Which Queen member is known for playing the Red Special guitar?

The Queen member known for playing the Red Special guitar is Brian May.

May and his father, Harold, built the original Red Special when Brian was a teenager in the early 1960s. Its wooden body used material from an 18th-century fireplace, giving rise to one of its nicknames: “the Fireplace.” Household materials, including shelf edging and mother-of-pearl buttons, were incorporated into its construction.

The guitar became May’s signature instrument. He has used it for much of Queen’s studio and live work, helping create his distinctive layered guitar harmonies and orchestral effects. Rather than relying only on a conventional pick, May is also famous for using a British sixpence coin, whose stiffness suited his playing style.

The Red Special is sometimes confused with replica guitars used in Queen videos or as touring backups. Those copies resemble the original, but Brian May’s home-built instrument is the one most closely associated with his sound and image.