Alex Lifeson and Epiphone Unveil the 1976 ES-355 Reissue

“The ES-355 has always been a really special guitar for me—it’s got this incredible balance of elegance and power,” says Alex Lifeson. “What I love about this Epiphone “Whitey” recreation is how faithfully it captures that original spirit while still feeling fresh and alive in your hands. It’s a guitar that invites you to explore, to take chances, and to find your own voice. I’m genuinely thrilled that players everywhere will have the chance to experience it and make it part of their own musical journey.”

The Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue features a five-ply semi-hollow body constructed from layers of maple and poplar, with multi-ply binding on the top and back. It delivers the visual and tactile refinement expected of an ES-355. A solid maple centerblock enhances sustain and significantly reduces unwanted feedback, delivering the wide-ranging, expressive sound that ES™ models are known for.

Its three-piece maple neck mirrors the construction of the original 70s-era instrument and includes a volute for additional strength at the neck-to-headstock transition. The Slim C neck profile delivers a fast, effortless playing experience, while the ebony fretboard contributes clarity, snap, and a luxurious playing feel. Mother-of-pearl large block inlays, along with 22 medium jumbo frets, complete the fretboard. The Gibson-style “open book” headstock is outfitted with premium die-cast tuners with keystone buttons and a Graph Tech® nut for reliable tuning stability. Multi-ply binding frames the headstock, which is adorned with inlaid mother-of-pearl Epiphone and Custom split diamond logos. Adding a personal detail, the truss rod cover is engraved with Alex Lifeson’s name.

Gold-finished hardware, including a harmonica-style Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and gold pickup covers, enhances the guitar’s upscale appearance. A matching gold Maestro™ Vibrola™ adds expressive pitch control, allowing subtle shimmer or dramatic movement with ease. Alex’s distinctive voice is brought to life by a pair of USA-made Gibson T-Type humbucker™ pickups. These are wired to individual volume and tone controls using CTS® potentiometers and Mallory™ capacitors, with pickup selection handled by a Switchcraft® three-way toggle. A mono Varitone switch expands the tonal palette, while a dedicated mini toggle allows the Varitone circuit to be engaged or bypassed as desired. A Switchcraft quarter-inch output jack completes the electronics package.

Designed for musicians who thrive on exploration and evolution, the Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue encourages players to push creative boundaries, just as Alex Lifeson has throughout his career. Finished in gloss Alpine White, the Inspired by Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue delivers the premium appointments, materials, and performance expected from an ES-355, built for players who demand both heritage and innovation. The guitar ships in a custom hardshell case featuring a black exterior with a reproduction of Alex Lifeson’s signature, a plush red interior, and gold hardware.

Alex Lifeson

Guitarist, songwriter, and producer Alex Lifeson is best known as the co-founder of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Rush, where his innovative guitar textures and adventurous harmony helped define progressive rock across 19 studio albums. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and continues to explore new sounds beyond Rush, including the alt-rock collective Envy of None.

Lifeson’s most recent album, Stygian Wavz (2025), is the sophomore release from Envy of None—his project with Andy Curran, Maiah Wynne, and Alfio Annibalini—issued by Kscope and preceded by singles “Not Dead Yet,” “Under the Stars,” and the title track.

Lifeson will return to the stage this summer with Geddy Lee for Rush’s Fifty Something Tour, a limited run celebrating the band’s legacy and honoring Neil Peart, with Anika Nilles on drums and initial dates beginning June 9-13 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles before stops in Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto, and Cleveland; additional legs are slated into 2027. For more information, visit www.alexlifeson.com.

RUSH: FIFTY SOMETHING TOUR:

