Alex Lifeson

Birth name: Alexandar Zivojinovich (Aleksandar Živojinović)
Born: August 27, 1953
Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
Genres: Hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Instruments: Guitar, Mandolin, Synthesizers, Banjo, bouzouki, Bass Guitar, mandola, vocals
Years active: 1968–present
Labels: Mercury, Anthem, Atlantic
Associated acts: Rush, Victor, Big Dirty Band

Notable instruments

  • Gibson ES-335
  • Gibson ES-355
  • Gibson Les Paul
  • Fender Stratocaster
  • Gibson EDS-1275
  • Ovation Adamas
  • PRS CE 24

 

BIO

Alex Lifeson, OC (born Aleksandar Živojinović; August 27, 1953) is a Canadian  musician, best known for his work as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend and original drummer John Rutsey. He has been an integral member of the three-piece band ever since.

For Rush, Lifeson plays electric and acoustic guitars as well as other stringed instruments such as mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He also performs backing vocals in live performances, and occasionally plays keyboards and bass pedal synthesizers. During live performances, Lifeson, like the other members of Rush, performs real-time triggering of sampled instruments, concurrently with his guitar playing. The bulk of Lifeson’s work in music has been with Rush, although Lifeson has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as well. Aside from music, Lifeson is part owner of the Toronto restaurant The Orbit Room, and is a licensed aircraft pilot.

Along with his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, Lifeson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio was the first rock band to be so honoured, as a group. more at Wikipedia…

 

Websites

 

GEAR

Alex Lifeson’s Gear: The Inside Scoop From Guitar Tech Scott Appleton – “Time Machine Tour” rig
Scott Appleton, Alex Lifeson’s Guitar Tech takes us through Alex’s complete “Time Machine Tour” rig. From Hughes and Kettner amps and TC Electronics processors, and to his signature Gibson and PRS guitars as well as more choice gear from Furman, Audio Technica, Korg, Moog and other fine brands.

 

Alex Lifeson Interview: His Complete Gear Setup For Rush’s “Time Machine Tour 2011”
Alex Lifeson Interview: Legendary guitarist, Alex Lifeson of Rush takes us through his gear setup while prepping for rehearsal during the band’s “Time Machine Tour”. From pedalboard to amp rig, Lifeson explains the guitar effects, processors, and amps he uses from TC Electronic, Hughes & Kettner, and more top brands. He covers the world-class features behind his primary guitar, the Gibson Axcess Les Paul in Royal Crimson and even brings us up close to the stage props keeping him company at stage right, all supporting the tour’s playful “steam punk” theme.

 

On The Road with Alex Lifeson of Rush – Snakes & Arrows live rig
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson takes us on tour of his Snakes & Arrows live rig. Taken from Guitarist magazine issue 297

 

Historical Studio and Live Rigs from various sources

Early Years (mid – 60’s to 1973)

  • Alex began his musical training by practicing on a neighbor’s violin.
  • Parents bought him an $11.00 Kent classical guitar for Christmas when he was 12.
  • Alex took the tonearm from a record player and jammed the needle into the wood of his Kent, thereby creating his first amplifier
  • Parents bought him a Conora electric solidbody.
  • Had a small Kent amp, which he put the word “VOX” on in electrical tape
  • As Rush formed in ’68, Alex was borrowing various amps, including Geddy’s Traynor.
  • Alex was also borrowing guitars, like a Harmony, and Ged’s brother-in-law’s Gibson Firebird.
  • In late ’68, Alex bought a new tobacco sunburst Gibson ES-335.
  • Soon, he also had a brown ’63 Fender Stratocaster, but Alex didn’t care for it much and sold it.
  • Later, he would buy a Marshall 50-watt head and one 4×12″ cabinet. This was to be his setup for quite awhile.
  • He also had a few effects, including a Fuzz Face distortion, a Maestro phaser, a Crybaby wah pedal, and an Echoplex.

