Now thats a really nice job of routing. It can be heard on 16 of the band's studio albums from their 1974 self-titled debut to 1996's Test for Echo and seen in several music videos. In Rushs early years, Lifeson didnt even own an amp. The guitar is expected to sell at auction for between $100,000 and $200,000. What would a lead guitarist be without an awesome wah pedal!? 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 . They went out to the store and picked up a $59 Canora the following Christmas. Lifeson had 3 modded Strats. "I didn't really play for about a . The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. Thats an awesome tribute. A true passion of mine, Ive designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Learn More. I only get one shot at this so I've been doing a lot of research on this. He thought it looked so unique with its bright-white finish, and the sound was incredible! Thanks, I could not see from the photos if there was a gap and that you had put the pickup ring underneath. The body is from a 2014 Fender Japan ST62-FR. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Mini Guitar Model Officially Licensed Officially Licensed - HANDCRAFTED with all the details just like Alex's famous guitar! Lifeson has several of these Les Paul Axcess in his arsenal, most notably in Black, Royal Crimson, and Viceroy Brown. That way I could start with a shallower initial cut. I'm getting ready to tackle one of these as well - it's more of an "homage" than an exact copy of any particular instrument. Alex Lifeson - Etsy For more information, head to Julien's Auctions (opens in new tab). 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. Alex Lifeson Recalls Why He 'Couldn't Stand' His Gibson SG, Explains I'll . It requires routing a pocket for the switch and two channels for the new wiring location. Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here are a few of his most notable. Here are a couple of shots of the final assembly. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. 70's style strat body finished in . Hello my fellow Rush fans! From about 2000 on, he used Gibsons almost exclusively, most of them being Les Pauls. Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Hello my fellow Rush fans! NEW RELEASES - AXE HEAVEN STORE - Mini Guitar Replica Collectibles "I used a white modified Fender Strat that I called the 'Hentor Sportscaster'. In an interview with Vintage Guitar magazine, Lifeson joked that Hendrix absolutely blew his mind, but there was no thinking about ever reaching his level. He found Claptons solos much more approachable, so thats how he learned to play. Playing bigger gigs, he needed the extra power! Alex Lifesons two true guitar loves are the Gibson ES-335 and the Les Paul. Another highlight of the auction, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESON, Register to Bid by Phone, Proxy, or in Person. When Moving Pictures came out and the Exit . Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. For the Hemispheres tour, Lifeson swapped from his standard Fender Super Reverb to Hiwatt amps. 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. Unfortunately, the Alex Lifeson Memphis ES-355 is no longer in production, but if youre lucky, you can still find a few for sale floating around the internet. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster replicas now available. But even his Hentor Sportscaster had a humbucker in the bridge. This is an awesome guitar. In addition to the Hiwatt 100s, Lifeson also used a Fender J.B.L. Alex Lifeson plays a Gibson Les Paul Axcess guitar. Don't ever buy a Bill Lawrence PUP from anywhere but here: He actually had a Teal/Greenish strat around the same time: never even see that one. 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). Although Lifeson helped propel Signature to new heights by showing off its capabilities on stage, the Signature Guitar Company ultimately closed its doors in 1990, and Lifeson switched back to Gibsons and PRSs. He did, however, modify his 1958 Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Reissue to include a Piezo pickup in the bridge along with dual outputsa configuration he later incorporated into his own Gibson signature model. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hard to imagine he was 27 at the time. Rare '85 RUSH Moving Pictures Mercury Records Vintage US Early Vinyl Repress Lp Near MINT!! 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). Hentor Sportscaster; Gibson EDS-1275 Double-Neck; Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Standard Axcess; Gibson Les Paul Goldtop; Alex Has Also Used The Following . Lifeson began his musical journey at a young age, playing the viola. List price: Previous Price $49.99 . California At some point I will document it some more in a build thread as I plan to redraw it etc. Lifeson also brought the guitar on the road extensively during the band's career. just odd never seen that one before Ok got a lot done today since I have 2 other guitars drying up after clear coating them. The cheapest option is to buy an old body with the right routing for the pickups and start there, though you will have to compromise on something whether its having a Floyd recess, the color, etc. It is this performance which critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. The Strat above is the famous "Hentor Sportscaster" used during the Grace Under Pressure era. Historic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday to You to President Kennedy. Over the years, Lifeson has used almost countless Gibson Les Pauls on stage and in the studio. Im curious about the wiring form3 pickups on the LP styled 3 way switch. Alex Lifeson Auctioning Guitars Used on Classic Rush Albums Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. What Guitar Does Alex Lifeson Use? - Guvna Guitars Growing up, his musical idols included other legendary rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Both are expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. Does it have to be white? Press Releases - Julien's Auctions They were really just modified Strats that Lifeson renamed Hentor Sportscaster after Rushs producer at the time, Peter Henderson. