Epiphone celebrates Rush’s return to the stage with a faithful recreation of Alex Lifeson’s legendary 1976 ES-355
Epiphone has partnered with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson on an Inspired by Gibson reissue of his Alpine White 1976 ES-355.
Described as a “stage-ready, Custom Shop-inspired recreation” of the prog rock legend’s famous white guitar – which appeared on every Rush record and during countless Rush shows, before being sold at auction in 2022 for $384,000 – the Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue arrives right on time for Rush’s highly anticipated Fifty Something reunion tour, which kicked off Sunday, 7 June at LA’s Kia Forum.
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Featuring a five-ply semi-hollow body constructed from layers of maple and poplar, along with a multi-ply binding on the top and back, the guitar also sports a solid maple centerblock for enhanced sustain the reduction of unwanted feedback.
Credit: Epiphone
Meanwhile, the instrument boasts a three-piece maple neck which mirrors Lifeson’s original ‘76 ES-355, with a Slim C neck profile, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl large block inlays, and a Gibson-style open book headstock with premium die-cast tuners and a Graph Tech nut. A stylish aesthetic touch comes via a truss rod cover engraved with Alex Lifeson’s name.
Elsewhere, the guitar features gold-finished hardware, a Tune-O-Matic bridge and gold pickup covers, which cover a pair of USA-made Gibson T-Type humbucker pickups, wired to individual volume and tone controls with CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors, and a three-way toggle switch.
The tonal palette is further expanded by a mono Varitone switch, while a dedicated mini toggle allows the Varitone circuit to be engaged or bypassed as desired.
The guitar ships in a custom hardshell case with a black exterior and a reproduction of Alex Lifeson’s signature, with a plush red interior and gold hardware.
Credit: Epiphone
“The ES-355 has always been a really special guitar for me – it’s got this incredible balance of elegance and power,” says Alex Lifeson.
“What I love about this Epiphone ‘Whitey’ recreation is how faithfully it captures that original spirit while still feeling fresh and alive in your hands. It’s a guitar that invites you to explore, to take chances, and to find your own voice. I’m genuinely thrilled that players everywhere will have the chance to experience it and make it part of their own musical journey.”
The Inspired by Gibson Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue is available now for £1,199.
For more information, head to Epiphone.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