 

 In Rush’s early career, Lifeson used a Gibson ES-335 for the first tour, and in 1976 bought a 1974 Gibson Les Paul; he used those two guitars until the late 1970s. He had a Fender Stratocaster with a Bill Lawrence humbucker and Floyd Rose vibrato bridge as backup “and for a different sound.”[6] For the A Farewell to Kings sessions, Lifeson began using a Gibson EDS-1275 for songs like “Xanadu”[citation needed] and his main guitar became a white Gibson ES-355.[6] During this period Lifeson used Hiwatt amplifiers.[citation needed] He played a twelve-string Gibson B-45 on songs like “Closer to the Heart.”

From 1980 to 1986, Lifeson used four identically modified Stratocasters, all of them equipped with the Floyd Rose bridge. As a joke, he called these Hentor Sportscasters – a made-up name inspired by Peter Henderson’s name, who was the producer of Grace Under Pressure.[24] He also played a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion. By 1987, Lifeson switched to Signature guitars (Canadian-made) which, while “awful to play—very uncomfortable–…had a particular sound I liked.”[6] Lifeson primarily used PRS guitars during the recording of Roll The Bones in 1990/1991.[citation needed] The last few years, he said in 2011, he has “used Gibson almost exclusively. There’s nothing like having a low-slung Les Paul over my shoulder” In early 2011, Gibson introduced the “Alex Lifeson Axcess”, a guitar specially designed for him. These are custom made Les Pauls with Floyd Rose systems on both of them. He mentioned the process taking two years to design a perfect guitar. He used these two custom Les Pauls on the Time Machine Tour. These guitars are also available through Gibson, in a viceroy Brown or Crimson color. Lifeson used these two guitars heavily on the tour.

In 2005, Hughes & Kettner introduced an Alex Lifeson signature series amplifier; Alex donates his royalties from the sale of these signature models to UNICEF.

For effects, Lifeson is known to use chorus, phase shifting, and flanging. Throughout his career, he has used well-known pedals such as the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger, the BOSS CE-1 chorus, the Dunlop crybaby wah, among others. more…

 

Rush (studio and tour w/John Rutsey)

  • Guitar:
    • ’68 Gibson ES-335
    • rented Rickenbacker 12-string acoustic on “Before and After”
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex

 

Rush (tour w/Neil Peart)

  • Guitar:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • rented Rickenbacker 12-string acoustic on “Before and After”
    • bought (but never use) a ’74 Gibson Les Paul deluxe. This guitar had problems and was soon traded for a cherry sunburst ’74 Gibson Les paul Standard.
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack
    • second Marshall amp and now had two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets.

 

Fly By Night (studio and tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Gibson Les Paul Std (including the slide part on “Making Memories”)
    • a borrowed Martin acoustic for “Making Memories and acoustic overdub on “Fly By Night”,
    • rented Rickenbacker 12-string acoustic for “In the End”
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

Caress of Steel (studio and tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Fender Stratocaster (rented) used on “Lakeside Park”
    • Fender pedal steel (rented) for parts of “The Necromancer”,
    • Borrowed classical guitar on “Panacea”.
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

2112 (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335: primary guitar
    • Les Paul Std.
    • Gibson Dove 6-string acoustic
    • Gibson B-45 12-string acoustic
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
    • Fender Twin Reverb
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

2112 (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Fender Stratocaster
    • Fender pedal steel
    • ’74 Gibson Les Paul Std in tobacco-burst.
      • It had Pyramid pickups installed, but were later switched back to the stock pickups.
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

All The Worlds A Stage (concert for album)

  • Guitar:
    • ’74 Gibson Les Paul Std in tobacco-burst used exclusively at these shows
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
    • Fender Twin Reverb
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

All The Worlds A Stage (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Fender Stratocaster
    • Fender pedal steel
    • ’74 Gibson Les Paul Std in tobacco-burst
      • It had Pyramid pickups installed, but were later switched back to the stock pickups.
    • Gibson EDS-1175 doubleneck cherry red  (used it late in the tour on the pre-release version of “Xanadu” and also on “A Passage to Bankok”)
  • Amp:
    • Marshall JMP 50-watt half stack (2)
    • two full stacks of 4×12″ cabinets
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

