Fender PA 100. 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. hentor; sportscaster; alex; lifeson; guitar; wiring; strat; gibson; switching; By MarkScudder, . Some of you may know of the Hentor Sportscaster, a 1973 white Fender strat that Alex Lifeson modded. I just wanted to compliment you for the outstanding job that you did, researching and writing such a detailed, informative, interesting, and enjoyable article. It looked like a Fender Stratocaster with a few stark differences. 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. For a good chunk of the 1980s, Alex Lifeson used a mysterious guitar called a Hentor Sportscaster. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: Although I did have a pedalboard one time that I called Kevin. , Heres a link to some photos for the curious: You can see this model in action on Far Cry from the Snakes & Arrows tour. It requires routing a pocket for the switch and two channels for the new wiring location. 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. You could probably do it with a drill and then rout a couple of channels by just lining up a couple of strips of wood to act as a template. Heading up the 100-plus-lot sale is a custom-built Whitey Gibson ES-355TD, which Lifeson describes as the main guitar he used throughout his decades-spanning tenure in Rush. Well done and keep up the great work! They were really just modified Strats that Lifeson renamed Hentor Sportscaster after Rushs producer at the time, Peter Henderson. 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. Check the other thread I linked to in the post above yours, there is more detail on how it looks. Hello my fellow Rush fans! LIFESON. In 2011, Alex Lifeson got to team up with his friends at Gibson once again to create another unique signature guitar. This . not a floyd on it though odd it has two HBs and not the HSS like the others. Another highlight of the auction, Lifeson's 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar. Although Alex Lifeson prefers (loves) Gibson guitars, he does dabble with some other manufacturers as well. Here are a few of his most notable. It's going to be a freehand job, but I have some scrap wood I plan on practicing on. So his signal always seemed to be hotter. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: Rare '85 RUSH Moving Pictures Mercury Records Vintage US Early Vinyl Repress Lp Near MINT!! The guitar is expected to sell at auction for between $100,000 and $200,000. Alex Lifeson is set to put up his most legendary guitars for bidding at the Julien's Auctions "Music Icons . You must log in or register to reply here. This would have been in the early 80s. Thisguitar is a true rock machine with tones of Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure. 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 Hentor Sportscaster Replica Guitars Now Available. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Vintage 80s Rush - Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson On Stage - Pin / Button / Badge. 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. 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. Alex Lifeson plays a Gibson Les Paul Axcess guitar. Hentor Sportscaster Alex Lifeson RUSH Stratocaster Tribute. 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! England and Wales company registration number 2008885. This topic is being created to be the ultimate collection of information and discussion for my fellow "Hentor Sportscaster" enthusiasts out there. 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 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 may not display this or other websites correctly. Lifeson had 3 modded Strats. The Lifeson Signature model also had a fine-tuning Floyd Rose-type bridge. 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. While most Gibson Axcess models include chambering (hollowing out parts of the body) for weight reduction, Lifesons model has no chambering. I still use it a lot because of the 24 frets. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You must log in or register to reply here. Please check the fields highlighted in red. Brand New. You can see it rocking on Working Man during this early Rush performance. Alex Lifesons very first guitar was a Kent steel-string acoustic his parents got him for Christmas when he was about 12 years old. Part of our 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 memorabilia from the personal collection Alex Lifeson, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist and co-founder of Rush. The Moog Taurus Bass Pedal looks like a small keyboard that fits on Lifesons pedalboard. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. ET and 1 p.m. 70's style strat body finished in . 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 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. 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. Lee. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song? 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 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. Alex Lifeson: "I purchased this guitar in 1976, it was custom-built in Kalamazoo just for me. Despite not being a real guitar brand, the Hentor Sportscaster became one of Alex Lifesons most iconic guitars! Thats what gives him that special Life-O-Sound that blends acoustic and electric sounds. 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. PROPERTY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF ALEX LIFESON, Register to Bid by Phone, Proxy, or in Person. Alex Lifeson has always been experimenting with his guitars and equipment. It was such a close replica to the original that Gibson included all the scratches, knicks, and even the cracked headstock from Lifesons original! 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. 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. Although he doesnt play his signatures anymore, he did install a signature pickup into one of his primary PRSs he still brings on tour. Frankly, Im not even a die hard Rush fan, and before today could not even name the lead guitarist. The words Fender, Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Hello my fellow Rush fans! 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. When Jeff Jones left the band, he was replaced by Lifesons high school friend Geddy Lee. I'm a huge Rush fan and Alex Lifeson was the reason I picked up a guitar. List price: Previous Price $49.99 . On ESL, the white Strat had a Gibson humbucker and the stock Fender bridge. 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. It is this performance which critics point to when asked to define the sound of Rush. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The Property from the Archives of Alex Lifeson auction will be split into two sessions, occurring at 10 a.m. Lifeson began his musical journey at a young age, playing the viola. It instantly became his primary player that graced both the stage and the studio for the next few years. 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.. 