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. I had the ultimate pawn shop find recently north of Toronto, a late 70s Marshall 412 tour cabinet from the All The Worlds a Stage era, as far as I can tell. 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. Lifeson is known for his outstanding riffing, odd chord structures, and electronic effects. "Hello my fellow Rush fans! A plethora of used guitar gear and other memorabilia belonging to Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson is set to go on sale via Julien's Auctions in May. . 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. Although he doesnt play his signatures anymore, he did install a signature pickup into one of his primary PRSs he still brings on tour. Nice job. Hopefully by this time next week I'll be able to show you th finished product. Frankly, Im not even a die hard Rush fan, and before today could not even name the lead guitarist. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. It's going to be a freehand job, but I have some scrap wood I plan on practicing on. 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). Julien's Auctions announces the "Property From the Archives of Alex Lifeson" auction on May 22nd at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York and online. Custom built to match the specs of Alex's 80's Sportscaster Strat! 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. Lee. 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? From what I've researched, there were numerous versions until he arrived at what most people consider the final "official" Sportscaster, the white one with the rosewood fretboard. A 1981 Gibson Howard Roberts fusion guitar that served as Lifesons main guitar during the Moving Pictures tour. Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. Alex Lifeson loves to have piezo pickups and dual outputs built into his guitars. See the full list of notable Alex Lifeson Guitars below. Like with his guitars, Lifeson has gone through a few amps over the years. While Lee and Peart are incredibly important to the band's . A true passion of mine, Ive designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Great gift for Rush fans! Sure thats the 4th one and not just some start they had around for the shoot? Be gentle. I only get one shot at this so I've been doing a lot of research on this. All guitars are officially licensed by Fender and RUSH ; Includes Stand ; Not Playable, but extremely collectible! JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It was such a close replica to the original that Gibson included all the scratches, knicks, and even the cracked headstock from Lifesons original! Some of you may know of the Hentor Sportscaster, a 1973 white Fender strat that Alex Lifeson modded. 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. 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. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all. Wow, what an excellent rundown of Alexs gear and the videos were super entertaining! Learn More. A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster that Lifeson loved to solo with, including the solo on the song "Limelight" and has been in the music videos for "Vital," "Countdown," and "Enemy . 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.. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Best regards! In 2007, the company was bought by Gibson and eventually closed in 2010. Alex is a Canadian musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the Hall of Fame rock group Rush. 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). Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. But this is all for today. Joining the ES-355 was Lifeson's 1976 Gibson Dove acoustic, . When Jeff Jones left the band, he was replaced by Lifesons high school friend Geddy Lee. Phone: 310-836-1818 | it was awful to play, very uncomfortable, but had a particular sound that I liked. Alex Lifeson in Vintage Guitar Magazine, September 2011, You can see Lifeson rock his black Signature Aurora (and an awesome 80s haircut) in this 1989 live performance of Big Money.. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song? In addition to his arsenal of Les Pauls and ES-355s, Lifeson also carried a 1952 Reissue Fender Telecaster with him on the road. The Lifeson Signature model also had a fine-tuning Floyd Rose-type bridge. Historic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday to You to President Kennedy. 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. Lifesons telecaster doesnt make too many appearances on stage or in the studio, but it is one of his primary writing instruments, so bonus points for intimacy. PAINTER. Pretty much all he used from the Fenders were the Strat bodies and neck/middle single coils. That's his Hentor "Sportscaster" I believe That's his "Flockcaster" to match his hair from that era. You can see Lifesons black 1991 PRS CE24 in action on songs like Leave That Thing Alone. There are some super high notes in the solos that require a 24-fret neck. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. That was the first issue that I read 100 times. 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. 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". $39.99. (I was gonna sell the black one but I'm leaning towards selling the white Hentor Sportscaster now.) There just isnt another guitar player like him. Hentor Sportscaster; Gibson EDS-1275 Double-Neck; Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Standard Axcess; Gibson Les Paul Goldtop; Alex Has Also Used The Following . All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. I gigged this song with my Helix with my old cover band. You are using an out of date browser. In 2007 for the Snakes & Arrows tour, Lifeson added the Garrison OM-20 octave mandolin to his guitar arsenal. I really like that it retains its overall Stratocaster-ness but is also has some unique features. Alex Lifeson has announced plans to sell off his most iconic guitars for charity with Julien's Auctions.. Discover more about the fascinating celebrity memorabilia through our collections of catalogues, Mail and Pickup Only I never noticed the inverted jack on that thing. * A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures, . 90249 | When Moving Pictures came out and the Exit . Unfortunately, at a show in 1977, the band was opening for Blue yster Cult and one of the horns fell off the PA system. Alex Lifeson's equipment in the chronological order he acquired them. I held them together with double stick tape, and then I stuck the template on the guitar with the same double-stick tape. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar. The P-90 rout definitely is not a fit as you found out and the uncovered humbucker is probably the closest. Early FR bridge? It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. Garrison Guitars was an instrument manufacturer in Canada founded in 1999. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ive seen pictures of the original with white pickups and a non fine tuner Floyd also. each Greenback speaker says RUSH RH3 and Brigette Bardot 007 (spelled wrong I know). Lifeson prefers to use the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah to help his solo parts stand out. I found the answer to my question. 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. Its an HSS, two knobs (volume / tone) with a Floyd rose non fine tuner trem (no locking nut). He would also use it in live shows, pushing a Marshall 412 cabinet. