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The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355. Featuring Maple/Poplar body, Ebony fretboard, Gibson T-Type pickups, & Maestro Vibrola tailpiece. In Alpine white, with case
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Alex Lifeson didn't just play guitar in Rush — he redefined what a guitar could say in progressive rock. His 1976 Gibson ES-355 was as central to that story as Neil Peart's drum kit or Geddy Lee's impossibly high vocal notes. Now, Epiphone has brought that iconic instrument back to life as part of the Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection, and the result is everything a Lifeson devotee — or any serious semi-hollow player — could ask for.
Finished in gloss Alpine White and loaded with USA-made Gibson T-Type humbuckers, a Maestro Vibrola, and a mono Varitone circuit, this is far more than a signature guitar. It's a fully realized reissue that captures the tone, feel, and adventurous spirit that made Lifeson one of the most innovative guitarists in rock history.
A semi-hollow guitar lives and dies by its build, and this one is constructed to survive both a 20-minute progressive rock odyssey and your occasional clumsy stage moment. The five-ply maple and poplar body brings that signature ES warmth, while the solid maple centerblock keeps feedback from gatecrashing your solo. Up front, the fast Slim C neck and silky ebony fretboard make your scale runs sound much more dramatic than they actually are.
Gold hardware on a guitar is a bold promise, and this setup absolutely delivers. Featuring a gold-finished Tune-O-Matic bridge, a Maestro Vibrola tailpiece, and premium die-cast tuners, it keeps you perfectly in tune even after you've gone a bit too wild with the whammy bar.
Most guitars give you a volume knob, a tone knob, and the quiet dignity of zero choices. This beast gives you a full-on conversation. Powered by USA-made Gibson T-Type humbuckers and a mono Varitone switch, you get six distinct tonal settings, plus a dedicated mini toggle to bypass the circuit when you just want to rock out.
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue doesn't ask you to compromise. It delivers Custom-level appointments — USA-made Gibson pickups, a Varitone circuit, a Maestro Vibrola, genuine ebony fretboard, and gold hardware throughout — without the Custom Shop price tag. It ships in a custom hardshell case with a black exterior bearing a reproduction of Alex Lifeson's signature, a plush red interior, and gold hardware, because the presentation matches the guitar inside.
Whether you're going after the sound of 2112, hunting for that perfect semi-hollow tone, or simply want a beautifully built ES-355-style instrument that crushes, this is the one that delivers.
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It's a production reissue of Alex Lifeson's iconic 1976 Gibson ES-355, built by Epiphone as part of the Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection. It replicates the original's construction, hardware, and electronics — including a Varitone circuit and Maestro Vibrola — at a non-Custom Shop price.
It's equipped with a pair of USA-made Gibson T-Type humbucking pickups, the same pickups found in Gibson's higher-end production models. They're wired through CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors for premium tone and signal quality.
The mono Varitone switch provides six distinct tonal settings by filtering certain frequencies, ranging from full and open to noticeably scooped and glassy. A dedicated mini toggle lets you bypass the circuit entirely when you want the guitar's natural, unfiltered voice.
Absolutely, the semi-hollow ES-355 body style is incredibly versatile and works well across jazz, blues, funk, and indie styles. The Varitone circuit and T-Type humbuckers give you enough tonal range to cover a wide variety of playing contexts.
Yes, it ships in a custom hardshell case with a black exterior printed with a reproduction of Alex Lifeson's signature, a plush red interior, and gold hardware. It's a genuinely nice case, not just a token afterthought.