A Farewell To Kings (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Gibson ES-355 cream, rewired to mono.
    • Gibson EDS-1275 white, doubleneck
    • Gibson J-55 jumbo-body acoustic
    • Ramirez classical
    • Epiphone C-60 classical
    • Black ’77 Fender Stratocaster (“A Farewell to Kings” guitar solo)
    • custom-built Pyramid solid body (not recorded until Permanent Waves)
  • Amps:
    • Marshall 100w heads
    • Marshall 4×12 bottoms
    • Roland JC-120 amp used on “Madrigal”
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal

 

A Farewell To Kings (tour including Archives tour)

  • Guitar:
    • Gibson ES-355 main guitar
    • ’74 Gibson Les Paul Std in tobacco-burst
    • cherry red Gibson EDS-1175 used until damaged.
    • Gibson EDS-1275 white, doubleneck
    • Gibson ES-335 (damaged, repaired, and retired)
    • Gibson ES-345 black (replaced Gibson ES-335)
  • Amps:
    • Marshall 100w heads w/ 4×12″ cabinets
    • Fender Twin Reverb
  • Effects:
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

Hemispheres (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-355 main guitar
    • Gibson ES-345 black
    • Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer
    • Gibson Dove
    • Gibson B-45
    • Ramirez classical
  • Amps:
    • Hiwatt 100w heads w/ matching 4×12″ cabinets
  • Effects:
    • Moog Taurus pedals (New)
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

Hemispheres (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-355 main guitar
    • Gibson ES-345 black
    • Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer
    • Gibson Dove
    • Gibson B-45
    • Ramirez classical
    • Gibson EDS-1275 white, doubleneck
    • Fender Strat black
  • Amps:
    • Hiwatt heads (3)
    • Hiwatt 4×12″ cabinets (4)
    • Leslie (rotating speaker) cabinet
    • Fender Twin
  • Effects :
    • Roland Space Echo’s (3)
    • Maestro parametric filter
    • Ashley pre-amps for the acoustic guitars.
    • Custom-built effects board
    • Moog Taurus pedals on his side of the stage, from this point, forward.
    • Alex built his acoustic guitar stand. Later, this stand would be patented and mass-produced as the Omega Guitar Stand.
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

Permanent Waves (studio and tour)

  • Fender Strat black now featured a very early Floyd Rose tremolo.
    • No locking nut was installed, rather, Alex used powdered graphite in the string slots to keep friction down.
    • Also, A Gibson humbucking pickup was installed in the bridge position.
    • This guitar was used on “The Spirit of Radio”, and the lead on “Different Strings”
  • Gibson ES-355 was used on everything else, with the exception of the leads on “Jacob’s Ladder”, which was the Pyramid guitar.
  • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion sunburst was also used on “Different Strings”.
  • Gibson J-55 Acoustic
  • Gibson Dove in Nashville tuning.
    • In “Nashville tuning” the low E, A , and D strings are replaced with G, B, and, high E strings, respectively, and are tuned to E, A, and D, except the E is now tuned the same as the other high E, and the A and D strings are tuned one octave higher than usual.
  • Amps:
    • Marshalls
    • Hiwatts
    • Mesa/Boogies
    • Marshall cabinets
    • Leslie cabinet
  • Effects:
  • Loft analog delays (New)
  • Maestro parametric filters (New)
  • Roland Space Echo’s (3) (New)
  • Maestro parametric filter (New)
  • Ashley pre-amps for the acoustic guitars (New)
  • Custom-built effects board (New)
  • Moog Taurus pedals
  • Acoustic guitar stand
  • Fuzz Face distortion
  • Maestro phase
  • Crybaby wah pedal
  • Echoplex
  • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
  • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
  • Boss chorus

 

Moving Pictures (studio)

