* A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures, . It smashed right into his prized ES-335 (and his double-neck EDS-1275, which well get to later), cracking the headstock. Also did this for a tele I'm working on as well. In 2011, Alex Lifeson got to team up with his friends at Gibson once again to create another unique signature guitar. The amp setup was a couple of Dean Markley 2x12 combos, two Marshall 2x12 combos, two . By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. 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. Are you thinking of painting/finishing this thing yourself? Special exhibitions will be held in Los Angeles and New York for the public to view highlighted items from the auction the week commencing April 11. To craft his signature sound, he uses a myriad of effects pedals. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Lifeson Signature model also had a fine-tuning Floyd Rose-type bridge. I've found someone who's willing to lend me their router and bits, and I'll be spending part of my weekend prepping the body for surgery, taking measurements and drawing stencils and such. Well done and keep up the great work! #1. Alex Lifeson uses three of his signature Hughes & Kettner amps on stage. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Miniature Guitar Model Officially Licensed. He bought a 1968 Gibson ES-335 for Rushs first tour. Although I did have a pedalboard one time that I called Kevin. , Heres a link to some photos for the curious: Replica Pat Martino 2015 - Honeyburst . Chorus is a big part of Alex Lifesons unique sound. As he told Guitarist magazine, It wasnt much of a guitar. The Gibson HRF looks like Gibson took a Les Paul and threw some ES-335 into it. Other guitars featured in the Property from the Archives of Alex Lifeson auction include a 1976 Gibson J-55 acoustic used by Lifeson to compose Rush's 1976 platinum-selling album 2112; a 1990 Fender Strat which appears on the majority of latter-day Rush albums; and a 2015 limited run Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck guitar created specifically for Rush's 40th Anniversary R40 tour. I really like that it retains its overall Stratocaster-ness but is also has some unique features. When he saw the Gibson Howards Roberts Fusion, he just had to have it! 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! Both are expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. 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). 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. 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. Alex Lifeson is always looking for new sounds to add to the Rush repertoire. What's something super simple you like to play just because it's fun to play? Well from that pic it s a slab board with a bullet truss rod so most likely a custom built something. beatbopboom. including the Gibson ES-355TD nicknamed "Whitie" a built-in custom guitar from 1976, and the Hentor Sportscaster guitar, built for him in 1980. One has all his effects, the second is a straight feed that switches channels as needed, and the third is a backup, just in case one of the others breaks down. JavaScript is disabled. This isn't normally my thing, but I wanted to find out what made the mid 80's Alex Lifeson so distinct. $1,799. Lifesons original EDS-1275 Doubleneck was eventually donated to a museum in Toronto. 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. 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 . Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. 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. Lifeson is known for his outstanding riffing, odd chord structures, and electronic effects. They went out to the store and picked up a $59 Canora the following Christmas. 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. What are you waiting for. ), 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. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. You might struggle to find exactly what you want from a Squier, they made a HSS Floyd strat but in very small numbers and only once or twice that Im aware of. With my engineering experience, Ive developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. Lifeson picked up one of their mandolins to use for a handful of songs, and sometimes, for only part of a song. Phone: 310-836-1818 | I'd almost consider the Hentor Sportscaster to be more iconic of a guitar of his than anything else he used, considering how much mileage he got out of it and how many classic songs he was using . 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. Last edited: Nov 5, 2017. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. Over the years, Lifeson has used almost countless Gibson Les Pauls on stage and in the studio. Lifeson says he feels the same way he did after Peart's teenage daughter died in a 1997 car accident and Peart's wife died from cancer a few months later. Gardena, The interaction between 2 light choruses was an a-ha moment. (1,377) $10.00. Alex Lifeson knew that and following in the footsteps of one of his favorite guitarists Jimmy Page, he picked up a Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck in 1976. I'll . He even uses it during Rushs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You must log in or register to reply here. Of course, a legendary rocker like Alex Lifeson cant go on tour without an awesome double-necked guitar, so he replaced it with a Gibson Signature Alex Lifeson EDS-1275 Doubleneck prototype, which he nicknamed Heavy Bastard, for obvious reasons. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. How does the L500 sound? 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. 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 updated the permissions on the media album so hopefully you can see the photos now. 