LOL. Alex Lifesons two true guitar loves are the Gibson ES-335 and the Les Paul. A lot less expensive than the excellent "Hentor Sportscaster" replicas made by Freddy Gabrsek. You can hear Lifeson rock the wah pedal on songs like Cygnus X1 and countless other riffs throughout the Rush repertoire. Currency: Lifeson has been back and forth with his main guitars over the years, but ever since he landed a deal with Gibson for his signature Les Paul Axcess, the model became his undisputed favorite six-string for both stage and studio. You can see this guitar in action throughout most of Rushs history, all the way from the 1970s in The Trees music video, through more recent tours, like on Working Man from the Time Machines Tour in 2011 (Lifeson really shreds on this one!). I actually cut two templates and stacked them together to give the template some more heighth. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. As if a Floyd Rose on a Les Paul isnt unique enough, in addition to the two magnetic humbuckers, Lifeson also added a Piezo pickup into the Floyd Rose bridge. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Your passion for many of the same things is obvious. Im curious about the wiring form3 pickups on the LP styled 3 way switch. ET and 1 p.m. It also had only two knobsone tone and one volumeunlike the three that you usually find on Strats. EUR I found the answer to my question. It may not display this or other websites correctly. http://www.80srockphotos.com/fcWebApp/product_images/AlexLifeson2_wtrMrk.jpg, 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. He has them on many of his Les Pauls, including his signature Axcess Les Paul. Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care. The attention to detail shows, and I can only imagine what a special instrument this must feel like, how much pleasure it must bring just to look at it. The Property from the Archives of Alex Lifeson auction also included a number of other high-profile sales. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Alex Lifeson loves to have piezo pickups and dual outputs built into his guitars. Here are a few of his most notable. View Auction Results Theres no guitar player that sounds exactly like Alex Lifeson. I'm happy with the overall results and removing a few grams of wood from this heavy specimen will make it easier on the back when playing for extended periods. Alexs only stipulation was that for every guitar sold, a portion of the profit goes to his charity Grapes Under Pressure. Alex is a Canadian musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the Hall of Fame rock group Rush. The 3 way Gibson switch is super simple and more intuitive than soldering a 5-way blade selector - the routing to place the switch on the lower horn will be a bit of work of course, but perfectly doable with a hand drill. Its an HSS, two knobs (volume / tone) with a Floyd rose non fine tuner trem (no locking nut). Hopefully by this time next week I'll be able to show you th finished product. Well, it sounds like youve got the idea well thought out so it should work out well in the end. I just wanted to compliment you for the outstanding job that you did, researching and writing such a detailed, informative, interesting, and enjoyable article. After rocking on his Canora for a while and discovering that music was what he really wanted to do, Alex Lifeson decided it was time to buy his first proper guitar to get his new band Rush going. So I have a few builds going on, but with some spare alder, tomorrow I will embark on a Hentor Sportcaster inspired strat. Figure this was the bass cabinet (bottom) of the 3rd stack, I believe Alex used 4 stacks at the time. Well from that pic it s a slab board with a bullet truss rod so most likely a custom built something. Rush Marshall cabinet photos, And if anyone has more info, Id love to hear! Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. A 1981 Gibson Howard Roberts fusion guitar that served as Lifesons main guitar during the Moving Pictures tour. Lifeson loves playing heavy guitars, so being able to get that clean hollow-body sound out of a heavy guitar was like a dream come true. Julien's Auctions | The Signature brand guitars were equal in quality to Schecters or Perfomance at that time, and they are even rarer. I have no idea. Hi Christopher, There was some additional dialogue I found that confirmed that the Hentors that Freddy Garsbeck was given permission to produce for resale were also wired up that way. A few months ago I figured out, thanks to posts on forums like this, that I pretty much had the basic components needed to build my very own Hentor Sportscaster and have it be fairly period-correct. It's Friday night, and I think we need a MEME thread. Bringing back memories. In 2008, Alex Lifeson teamed up with his favorite guitar-makers to create a signature Gibson ES-355 thats (almost) as good as his original 1976 model. