Gibson Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess in Royal Crimson

As one of rock and roll's most progressive guitarists, you wouldn't expect Alex Lifeson (Rush) to have anything but the best, most versatile guitar from one of the world's leading guitar manufacturers. The Gibson Alex Lifeson signature Axcess Les Paul is all these things and more combining traditional American-made Les Paul qualities with a licensed Floyd Rose vibrato system and  a versatile pickup system that incorporates some of Gibson's best magnetic pickups as well as a piezo pickup for woody tones, not dissimilar to an acoustic guitar.

Here's what Gibson say about the Alex Lifeson Axcess

In his work with Rush from the '70s to today, Alex Lifeson has redefined the boundaries of progressive rock guitar. Embodying far more than that genre label often implies, Lifeson's playing soars beyond the drama and the bluster to reveal truly stunning virtuosity that has been praised and admired by fans-and players-of all stripes, and has landed him in the upper echelon of performance artists as a result. Created through extensive work with Alex Lifeson himself, the Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess similarly redefines the boundaries of the classic Les Paul: packed in a single remarkable instrument, this guitar carries all of the traditional tones that have made the Les Paul legendary, along with unprecedented levels of sonic and performance versatility.

In addition to its traditional Les Paul tonewoods, the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess carries two high-output humbucking pickups with series/parallel wiring options via its push-pull volume controls series/parallel options on its push-pull volume controls, and a Floyd Rose licensed unit that not only provides the world's most efficient vibrato system, but is also loaded with GraphTech Ghost piezo bridge saddles. Access traditional Gibson magnetic humbucker tones, mix it up with fat and funky series/parallel options, tap the Ghost's realistic acoustic tones, or blend acoustic and magnetic voices-the sky's the limit from this sonic chameleon, whose sound-shifting depths are virtually limitless. What's more, you can route it all through a traditional mono jack (labeled "Regular") using a single guitar cable, or use two cables to split your sonic trickery off into separate output paths using the "Regular" and the "Life-O-Sound" output jacks together. All this, and the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess still presents that timeless Les Paul look that has remained a classic for more than 50 years, in your choice of two stunning colors-Viceroy Brown and Royal Crimson-both approved by the artist himself, and both resplendent atop a stunningly figured maple top.

Body and Finish

The body of each Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess is crafted from a one-piece mahogany body with a carved figured maple top, in the timeless image of the Les Paul Standard. The guitar is finished in hand-sprayed nitrocellulose lacquer in stunning Viceroy Brown or Royal Crimson, each of which beautifully emphasizes the figured maple top.

Neck, Fingerboard and Headstock

As with all classic Les Paul Standards, the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess pairs a solid mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and a back-angled headstock. These features all increase the guitar's warmth, resonance and sustain, and-along with its comfortable Axcess Rounded neck profile and scarfed neck joint for better upper fret access-help to make it a superbly playable instrument.

Pickups and Electronics

Like classic Les Paul Standards, the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess has a pair of Gibson humbucking pickups, but equips these for the modern player with a little added output from an Alnico V-loaded 498T in the bridge position, a clear and creamy ceramic-loaded 496R in the neck, and custom wiring for series/parallel switching. In addition, the Floyd Rose licensed vibrato is loaded with GraphTech Ghost piezo bridge saddles for authentic acoustic-electric sounds.

Hardware

The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess's hardware complement takes it right over the top, equipping this extraordinary guitar for the most adventurous contemporary players. A Floyd Rose licensed GraphTech Ghost equipped unit provides unprecedented sonic versatility, Kluson-style tuners offer a vintage look and top performance, and Schaller Strap Locks keep you secure throughout the gig.

Body

• Top: Maple
• Back: 1-Piece Solid Mahogany
• Binding: Cream
• Adhesive: Franklin TitebondNeck
• Species: Mahogany
• Profile: Rounded Axcess Profile
• Truss Rod: Traditional
• Joint Angle: 4 degrees (+/- 15 seconds)
• Adhesive: Franklin Titebond

Neck Fit

• Joint: Mortise & Tenon
• Adhesive: Franklin Titebond
• Joint Angle Tolerance: +/- .005"

Fingerboard

• Species: Rosewood
• Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
• Radius: 12"
• Binding: .060 Cream
• Inlays: Pearloid Trapezoids
• Nut/E.O.B: 1.687/2.125

Nut

• Material: Floyd Rose R4 locking nut
• Width: 1.687

Headstock

• Type: Les Paul Standard
• Logo: Mother-of-Pearl Gibson Logo
• Truss Rod Cover: Gibson Bell Shaped Molded with Alex Lifeson Signature
• Angle: 17 Degrees

Tuners

• Model: Vintage Kluson-style tuners with pearloid keystone buttons
• Tuning Ratio: 14:01
• Plating: Nickel

Bridge

• Type: Floyd Rose licensed GraphTech Ghost equipped vibrato unit
• Plating: Nickel

Hardware

• Knobs: Gold Top-Hat Knobs
• Toggle Switch Washer: Cream with Gold Screenprint
• Strings: .010 - .046, Vintage Strings
• Strap Buttons: Nickel Schaller Strap Locks

Pickups

• Neck Position: 496R (Ceramic magnet)
• Bridge Position: 498T (Alnico V magnet)

Electronics

• Potentiometers: 2 push/pull Volume controls (Rhythm and Treble pickups), 1 Volume control
  (GraphTech Ghost piezo pickups), 1 Master Tone control (piezo not affected)
• Type: 500k audio-taper
• Coil Wiring: Parallel-Machine Wound
• Toggle Switch: Three-Way Switchcraft with Cream Toggle Cap
• Output Jack: Two 1/4" Switchcraft output jacks: "Regular" and "Life-O-Sound."

Finish

• Sealer: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Royal Crimson  Viceroy Brown Case
• Type: Custom Shop Hardshell
• Case Exterior: Black Pleather with Alex Lifeson Signature
• Case Interior: Red Fur

Accessories

• Certificate of Authenticity: Lifeson Certificate of Authenticity
• Additional Materials: Each Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess comes with adjustment literature, and documentation for the guitar's limited lifetime warranty.