  • Guitars
    • Gibson ES-355 (used on “Tom Sawyer” and on “Witch Hunt”)
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion (used on “Tom Sawyer” lead)
    • Fender Strat black (“YYZ”, “Vital Signs”)
    • Fender Strat red (“The Camera Eye”)
    • Fender Strat white (“Red Barchetta”, Limelight”)
    • Gibson Dove acoustic in Nashville tuning (“The Camera Eye”)
  • Amps
    • Hiwatts
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (2)
  • Effects:
    • Advanced Audio digital delay (New)
    • Roland digital delays (New)
    • MXR distortion (New)
    • MXR Micro-amp preamp (New)
    • Loft analog delays (New)
    • Maestro parametric filters
    • Roland Space Echo’s (3)
    • Maestro parametric filter
    • Ashley pre-amps for the acoustic guitars.
    • Custom-built effects board
    • Moog Taurus pedals
    • Acoustic guitar stand
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

Moving Pictures Tour  (and Exit…Stage Left Tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson ES-355
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion
    • Fender Strat black
    • Fender Strat red
    • Fender Strat white
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
  • Amps:
    • Hiwatt 100w heads driving two 4×12″ cabs
    • Leslie
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (2)
  • Effects:
    • Advanced Audio digital delay (New)
    • Roland digital delays (New)
    • MXR distortion (New)
    • MXR Micro-amp preamp (New)
    • Loft analog delays (New)
    • Maestro parametric filters
    • Roland Space Echo’s (3)
    • Maestro parametric filter
    • Ashley pre-amps for the acoustic guitars.
    • Custom-built effects board
    • Moog Taurus pedals
    • Acoustic guitar stand
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

SIGNALS (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Fender Strat black, red, white (used in various combinations on every song)
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion (“Digital Man”) now fitted with a Kahler tremolo unit
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings (“Losing It”)
    • Gibson Dove acoustic in Nashville tuning (“Losing It”)
  • Amps:
    • Hiwatt 100w heads driving two 4×12″ cabs
    • Leslie
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (2)
  • Effects:
    • Deltalab harmonizer (New) (solo on “The Analog Kid”)
    • Yamaha E1010 delays (New)
    • Mutron octave divider (New) (for the last part of the solo on “The Weapon”)

 

Signals Tour (and Radio City Music Hall shows)

  • Guitars:
    • Fender Strat black, red, white (used in various combinations on every song)
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion (“Digital Man”) now fitted with a Kahler tremolo unit
    • Fender Telecaster blond (“Kid Gloves” and “New World Man”)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings (“Losing It”)
  • Amps:
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (4)
  • Effects:
    • Deltalab harmonizer (New) (solo on “The Analog Kid”)
    • Yamaha E1010 delays (New)
    • Mutron octave divider (New) (for the last part of the solo on “The Weapon”)

 

Grace Under Pressure (studio and tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Fender Strat black, red, white
      • Shark necks on them, along with the infamous “Hentor Sportscaster” names
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion with a Kahler tremolo unit (retired for tour)
    • Fender Telecaster blond
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
  • Amps:
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (4)
  • Effects:
    • Deltalab harmonizer
    • Yamaha E1010 delays
    • Mutron octave divider
    • Advanced Audio digital delay
    • Roland digital delays
    • MXR distortion
    • MXR Micro-amp preamp
    • Loft analog delays
    • Maestro parametric filters
    • Roland Space Echo’s
    • Maestro parametric filter
    • Ashley pre-amps for the acoustic guitars.
    • Custom-built effects board
    • Moog Taurus pedals
    • Acoustic guitar stand
    • Fuzz Face distortion
    • Maestro phase
    • Crybaby wah pedal
    • Echoplex
    • Morley Volume/Echo pedal
    • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger
    • Boss chorus

 

Power Windows (studio and tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Fender Strat black, red, white
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
    • Signature guitars (late in the tour Alex began using and endorsing)
  • Amps:
    • Dean Markley (studio)
    • Marshall 4140 combo amps (4) (live)
  • Effects:
    • Roland digital reverbs and delays
    • Loft digital delays
    • Ibanez HD-1000 Harmonizer/Delay
    • Boss Super Distortion
    • Boss Octaver
    • Delta Lab ADM-2048 digital delay (used as a flanger)
    • TSR Rockman

 