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Always make certain the base is flat on the surface. In the later tours, Lifeson swapped from having a chorus foot pedal to a rack-mounted chorus effect. While his 76 ES-355 might not be his primary player anymore, its still one of Lifesons favorite guitars and frequently goes on tour with him. For the Power Windows tour in 1985, Lifeson swapped out his chorus foot pedal for a rack-mounted TC Electronics 1210. I have no idea if they used the guitars, but Rush and Lifeson were given (IIRC) two custom built stratocasters by Ted Veneman of Veneman Music, probably built by John Warden. To craft his signature sound, he uses a myriad of effects pedals. Brand New. Oops, looks like you forgot something. I have had the Hentor in my possession for about 6 months and have documented every property and detail of this amazing and unique . What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song? Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care. I'm a huge Rush fan and Alex Lifeson was the reason I picked up a guitar. Part of our "Music Icons" auction happening on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, "Property From The Archives of Alex Lifeson . The Lifeson Signature model also had a fine-tuning Floyd Rose-type bridge. Hey! ET on May 22. The Bridgette Bardot reference? If it gets at an angle, it will get away from you. It deserves to be played and need to thin out the inventory. Once Rush started hitting it big, Alex Lifeson went out and bought a Fender Super Reverb amp. Since its creation in 2011, this guitar has become one of Lifesons primary players. He uses this amp to add a little extra to his regular tone. From 1980 to 1986, Lifeson used four identically modified Stratocasters, all of them equipped with the Floyd Rose bridge. If you plug in the second output jack, it splits the magnetic pickups and the piezo pickup, so Lifeson can send the two signals to separate amp configurations! I have had the Hentor in my possession for about 6 months and have documented every property and detail of this amazing and unique sounding guitar. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Like with his guitars, Lifeson has gone through a few amps over the years. Epiphone Alex Lifeson Signature Les Paul Standard Axcess 2021 - Present - Viceroy Brown. He saw this beautiful, brand-new, white ES-355 that he just had to have, so he bought it! Instead, its thinner than standard Les Pauls, giving it that Axcess weight reduction without losing the incredible solid-body sustain. Alex used this guitar heavily during the 1980's and named . A custom-built 1980 Hentor Sportscaster - used by Lifeson extensively during the recording of Rush's Grace Under Pressure album and for the "Limelight" solo - also fetched a princely sum, selling (opens in new tab) for $187,500. Alex Lifeson has announced plans to sell off his most iconic guitars for charity with Julien's Auctions.. You must log in or register to reply here. All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess is a very unique guitar. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I cant remember which forum I was on, but there were several threads that mentioned that this was how Alex had it wired up with the three way mod. Does it have to be white? Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Please let me know if you are still having problems. Handmade by luthier Freddy Gabrsek in Ontario, Canada, this guitar was made for me that took nearly 10 months to complete. Surprisingly, Alex Lifeson is mostly self-taught. Next Last. Ok, got to work on the body today. The Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Edition Triamp is a 100-watt tube head with three preamps (like the name triamp suggests) and two different channels. If you arent confident with wiring 920D and plenty of others can provide you with a good quality wiring harness for ~$80. Neck is also MIJ, gorgeous, plays super . I'm not familiar with the original that inspired this build, but I can still tell that this turned out exceptionally nicely! Legend has it that Lifeson was friends with the owner of Signature Guitars and helped him design the instruments. $39.99. Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. Hard to imagine he was 27 at the time. Another highlight of the auction is a 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar, used during the recording of several Rush albums, in particular on 1984's Grace Under Pressure, where it was Lifeson's main recording guitar. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar." . Hello my fellow Rush fans! After the demise of his prized ES-335, Alex Lifeson swapped to using some of his Les Pauls and a few Fender Stratocasters, but there was still a semi-hollow hole left in his heart that those solid-body guitars just couldnt fill. Las mejores ofertas para Mini Guitarra Modelo Axe Heaven Alex Lifeson Signature ES-355 Gibson Blanco Alpino estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! Guitars up for sale include Lifeson's Whitey Gibson ES-355TD, a 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster and a Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck created specifically for Rush's 40th Anniversary tour. This guitar was favored by Lifeson as his primary instrument for soloing - in particular the solo for the band's hit single "Limelight" , and can be seen in the . That way I could start with a shallower initial cut. "I used a white modified Fender Strat that I called the 'Hentor Sportscaster'. In 2010, the sound experts at Hughes & Kettner gave Alex Lifeson his very own signature model amp. Alex Lifeson has always been experimenting with his guitars and equipment. TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. Hard Prog Rock Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson Neil Peart. They went out to the store and picked up a $59 Canora the following Christmas. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. hentor; sportscaster; alex; lifeson; guitar; wiring; strat; gibson; switching; By MarkScudder, . Btw, to answer your other question, to route an American standard 2 pole or a vintage routed body for a Floyd, you will need to fill the cavities and drill new holes then refinish. alex lifeson hentor hentor sportscaster rush sportscaster strat modification stratocaster 1; 2; Next. Germany, Up next, I'll be shielding the cavity, drilling the hole in the pickguard for the new switch location and then wiring it up. For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo ShopUp to 25% off select Gibson guitarsShop now, View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb. That does it for this overview of the Alex Lifeson Guitar collection. Be gentle. As part of Julien's Auctions' "Music Icons" auction, happening on May 20, 21 and 22, "Property From The Archives Of Alex Lifeson" will feature over 60 vintage guitars and other career memorabilia from the personal collection Alex Lifeson, the legendary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame guitarist and co-founder of Rush, One of the greatest rock groups of all time, selling more than 40 million . What era is this meant to follow? You are using an out of date browser. JULIENS AUCTIONS IS HONORED TO ANNOUNCE OUR PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESON AUCTION TAKING PLACE FRIDAY, MAY 20th AT THE HARD ROCK CAF NEW YORK AND LIVE ONLINE AT JULIENS LIVE. Opens in a new window or tab. His go-to chorus pedal is the Boss CE-1 Chorus. PRODUCER. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. It requires routing a pocket for the switch and two channels for the new wiring location. Shortly after he bought his first proper guitar, Alex Lifeson also picked up a 1974 Gibson Les Paul Standard following Rushs first tour in 1976. What are you waiting for. Lifeson manages to achieve this sound with his hallowed 'Hentor Sportscaster', a Frankenstein guitar a modified Fender Strat with a Floyd Rose vibrato arm to create his archetypal tone. There isnt anything special about Lifesons Tele. What would a lead guitarist be without an awesome wah pedal!? Lifeson said it had a really nice balance when he played it, and it had everything he looks for in a guitar. It instantly became his primary player that graced both the stage and the studio for the next few years. Although Alex Lifeson prefers (loves) Gibson guitars, he does dabble with some other manufacturers as well. Lifesons main EDS-1275 is white and features humbuckers on both sides of the guitar. So first things first, I needed do some neck and bridge work while I waited for the parts I ordered (we'll get to all that in a later post). JavaScript is disabled. Best regards! He took a few classical guitar lessons from a friend when he was young, but he mostly sat by his record player trying to learn the solos from his favorite guitarists. This splendid guitar was part of Rushs most explosive era of creativity. Looking for a bit more lead boost during live performances, Lifeson added the Hughes & Kettner Coreblade to his amp setup for the Time Machine tour in 2011. Since he already got his signature ES-355, this time, he opted for a solid body. Also did this for a tele I'm working on as well. What Ive figured out so far is that somebody (road crew / tech) changed the jack plates from the small plastic ones to hand-drilled metal ones, took off the grill cloth, put metal screening instead, and remounted the Marshall logo. For more information, head to Julien's Auctions (opens in new tab). The Gibson EDS-1275 is used any time Lifeson needs a 12-stringmost notably, on the song Xanadu. As if one double-necked guitar wasnt cool enough, Geddy Lee also plays a double-neck for that song. Don't mind the trace lines for 3 single coil pups - that's just habit. Lifeson thought that guitar was so cool because it was shaped like a Gretsch Country Gentleman. He bought a 1968 Gibson ES-335 for Rushs first tour. Another guitar up for bids, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. There just isnt another guitar player like him. Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. Vintage 80s Rush - Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson On Stage - Pin / Button / Badge. Another notable guitar going under the hammer is Lifeson's 1980 Hentor Sportscaster, the custom electric guitar which Lifeson played on albums such as 1981's Moving Pictures and 1984's Grace Under Pressure. The Les Paul and the ES-335 became his two primary players through the rest of the 1970s and cemented his love for Gibson guitars, hollow-bodies, and Les Pauls. It smashed right into his prized ES-335 (and his double-neck EDS-1275, which well get to later), cracking the headstock. Gardena, A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since Moving Pictures, and was the main guitar used on the recording of the album Grace Under Pressure. The primary jack blends the magnetic and the piezo. I posted (http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=24807.msg359089#msg359089) several