Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Replica Guitars Now Available. Are you thinking of painting/finishing this thing yourself? 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. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, To do that, he has used a Morely Volume Pedal for almost his entire career. While in my possession over the last few months I made suggestions to Alex on upgrading the guitar. 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. I mean I know some guys name their guitars, never heard of naming your speakers. His bandmates even call him The Musical Scientist because of his sound experimentation. Thanks for alerting me about the problems with the photos. Growing up, his musical idols included other legendary rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. He has three of these contraptions behind him on stage at all times. The Bridgette Bardot reference? Home Guitarists Alex Lifeson Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update). Brand New. 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. Will include my original invoice, certificate of origin, and comes with high end black case. The neck also has a rounded Axcess profile to help Lifeson reach the higher frets more easily. My name is Chris and Ive had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Garrison Guitars was an instrument manufacturer in Canada founded in 1999. Equipment with a unknown date is on the bottom. It was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Currency: 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. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Used - Mint. Another one of Lifeson's iconic guitars is another custom-built ax, his 1980 Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar, which was used in the 1981 album Moving Pictures and was the main recording guitar . Alex Lifeson loves to have piezo pickups and dual outputs built into his guitars. is it the Signature guitar he was using? 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. This was Lifeson's favorite guitar to use during the recordings . He fell in love with it right away. He thought it looked so unique with its bright-white finish, and the sound was incredible! I also had a Lifeson cover story issue (transcriptions of Red Barchetta). Handmade by luthier Freddy Gabrsek in Ontario, Canada, this guitar was made for me that took nearly 10 months to complete. See the full list of notable Alex Lifeson Guitars below. The signature was a Canadian guitar manufacturer located in Toronto. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Luthier's Guitar & Bass Technical Discussion. It also had only two knobsone tone and one volumeunlike the three that you usually find on Strats. Custom built to match the specs of Alex's 80's Sportscaster Strat! 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. Hed take only a quick break to eat dinner, then go right back up to keep playing until bedtime. 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.. Alex Lifeson has announced plans to sell off his most iconic guitars for charity with Julien's Auctions.. The Hentor Sportscaster (build complete! There will be a HB in the bridge and I need to make a trace for the 3 way toggle on the horn. News of . 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. three way switch, large brass sustain block, Hentor Sportscaster logo on peghead face, Freddy Gabrsek logo and serial number on peghead back. I actually cut two templates and stacked them together to give the template some more heighth. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar." . I'm a huge Rush fan and Alex Lifeson was the reason I picked up a guitar. Twin Reverb, but it was mostly used for PA miking. For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo Shop. It smashed right into his prized ES-335 (and his double-neck EDS-1275, which well get to later), cracking the headstock. Phone: 310-836-1818 |
I'm 99% sure he used his Hentor Sportscaster for that and for the hyper-clean arpeggios during the choruses. Surprisingly, Alex Lifeson is mostly self-taught. Theres no guitar player that sounds exactly like Alex Lifeson. 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. 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. He would also use it in live shows, pushing a Marshall 412 cabinet. 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. Don't mind the trace lines for 3 single coil pups - that's just habit. You can hear the Garrison in action during a small solo break on Working Them Angels.. You must log in or register to reply here. After a year strumming the Kent acoustic, Lifeson started begging his parents for an electric guitar. In addition to his arsenal of Les Pauls and ES-355s, Lifeson also carried a 1952 Reissue Fender Telecaster with him on the road. As it turns out, the whole Hentor Sportscaster thing was a joke. The neck pickup on the 12-string has a coil splitter that Lifeson installed himself. At one time, there was another option available from Warmoth that there was some debate of whether it was a fit, but that does not appear to be available any longer. 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. Fax: 310-742-0155, A 1976 custom-built Gibson ES-355TD, aka Whitey, played by Lifeson throughout most of his career with Rush. Here are a couple of shots of the final product. 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. Hentor Sportscaster; Gibson EDS-1275 Double-Neck; Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Standard Axcess; Gibson Les Paul Goldtop; Alex Has Also Used The Following . Anyone know the details of that white strat with the black pickguard he used for a while? You are using an out of date browser. The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess is a very unique guitar. When you think of Alex Lifeson, you either picture him with a Les Paul or his white ES-355. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESON, Register to Bid by Phone, Proxy, or in Person. Its a double-cutaway, solid-body guitar with humbuckerswhich is right in line with most of Lifesons guitars. JavaScript is disabled. 1 of 2 Go to page. The Property from the Archives of Alex Lifeson auction will be split into two sessions, occurring at 10 a.m. 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. Last edited: Nov 5, 2017. Lifesons main EDS-1275 is white and features humbuckers on both sides of the guitar. Before we get much further, let's all acknowledge there is no one definitive "Hentor Sportscaster" since it was just a name Alex Lifeson gave to his variously modified Strats. 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. Hopefully by this time next week I'll be able to show you th finished product. Germany, PRODUCER. This is an awesome guitar. This topic is being created to be the ultimate collection of information and discussion for my fellow "Hentor Sportscaster" enthusiasts out there. He also has another early 90s PRS in Tobacco Sunburst that has a signature pickup in the bridge positionfrom his old Signature Aurora days. He borrowed most of his equipment from friends and relativesas most budding musicians do. Im curious about the wiring form3 pickups on the LP styled 3 way switch. It also had a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a Maestro Long Vibrola tailpiece. I really like that it retains its overall Stratocaster-ness but is also has some unique features. You are using an out of date browser. In addition to the Hiwatt 100s, Lifeson also used a Fender J.B.L. The body is from a 2014 Fender Japan ST62-FR. 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. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. Opens in a new window or tab. 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.. 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. Lifeson also regularly used the guitar on tour and in music videos over the years. 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. 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. Alex Lifeson plays a Gibson Les Paul Axcess guitar. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster replicas now available. Gardena,