Hold Your Fire (studio and tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Signature Guitars (white, black, and a dark vermillion) (studio and live)
    • Fender Telecaster (for occasional doubling)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings (studio and live)
  • Amps:
    • Dean Markley (studio)
    • Gallien-Krueger (studio and live)
  • Effects:
    • Roland Dimension D spatial expander (prototype  and never officially sold on the retail market)
    • Roland digital reverbs and delays
    • Loft digital delays
    • Ibanez HD-1000 Harmonizer/Delay
    • Boss Super Distortion
    • Boss Octaver
    • Delta Lab ADM-2048 digital delay (used as a flanger)
    • TSR Rockman

 

Presto (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Signature Guitars (white, black, and a dark vermillion)
    • Fender Telecaster (for occasional doubling)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
    • Gibson J-55 acoustic (“Nashville tuning” )
  • Amps:
    • Gallien-Krueger
    • Carvin
    • Roland
  • Effects:
    • Roland Dimension D spatial expander (prototype  and never officially sold on the retail market)
    • Roland digital reverbs and delays
    • Loft digital delays
    • Ibanez HD-1000 Harmonizer/Delay
    • Boss Super Distortion
    • Boss Octaver
    • Delta Lab ADM-2048 digital delay (used as a flanger)
    • TSR Rockman

 

Presto (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Signature Guitars
    • Paul Reed Smith tobacco-burst with active single-coil pickups
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
    • Gibson J-55 acoustic (“Nashville tuning” )
  • Amps:
    • Gallien-Krueger GK CPL-2000 preamp
    • Crown power amp Macro series
    • two 2×12″ Celestion GK cabinets
    • Roland GP-16 effects processor through another Crown amp driving offstage speaker boxes that are miked as the primary sound source
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
    • Roland Dimension D spatial expander
    • Roland digital reverbs and delays
    • Loft digital delays
    • Ibanez HD-1000 Harmonizer/Delay
    • Boss Super Distortion
    • Boss Octaver
    • Delta Lab ADM-2048 digital delay (used as a flanger)
    • TSR Rockman

 

Roll The Bones (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smith tobacco-burst with active single-coil pickups
    • Paul Reed Smith black with humbucking pickups
    • Paul Reed Smith blue
    • Paul Reed Smith red
    • Fender Telecaster (for occasional doubling)
    • Washburn acoustic (“Roll the Bones”)
    • Gibson J-55 acoustic (“Nashville tuning” )
  • Amps:
    • Gallien-Krueger GK CPL-2000 preamp
    • Crown power amp Macro series
    • two 2×12″ Celestion GK cabinets
    • Marshall 100-watt 2×12 combos (2)
    • Marshall 100-watt 4×12 half-stack
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
    • Roland Dimension D spatial expander
    • Roland digital reverbs and delays
    • Loft digital delays
    • Ibanez HD-1000 Harmonizer/Delay
    • Boss Super Distortion
    • Boss Octaver
    • Delta Lab ADM-2048 digital delay (used as a flanger)
    • TSR Rockman

 

Roll The Bones (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smith (exclusively and endorsing them)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
  • Amps:
    • Gallien-Krueger GK CPL-2000 preamp
    • Mesa-Boogie Series 400 II power amp
    • Crown power amp Macro series
    • two 2×12″ Celestion GK cabinetsBryston 2V “studio” preamp into 2 more Celestion-GK in conjunction w/ the Roland G-16 multi-effects processor
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
      • Roland DEP-5 for reverb
      • t.c. electronics TC-2290 chorus pedals (2)
      • TC-1210 spatial expander for chorus
      • Digi-Tech IPS-33 (for 12 string, pitch-shifting and harmonizing effects)

 

Counterparts (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smith black
      • Major change this album. Guitars recorded in the room for total control over feedback and sustain.
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom black
    • Fender Telecaster (for clean, overdubs and doubling)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
  • Amps:
    • Peavey 5150 w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Marshall 100-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Gallien-Krueger (drive the effects through the effects loop of the Marshall or Peavey)
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
      • Roland DEP-5 for reverb
      • tc electronics TC-2290 chorus pedals (2)
      • tc electronics TC-1210 spatial expander for chorus
      • Digi-Tech IPS-33 (for 12 string, pitch-shifting and harmonizing effects)

