Alex Lifeson 355

Vim Fuego · #1 01-31-2008, 06:10 AM

After months of speculation and then finally confirmation I've just found this on the web:
I'd really really (really) like one of these! I think the list price is to be about $5500 although the street price may be lower!
It's funny, I can't even imagine using another guitar instead of my JEM7VWH for most songs I play. I have a Charvel EVH Art (Red, White, Black), Epiphone G-1275 doube neck, Burns Brian May, all of which I bought because of the association with my heroes (Hmmm. mid life crisis I think!!) and they're all fine guitars. BUT I still grab the VWH in preference to anything and probably always will.
Just to add insult to injury, Brian May comes up with this:

For £2500! A much more authentic copy than the Burns I already have!!
So now that's maybe £6000 worth of guitars (uk prices!) I *need* perhaps I should take up the harmonica instead!
Jim

Crazy_Guitar · #2 01-31-2008, 06:14 AM

The Holy Graal...

That Guyton Brian May "Red Special" kills me.

Did you see the transparent green "Green Special"? LOVELY!!!

**jim777** · #3 01-31-2008, 05:08 PM

The last few "regular" 355's I've seen new in shops have all been around $5500 bucks, so the Lifeson price might be the street price. The 355 is a Custom Shop model already, so there are no regular production 355s. You'd be far better off getting a Heritage 555 and putting a new bridge on it. You'd get a much better guitar and save a few thousand bucks as well.

the399 · #4 01-31-2008, 05:24 PM

MAP price on the new Lifeson is $3699.00

**jim777** · #5 01-31-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the399

MAP price on the new Lifeson is $3699.00

Take from that what you will

CityofBlindingLights · #6 01-31-2008, 07:43 PM

That's a nice guitar, but imo the EDS-1275 is much better. I'm a HUGE Rush fan (versed pretty well in Rush-ology, too...), and for me the Lifeson 355 just doesn't cut it. I'd rather buy a "Hentor Sportscaster" LOL.

Honestly, you can get much better things for your money with that rather than a Lifeson 355. You could probably get a really nice Fender Custom Shop model for that price, and it'd be better sounding and playing (imo).

Roryrockslinda · #7 02-03-2008, 07:17 AM

I'm not a huge Rush fan but from the many videos I've seen of them, I've never seen a 355.
I figured Gibson only made this guitar as he's switched from PRS to Gibson and are trying to snatch him by making this guitar so he can't leave, so they make a signature guitar of one he has used in his career.

Only from what I gathered though he may use the 355 a hell of a lot more than I've seen.

Algiman · #8 02-03-2008, 09:26 AM

He had a phase of the 355 being his main guitar.

I'd really like to see a Lifeson signature Les Paul though, like the one's he is currently touring with: sculpted heal, floyd etc.

CityofBlindingLights · #9 02-03-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roryrockslinda

I'm not a huge Rush fan but from the many videos I've seen of them, I've never seen a 355.
I figured Gibson only made this guitar as he's switched from PRS to Gibson and are trying to snatch him by making this guitar so he can't leave, so they make a signature guitar of one he has used in his career.

Only from what I gathered though he may use the 355 a hell of a lot more than I've seen.

He used a 355 and an EDS-1275 exclusively up until Signals (1981), because I know for a fact he used the 355 on Moving pictures, there's a picture of him playing the thing next to the lyrics page. To see him using these guitars you gotta watch/listen to their 70s stuff, when they were definitive 70s hard rock.

He didn't stop using his Gibsons up until Signals, where he started using his famed "Hentor Sportscaster" along with his Fenders, Ibanezes, and Hamers. He continued to use these up until 1989, with the album Presto, where he switched to PRS pretty much exclusively. And now for the last album he's been using exclusively Gibsons, and for touring the PRS is still his workhorse. If you see them live he plays the 355 on "Working Man" (awesome song), the last song on their first album. Otherwise nowadays it's Gibson and PRS with him.

So yeah, you'd have to really dig deep to see him using that 355.

EDIT: Correction, he used a black Fender Stratocaster, with a black pickguard and maple neck, for Moving Pictures. I am now remembering the videos for Tom Sawyer and Limelight.

Algiman · #10 02-03-2008, 11:56 AM

Don't forget his brief stint with Signature guitars too - not that they lasted long. As a player Alex has always just used whatever seemed right at the time.

**jim777** · #11 02-03-2008, 12:11 PM

He uses tons of stuff. The 355 got retired a little while after the Kahler got put on it, but eventually he sent it back to Gibson for a restore. I guess he liked the way it came back. He sure uses a ton of guitars though, which is always cool

CityofBlindingLights · #12 02-04-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

He uses tons of stuff. The 355 got retired a little while after the Kahler got put on it, but eventually he sent it back to Gibson for a restore. I guess he liked the way it came back. He sure uses a ton of guitars though, which is always cool

Yeah, he only sticks to a guitar if he likes the way it feels, which is why the PRS became his workhorse. In a quote before Snakes and Arrows was released, he started using Gibsons, and said that Geddy was ecstatic because Geddy always said the only guitar Alex should ever need to play is a Gibson.

CityofBlindingLights · #13 02-04-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

He sure uses a ton of guitars though, which is always cool

I've seen Rush twice, and Alex uses FAR less guitars than The Edge (U2). The Edge takes 45 guitars on tour, and uses an average of nineteen guitars each night.

Vim Fuego · #14 02-05-2008, 07:54 AM

Ha! I saw a U2 show on the telly not so long ago and it was actually rather funny to see th' Edge use a new guitar for every song! Especially as they really didn't sound that different.
It was the same story with Bon Jovi on the telly a while back. New guitar for each song but no really discernible difference between the sound for each one (although the first guitar Mr Sambora used went out of tune once he used the trem).
It seems to me the only reason to change guitars is if the one you have is out of tune or if you're looking for some significant tonal difference. Surely otherwise you'll pick the one that plays best! (says the man who takes 6 guitars to a gig if he can get away with it!

)
Jim