Gibson gets a Rush with new Lifeson ES-355
The MusicRadar Team, Thu 28 Feb, 4:17 pm GMT
So you've been doing this power trio thing for eons now. You've made a ton of money. You have houses all over, cars and boats, even a couple of airplanes. You've won awards, you play to sold-out arenas. But it all feels so... so empty. If only you had your own guitar, one with your name on it. That would make everything feel worth it.
Gibson has answered Alex Lifeson's dream with the new Alex Lifeson Memphis ES-355 semi-hollow electric guitar, a remarkable re-creation of the original 1976 Gibson ES-355 that has been such a part of Rush's breathtaking sonic texture. It's Gibson's heartfelt tribute to a true modern master, and to the guitar he used to expand the definition of popular music.
The guitar features a maple body, three-piece maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard, pearl block inlays, and a scale length of 24-3/4 inches. Other features include Grover keystone tuners, an adjustable wide-travel Tune-O-Matic Bridge, Maestro Long vibrola tailpiece, a magnificent Alpine White finish, and gold hardware. It would be the consummate prog rock machine even if it weren't the chosen axe of the Rush guitarist, but because it is, you know it's got the goods. The Vibrola is one of the least wood-invasive tremolo options, keeping the belly of this archtop guitar remarkably pristine and preserving its natural resonance. The pickups are faithful Alnico II replicas of 1950s PAF humbuckers.
Want to keep the spirit of radio alive? Then check out the Alex Lifeson Memphis ES-355. It's available 3 March, 2008. U.S. list price is $5,645.00. Hey - maybe it's cheaper in Canada.
User comments (3)
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It does feel a bit to me as if like the people in marketing at Gibson are a rather clueless bunch, one gets the feeling that they are middle aged men that havent been following whats been happening in music for the last 30 or 40 years, but seeing as their guitars are rather expensive maybe they are just targeting other middle aged men who have money..
"Nothing says you are a successful middle aged man like a Gibson guitar!"
I really liked Rush back in the 80s but that was 30 years ago, a lot has happened since then and i honestly dont see how Alex Lifeson merits his own really expensive guitar but im guessing a thousand lawyers will prove me wrong. -
I feel you do not appreciate the effect Lifeson has had on rock music over the last 30 years.
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Gibson continue releasing artist models for artists we have all but forgotten about, first it was Elliot Easton of early 80s pop band The Cars and now its Alex Lifeson of Canadian progpop band Rush, these guys might have drawn attention to Gibson guitars 30 years ago but only a handful of people actually remember who these artists are today.
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