 

Counterparts (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smiths
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom black
    • Fender Telecaster (for clean, overdubs and doubling)
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
  • Amps:
    • Marshall JCM 800 100-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Marshall 6300’s 50-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Gallien-Krueger (drive the effects through the effects loop of the Marshall or Peavey)
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
      • tc electronics 2290 delay unit (new)
      • Roland SDE 3000 multi-fx processor (new)
      • Lexicon delay and multi-fx units (new)
      • Digitech preamp (new)
      • Palmer speaker simulator for clean and acoustic sounds (new)
      • Roland DEP-5 for reverb
      • tc electronics TC-2290 chorus pedals (2)
      • TC-1210 spatial expander for chorus

 

Test For Echo (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smith tobacco-burst with active single-coil pickups
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom black
    • ’63 Fender Strat reissue
    • Ovation Adamas classical and steel-strings
    • Gibson J-55 acoustic (“Nashville tuning” )
    • Washburn
    • Martin classical
    • Larivee
    • Godin Acousticaster
    • Mandola (large mandolin tuned an octave lower)
  • Amps:
    • Peavey 5150 w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Marshall JCM 800 100-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Marshall 6300’s 50-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
      • Roland DEP-5 for reverb
      • tc electronics TC-2290 chorus pedals (2)
      • tc electronics TC-1210 spatial expander for chorus
      • Digi-Tech IPS-33 (for 12 string, pitch-shifting and harmonizing effects)
      • Roland VG-08

 

Test For Echo (tour)

  • Guitars:
    • Paul Reed Smith tobacco-burst with active single-coil pickups
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom black
    • ’63 Fender Strat reissue
    • Acoustic sounds via a piezo bridge pickup in one of the PRS guitars
  • Amps:
    • Marshall JCM 900 100-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Marshall 6300’s 50-watt w/a matching 4×12 cabinet
    • Gallien-Krueger (drive the effects through the effects loop of the Marshall or Peavey)
  • Effects:
    • Bradshaw pedal board
      • tc electronics 2290 delay unit (new)
      • Roland SDE 3000 multi-fx processor (new)
      • Lexicon delay and multi-fx units (new)
      • Digitech preamp (new)
      • Palmer speaker simulator for clean and acoustic sounds (new)
      • Roland DEP-5 for reverb
      • tc electronics TC-2290 chorus pedals (2)
      • TC-1210 spatial expander for chorus

 

Vapor Trails (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • PRS Singlecut CE22 and CE24 guitars (5 total, 2 with piezo pickups)
    • Gibson SG doubleneck
    • Gibson Les Paul Standards (2)
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom
    • Gibson ES-355
    • Gibson J-150 acoustic with Fishman transducer
    • Fender Telecaster (customized)
  • Amps:
    • Hughes and Kettner Zentera heads (2)
    • Hughes and Kettner Triamp heads (2)
    • 4×12 Hughes and Kettner cabinets (5)
  • Effects:
    • Digital Music Corp. GCX Guitar Audio Switchers (2)
    • Digital Music Corp. Ground Control pedal
    • Dunlop DCR-ISR Crybaby Rack wah
      TC Electronic TC 1210 Spatial Expander
    • TC Electronic G-Force multi-effects processors (3)
    • Hughes and Kettner Rotosphere
    • Behringer Multigate Pro XR4400
    • Behringer Virtualizer Pro DSP 2024P
    • Behringer MX602 line mixers (2)
    • Behringer 662 line splitter/mixer
    • Custom Audio Japan GVCA-2 Rev 3 guitar volume controllers (2)
    • Dunlop volume pedal
    • Boss TU-12H tuner
    • Korg MPK-130 MIDI Pedal Keyboard
    • Shure U4D wireless receivers (2)
    • Shure U-1 wireless belt-pack transmitters
      Shure Antenna Distribution System
    • Samson UR-5D wireless receiver (for acoustic and piezo guitars)
    • Samson UT-5 belt-pack transmitter
    • Palmer PDI-03 speaker simulators (4)

 

Vapor Trails (tour)

