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Rush's Alex Lifeson Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment
Who Plays What - Who Plays What
Sunday, 23 September 2007 12:20

Alex Lifeson is a man who needs no introduction. He is the guitar genius behind the progressive rock band Rush. Along with Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, he has wowed fans for decades with tricky and catchy songs. Seeing how Alex Lifeson is such a guitar hero, we just had to profile his guitar gear.

Let's look at what gear and equipment has been seen in Rush Alex Lifeson's Guitar Rig.

Alex Lifeson on the Gibson Les Paul

CoolClick the gear images for more info and specs at Musician's FriendCool

Guitars

Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess Electric Guitars

Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess Electric Guitar Royal Crimson

1 Gibson Black Les Paul Custom

Gibson Custom Shop 57 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty Two Pickups Gold Hardware

1 Black prototype Gibson Les Paul with floyd rose tremelo
1 Maple sunburst prototype Gibson Les Paul with floyd rose tremelo
1 Gold top Gibson Les Paul

Gibson Les Paul  Deluxe Antique Goldtop Electric Guitar Antique Gold

1 Sunburst 58 reissue Gibson Les Paul with fishman piezo system

Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded '50s Neck Heritage Cherry Sunburst Nickel Hardware

1 Tabacco sunburst 59 reissue Gibson Les Paul with fishman piezo system

Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded '50s Neck Tobacco Sunburst Nickel Hardware

1 Gibson Howard Roberts with fishman piezo system
1 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion W/Fishman Tune-O-Matic Bridge

Gibson Custom Shop Howard Roberts Fusion III Electric Guitar Cherry

1 Gibson 355 stereo ( yes the original )

Gibson Custom Shop ES-355 Limited Run Electric Guitar with Bigsby and P-90s Antique Ebony

1 Garrison OM-20 Octave Mandolin
3 Garrison G25-12-E 12 String Acoustic Guitar

Variety of Paul Reed Smith guitars, including what the PRS website says is a recent endorsement (7/2010) of the PRS Hollowbody 12

- Gibson double neck EDS-1275 guitar

Gibson Custom EDS-1275 Double-Neck Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry

 

 

 

Amps and Cabinets
2 Hughes & Kettner Coreblade Guitar Head

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head Black

2 Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Triamp MK11 Guitar Head

Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Edition TriAmp MKII Amp

8 Hughes & Kettner 4X12 Guitar Cabinets

Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Series 4x12 Inch Cabinet

- Marshall JMP 50-watt stack
- Marshall 4140 combos
- Marshall JCM 800

Marshall JCM800 2203 Vintage Series 100W Tube Head

- Peavey 5150

 

 

Effects and more

1 Furman Power Conditioner PL-8

Furman PL-8 II Power Conditioner

1 Furman PL Plus Power Conditioner

Furman PL-Plus II Power Conditioner with Voltmeter

2 Behringer Ultralink mx-662 6 Channel Spliter/Mixer

Behringer ULTRALINK PRO MX882

4 Audio Technica AEW5200 Guitar Wireless
1 Audio Technica AEW-DA6600 Antenna Distribution System
1 Linksys Ethernet Cable/DSL Router
1 Toshiba Satellite PC Computer
1 Whirlwind A/B Box

Whirlwind Selector A/B Box

3 Fishman Aura Acoustic Guitar Modeler

Fishman Aura Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Imaging Pedal

1 Custom Audio Japan AC0912 System Power Supply
1 Dunlop Crybaby DCR-1SR Rackmount Wah Wah

Dunlop Crybaby Rack Wah

2 Custom Audio Japan GVCA-2 Rev.3 Midi Programmable Volume Control
1 TC 1210 Spatial Expander+Stereo Chorus/Flanger
1 Behringer XR4400 Multigate Pro

Behringer MULTIGATE PRO XR4400 Quad Expander/Gate

2 Digital Music Corp. GCX Guitar Audio Switcher

Voodoo Lab GCX Guitar Audio Switcher

3 Behringer MX602 Professional Splitter/Mixer
4 TC Electronics G-Force

TC Electronic G-Force Effects Processor

1 Loft Modular Device
2 Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere

Hughes & Kettner Tube Tools Tube Rotosphere MKII

3 Palmer PDI 03 Speaker Simulator
2 Palmer PDI 03 Speaker Simulator
1 Ernie Ball 25K OHM Volume Pedal

Ernie Ball Stereo 25k Pedal

1 Axess Electronics FX1 Midi Footcontroler
3 M Brace Acoustic Guitar Holder
1 Ultracase Guitar Vault
1 Ultracase 8 Space Guitar Stand

DLS Effects Versa Vibe (Dave at DLS told us (9/2010) that Alex is using this on the upcoming Rush Album)

DLS Effects Versa Vibe pedal

 

 

Strings
Dean Markley Blue Steel Custom Lights strings (he endorses these)