months back asking for advice on attempting to build a replica of Alex Lifeson's white Hentor Sportscaster, a modified strat he used on the Grace Under Pressure album and tour. You could probably do it with a drill and then rout a couple of channels by just lining up a couple of strips of wood to act as a template. Lifeson loved the way a 12-string sounded for certain songs, but being in a three-piece band, he couldnt give up the ability to play lead on a six-string. All rights reserved. Its a double-cutaway, solid-body guitar with humbuckerswhich is right in line with most of Lifesons guitars. A true passion of mine, Ive designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. His bandmates even call him The Musical Scientist because of his sound experimentation. Learn More. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Keith. He has spent so many years experimenting with different guitars, amps, and effects, that its nearly impossible for anyone to recreate. Commencing May 20, the sale dubbed Property from the Archives of Alex Lifeson will take place Sunday, May 22 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York and online at the company's website (opens in new tab). Whitey is featured on all albums from A Farewell to Kings to Test for Echo, and can be seen played by Lifeson on stage during all Rush tours from 1977 to 2015 as well as in many of the bands music videos. Custom built to match the specs of Alex's 80's Sportscaster Strat! Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster replica - Electric Guitars - Harmony Central. Lifeson manages to achieve this sound with his hallowed 'Hentor Sportscaster', a Frankenstein guitar a modified Fender Strat with a Floyd Rose vibrato arm to create his archetypal tone. Roughed out on the bandsaw, sanded close to the line and routed to shape. Although I did have a pedalboard one time that I called Kevin. , Heres a link to some photos for the curious: I'll . He borrowed most of his equipment from friends and relativesas most budding musicians do. Lifeson played a Signature Aurora almost exclusively for the Power Windows Tour and kept it in rotation for a few shows after that. In fact, its hard to even picture Alex Lifeson without a Les Paul in his hands! You must log in or register to reply here. The wiring is neck, neck/middle, bridge. Months after Alex Lifeson detailed his post-Rush project Envy of None, it's been revealed that friend and bandmate Geddy Lee is at work with the Barenaked Ladies on a "secret" new project. BA1 1UA. A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures," and was the main guitar used on the recording of the album "Grace Under Pressure." This guitar was favored by . He thought it looked so unique with its bright-white finish, and the sound was incredible! This guitar made tons of appearances throughout the 70s. Niagara on the Lake luthier Freddy Gebrsek has received permission from Alex Lifeson to create and sell replicas of his Hentor Sportscaster which Alex used extensively during the early 1980s. I put a top-bearing bit on the router and after the first two passes i was able to take the template off the guitar to get to the final 1.25" depth. * A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures, . Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: The model name is "Alex Lifeson Axcess Les Pauls Gibson" and it includes, among other things, a tremolo handle as well as special pickups (microphones). Aleksandar ivojinovi, OC (born 27 August 1953), known professionally as Alex Lifeson (/ l a f s n /), is a Canadian musician who is the guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Rush.In 1968, Lifeson co-founded a band that would later become Rush, with drummer John Rutsey and bassist and lead vocalist Jeff Jones.Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee a month later, and Rutsey was . For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo ShopUp to 25% off select Gibson guitarsShop now, View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb. Wtf? It only came with a white finish (of course) and featured gold hardware. Finally, RUSH's drummer Neil Peart is such a monster musician that we will reserve comment for now and create a separate post for him at an appropriate moment in the near future hint, hint. According to Rushisaband.com, Niagara On The Lake luthier Freddy Gebrsek has received permission from RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson to create and sell replicas of his Hentor Sportscaster, which Alex used extensively during the early 1980s. Frankly, Im not even a die hard Rush fan, and before today could not even name the lead guitarist. I havent been to a Rush concert in decades but in the late 70s, early 80s, I saw them every time they came to town. Used - Mint. You can hear the Garrison in action during a small solo break on Working Them Angels.. Actually I was thinking more about it - while I did have that GFTPM issue I was actually thinking of an even earlier Guitar World that I had (from 1981): Most of the parts are in, so here's a rundown of the essentials. Growing up, his musical idols included other legendary rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Wow.and I thought I was a Rush dork!! (Image credit: Julien's Auctions) Another highlight of the auction is a 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar, used during the recording of several Rush albums, in particular on 1984's Grace Under Pressure, where it was Lifeson's main recording guitar.. But the cool thing is all the notes on the aged masking tape inside the cabinet, which Im curious to discover more about: From that moment on, all he wanted to do was play guitar. Hey! Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Replica Guitars Now Available. This was Lifeson's favorite guitar to use during the recordings . A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. Another notable Lifeson axe his 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar used on the recording of RUSH's seminal albums since "Moving Pictures", in particular "Grace Under . Very nice build and glad to hear that previous posts and discussion helped with your build. I think it cost $10. He recalled the string height was very high off the neck, making it difficult to playas most beginner acoustics are. Its essentially an oversized hollow-body Les Paul. The reversed jack cup was a not uncommon mod at one point, as it allowed you to plug a cord with an L plug into it. Please check the fields highlighted in red. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Lifeson runs that second output into the piezo switcher on his pedalboard, so he can turn the piezo on and off with the touch of his foot. California To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. Aleksandar Zivojinovic, otherwise known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is the lead guitarist for the legendary virtuosic rock trio, Rush. Lifeson also brought the guitar on the road extensively during the band's career. Both are expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. It was a real workhorse and I loved it.. Finally, Lifeson would get his own signature Gibson Les Paul! Sincerely, Solid Body Electric Guitars. Some reference if you can stand the 80'sness of the videos. It is this performance that critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Guitar Lobby is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. I mean I know some guys name their guitars, never heard of naming your speakers. Alex Lifeson is set to put up his most legendary guitars for bidding at the Julien's Auctions "Music Icons . i know he was endorsed by them back then. The Gibson HRF looks like Gibson took a Les Paul and threw some ES-335 into it. As for pickups, the Alex Lifeson Signature Les Paul features 496R and 498T humbuckers with push/pull series and parallel switching thats activated with the standard tone and volume knobs. This . In addition to the Hiwatt 100s, Lifeson also used a Fender J.B.L. Product #: AL-280 AXE HEAVEN has created handcrafted RUS AXE HEAVEN HOME - WE SHIP WORLDWIDE A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. You can see the incredible Hentor Sportscaster in action for much of the Grace Under Pressure tour, including this live performance of The Spirit of the Radio.. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar." Another notable guitar hitting the auction block is the 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar used on the recording of Rush's albums following Moving Pictures. For the wiring check, the link to the build thread I linked to above in post 6. His white 1976 custom-built Gibson ES-355TD will go under the hammer in May. Please call 877-687-4277 for assistance with placing . That looks great and well worth all of the setup. Alex Lifeson: I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. There will be a HB in the bridge and I need to make a trace for the 3 way toggle on the horn. Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. He also had black and CAR Strats with almost identical setups. By _pete_, November 22, 2009 in Electric Guitars. But this is all for today. Even though its technically a hollow body, the Gibson HRF has a maple spur that runs through the middle of the body, which gives it some weight. https://images.reverb.com/image/upl,t_large/v1581972430/h0nfvf6whdarq19a1o7i.jpg, Fender "Squier Series" Floyd Rose Standard Stratocaster 1992 - 1996 | Reverb, https://reranchstore.stores.yahoo.net/vintagecream.html, https://www.tdpri.com/media/hentor-sportscaster-wiring-diagram.32741/full?d=1427069188, 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. Alex Lifeson's equipment in the chronological order he acquired them. They recruited bassist and vocalist Jeff Jones and became The Projection, which eventually became Rush in 1968. The pickups were Alnico II replicas of the legendary 1950s PAF humbuckers that made Lifesons original 355 sound so good. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Early estimates suggest that "Whitey" will bring in $200,000 - $300,000 at auction. I purchased this guitar in 1976, Lifeson says. In 2010, the band wanted to go for a steampunk vibe. Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. JavaScript is disabled. It is indeed a Signature strat. Check the other thread I linked to in the post above yours, there is more detail on how it looks. The Alex Lifeson Guitar-His custom-built "Whitey" Gibson ES-355TD electric main guitar from 1976-2015 (Used during his entire time with Rush) A "Limelight" stage played 1980 custom-built .