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. Nov 4, 2017 #1 AnalogKid68 TDPRI Member. Another highlight of the auction, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. In 2007 for the Snakes & Arrows tour, Lifeson added the Garrison OM-20 octave mandolin to his guitar arsenal. Solid Body Electric Guitars. Part of our "Music Icons" auction happening on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, "Property From The Archives of Alex Lifeson . 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. Lifesons main EDS-1275 is white and features humbuckers on both sides of the guitar. With his Carnoa in hand, Alex Lifeson started learning solos from his favorite players. Instead, its thinner than standard Les Pauls, giving it that Axcess weight reduction without losing the incredible solid-body sustain. As a joke, he called these Hentor Sportscasters - a made-up name inspired by Peter Henderson's name, who was the producer of Grace Under Pressure. Please check the fields highlighted in red. What's your favorite 335 style guitar for under $1000 used. The Hentor Sportscaster (build complete! Please let me know if you are still having problems. Lifesons Fender Super Reverb would stick with him for a few albums, including Fly by Night and Caress of Steel. Bath RUSH: Progressive Power Trio RUSH in their early . three way switch, large brass sustain block, Hentor Sportscaster logo on peghead face, Freddy Gabrsek logo and serial number on peghead back. With a router, you have to do a multitude of shallow passes going slightly deeper each time. My first big mod project. A lot less expensive than the excellent "Hentor Sportscaster" replicas made by Freddy Gabrsek. I'm not familiar with the original that inspired this build, but I can still tell that this turned out exceptionally nicely! It has the same pickups, bridge, and hardware that youd find on any 52 reissue. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. Body weight, wood species and resonance to match the original Hentor. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Another six-figure six-string was Lifeson's custom-built Hentor Sportscaster, which was snapped (opens in new tab) up for $187,500. The guitar is reportedly Lifeson's favorite guitar for soloing, and was used to record the solo for Rush's 1981 hit, Limelight . Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. Alex Lifeson - Rush Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Mini Guitar Replica Collect. Fender PA 100. Reproduction of any part of this website without direct permission is prohibited. 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. Add to Cart. 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. 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 Signature brand guitars were equal in quality to Schecters or Perfomance at that time, and they are even rarer. 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. . The Hentor now sports Dimarzio single coils and also a large brass sustain block for the Floyd Rose, the biggest one Ive seen and yet there is still a good amount of movement available. When Moving Pictures came out and the Exit . Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Replica Guitars Now Available. Another guitar up for bids, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. is it the Signature guitar he was using? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Keith. Currency: England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Now thats a really nice job of routing. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. The Freddy Sportscaster is deadly expensive for sure, its interesting as a benchmark and details Alexs customizations clearly. This is easily one of the most iconic Alex Lifeson guitars ever. Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear. I never noticed the inverted jack on that thing. 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. Oops, looks like you forgot something. Thisguitar is a true rock machine with tones of Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure. He also has another early 90s PRS in Tobacco Sunburst that has a signature pickup in the bridge positionfrom his old Signature Aurora days. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Guitar Lobby is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. ), Gibson three way switch on the lower horn, 5 way with that? After a year strumming the Kent acoustic, Lifeson started begging his parents for an electric guitar. LIFESON. Great gift for Rush fans! Discover more about the fascinating celebrity memorabilia through our collections of catalogues, Mail and Pickup Only 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. It has a large C shape neck and plays fast. 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 . 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. http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Twin_Blades.html, http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Right-Angle-3-Way-Toggle-Switch-for-3-pickups-guitar_p_892.html, http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx, http://www.tdpri.com/threads/lifeson-inspired-mod-build.452410/page-7, Low dollar loaded Strat pickguard questions, NGD - FSR Road Worn 60s Strat what a surprise. You are using an out of date browser. 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. As it turns out, the whole Hentor Sportscaster thing was a joke. "I used a white modified Fender Strat that I called the 'Hentor Sportscaster'. He saw this beautiful, brand-new, white ES-355 that he just had to have, so he bought it! Thanks, I could not see from the photos if there was a gap and that you had put the pickup ring underneath. 