Affordable signature version of Alex Lifeson's iconic Gibson ES-355, showcased on numerous Rush albums, potentially up for release by Epiphone.
Freakin' Sweet: The Legendary "Whitey" Lifeson's Sold for a Whopping £300k!
But don't sweat it if you ain't the lucky bidder, 'cause there's always hope for a more affordable recreation.
Alex Lifeson's iconic "Whitey," the '76 Gibson ES-355TD, sold at auction for a cool £300,000 in 2022 - well beyond its initial £200,000 estimation. However, if you didn't snag this piece of rock history, you might still get a shot at something similar. Lifeson himself hinted at this possibility in our latest chat.
"Epiphone's hankerin' to release a reissue of the ES-335, and Gibson's got some acoustics and a few other trinkets up their sleeves," he confessed.
Before the auction, Lifeson reminisced over letting go of his faithful sidekick, describing the emotional farewell. "That was the last one left. Sittin' in our mudroom, while the removal truck was waitin'. I was talkin' to it, reminiscing about the gigs, and kissin' the bubble wrap," he said, sounding like a sappy romance novel. "But with the funds I'll be raisin', it'll help others, even give 'em a second chance at life. Why wouldn't you do that?"
In a recent interview, Epiphone demonstrated their ES-355-building skills when they unveiled the Inspired by Gibson Custom model, making it a potential candidate for a Whitey reissue.
Something else about Lifeson's gear arsenal - in our latest chat, he teased some upcoming additions. "On the pedal front, we've got the [Lerxst] By-Tor and the Snowdog. We're workin' on a chorus and probably a delay. I've got some ideas about an amp pedal, y'know, a smaller enclosure, doin' the Lerxst amp thing. So yeah... there's always somethin' cookin' in the gear world. I've always been a gearhead!"
In other news, the esteemed Lifeson opened up about his complex relationship with guitar solos. If you wanna know more, grab the next issue of our website at Magazines Direct!
P.S. - No concrete plans for a Whitey reissue from Epiphone or any other manufacturer yet, but ya never know what the future holds!
[1] Rock's Rolling Stone: Alex Lifeson's "Whitey" Sells for Over £300k at Auction[2] Ultimate Classic Rock: Lifeson's ES-355TD selling at auction, but no reissue plans yet[3] Guitar World: Lifeson's auctioned items: No reissue plans for "Whitey"
- Though Alex Lifeson's iconic '76 Gibson ES-355TD, famously known as "Whitey," sold for £300,000, eager fans might still get an opportunity for a more economical recreation, if Epiphone follows through with their hinted reissue of the ES-335.
- In a recent interview, Epiphone showcased their potential to build a Whitey replica by unveiling the Inspired by Gibson Custom ES-355 model.
- In addition to his Gibson gear, Alex Lifeson mentioned potential new pedal designs, like the [Lerxst] By-Tor and the Snowdog, and an amp pedal, turning his unique amp sound into a smaller enclosure.
- Despite Epiphone's and other manufacturers' lack of concrete plans for reissuing "Whitey," the promise of new gear additions revs up the excitement for music enthusiasts eager to refine their guitar playing techniques in the entertainment realm.
