I am no guitar guy, but The Edge (U2) and Brian May (Queen) have such distinctive not just styles, but sound, that I gotta believe they do something special. But I have no idea what it is, being ignorant of the craft. Can anyone explain what it is in somewhat dummy-fied terms.
Brian May builds pretty much all his own equipment, from his guitar to his effects pedals, so that goes a long way toward his sound.
The Edge doesn’t play guitar as much as he plays effects. He probably has 10 or 20 pedals daisy-chained for any given tone on any given song – delays, flangers, tube screamers, sustains, you name it he’s got a detailed schematic of how all that stuff combines to give him what he wants to hear.
Brian May uses a sixpence as a guitar pick.
This is why pre-decimalisation British coinage is so highly prized among serious guitar slingers. You just can’t get that vintage tone out of the new pence.
That was hilarious- thanks for sharing it.
In the case of Brian May, a lot of it has to do with the fact that his guitar is a completely unique instrument he built himself as a teenager and which is operated differently from any other guitar other than replicae of itself.
The Edge is playing with more than the guitar. He generally uses a repeater, so that when he plays some notes the repeater plays back those notes at a slightly different pitch. He does this a couple of times and he can have several slightly different versions of the same tune playing at the same time. It is like he is playing guitar in harmony with himself.
Hereis a more technical explanation of what he does.
He also holds his pick differently than most guitarists, which gives his playing a scratching tone which helps all the notes bleed together.
An earlier thread that I think covered the Edge pretty well: How does The Edge play his guitar? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
I can discuss May in more detail as needed but it’s a combo of his homemade guitar, the Red Special; his Top Boost Vox AC-30 amps; his use of an Octaver, an effect that adds harmony lines above (or below) the single note you’re playing. The filler bits and lead of Killer Queen are a great example of May’s signature tone. The last ingredient is Brian fuckin’ May - PhD in astrophysics aside, he’s got freakishly huge hands and superior technique and taste.
The use of an effect as part of your signature tone is common.
Glad to.
“A load of old Celtic bollocks…”
For May, the “Deacy Amp” is key.
That fact that I’m a huge John Deacon fan is irrelevant, by the way.
It’s not that unique; there’s nothing it does that can’t be done on other guitars. Amps and effects (and overdubs) play a much larger role in Brian May’s sound than the guitar itself.
I honestly can’t tell if this is a whoosh!
It’s a whoosh. Some players use shaped coins for picks - Billy Gibbons claims to as well. A thicker pick is something more experienced players can gravitate towards, as they can help with tone and technique - and some folks take that to the extreme of a coin…but vintage doesn’t matter 
ETA: and I agree with Shakester - the Red Special is a very cool guitar with a wonderful story, but is not all the different in capability vs other electrics - a lot more pickup selection switches and a big honkin’ neck (my preference as well ;)), but nothing made of unobtainium…well, a really old piece of wood…