Riff Tone
La Villa Strangiato (Remastered 2013)
Rush
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-355
AmpHiwatt 100w head with 4x12 cabinet
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock on ES-355, likely T-Top humbuckers)
Amp Settings
gain5
bass6.5
mid7
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Roland Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
flangerElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix
eqMaestro Maestro Parametric Filter
Notes
Studio recording, 1978 (Hemispheres sessions, used for riff section of 'La Villa Strangiato'). Multiple sources confirm ES-355 and Hiwatt as primary rig for this part. Effects include chorus and flanger pedals. No evidence of live/tour gear or later signature amps for this recording.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly metallictight and percussiveclear note separationmodulated (chorus/flanger) shimmersemi-hollow warmthcrunchy but not high-gainprocessed, slightly detuned feeldynamic and responsiveclassic prog rock clarity
Difficulty
The riff section of 'La Villa Strangiato' is extremely technical, requiring fast alternate picking, complex chord voicings, and tight rhythmic precision in odd meters, making it one of the most challenging pieces in rock guitar repertoire.
Sources
Alex Lifeson's 'La Villa Strangiato' Guitar Settings/FX?Rush – A Farewell To Kings - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard“He’d start, ‘You’ll never guess what I dreamed last night…’ and the groaning would begin”: How Rush marshalled Alex Lifeson’s dreams to write a bona-fide prog-rock classic | MusicRadar
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-355
AmpHiwatt 100w head with 4x12 cabinet
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock on ES-355, likely T-Top humbuckers)
Amp Settings
gain5
bass6.5
mid7
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Roland Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
flangerElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix
eqMaestro Maestro Parametric Filter
Sources
Alex Lifeson's 'La Villa Strangiato' Guitar Settings/FX?Rush – A Farewell To Kings - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard“He’d start, ‘You’ll never guess what I dreamed last night…’ and the groaning would begin”: How Rush marshalled Alex Lifeson’s dreams to write a bona-fide prog-rock classic | MusicRadar
Notes
Studio recording, 1978 (Hemispheres sessions, used for riff section of 'La Villa Strangiato'). Multiple sources confirm ES-355 and Hiwatt as primary rig for this part. Effects include chorus and flanger pedals. No evidence of live/tour gear or later signature amps for this recording.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly metallictight and percussiveclear note separationmodulated (chorus/flanger) shimmersemi-hollow warmthcrunchy but not high-gainprocessed, slightly detuned feeldynamic and responsiveclassic prog rock clarity
Difficulty
The riff section of 'La Villa Strangiato' is extremely technical, requiring fast alternate picking, complex chord voicings, and tight rhythmic precision in odd meters, making it one of the most challenging pieces in rock guitar repertoire.
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