Jun. 9 Los Angeles, California Kia Forum

Jun. 11 Los Angeles, California Kia Forum

Jun. 13 Los Angeles, California Kia Forum

Jun. 18 Mexico City, Mexico Palacio de los Deportes

Jun. 20 Mexico City, Mexico Palacio de los Deportes

Jun. 24 Fort Worth, Texas Dickies Arena

Jun. 26 Fort Worth, Texas Dickies Arena

Jun. 28 Fort Worth, Texas Dickies Arena

Jun. 30 Fort Worth, Texas Dickies Arena

Jul. 16 Chicago, Illinois United Center

Jul. 18 Chicago, Illinois United Center

Jul. 20 Chicago, Illinois United Center

Jul. 22 Chicago, Illinois United Center

Jul. 28 New York, New York Madison Square Garden

Jul. 30 New York, New York Madison Square Garden

Aug. 1 New York, New York Madison Square Garden

Aug. 3 New York, New York Madison Square Garden

Aug. 7 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena

Aug. 9 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena

Aug. 11 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena

Aug. 13 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena

Aug. 21 Philadelphia, PA Xfinity Mobile Arena

Aug. 23 Philadelphia, PA Xfinity Mobile Arena

Aug. 26 Detroit, Michigan Little Caesars Arena

Aug. 28 Detroit, Michigan Little Caesars Arena

Sept. 2 Montreal, Quebec Bell Centre

Sept. 4 Montreal, Quebec Bell Centre

Sept. 12Boston, Massachusetts TD Garden

Sept. 14 Boston, Massachusetts TD Garden

Sept. 17Cleveland, Ohio Rocket Arena

Sept. 19 Cleveland, Ohio Rocket Arena

Sept. 23San Antonio, Texas Frost Bank Center

Sept. 25 San Antonio, Texas Frost Bank Center

Oct. 5 Denver, Colorado Ball Arena

Oct. 7 Denver, Colorado Ball Arena

Oct.10 Seattle, Washington Climate Pledge Arena

Oct.12 Seattle, Washington Climate Pledge Arena

Oct. 15 San Jose, California SAP Center

Oct. 17 San Jose, California SAP Center

Oct. 25 Washington D.C. Capital One Arena

Oct. 27 Washington D.C. Capital One Arena

Oct. 30 Uncasville, Connecticut Mohegan Sun Arena

Nov. 1 Uncasville, Connecticut Mohegan Sun Arena

Nov. 5 Hollywood, Florida Seminole Hard Rock Live

Nov. 7 Hollywood, Florida Seminole Hard Rock Live

Nov. 9 Tampa, Florida Benchmark International Arena

Nov. 11 Tampa, Florida Benchmark International Arena

Nov. 20 Charlotte, North Carolina Spectrum Center

Nov. 22 Charlotte, North Carolina Spectrum Center

Nov. 25 Atlanta, Georgia State Farm Arena

Nov. 27 Atlanta, Georgia State Farm Arena

Dec. 1 Glendale, Arizona Desert Diamond Arena

Dec. 3 Glendale, Arizona Desert Diamond Arena

Dec. 10 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place

Dec. 12 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place

Dec. 15 Vancouver, British Columbia Rogers Arena

Dec. 17 Vancouver, British Columbia Rogers Arena

Jan. 15 Buenos Aires, AR Movistar Arena

Jan. 17 Santiago, Chile Estandio Bicentenario La Florida

Jan. 19 Santiago, Chile Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida

Jan. 22 Curitiba, BR Arena da Baixada

Jan. 24 São Paulo, BR Allianz Parque

Jan. 26 São Paulo, BR Allianz Parque

Jan. 30 Rio de Janeiro, BR Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (Engenhão)

Feb. 1 Belo Horizonte, BR Estádio Mineirão

Feb. 4 Brasília, BR Arena BRB Mané Garrincha

Feb. 19 Paris, FR La Défense Arena

Feb. 21 Berlin, DE Uber Arena

Feb. 23 Amsterdam, NL Ziggo Dome

Feb. 25 Munich, DE Olympiahalle

Feb. 28 Cologne, DE LANXESS Arena

Mar. 2 Hamburg, DE Barclays Arena

Mar. 4 Stuttgart, DE Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle

Mar. 8 Glasgow, UK OVO Hydro

Mar. 10 Glasgow, UK OVO Hydro

Mar. 12 Manchester, UK Co-op Live

Mar. 14 Manchester, UK Co-op Live

Mar. 16 London, UK O2 Arena

Mar. 18 London, UK O2 Arena

Mar. 21 London, UK O2 Arena

Mar. 27 Kraków, PL TAURON Arena Kraków

Mar. 30 Milan, IT Unipol Dome

Apr. 1 Basel, CH St. Jakobshalle Basel

Apr. 4 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena

Apr. 6 Oslo, NO Unity Arena

Apr. 8 Stockholm, SE Avicii Arena

Apr.10 Helsinki, FI Veikkaus Arena