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I'm 99% sure he used his Hentor Sportscaster for that and for the hyper-clean arpeggios during the choruses. 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. Alex Lifeson's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard The sound engineer also blends the amps together to get the perfect sound from backstage. Hentor Sportscaster Build Overview - YouTube You must log in or register to reply here. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song? Its essentially an oversized hollow-body Les Paul. For the Power Windows tour in 1985, Lifeson swapped out his chorus foot pedal for a rack-mounted TC Electronics 1210. Neck is also MIJ, gorgeous, plays super . * 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 . When Jeff Jones left the band, he was replaced by Lifesons high school friend Geddy Lee. Heres a rundown of the guitars, amps, and effects that Alex Lifeson has used over his decades-long career. That turned out just great! 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 . By _pete_, November 22, 2009 in Electric Guitars. All rights reserved. He wanted to be able to get a cleaner sound out of the 12-string, so he put the guitar under the soldering iron and chainsaw, as he said in an interview with Gibson. Hi folks, New member to the forum here and wanted to share some pics from my first Warmoth build - a replica Hentor Sportcaster, based on the Fender Stratocaster that was the predecessor to the actual Hentor. Last edited: Nov 5, 2017. This was Lifeson's favorite guitar to use during the recordings . 70s style strat body finished in nitro lacquer. You can hear the Garrison in action during a small solo break on Working Them Angels.. That way, his sound engineer can manage the chorus instead of him having to worry about switching the pedal on and off while hes rocking the house on stage. Currency: 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. I found the answer to my question. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. 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. Of course, to craft his iconic sound, Lifeson has amassed quite the arsenal of gear. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song? RUSH Guitarist ALEX LIFESON's Iconic Guitars To Be Auctioned You are using an out of date browser. Another guitar up for bids, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Myth of Creation Legend has it that Russ Heinl, an old buddy of Alex's, approached him in 1986 with a prototype of a new MIDI pickup. Alex Lifeson Mini Gibson ES-355 Replica Geddy Lee Mini Tour Edition Fender Jazz Bass Signals 40th Coffee Mug Signals 40th Metallic Litho Rush Golden Ale Bottle Opener Signals Royal Tee Hold Your Fire Beanie Signals Scarf Looking to make a purchase with an existing Rush Backstage gift card? Hentor Sportscaster Switching Question - The Rush Forum If you arent confident with wiring 920D and plenty of others can provide you with a good quality wiring harness for ~$80. Frankly, Im not even a die hard Rush fan, and before today could not even name the lead guitarist. Whether he wants to add a clean line under the heavier sound or some added effects, Lifeson can switch the Coreblade on and off to get the effects hes looking for. In the early 90s, Lifeson picked up a black PRS CE24. Best regards! As he told Guitarist magazine, It wasnt much of a guitar. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Miniature Guitar Model Officially Lic Lifesons Moog is preset with a few bass sounds and some samples. He also has another early 90s PRS in Tobacco Sunburst that has a signature pickup in the bridge positionfrom his old Signature Aurora days. Regular price $ . BA1 1UA. Thanks for alerting me about the problems with the photos. Thats how a three-piece rock band can produce sounds that even five-piece bands would struggle with! It looked like a Fender Stratocaster with a few stark differences. Welcome to the all-new home of Alex Lifeson on the web. Lifeson thought that guitar was so cool because it was shaped like a Gretsch Country Gentleman. He even uses it during Rushs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hello Chris, great article but Id like to bring some corrections to your information the Signature Guitars section: Alex started using the Signature Aurora Prototype built buy Russ Heinl (a personal friend of Alexs) for the Hold Your Fire and Presto albums almost exclusively (this it the White Aurora, his #1), he had 5 Auroras on tour with him and used mostly his #1, #2 Charcoal grey & his #3 Dark emerald green metallic in the live performances. That's his Hentor "Sportscaster" I believe That's his "Flockcaster" to match his hair from that era. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But the cool thing is all the notes on the aged masking tape inside the cabinet, which Im curious to discover more about: See the full list of notable Alex Lifeson Guitars below. Alex Lifeson has given me permission to backwards engineer and meticulously blueprint his iconic Hentor Sportscaster so that I may make and sell accurate replicas. The prototype was eventually made into an official Gibson signature model and had a limited production run in 2015. He missed the sound of his old signatures and asked Paul Reed Smith to build him a PRS with one of the old pickups, so he did! Although Alex Lifeson prefers (loves) Gibson guitars, he does dabble with some other manufacturers as well. Alexs only stipulation was that for every guitar sold, a portion of the profit goes to his charity Grapes Under Pressure. When he was 12, he was given his very first guitar as a Christmas present and renounced the viola forever in favor of shredding the guitar. You must log in or register to reply here. Sincerely, Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. What's your favorite 335 style guitar for under $1000 used. To project the awesome sound from the amps out into the audience, Lifeson three Hughes & Kettner 212 cabinets. Of course, seeing such an unknown guitar rocking stages all over the world, guitar players everywhere were trying to figure out what the heck a Hentor Sportscaster was! A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. I'm a huge Rush fan and Alex Lifeson was the reason I picked up a guitar. To craft his signature sound, he uses a myriad of effects pedals. 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. Alex Lifeson loves to have piezo pickups and dual outputs built into his guitars. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. I do prefer the look with the white pickups. and volume and tone? Germany, It was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Its an HSS, two knobs (volume / tone) with a Floyd rose non fine tuner trem (no locking nut). Wow, what an excellent rundown of Alexs gear and the videos were super entertaining! Add to Cart. He has three of these contraptions behind him on stage at all times. 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. I purchased this guitar in 1976, Lifeson says. Lifeson also regularly used the guitar on tour and in music videos over the years. #1. RUSH Mini Guitars and Bass: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Replica Phone: 310-836-1818 | A lot less expensive than the excellent "Hentor Sportscaster" replicas made by Freddy Gabrsek. It has the same pickups, bridge, and hardware that youd find on any 52 reissue. Nice job. In the later tours, Lifeson swapped from having a chorus foot pedal to a rack-mounted chorus effect. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Hi folks, New member to the forum here and wanted to share some pics from my first Warmoth build - a replica Hentor Sportcaster, based on the Fender Stratocaster that was the predecessor to the actual Hentor. Alex Lifeson's isolated guitar for Rush song 'Limelight' - Far Out Magazine Alex Lifeson's White Strat? | The Gear Page I've read he used Floyd Rose tremolos with and without the fine tuners, and there are versions with the cream-colored humbucker and some with the black and chrome humbucker. To make sure everything matched onstage, Lifeson had his Hughes & Kettner cabinets built to look like steampunk machines, complete with copper piping, gauges, and even a small television screen. My name is Chris and Ive had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. Crazy. I have had the Hentor in my possession for about 6 months and have documented every property and detail of this amazing and unique . The addition of all the pictures and videos just awesome. Reproduction of any part of this website without direct permission is prohibited. The Morely made its first appearance in 1975 on the Fly By Night tour and has been a consistent part of his pedalboard ever since. Alex Lifeson equipment | Rush Wiki | Fandom Here are a few of his favorites to take on tour and use in the studio: Alex Lifeson does a lot of fading to add some dramatic effect to his solo and rhythm parts. Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. Success! Garrison Guitars was an instrument manufacturer in Canada founded in 1999. Although he doesnt play his signatures anymore, he did install a signature pickup into one of his primary PRSs he still brings on tour. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Replica Guitars Now Available Alex Lifeson partners with Julien's Auctions to sell over 100 items of $1,799. I'm just gonna go ahead and share my work. Calling Alex Lifeson tone experts | The Gear Page It doesnt matter how skilled you are, if youre holding a double-neck, you look like a guitar hero! LIFESON. It's Friday night, and I think we need a MEME thread. Handmade by luthier Freddy Gabrsek in Ontario, Canada, this guitar was made for me that took nearly 10 months to complete. So his signal always seemed to be hotter. JavaScript is disabled. All these amazing Lifeson-inspired features are finished off by an incredible figured maple top. When the router decides to go in its own direction you wont be able to stop it. I gigged this song with my Helix with my old cover band. Very nice build and glad to hear that previous posts and discussion helped with your build. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar. ), Gibson three way switch on the lower horn, 5 way with that? Replica Pat Martino 2015 - Honeyburst . Various knobs and fittings came in the mail this week, and it's time to prepare for the real gut-check part of the project: routing out the body to accommodate the Gibson-style switch and the new wiring pattern. The wiring is neck, neck/middle, bridge. It was created specifically for Rush's 40th Anniversary tour. Hi Christopher, I hope to post some happy results within a week. 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. From Gebresek's website: Alex Lifeson auctions off over 60 vintage guitars and other treasured Alex Lifeson is always looking for new sounds to add to the Rush repertoire. 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. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content. . For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo Shop. I held them together with double stick tape, and then I stuck the template on the guitar with the same double-stick tape.