Back to navigation


Find Your Way with This Ultra-high-performance Les Paul





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





When Alex Lifeson of legendary prog-rock stalwarts Rush envisaged his signature Les Paul, his foremost goal was to design a unique instrument with highly customized features to tackle any stage or studio scenario. The result is a 6-string as idiosyncratic as Lerxst himself: the Epiphone Les Paul Custom Axcess. Right out of the gate, a set of comfortable contours on the mahogany body and a recessed Floyd Rose 1000-series tremolo prove this is no ordinary Les Paul. And while it’s sure to enrapture your audience’s eyes while you’re in the limelight, don’t let the exquisite AAAA quilt maple veneer top fool you ? this Les Paul’s comfortable “Rounded” neck profile, 12-inch radius ebony fingerboard, Grover Rotomatic tuners, and carved neck heel give you a stag-ready feel and effortless playability fit for the working man (or woman!). Whether you’re a certifiable Rush fanatic or you’re simply seeking a do-it-all stage and studio instrument, Sweetwater guitarists agree: the Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess is the epitome of Epiphone excellence.





Related Videos: Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess Electric Guitar - Ruby


Comfortably contoured body and neck heel





The Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess harnesses Alex’s half-century-or-so of touring and recording experience to craft an instrument that’s supremely playable, aesthetically appealing, and exceptionally comfortable all at once. A key component of this formula is the mahogany body’s belly carve ? a feature not often found on the Les Paul’s traditional slab-back body. In addition, this guitar’s neck heel sports a carved contour that allows your hand to slide right past the body joint with ease, making it a breeze to reach all 22 frets. Finally, a AAAA quilt maple veneer, multi-ply body binding, and a charming ruby red stain finish complete the package with stunning visuals to match this guitar’s superlative performance.





Serial 23111529275


Serial 23111529275


2112 tones to choose from





From album to album, song to song, and even bar to bar, Alex Lifeson’s idiosyncratic 6-string style is no stranger to drastic shifts in tone and timbre. The Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess is fine-tuned from the ground up to cover Alex’s entire sonic range in a single instrument, and the key lies in this guitar’s Epiphone humbuckers and an extensive switching system. First, the neck-position Epiphone Ceramic Pro humbucker grants you a clear, cutting, and high-output push perfect for capturing Alex’s clean-and-compressed arpeggios, with ample clarity even with heavy effect layering. Looking for something with a little more bite? The Epiphone ProBucker 3 pickup in the bridge kicks out a snarling, vintage-flavored tone that’s just the thing when it comes time to lay down crunchy and distorted riffage. Lastly, dedicated push-pull coil-splits are available for each humbucker to achieve sharp single-coil-style sounds, and you also get a push-pull phase switch for raunchy out-of-phase attitude.





Expressive Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo





While it’s a distinctive instrument, the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess's biggest departure from the traditional Les Paul formula is its Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo. It’s just the thing to impart your playing with an expressive, personal feel, offering a seriously flexible range pitch, incredible smooth action, and ultra-stable tuning reliability. Moreover, this Floyd Rose’s recessed cavity allows upward and downward trem usage for nearly unlimited pitch-shifting possibilities!





Serial 23111529275


Serial 23111529275


Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Custom Axcess Electric Guitar Features:


Signature 6-string of legendary prog-rock guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush


Contoured mahogany body for enhanced comfort


Gorgeous AAAA quilt maple veneer top is sure to catch the eyes of any audience


Mahogany neck carved into a medium-sized “Rounded” profile to please guitarists of all styles and backgrounds


Elegant ebony fingerboard in a high-performance 12-inch radius


Recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo allows for dives and squeals without sacrificing intonation


Bridge-position Epiphone ProBucker 3 and neck-position Epiphone Ceramic Pro pickups grant you everything from pristine cleans to raunchy distorted riffage


Push-pull pots allow access to per-pickup coil splits and a distinctive phase switch


Rock-solid Grover Rotomatic tuners