Is The New Lifeson Worth It? | 2023 Epiphone Alex Lifeson Rush Les Paul Custom Axcess Ruby Review

The Alex Lifeson Epiphone models tend to be really popular! This time, his latest Axcess Custom drew a bit of fire for the substantial price increase from the last Axcess Standard since it technically had fewer tonal features after ditching the piezo system. Today we will discuss whether it is worth it or not!

🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:11 - About Alex Lifeson / Unboxing
0:51 - First Impressions / Features
1:49 - Price / Compared to Previous LP Standard
3:33 - Inside Look / Specs
11:23 - Clean Tones
14:27 - Dirty Tones
16:33 - Final Thoughts
18:17 - What to Watch Next!

🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
0:18 2021 Alex Lifeson Epiphone Les Paul Standard Axcess Viceroy Brown

5:30 1996 Fender MIJ Foto Flame Telecaster

16:53 1993 Gibson Les Paul Custom Plus Dark Wineburst

⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
Camera:
Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

[pjm]

I love the look of this but I’ll keep my viceroy brown one thanks. Especially as the serial number on mine starts 2112😮

[Itsjorgelanzas]

It’s incredible how import guitars are starting to get to that $2k mark. All across the board, fender, Epiphone, schecter, Ltd. I wanna say like 4-5 years ago NO IMPORT GUITAR WAS OVER $1k. That’s incredible, most were like 600-800. So in 4 yrs prices basically DOUBLED. Incredible

[markdalton]

Alex is my hero I have been a rush fan for 45 years and I love his guitars

[cindywiechmann]

I played a real Gibson Axess for a set of Rush at Neil Peart tribute show that his sisters have been arranging at different venues. Basically the Gibson version of this Epiphone. The guitar was absolutely great but the most fun was running everything in stereo and then adding the ghost bridge acoustic sound into the mix! With the acoustic coming out with a stereo chorus blended with a stereo electric out...OH WOW!!! Sure...you need 4 cabs but songs like closer to the heart or limelight...🤩 when you are immersed in the sound of this rig it is hard to go back. And that's the problem with this Epiphone...it's just not the same. It is HALF the guitar that they issued even a few short years ago...there's NO PIEZO SYSTEM IN THE BRIDGE!
so...not sure if it is interesting enough to buy one...I absolutely LOVE the Gibson version but it's WAY too expensive...guess I'll have to build it myself.

[salwoyciesjes]

I got one in lefty and I love mine! As a super fan I’m extremely happy with what I got, esp as my first guitar with a Floyd. I’m willing to bet these didn’t have the piezos because they came lefty. Graph tech doesn’t make their trems lefty (unfortunately for me, a lefty), so they put in a Floyd 1000. That’s what I’m betting

[riffmania]

These will go up in value in the secondary market, 1.3 isn’t much when the last model sells on reverb for close to 2k

[larsfocken]

Glad you are saying that the grain of a veneer also moves in the light. I polished an Epiphone Lazarus and an Epiphone Les Paul '59 in cherry sunburst until they were quite glossy. The grain moves beautifully and they look a thousand times better now. Btw I used the Music Nomad Guitar Polish which smells like banana 😋.

[donaldcampbell]

Alex Lifeson, My hero since 1980, the permanent waves album.

[flapjack]

That's not a scarf joint on the heel end, it's just a simple lap joint. It's there so they can use thinner blanks for the neck. Makes for a lot less waste compared to a single piece neck, too.

[TomSJazzBass]

stinking happy I got one of the previous run. May not have as fancy of a finish. But the piezo is an incredible feature

[ralphhyland]

Thanks for the detailed review.
I got mine after missing out on the 1st version. I am a Fender player for decades and have played other LP's but never owned one.
I do like mine, but the biggest thing that needed attention was the fretwork. The surfaces were not very smooth and most of the ends were not trimmed very well.
After having my local go to repair guy take care of that concern, and stringing it with my choice of strings, a slight set up adjustment, and now I really do like it. For the price of the whole package i'm very glad I bought it. And the case is legit guality too.

[tinystar]

Knowing the previous model had a piezo bridge for acoustic tone variations, I'd just search out one of those instead. Especially since Gibson priced this the same as the previous one on the used market, its basically the same price for less tonal capability. So you still get more for your money buying the used previous iteration. Looks alone isn't enough to warrant a higher price.

[aprilkurtz]

It doesn't seem to be $400 better than the last one, though. It is an undeniably nice looking guitar.

[shawnhuff]

I had a dream about this guitar but it was painted exactly like vanhallen... guitar and slash was playing hot for teacher with G.N.R axl was singing ❤

[jessethedeliveryguy]

I got one as soon as it came out. Love it! Kinda missed out on the last one.

[musicauthority]

Epi. guitars definitely have come along way. hell twenty years ago a person would want to steer clear of Epi. guitars? they have definitely improved to where they in the realm of acceptable guitars. the specs. on this one are a little strange, because if it's supposed to be like a custom it should be double bound. but because of the carves in the body that would be impossible. they have changed the new Floyd Rose tremolos. to where a person doesn't have to cut the ball end of the strings off anymore. and they don't require the tiny blocks to clamp the strings in place. the long screws that are used to tighten the clamping blocks on the strings. are now hollow and a person runs the strings though them. and they come out right at the saddles. no more need for those little blocks that are easy to lose. and no need for any tools to change strings anymore, it's a genius idea. the tremolo on this guitar I'm guessing a licensed by Floyd Rose tremolo. and that's why it doesn't have that change on it.

[jimmyjames]

I love these demos, it's for sure a pretty Alex Lifeson Rush Les Paul Custom Axcess Ruby, sounds great too. But here we go again at a crazy $1850CAD! Kudos for the flush back plates!

[sonijam]

Sounds great, other than the muddy neck pickup. Really liked the middle out-of-phase setting with distortion.

[Kahuna]

Wouldn’t the 150th Anniversary with Gibson pickups a better deal for the same price?

[deathincorporatedfitnesstr]

Meanwhile Alex auctioned off 63 of his guitars 100 percent for charity ...🤘🇨🇦🤘
P.s I bought an epi arctic white Les Paul custom for 600 bucks ten yrs ago ...It actually played better than my real Les Paul
Hated the headstock .but now they want 1200 bucks same guitar but it feels like a toy....LoL best guitar channel ever. Thanks man cheers from Vancouver BC Canada 👍