Amps used by Rush on 'A Farewell To Kings' and 'Hemispheres'?

[MikeyG]

What amps was Lifeson using on these CDs??? I was listening to them tonight. I'd guess Hiwatt, with that super crunchy top end. But I didn't think they had that much gain.

Circumstances, in particular, is just a smokin rhythm tone! Whatever amp produces that tone, I want it!

 

[erksin]

I think he used HiWatts with an MXR Distortion + for extra gain. Those two albums have some of my favorite Alex tones on them for sure - especially AFTK...

 

[MikeyG]

That's kinda what I was thinking too, Hiwatt plus a pedal.

I'm gonna hit Google and see if I can confirm it ....

 

[wolfpack]

I saw the Hemispheres tour & there was a wall of Hiwatts behind Alex.
I'm sure there was a Marshall used somewhere as well on the recordings.

 

[Moods]

Definitely Hiwatts.

<M

 

[MikeyG]

I started this tread on H-C as well, and there seems to be some debate about a Farewell to Kings ... lots say that was a Marshall on the record. The tone is somewhat different than Hemispheres, but it still has that characteristic top end crunch. Funny thing is, on certain parts of certain songs, I hear that Marshall midrange going on ...

Anyway, a Hiwatt was something that has been percolating for a while. I think I'm going to start a separate thread on which Hiwatt model/era to buy.

 

[sdgvintage]

Not that it makes any difference to 15 or 20 years ago, I would guess now he must be getting some sort of endorsement from hughes and ketner as there were huge stacks behind him in the rush in rio DVD. As a side note that video really annoyed me when he played an electric with an acoustic simulator on Trees and Closer to the heart.

 

[msymank]

I was under the impression that he was playing through marshall combos at some point. I know because I have one. its a 4140. 100 watt 2/12 club and country. LEgend has it that Marshall wanted a clean country channel and the traditional marshall channel. It was the same that SRV used before he found the dumble.
I love mine, I just wish is wasn't so heavy, and the lead channel breaksup in at 2 or three.

 

[CitizenCain]

I thought Farewell to Kings was G-K transistor amps?

 

[MickRonson]

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance

Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise

The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can’t we find
The minds that made us strong
Can’t we learn
To feel what’s right and wrong

Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
Can’t we raise our eyes
And make a start
Can’t we find the minds
To lead us closer to the heart

 

[cvansickle]

Originally posted by CitizenCain
I thought Farewell to Kings was G-K transistor amps?

Nope, not until the 80s, when ALD set in!

 

[MuseCafeChris]

Originally posted by cvansickle
Nope, not until the 80s, when ALD set in!

LOL!

http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/dinothinking.shtml#ALDisease

 

[MikeyG]

Jesus that's funny .... glad someone cleared up ALD.

 

[sysexguy]

afaik, there's a special head that doesn't get photographed....especially when there is an endorsement for a competitor.

Andy

 

[MikeyG]

I'd be really surprised if as many artists actually do this type of thing, as opposed to how many unfounded allegations are waged against them ....

Seems everybody and their brother is endorsing X, but secretly playing Y, if you believe the Internet ....

 

[Baba]

I'm not sure about FWTK, but I don't think those Marshalls came into play until Permanent Waves or Pictures, and the GK stuff didn't come in until Power Windows.

 

[LHanson]

Originally posted by sdgvintage
Not that it makes any difference to 15 or 20 years ago, I would guess now he must be getting some sort of endorsement from hughes and ketner as there were huge stacks behind him in the rush in rio DVD. As a side note that video really annoyed me when he played an electric with an acoustic simulator on Trees and Closer to the heart.

Wasn't a simulator, AFAIK it was piezo bridges. Few years ago in Houston, his tech got the outputs mixed up and had the mags going thru the board and the piezo going through Marshalls......

 

[Funky Chicken]

I believe AFTK was Marshalls, and on Hemispheres the Hiwatts started to mix in. There are also some direct tracks mixed in for clarity on both records. Al also used an MXR Micro Amp to hit the front end a bit harder. The Marshall Combos (jokingly referred to as "the Marshall Combos") and GK transistor vileness came later.
The tones on those 2 albums are benchmarks for me-really gainy but lots of note definition too.
FWIW-The Hughes and Kettner stuff sounded ridiculously good on the last 2 Rush tours. I have seen Rush 40 times since the Permanent Waves tour and the guitars never sounded better. Alex never really chased high profile endorsement deals (Dean Markley amps/Signature Guitars, anyone???) so I was surprised to see him in H&K ads before the Vapor Trails tour. He stuck with the same rig for 2 tours, so it must have worked for him.

 

[Strat Les]

If I remember correctly, Alex Lifeson in his 1980(?) Guitar Player interview said that " A Farewell to Kings" was recorded with and H/H solid state amp.

 

[thesedaze]

A FAREWELL TO KINGS
ES-335
a new Gibson ES-355 in cream, rewired to mono.
white Gibson EDS-1275 doubleneck
Gibson J-55 jumbo-body acoustic
Ramirez classical
Epiphone C-60 classical
Black '77 Fender Stratocaster (the wild guitar solo on "A Farewell to Kings" was this guitar)
custom-built Pyramid solid body(which wouldn't actually be recorded until Permanent Waves)
Amps were H/H 100w heads driving Marshall 4x12 bottoms
A Roland JC-120 amp was also used on "Madrigal"

HEMISPHERES
Recorded were the 355, the 345, and a Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer,
the Gibson Dove , the Gibson B-45, and the Ramirez classical
Amps were now Hiwatt 100w heads w/ matching 4x12" cabinets
Alex also made his debut on Moog Taurus pedals.