Dean Markley 2554 Blue Steel Custom Light Electric Guitar Strings

Last Updated on Friday, 27 January 2012 14:27
 

Comments 

 
0 #15 marshallspt 2012-01-25 13:26
what bout the marshall plexis and jmps he used in the 70s and 80s
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0 #14 RE: Rush's Alex Lifeson Guitar Gear Rig and Equipmentaxl 2012-01-21 12:13
Come on. You forgot his legendary EDS-1275 white that he use on the masterpiece Xanadu
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0 #13 Wrong info on amps5 step drop 2011-10-25 22:07
He has been using the Hughes and kettner coreblade amps not the switchblades.
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0 #12 Mr.Lex 2011-07-12 09:00
Also during Time Machine tour, in Presto, it looked like he used a Telecaster. Thanks for the strings though, because I was wondering what strings he used. Also he is using behringers. I will never get another behringer, and I hope he learns his lesson before it is too late.
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0 #11 ??Andy Bro 2011-05-29 22:13
No comments about his new, signature Les Paul Axcess?!? That's his most used guitar on stage right about now. That, and his signature white Gibson ES. Also, he's stopped using PRSs ever since his recent deal with Gibson.
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0 #10 dudeTJB 2011-01-15 23:56
mx-662 and mx-602 are Made in Germany models. I own both of those. If anyone would think for a moment that Alex Lifeson, the guitar playing God of our lifetime, would put junk in his rig then you must need some therapy. I can't speak for the XR4400 other than it is one of Behringer's most expensive products, so that might tell you something.
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0 #9 RE: Rush's Alex Lifeson Guitar Gear Rig and EquipmentShawn G 2010-11-30 00:24
Alex Lifeson has used an extensive assortment of guitars, amps, and effects pedals. He has used Gibson Les Pauls, his now famous ES-355 in white (suh-weeeeet!), Fender Strats with Floyd Rose trems (first without the locking nuts then he switched to thicker profile necks with the locknuts), and of course the PRS guitars. Currently he favors Les Pauls, some with Floyds.

His amps have been Roland JC-120s, HIWATTS, Marshalls, Gallien-Kruegers, and currently he is using Hughes and Kettners. He has always been after new sonic landscapes and boy, has he found them! Listen to the back catalog of Rush albums and you will hear many variations in his tone but always a consistently high level of musicianship. The article on him on Wikipedia is quite informative.
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+1 #8 What?Shawn 2010-09-07 19:56
No PRS comments? :o
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+1 #7 Rich 2010-08-27 16:11
So, is the Floyd Rose a locking or floating type? I have a Les Paul I would like to put one on. Any advice on getting that done?
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+2 #6 BurkeyHope 2009-12-23 11:35
in the Limelight video he is using a Fender of some kind
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+6 #5 Behringer works for me too...DDT 2009-10-06 14:54
Behringer haters (like Moo Kahn) really crack me up. They grab the "Cheap Chinese Junk" flag and stupidly keep running with it. I'll echo Brian's comments below, I also use Behringer guitar gear (V-Amp-Pro, GMX-212, V-Ampire modeling head, BG412 cabinet) and I've NEVER had any issues in all the years I've had them, they've always sounded excellent, and I can't tell you how many people have been dumbfounded by how good this stuff sounds when I use it (live or in the studio).

I also use some of their processors (like Alex Lifeson does) and I'm equally impressed, and it just so happens that James Hetfield also uses an XR4400 Multigate (like Alex does). If it's good enough for these guys it's good enough for the rest of us. Behringer gear is inexpensive (not cheap) and very cost effective for us budget musicians, but inexpensive doesn't mean "bad".

Also about Brian's Bugera comment, he's right about those too. Those are awesome amps, and more and more pros are starting to use those as well (Vernon Reid comes to mind).
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+1 #4 alexpt 2009-10-05 18:49
Hey if you want proof watch Fly By Night ( Music Video on Youtube) and Limelight( Music Video on Youtube). there is some footage of the marshall jmps & plexis along with the fender strats( late 70s models) that had floyd roses
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+1 #3 alexpt 2009-10-05 05:15
Alex also did use marshall jmps and plexis.. and he used fender late 70's strats ( which had floyd rose tremolos on them). and for effects he used a roland delay racks, and ce 1 chorus pedals
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+11 #2 Behringer has worked for meBrian Asselta 2009-09-24 10:37
Hey ,

I saw the behringer comment. I have to tell ya I have used a pair of behringer gm110 analogue 30 watt 1x10 guitar amps for the last 3 years. I have practiced , jammed and gigged with them using a v-amp 2 guitar modler. Not only have the matched pair sounded really great but have held thier own with my friends 4x10 fender deville. He even said with those two amps paired up with the vamp were ridiculously lound and clean. I have never had any difficulties with my behringer stuff. I guess I was lucky. Am still using them today even. Oh and the rest of the amp making world isn't going to be laughing when bugera amps steals all their customers too. Dude you should check out the bugera 6262 2x12 cab. It is NUTS! Good luck to you.
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-21 #1 Moo Kahn 2009-07-10 16:01
Behringer ?? You gotta be kidding me. Chinese made junk that will let you down unexpectedly when you least expect it. Bad idea Alex . Really bad idea.
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