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. Here are a couple of shots of the final product. [email protected]. Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community. It requires routing a pocket for the switch and two channels for the new wiring location. 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:[email protected]. Your passion for many of the same things is obvious. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When the router decides to go in its own direction you wont be able to stop it. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). Oct 8, 2022. Guitars Kent Acoustic Canora 1968 Gibson ES-335, Tobacco Sunburst 1963 Fender Stratocaster, Sunburst (Sold) Amplifiers Kent Marshall (#1) Guitars Gibson ES-335, Tobacco Sunburst A rented Rickenbacker 12-string acoustic Amplifiers Marshall 50 watt with a 4x12 cabinet Effects . 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!). In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar (opens in new tab). From about 2000 on, he used Gibsons almost exclusively, most of them being Les Pauls. There's also a 1992 PRS CE bolt-on neck guitar which was heavily used on Rush's 1993 album, Counterparts, and its accompanying tour which is expected to fetch between $50,000 and $70,000. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The 1210 is a spatial expander and chorus flanger that helps Lifeson create his unique Rush sound. Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. I mean I know some guys name their guitars, never heard of naming your speakers. What era is this meant to follow? Up next, I'll be shielding the cavity, drilling the hole in the pickguard for the new switch location and then wiring it up. Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Well, it sounds like youve got the idea well thought out so it should work out well in the end. Rush - Spirits of the Radio - Grace Under Pressure 1984 720 [HD] - YouTube, Rush Alex Lifeson Killerwatt Magazine Photo Mini Poster Pin Up | eBay. By _pete_, November 22, 2009 in Electric Guitars. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Looks like a late 60's to 70's strat with the big headstock, hummer in the bridge(PAF? This was my main '90s-era Paul Reed Smith guitar, Lifeson says. 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. 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 . The pickups were swapped out with DiMarzios for the rhythm and bass positions and a Bill Lawrence L-500 in the back position. I'm a huge Rush fan and Alex Lifeson was the reason I picked up a guitar. All he would do after he got home from school is go to his room and play guitar. PILOT. In the later tours, Lifeson swapped from having a chorus foot pedal to a rack-mounted chorus effect. PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESON, Register to Bid by Phone, Proxy, or in Person. Garrison Guitars was an instrument manufacturer in Canada founded in 1999. 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. 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 Hentor Sportscaster replica - Electric Guitars - Harmony Central. Home Guitarists Alex Lifeson Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update). Very nice build and glad to hear that previous posts and discussion helped with your build. It looked like a Fender Stratocaster with a few stark differences. Please call 877-687-4277 for assistance with placing . It also appears in the music videos for Vital Signs, Countdown and The Enemy Within. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. From that moment on, all he wanted to do was play guitar. You must log in or register to reply here. The only difference is that the finish was taken off the neck to help with playability. 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. There just isnt another guitar player like him. 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. Ive seen pictures of the original with white pickups and a non fine tuner Floyd also. Lifeson began his musical journey at a young age, playing the viola. 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. 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. In 1963, at only 10-years old, Lifeson decided to form a band with his neighbor John Rutsey, who played the drums. 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. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. Once Neil Peart replaced Rutsey as the bands drummer in 1974, the trio stuck together and changed the musical world for the next four decades! The neck is one of those sturdy Charvel maple numbers that's nice and straight, but I had a high fourth fret that caused a nasty buzz. "Freddy's Frets", a custom guitar shop from the Niagara on the Lake area on Ontario, has received permission direct from Alex Lifeson to create and sell replicas of his "Hentor Sportscaster" customized Fender Strat guitar. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who is gearing up to release a debut album with new project Envy of None, is giving his . You must log in or register to reply here. He also had black and CAR Strats with almost identical setups. JavaScript is disabled. The pickups were Alnico II replicas of the legendary 1950s PAF humbuckers that made Lifesons original 355 sound so good. Epiphone Alex Lifeson Signature Les Paul Standard Axcess 2021 - Present - Viceroy Brown. Go. A 1981 Gibson Howard Roberts fusion guitar that served as Lifesons main guitar during the Moving Pictures tour. 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. and volume and tone? No, that's not the Signature guitar; those had active single coils and no pickguard, and those were circa 1987 or so (Hold Your Fire). The body is from a 2014 Fender Japan ST62-FR. 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