  • Guitars
    • PRS Singlecut CE22
    • PRS CE24 (Tobacco Sunburst with Piezo, Blue, Red with Piezo, Black)
    • Gibson SG
    • Gibson J-150
    • Gibson Les Paul Standard (Two)
    • Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty Custom
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Fender Custom Telecaster
    • Ovation Adamas Classical Guitar
  • Amps:
    • Hughes & Kettner Triamp heads (2)
    • Hughes & Kettner Zentera heads (2)
    • Hughes & Kettner 4×12 cabinets (6)
  • Effects
    • Digital Music Corp. GCX Guitar Audio Switchers (2)
    • Digital Music Corp. Ground Control
    • Dunlop DCR-ISR Crybaby Rack Wah
    • TC Electronic TC 1210 Spatial Expander
    • TC Electronic G-Force (3)
    • Hughes and Kettner Rotosphere
    • Behringer Multigate Pro XR4400
    • Behringer Virtualizer Pro DSP 2024P
    • Behringer MX602 (2)
    • Behringer 662
    • Custom Audio Japan GVCA-2 Rev 3 (2)
    • Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
    • Boss TU-12H
    • Korg MPK-130 MIDI Pedal Keyboard
    • Shure U4D wireless receivers (2)
    • Shure U-1 wireless belt-pack transmitters (11)
    • Shure Antenna Distribution System
    • Samson UR-5D wireless receiver (for acoustic and piezo guitars)
    • Samson UT-5 belt-pack transmitter (2)
    • Palmer PDI-03 speaker simulators (4)

 

R30 (tour)

  • Guitars
    • PRS Singlecut CE22
    • PRS CE24
    • PRS Hollowbody
    • Gibson SG
    • Gibson 1275
    • Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
    • Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty Custom
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Fender Telecaster
    • Ovation Adamas Classical
    • Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500
  • Amps
    • Hughes & Kettner Triamp heads (2)
    • Hughes & Kettner Zentera heads (2)
    • Hughes & Kettner 4×12 cabinets (6)
  • Effects
    • Digital Music Corp. GCX Guitar Audio Switchers (2)
    • Digital Music Corp. Ground Control
    • Dunlop DCR-ISR Crybaby Rack Wah
    • TC Electronic TC 1210 Spatial Expander
    • TC Electronic G-Force (3)Hughes and Kettner Rotosphere
    • Behringer Multigate Pro XR4400
    • Behringer Virtualizer Pro DSP 2024P
    • Behringer MX602 (2)
    • Behringer 662
    • Custom Audio Japan GVCA-2 Rev 3 (2)
    • Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
    • Boss TU-12H
    • Korg MPK-130 MIDI Pedal Keyboard
    • Shure U4D wireless receivers (2)
    • Shure U-1 wireless belt-pack transmitters (9)
    • Shure Antenna Distribution System
    • Samson UR-5D wireless receiver (for acoustic and piezo guitars)
    • Samson UT-5 belt-pack transmitter (1)
    • Palmer PDI-03 speaker simulators (4)

 