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 . Lifeson said it had a really nice balance when he played it, and it had everything he looks for in a guitar. This video is a few years old and was never published publicly, but people have be. Heres a rundown of the guitars, amps, and effects that Alex Lifeson has used over his decades-long career. It only came with a white finish (of course) and featured gold hardware. Even though its technically a hollow body, the Gibson HRF has a maple spur that runs through the middle of the body, which gives it some weight. After a year strumming the Kent acoustic, Lifeson started begging his parents for an electric guitar. "I used a white modified Fender Strat that I called the 'Hentor Sportscaster'. Twin Reverb, but it was mostly used for PA miking. In 2007, the company was bought by Gibson and eventually closed in 2010. Next Last. 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. ET on May 22. 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. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. and volume and tone? 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. But even his Hentor Sportscaster had a humbucker in the bridge. Most of Lifesons Les Pauls arent much different than the ones you can pick up from any Gibson dealer. Custom built to match the specs of Alex's 80's Sportscaster Strat! Lifeson uses this guitar on songs that require that unique twangy sound, like Time Stands Still.. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar (opens in new tab). Finally, Lifeson would get his own signature Gibson Les Paul! After rocking on his Canora for a while and discovering that music was what he really wanted to do, Alex Lifeson decided it was time to buy his first proper guitar to get his new band Rush going. 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. Oct 8, 2022. I also had a Lifeson cover story issue (transcriptions of Red Barchetta). It will be a little bit of a pain in the ass, but its not hard at all. In 1963, at only 10-years old, Lifeson decided to form a band with his neighbor John Rutsey, who played the drums. He started playing a Gibson ES-335 at the start of his musical career, then moved on to a Gibson Les Paul. A lot less expensive than the excellent "Hentor Sportscaster" replicas made by Freddy Gabrsek. For a limited time, save in the Gibson European Demo Shop. His white 1976 custom-built Gibson ES-355TD will go under the hammer in May. 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! A true passion of mine, Ive designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. 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. 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. It looked like a Fender Stratocaster with a few stark differences. He also had black and CAR Strats with almost identical setups. This is an awesome guitar. 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. As he told Guitarist magazine, It wasnt much of a guitar. Currency: The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grapes Under Pressure charity. In 2008, Freddy Gabrsek, a luthier based in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario, requested permission to replicate and sell Alex Lifeson's white Sportscaster. They recruited bassist and vocalist Jeff Jones and became The Projection, which eventually became Rush in 1968. 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). TDPRI, short for Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, is the leading online community and marketplace for Telecaster guitars. It was a real workhorse and I loved it.. beatbopboom. Joined . Alex Lifeson uses three of his signature Hughes & Kettner amps on stage. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. Well, it sounds like youve got the idea well thought out so it should work out well in the end. In addition to his arsenal of Les Pauls and ES-355s, Lifeson also carried a 1952 Reissue Fender Telecaster with him on the road. I have no idea. Guitar Lobby is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear. The Whitey Gibson ES-355TD is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. Wow, what an excellent rundown of Alexs gear and the videos were super entertaining! I'll . Replica Pat Martino 2015 - Honeyburst . JavaScript is disabled. 1 of 2 Go to page. JavaScript is disabled. 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". If you arent confident with wiring 920D and plenty of others can provide you with a good quality wiring harness for ~$80. Now thats a really nice job of routing. Nov 4, 2017 #1 AnalogKid68 TDPRI Member. * A 1980 custom Hentor Sportscaster played by Lifeson on most Rush albums since "Moving Pictures, . Alex Lifesons two true guitar loves are the Gibson ES-335 and the Les Paul. Neck is also MIJ, gorgeous, plays super . 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. His bandmates even call him The Musical Scientist because of his sound experimentation. Bringing back memories. For the Hemispheres tour, Lifeson swapped from his standard Fender Super Reverb to Hiwatt amps. 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. Another notable Lifeson axe his 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric guitar used on the recording of RUSH's seminal albums since "Moving Pictures", in particular "Grace Under . There is no back plate on the guitar, consistent with the original model. 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. He even uses it during Rushs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Buy 1, get 2 15% off. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar. I purchased this guitar in 1976, Lifeson says. Alex Lifeson Hentor Sportscaster Miniature Guitar Model Officially Licensed; Neil Peart: Drum God . 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. It has been my main guitar and is the iconic Alex Lifeson guitar," said the 68-year-old guitarist in a statement. View Auction Results His go-to chorus pedal is the Boss CE-1 Chorus. It also had a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a Maestro Long Vibrola tailpiece. 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. 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 . Nice job. 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. 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. The experts in contemporary and pop culture. Lifeson also regularly used the guitar on tour and in music videos over the years. What era is this meant to follow? You are using an out of date browser. While in my possession over the last few months I made suggestions to Alex on upgrading the guitar. He loved the feel and tone of the guitar, and it easily became his primary player for years to come. Pretty much all he used from the Fenders were the Strat bodies and neck/middle single coils. http://www.80srockphotos.com/fcWebApp/product_images/AlexLifeson2_wtrMrk.jpg, 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. Learn More. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community. 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. 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 . Does it have to be white? Alex Lifeson Signature Guitar - "Great White". Hey! I don't know if helps that one is emulating tape the other emulating . What's something super simple you like to play just because it's fun to play? My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelors degree from Youngstown State University. They went out to the store and picked up a $59 Canora the following Christmas. The Hentor's transition from Alex Lifeson's three Hentor 'prototypes' to a line of commercially-available guitars happened somewhere in between these two worlds. After playing it Alex wasn't to impressed with the pickup but thought the Guitar the pickup was installed in was great! The Freddy Sportscaster is deadly expensive for sure, its interesting as a benchmark and details Alexs customizations clearly.