A student from Bristol has paid a remarkable tribute to his musical idol, Brian May, by crafting a guitar inspired by May’s iconic Red Special. While the student may be too young to be a Queen fan during the band’s peak, his passion for their music and admiration for May’s work is evident.
Sam Golder, a student from Stoke Gifford, found inspiration in Queen’s legendary guitarist, who famously handcrafted his own Red Special guitar in his teens with the help of his father. The guitar was built using everyday materials like a table top, fireplace, and buttons from his mother’s sewing box, all without the use of power tools or expensive spare parts.
Similarly, Sam, a Year 13 pupil at Collegiate School in Stapleton, set out to craft his own guitar using basic materials, steering clear of advanced tools. At 18 years old, Sam dedicated around 18 months to creating a version of the classic Flying V guitar, using only wood from his grandfather’s workshop.
Sam’s love for Queen’s music has grown naturally, thanks to his father’s admiration for the band, known for some of the biggest anthems of the past century, including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions. Sam’s connection to Queen’s music deepened further when he participated in his school’s production of We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical featuring numerous Queen classics. In the production, Sam played the lead keyboard role.
Sam shared his thoughts on his project, saying, “Brian May was a huge inspiration for this project. I grew up listening to Queen, thanks to my dad, Robert. Last year, I played lead piano in the band that provided the live soundtrack for our school production of We Will Rock You, which, of course, is based around Queen’s music and May’s iconic guitar sounds.”
Sam’s guitar-building journey began when he found wood at his grandfather Ray’s house in Essex. After dividing it into three pieces to form the V shape, he worked on the guitar with the help of his friend, Miles, who 3D-printed a tool to assist with the manufacturing process. The electric components were purchased online, but Sam and his friend dismantled and rebuilt them as part of the project.
Having joined Collegiate School in Year 7, Sam’s time at school was interrupted by the pandemic. To stay occupied, he taught himself to play the piano through YouTube tutorials. Although Sam initially tried guitar lessons on a classical Spanish guitar, he found his passion for piano, which led him to pursue it further. He is now preparing for his Grade 8 piano exams.
During his school years, Sam has won the Collegiate’s Got Talent contest, participated in an inter-school concert in Normandy, France, and performed with the school band, The Collegiate Collective, at the Clifton Observatory. He has also been a regular performer at the school’s Live Lounge events.
Sam credited his bandmates, friends, and his head of music, Mrs. Williams, for supporting his growth as a musician. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the band, my friends, and Mrs. Williams. One day, it’s my dream to share my music on stage with millions of people, whether that’s on guitar, piano, or even both,” he said.
As for his musical influences, Sam’s taste is grounded in classic rock. Besides Queen, he enjoys bands like Metallica, Linkin Park, Aerosmith, and Pink Floyd. His influences also include guitar legends such as Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, and the late Randy Rhoads of Quiet Riot, who also played a Flying V guitar.
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