FINDING HIS WAY
After years of playing bars and high
school dances, Rush’s self-titled debut
was released in 1974. Like many
bands of the time, it took most of its
cues from rock greats like the Who,
Cream, and the Yardbirds. Over time
though, the band would expand to its
trademark epics like “2112” and “The
Fountain of Lamneth.”
A consistent anchor of Lifeson’s
sound is Les Pauls and Marshall amps,
and these early records feature the
midrange roar Marshalls are best
known for. Effects would include
standards like a Dunlop wah and
Morley volume pedal, but most
distinctive during this time would
be his use of PS-1A Phase Shift and
Echoplex, both by Maestro. The
Echoplex would give us the brusque,
staccato repeats on “Anthem,” and the
PS-1A would give us the watery swirls
of “Lakeside Park.”
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TONE TALK //
The Working Man: The Evolution of Rush’s Alex Lifeson and How to Achieve His Sound