Snakes & Arrows (studio and tour) (see video above)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
    • Gibson Les Paul (Black with Floyd Rose Tremolo)
    • Gibson Les Paul (Maple Sunburst with Floyd Rose Tremolo)
    • Gibson 1957 Les Paul Goldtop ReissueSunburst 1958 Gibson Les Paul Reissue
    • Gibson 1959 Les Paul (Tobacco Sunburst)
    • Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion (With Piezo)
    • Gibson ES-335
    • Gibson Alex Lifeson Signature ES-335
    • Black PRS CE24 used on the June 13, 2007 show for Mission
    • Garrison GGC-50-CE (2)
    • Garrison G25-12-E (3)
    • Garrison OM-20 Octave Mandolin
    • Martin D12-28 (3)
    • Ovation Adamas Classical
  • Amps
    • Hughes & Kettner Switchblade 100 Guitar Amp Head
    • Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Edition TriAmp MKII Amp
    • Hughes & Kettner Tube Tools Tube Rotosphere MKII
  • Effects:
    • Fishman Aura Concert Acoustic Guitar Imaging Pedal
    • Dunlop Crybaby Rack Wah
    • 1 Furman Power Conditioner PL-8
    • 1 Furman PL Plus Power Conditioner
    • 2 Behringer Ultralink mx-662 6 Channel Spliter/Mixer
    • 4 Audio Technica AEW5200 Guitar Wireless
    • 1 Audio Technica AEW-DA6600 Antenna Distribution System
    • 1 Whirlwind A/B Box
    • 1 Custom Audio Japan AC0912 System Power Supply
    • 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
    • 2 Digital Music Corp. GCX Guitar Audio Switcher
    • 3 Behringer MX602 Professional Splitter/Mixer
    • 4 TC Electronics G-Force
    • 1 Loft Modular Device
    • 3 Palmer PDI 03 Speaker Simulator
    • 2 Palmer PDI 03 Speaker Simulator
    • 1 Ernie Ball 25K OHM Volume Pedal
    • 1 Axess Electronics FX1 Midi Footcontroler
    • 3 Ω Brace Acoustic Guitar Holder
    • 1 Ultracase Guitar Vault
    • 1 Ultracase 8 Space Guitar Stand

 

Time Machine (tour) (see video above)

  • Guitars
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
  • Gibson Les Paul (Black with Floyd Rose Tremolo)
  • Gibson Les Paul (Maple Sunburst with Floyd Rose Tremolo)
  • Gibson 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue
  • Sunburst 1958 Gibson Les Paul Reissue
  • Gibson Alex Lifeson Signature ES-335
  • Fender Telecaster
  • Black PRS CE24
  • Sunburst PRS with Single-Coil Pickup
  • Garrison OM-20 Octave Mandolin
  • Martin D12-28 (3)
  • Ovation Adamas Classical

 

Clockwork Angels (studio)

  • Guitars:
    • Gibson Les Paul Ice Tea Burst Prototype with Floyd Rose Tremolo
    • Gibson Les Paul Sunburst 58 reissue with Fishman piezo system
    • Black Custom Les Paul w/Floyd Rose
    • Alex Lifeson Axcess Royal Crimson Les Paul
    • Alex Lifeson Axcess Viceroy Brown Les Paul
    • Gibson 355 stereo ( yes the original )
    • Paul Reed Smith Black CE-24
    • Paul Reed Smith CE-24 Custom Single Coil
    • Fender ’52 Reissue Telecaster
    • Garrison OM-20 Octave Mandolin
    • Martin D12-28 Acoustic Guitar
  • Amps:
    • Hughes & Kettner Coreblade 100 Guitar Head
    • Hughes & Kettner Alex Lifeson Signature Triamp
    • MK11 Guitar Head X2
    • Hughes & Kettner Steampunk Speaker Cabinets X3
  • Effects:
    • Furman Power Conditioner PL-8
    • Furman AR-PRO Voltage Regulator
    • RJM Music Technology IS-8
    • Input Selector X2
    • Audio Technica AEW5200
    • Guitar Wireless
    • Audio Technica AEW-DA6600
    • Antenna Distribution System
    • Linksys Ethernet Cable/DSL Router
    • Toshiba Satellite PC Computer
    • Lectrosonics R400A Guitar Wireless X2
    • Whirlwind A/B Box
    • Fishman Aura Acoustic Guitar Modeler X2
    • Dunlop Crybaby DCR-1SR
      Rackmount Wah Wah
    • Mesa/Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher
    • TC 1210 Spatial Expander+Stereo
    • Chorus/Flanger
    • Behringer XR4400 Multigate Pro
    • Axess Electronics GRX-4 X2
    • Axess Electronics CFX-4 X2
    • Digital Music Corp System Mix
    • Framptone A/B box
    • TC Electronics G-Force X4
    • Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere x2
    • Palmer PDI 03 Speaker Simulator X4
    • Ernie Ball 25K OHM Volume Pedal
    • Axess Electronics FX1 Midi Footcontroler
    • Hughes & Kettner Tube Clock X2
    • M Brace Acoustic Guitar Holder
    • Ultracase Guitar Vault