It may not display this or other websites correctly. It is this performance that critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. Lifeson has several of these Les Paul Axcess in his arsenal, most notably in Black, Royal Crimson, and Viceroy Brown. So many people have said Alex used a "Gibson switch" or "Les Paul style switching" that I went out and got a Les Paul switch. 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. Pretty much all he used from the Fenders were the Strat bodies and neck/middle single coils. i know he was endorsed by them back then. In 2008, Freddy Gabrsek, a luthier based in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario, requested permission to replicate and sell Alex Lifeson's white Sportscaster. Finally, Lifeson would get his own signature Gibson Les Paul! Alexs only stipulation was that for every guitar sold, a portion of the profit goes to his charity Grapes Under Pressure. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Solid Body Electric Guitars. One of the greatest rock groups of all time, selling more than 40 million records worldwide during the bands four-decade history. Toward the end of the 80s, Alex Lifeson switched from playing his Gibson HRF to guitars from a new, relatively unknown brand called Signature Guitar Company. I gigged this song with my Helix with my old cover band. Hey! Now thats a really nice job of routing. This is easily one of the most iconic Alex Lifeson guitars ever. The second output jack on his guitar is just for the piezo pickup. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Miniature Guitar Model Officially Licensed. 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. After playing it Alex wasn't to impressed with the pickup but thought the Guitar the pickup was installed in was great! His go-to chorus pedal is the Boss CE-1 Chorus. The pickups were Alnico II replicas of the legendary 1950s PAF humbuckers that made Lifesons original 355 sound so good. In 2010, the sound experts at Hughes & Kettner gave Alex Lifeson his very own signature model amp. A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster that was the main . He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. 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 . * A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures, . Chorus is a big part of Alex Lifesons unique sound. In fact, its hard to even picture Alex Lifeson without a Les Paul in his hands! * 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 . 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. That way I could start with a shallower initial cut. (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.. A video diary of a handmade replica of Alex Lifeson's Hentor Sportscaster. Reproduction of any part of this website without direct permission is prohibited. Alex Lifeson has always been experimenting with his guitars and equipment. That's his Hentor "Sportscaster" I believe That's his "Flockcaster" to match his hair from that era. The Lifeson Signature model also had a fine-tuning Floyd Rose-type bridge. Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. if youd like more information, please contact me, as I own his #1 & #3 Aurora, and his H&K zenTera amp. In the rock and roll world, theres hardly anything cooler than a double-necked guitar. 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. Julien's Auctions |
The Hentor Sportscaster! They recruited bassist and vocalist Jeff Jones and became The Projection, which eventually became Rush in 1968. Alex Lifeson Signature Guitar - "Great White". In 1963, at only 10-years old, Lifeson decided to form a band with his neighbor John Rutsey, who played the drums. 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. 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. Well done and keep up the great work! It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. Thisguitar is a true rock machine with tones of Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure. For the Hemispheres tour, Lifeson swapped from his standard Fender Super Reverb to Hiwatt amps. Best regards! The guitar is reportedly Lifeson's favorite guitar for soloing, and was used to record the solo for Rush's 1981 hit, Limelight . 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.. While Lee and Peart are incredibly important to the band's . EUR Wtf? 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. $1,799. He even uses it during Rushs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. 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. This guitar made tons of appearances throughout the 70s. $39.99. There isnt anything special about Lifesons Tele. 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 . Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. In 2007, the company was bought by Gibson and eventually closed in 2010. "Hello my fellow Rush fans! He saw this beautiful, brand-new, white ES-355 that he just had to have, so he bought it! For more information, head to Julien's Auctions (opens in new tab). Strat Talk is the leading online community and marketplace for Stratocaster guitars. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelors degree from Youngstown State University. Early estimates suggest that "Whitey" will bring in $200,000 - $300,000 at auction. The name came from Peter Henderson, who co-produced Grace Under Pressure. I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. The keys are elongated so Lifeson can press them with his feet while still playing guitar. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. 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 . Specifically, he used three Hiwatt 100s pushing four 412 Hiwatt cabinets. You are using an out of date browser. 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. 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. 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. Although I did have a pedalboard one time that I called Kevin. , Heres a link to some photos for the curious: He loved the feel and tone of the guitar, and it easily became his primary player for years to come. If you go back to Moving Pictures, you can see Alex in the "Limelight" video play a modified black Strat with what appears to be the stock Fender maple neck, with no locking nut. Lifeson had 3 modded Strats. Keith. 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. 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). Alex Lifesons very first guitar was a Kent steel-string acoustic his parents got him for Christmas when he was about 12 years old. 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. Please check the fields highlighted in red. . It deserves to be played and need to thin out the inventory. Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. Does it have to be white? 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. Playing bigger gigs, he needed the extra power! Early FR bridge? Vintage 80s Rush - Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson On Stage - Pin / Button / Badge. Regular price $ . 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 . It's Friday night, and I think we need a MEME thread. Bill Lawrence L500 humbucker, Dimarzio single coils, bone nut, non-fine tuner Floyd Rose, Schaller tuners, Northern Ash body, Rock Maple neck and Gaboon ebony fingerboard with medium jumbo stainless steel frets, nitro lacquer, hipshot locking tuners, three way switch, large brass sustain block, Hentor Sportscaster logo on peghead face, Freddy Gabrsek logo and serial number on peghead back.