i know he was endorsed by them back then. 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. Alexs only stipulation was that for every guitar sold, a portion of the profit goes to his charity Grapes Under Pressure. Lifeson picked up one of their mandolins to use for a handful of songs, and sometimes, for only part of a song. 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. Both are expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. 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. The guitar is reportedly Lifeson's favorite guitar for soloing, and was used to record the solo for Rush's 1981 hit, Limelight . Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: "Julien's Auctions is proud to present this magnificent collection of coveted artifacts of rock history directly . 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. The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess is a very unique guitar. While in my possession over the last few months I made suggestions to Alex on upgrading the guitar. You must log in or register to reply here. "I used a white modified Fender Strat that I called the 'Hentor Sportscaster'. The signature was a Canadian guitar manufacturer located in Toronto. Seymour Duncan released another AWESOME signature set! Hed take only a quick break to eat dinner, then go right back up to keep playing until bedtime. What's your favorite 335 style guitar for under $1000 used. Alex Lifeson - Rush Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Mini Guitar Replica Collect. You can hear Lifeson rock the wah pedal on songs like Cygnus X1 and countless other riffs throughout the Rush repertoire. ), https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/394/lot/177456?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F394%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3Dany%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3Dno%26featured%3Dno%26key%3Drush, First Warmoth Build - Hentor Sportscaster, My 2nd Warmoth Build: Diamondback SG Style, Warmoth CBS neck, modern construction, ebony fretboard, mother of pearl dot inlays, black binding, Warmoth custom pickguard in black-n-white tuxedo, Original Floyd Rose bridge with locking nut, Bill Lawrence L500 humbucker with chrome housing - bridge, Gibson style 3-way 3 pickup toggle switch, Fender tweed case with red poodle lining, complete with case candy. Currency: One of the greatest rock groups of all time, selling more than 40 million records worldwide during the bands four-decade history. Your passion for many of the same things is obvious. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. When he saw the Gibson Howards Roberts Fusion, he just had to have it! 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. The P-90 rout definitely is not a fit as you found out and the uncovered humbucker is probably the closest. Roughed out on the bandsaw, sanded close to the line and routed to shape. 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). For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo Shop. 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. I actually cut two templates and stacked them together to give the template some more heighth. Part of the auction house's "Music Icons" auction happening on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, "Property From The Archives of Alex Lifeson" will feature over 60 vintage guitars and other career . Replica Pat Martino 2015 - Honeyburst . MERCH STORE : https://my-store-cf98db.creator-spring.com/MAILING ADDRESS:Justin & Camilla Panariello1536 Rio De Janeiro AveBOX #201Punta Gorda, FL 33983My Wi. 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. View Auction Results Hentor Sportscaster Alex Lifeson RUSH Stratocaster Tribute. 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. 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 . 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. It is this performance which critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. As a subscriber enjoy big savings off the shop price! GUITARIST. All guitars are officially licensed by Fender and RUSH ; Includes Stand ; Not Playable, but extremely collectible! I don't know if helps that one is emulating tape the other emulating . The most stressful part of this project has been relocating the three-way switch from its traditional Stratocastor location to the lower cutaway. Best regards! 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. Then I found where Freddy G. said the wiring is Bridge/Neck + Middle/Neck, and I can't for the life of me figure out how . Lifesons Moog is preset with a few bass sounds and some samples. Playing bigger gigs, he needed the extra power! I also had a Lifeson cover story issue (transcriptions of Red Barchetta). 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. Another guitar up for bids, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. Please call 877-687-4277 for assistance with placing . Although Alex Lifeson prefers (loves) Gibson guitars, he does dabble with some other manufacturers as well. With a router, you have to do a multitude of shallow passes going slightly deeper each time. 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). You must log in or register to reply here. Hentor Sportscaster; Gibson EDS-1275 Double-Neck; Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Standard Axcess; Gibson Les Paul Goldtop; Alex Has Also Used The Following . By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy. (1,377) $10.00. It looked like a Fender Stratocaster with a few stark differences. Rush - Spirits of the Radio - Grace Under Pressure 1984 720 [HD] - YouTube, Rush Alex Lifeson Killerwatt Magazine Photo Mini Poster Pin Up | eBay. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Lifeson controls which amp he wants to use with a foot pedal switcher. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). The Iconic 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 Hentor Sportscaster Electric Guitar; "The Trees" and "La Villa Strangiato" Studio Played 1971 Jose Ramirez Classical Acoustic Guitar; a Moving Pictures Tour 1981 Gibson Howard Roberts . Very nice build and glad to hear that previous posts and discussion helped with your build. 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". For a good chunk of the 1980s, Alex Lifeson used a mysterious guitar called a Hentor Sportscaster. I just wanted to compliment you for the outstanding job that you did, researching and writing such a detailed, informative, interesting, and enjoyable article. 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. There have been various discussions over the years, for those looking to build their own replicas of Alex's customized Strats, and not only do I want . Regular price $49.99 Alex Lifeson Signature ES-355 Gibson Alpine White Miniature Guitar Model. In addition to the Hiwatt 100s, Lifeson also used a Fender J.B.L. I still use it a lot because of the 24 frets. Well done and keep up the great work! Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Alex Lifeson Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update), Best Acoustic Electric Guitars (All Prices), Songs with Lots of Bass Guitar (Rock and Pop), ranked 98th on Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists, Alex Lifeson in Vintage Guitar Magazine, September 2011, Steve Hackett Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update), Joe Perry Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update), 70 Easy Electric Guitar Songs for Beginners (2023 with Tabs and Lesson Videos), 40 Easy Love Songs on Guitar (2023 with Video Lessons), 35 Best Rock Bands with Female Singers (with Videos), 70 Most Fun Songs to Play on Guitar (2023 with Videos), 24 Best Female Pop Singers of All Time (2023 Update), Royal Crimson Finish / Viceroy Brown / Black. Lifeson had 3 modded Strats. Lifeson also brought the guitar on the road extensively during the band's career. 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. Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care. A video diary of a handmade replica of Alex Lifeson's Hentor Sportscaster. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: 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. This was Lifeson's favorite guitar to use during the recordings . The neck pickup on the 12-string has a coil splitter that Lifeson installed himself. In 2008, Freddy Gabrsek, a luthier based in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario, requested permission to replicate and sell Alex Lifeson's white Sportscaster. Oops, looks like you forgot something. 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. The wiring is neck, neck/middle, bridge. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Does it have to be white? If you listen to any Rush songs written after 1982, theres a decent chance the guitar part was originally written on Lifesons 1952 Reissue Tele. You can see these cabinets in action on the Time Machines tour. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. This is an awesome guitar. The keys are elongated so Lifeson can press them with his feet while still playing guitar. In 2007, the company was bought by Gibson and eventually closed in 2010. It also had a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a Maestro Long Vibrola tailpiece. The Gibson HRF looks like Gibson took a Les Paul and threw some ES-335 into it. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. I have no idea. Lifeson is known for his outstanding riffing, odd chord structures, and electronic effects. His guitar, however, is a Rickenbacker with a brass neck and a 12-string neck. See the full list of notable Alex Lifeson Guitars below. The addition of all the pictures and videos just awesome. He also has another early 90s PRS in Tobacco Sunburst that has a signature pickup in the bridge positionfrom his old Signature Aurora days. beatbopboom. This isn't normally my thing, but I wanted to find out what made the mid 80's Alex Lifeson so distinct. Epiphone Alex Lifeson Signature Les Paul Standard Axcess 2021 - Present - Viceroy Brown. Ok, got to work on the body today. I really like that it retains its overall Stratocaster-ness but is also has some unique features. Lifesons main EDS-1275 is white and features humbuckers on both sides of the guitar. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Despite not being a real guitar brand, the Hentor Sportscaster became one of Alex Lifesons most iconic guitars! For the wiring check, the link to the build thread I linked to above in post 6. Used - Mint. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. Alex Lifesons very first guitar was a Kent steel-string acoustic his parents got him for Christmas when he was about 12 years old. It was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. But this is all for today. Its essentially an oversized hollow-body Les Paul. It requires routing a pocket for the switch and two channels for the new wiring location. 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. He bought a 1968 Gibson ES-335 for Rushs first tour. Home Guitarists Alex Lifeson Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update). Alex is a Canadian musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the Hall of Fame rock group Rush. 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. Legend has it that Lifeson was friends with the owner of Signature Guitars and helped him design the instruments. . 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. 1 of 2 Go to page. I held them together with double stick tape, and then I stuck the template on the guitar with the same double-stick tape. From about 2000 on, he used Gibsons almost exclusively, most of them being Les Pauls. That way, he can easily blend in the piezo or use it for straight acoustic sound. The Bridgette Bardot reference? The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Aleksandar Zivojinovic, otherwise known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is the lead guitarist for the legendary virtuosic rock trio, Rush. He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. It is this performance that critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. You are using an out of date browser. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar. Ive seen pictures of the original with white pickups and a non fine tuner Floyd also. He borrowed most of his equipment from friends and relativesas most budding musicians do. 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 words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. 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. He even uses it during Rushs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Regular price $59.99 Geddy Lee Vintage Tour Edition Mini Fender Jazz Bass Model Officially Licensed. All these amazing Lifeson-inspired features are finished off by an incredible figured maple top. Early estimates suggest that "Whitey" will bring in $200,000 - $300,000 at auction. Will include my original invoice, certificate of origin, and comes with high end black case. Or why not treat yourself? Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Alex Lifeson is always looking for new sounds to add to the Rush repertoire. Last edited: Nov 5, 2017. (I was gonna sell the black one but I'm leaning towards selling the white Hentor Sportscaster now.) Anyone know the details of that white strat with the black pickguard he used for a while? I've never used a router, but I think I'm fairly well prepared, but I have to admit I'm still a bit nervous. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. Germany, 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. Success! Lifesons original EDS-1275 Doubleneck was eventually donated to a museum in Toronto. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. 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 . The pickups were Alnico II replicas of the legendary 1950s PAF humbuckers that made Lifesons original 355 sound so good. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. That turned out just great! Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community. What are you waiting for. The Hentor Sportscaster (build complete! Learn More. PILOT. Alex Lifesons two true guitar loves are the Gibson ES-335 and the Les Paul.