared with Brian May’s original:
| Part | Red Special (original) | Greco BM-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Chambered | Solid mahogany |
| Headstock | Distinctive original shape, about 4° angle | A more subtle shape, about 14° angle |
| Pickups | Burns Tri-Sonic | Greco’s own PU-90 |
| Wiring | Middle pickup reverse-wound, all three in series | All three wound the same way, wired in parallel |
| Pickup switches | Plastic slide switches | Metal toggle switches |
| Volume and tone | Original layout | Positions swapped |
| Bridge and tailpiece | Roller saddles | Standard Greco parts |
| Pickguard | Black | Red tortoiseshell (a few early units were black) |
What the Differences Mean for Your Sound
The wiring is the biggest change. On the Red Special, series wiring stacks the pickups for a thicker, louder combined tone. The BM-900’s parallel wiring gives a brighter, cleaner blend, closer to a Strat than to Brian May’s signature sound. The solid body and steeper headstock also change the feel and the resonance compared with the original’s chambered build.
The pickguard was likely changed to red tortoiseshell to avoid legal issues. Even so, for a late-1970s guitar built from photos, the level of accuracy is impressive.
What It’s Like to Play
Japanese guitar magazine Digimart Magazine reviewed a 1977 BM900 in detail (article in Japanese). The reviewer found it balanced and comfortable, with a neck he liked enough to want on a Strat, and a brighter, Strat-like tone. The front pickup sounded better than the rear, which was weaker and prone to feedback.
From BM-900 to BM-80 and BM-90
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1970s | A one-off Red Special copy built through the Order-Made System; a magazine feature sparks demand |
| 1978 | BM-900 in the Greco catalog as part of the Project Series, ¥90,000 |
| Early 1980s | Production stops with the end of the Project Series |
| 1983 | Returns as the BM-80 |
| 1987 | Renamed the BM-90 |
Production stopped once, but the model came back as the BM-80 in 1983 and later the BM-90 in 1987, making it an unusually long-running copy model.
Buying a Greco Brian May Model Today
- Know the model: BM-900 for the original Project Series guitar, BM-80 from 1983, BM-90 from 1987.
- Check the pickups: many players swapped the PU-90s for DiMarzio pickups in the 1980s, so original pickups matter if you want it stock.
- Look at the pickguard: red tortoiseshell is standard; a black one may point to an early unit or a replacement.
Final Thoughts
The BM-900 wasn’t a perfect Red Special, and it didn’t try to be. It was a Japanese custom order that became a production guitar, then a long-running model, all built from photos in the 1970s. Would you want to try one? Let me know in the comments on the video.
FAQ
What is the Greco BM-900?
Greco’s copy of Brian May’s Red Special. It appeared in Greco’s 1978 catalog as part of the Project Series, priced at 90,000 yen.
Was the Greco BM-900 the first Brian May copy?
It is often considered the very first Brian May copy ever made.
How is the BM-900 different from the Red Special?
It has a solid body instead of a chambered one, Greco PU-90 pickups wired in parallel instead of series, metal toggle switches, standard Greco hardware, a steeper headstock and a red tortoiseshell pickguard.
Did Brian May play a Greco?
Brian May was seen with a Greco BM900 in the video for Queen’s ‘Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy.’
What replaced the Greco BM-900?
The model returned as the BM-80 in 1983 and became the BM-90 in 1987.
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