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Heres how it works. In 1976, Lifeson took a tour of the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. JULIEN'S AUCTIONS BEVERLY HILLS PUBLIC EXHIBITIONLOCATIONJulien's Auctions Beverly Hills257 N. Canon DriveBeverly Hills, CA 90210, Exhibition: Monday, April 11th, 2022 Friday, April 15th, 2022Daily: 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Pacific TimeFree to the Public, JULIEN'S AUCTIONS NEW YORK PUBLIC EXHIBITION& LIVE AUCTION LOCATIONHard Rock Cafe New York1501 Broadway-Times SquareNew York, NY 10036, Exhibition: Monday, May 16th, 2022 Friday, May 20th, 2022Daily: 11:00 a.m. 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time dailyFree to the Public, PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESONFriday, May 20th, 2022Session I (Lots 1-466): 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, MUSIC ICONSSaturday, May 21st, 2022Session II (Lots 467-856): 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, MUSIC ICONSSunday, May 22nd, 2022Session III (Lots 857-1357): 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Phone: (310) 836-1818 | Fax: (310) 742-0155Email:info@juliensauctions.com. 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. Well from that pic it s a slab board with a bullet truss rod so most likely a custom built something. 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 Lifeson as his primary instrument for soloing in particular the solo for the bands hit single Limelight, and can be seen in the music videos for Vital Signs, Countdown, and Enemy Within. The Sportscasters heavy yet versatile sound embodies Rushs bold sonic explorations of the 1980s and Lifesons growth as a soloist during this time. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar.. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Germany, 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. The Moog Taurus Bass Pedal looks like a small keyboard that fits on Lifesons pedalboard. Lifeson picked up one of their mandolins to use for a handful of songs, and sometimes, for only part of a song. The signature was a Canadian guitar manufacturer located in Toronto. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. 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. His guitar, however, is a Rickenbacker with a brass neck and a 12-string neck. His go-to chorus pedal is the Boss CE-1 Chorus. Lifeson began his musical journey at a young age, playing the viola. It has the same pickups, bridge, and hardware that youd find on any 52 reissue. Finally, Lifeson would get his own signature Gibson Les Paul! The guitar had to be retired from touring after that. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelors degree from Youngstown State University. Fax: 310-742-0155, A 1976 custom-built Gibson ES-355TD, aka Whitey, played by Lifeson throughout most of his career with Rush. There were several main differences between a standard Fender Stratocaster and the Hentor Sportscaster. Alex Lifeson plays a Gibson Les Paul Axcess guitar. Oct 8, 2022. While in my possession over the last few months I made suggestions to Alex on upgrading the guitar. Alex Lifesons very first guitar was a Kent steel-string acoustic his parents got him for Christmas when he was about 12 years old. GOLFER. 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! He has spent so many years experimenting with different guitars, amps, and effects, that its nearly impossible for anyone to recreate. As he said in an interview with Total Guitar, Theres nothing particularly special about it, but it has 24 frets, and I needed it for a song.. Aside from the Guitar Players I used to have a handful of Guitar For The Practicing Musician (an '80s mag with transcriptions for those who don't remember this one). Figure this was the bass cabinet (bottom) of the 3rd stack, I believe Alex used 4 stacks at the time. 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. 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. LIFESON. I updated the permissions on the media album so hopefully you can see the photos now. I updated the permissions on the media folder so hopefully that fixes the issue. Lifesons Moog is preset with a few bass sounds and some samples. You can hear Lifeson rock the wah pedal on songs like Cygnus X1 and countless other riffs throughout the Rush repertoire. These three instruments are expected to sell for five figures each. EUR To power his arsenal of guitars, Alex Lifeson needs quite a few amps to project his sound to a stadium filled with thousands of people. Part of our "Music Icons" auction happening on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, "Property From The Archives of Alex Lifeson . Please call 877-687-4277 for assistance with placing . Alex Lifeson - Rush Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Mini Guitar Replica Collect. There is no back plate on the guitar, consistent with the original model. The second output jack on his guitar is just for the piezo pickup. This setup carried Lifeson all the way through the Moving Pictures tour in 1981. Along with his fellow Rush bandmates, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, Lifeson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and is ranked 98th on Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists list. A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster that's Lifeson loved to solo with, including the solo on the song "Limelight" and has been in the music videos for "Vital," "Countdown," and "Enemy Within" Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster replicas now available. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community. It also had only two knobsone tone and one volumeunlike the three that you usually find on Strats. 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. Regular price $49.99 Alex Lifeson Signature ES-355 Gibson Alpine White Miniature Guitar Model. 1 of 2 Go to page. but there's no way you're getting that solo with a 355. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster replica - Electric Guitars - Harmony Central. The Sportscaster also appears in the "Vital Signs," "Countdown," and "The Enemy Within" music videos. Always interesting to see these builds - Alex definitely had a bunch of different "looks" for his Strats over the years before evolving to that somewhat "final" white Hentor. Thats how a three-piece rock band can produce sounds that even five-piece bands would struggle with! The Hentor Sportscaster! is it the Signature guitar he was using? Alex Lifeson has always been experimenting with his guitars and equipment. They recruited bassist and vocalist Jeff Jones and became The Projection, which eventually became Rush in 1968. Chorus is a big part of Alex Lifesons unique sound. It only came with a white finish (of course) and featured gold hardware. 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. He borrowed most of his equipment from friends and relativesas most budding musicians do. Despite the rough playability, Lifeson loved that guitar, and it started him on a musical journey that would last for the rest of his life. There isnt anything special about Lifesons Tele. But even his Hentor Sportscaster had a humbucker in the bridge. Oops, looks like you forgot something. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. I mean I know some guys name their guitars, never heard of naming your speakers. Neck is also MIJ, gorgeous, plays super . Lifeson said it had a really nice balance when he played it, and it had everything he looks for in a guitar.