DIFFERENT
STRINGS
As Rush got more ambitious on LPs like
A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres,
Lifeson’s backline would greatly
expand. New guitars would include
the Gibson SG Doubleneck (most
famously used on “Xanadu”), along
with numerous Stratocasters. Around
the time of Permanent Waves and the
seminal Moving Pictures, Alex would
make use a Howard Roberts Fusion, a
rare Gibson hollowbody with a maple
spur down the middle for a brighter
tone.
Amps would be a combination of
Marshall Club & Country combos and
powerful Hiwatt full stacks. Perhaps
the most important effect Lifeson
would introduce at this time would
be the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble.
Considered the holy grail of chorus
effects, it can scarcely be understated
how important this sound would
become to thickening Lifeson’s tone,
best heard at this time on the chiming
opening chords of “Hemispheres: Book
II.” His use of delay would also expand,
perhaps best heard on the emotional
stereo-delay solo of “Limelight.” We
also must not forget his use of the
Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress,
used for the swirling arpeggios of
“Spirit of Radio.”
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TONE TALK //
The Working Man: The Evolution of Rush’s Alex Lifeson and How to Achieve His Sound