Alex Lifeson's influence on progressive rock and music as a whole is truly undeniable. His adventurous playing and songwriting skills have cemented him as one of the most respected guitarists in history. One of the most iconic instruments associated with him is his 1976 Gibson ES-355, and for 2026, Epiphone are proud to reissue this legendary guitar.

This model is part of Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson Custom collection, so it really is a premium instrument. It draws on decades of Gibson craftsmanship and traditional build techniques to capture the look, feel, and character of the original guitar to an incredibly high standard.

This signature ES-355 features a 5-ply semi-hollow body crafted from layered maple and poplar. It also features a solid maple centre block, which helps to improve sustain and reduce unwanted feedback at higher volumes. The Alpine White gloss finish looks just like Alex's original instrument, the colour has been matched perfectly. The body also features multi-ply binding on both the top and back. Its these small details that really help this guitar stand out and allow it to hold its own alongside its Gibson counterparts.

The glued-in set neck is crafted from 3-piece maple, matching Alexs original 1976-spec ES-355. It also features a headstock volute, which is another detail commonly seen on guitars from this era. Thanks to the Slim C neck profile, this guitar feels extremely comfortable and easy to navigate, which is ideal for tackling those more intricate Rush parts! The ebony fingerboard is dark in colour and features a 24.75 scale length, 22 medium jumbo frets, a 12 radius, a Graph Tech nut, and mother-of-pearl large block inlays. The neck also features a Gibson-style open book headstock, with both the Epiphone logo and Custom split diamond inlaid in mother-of-pearl.

With a pair of Gibson T-Type pickups, you can easily dial in Alex's signature tone. These pickups are wired to individual volume and tone controls using high quality CTS pots and Mallory capacitors. You also have a mono Varitone switch, which gives you access to even more tonal possibilities. The included mini toggle switch allows for the Varitone circuit to be engaged or bypassed.

Other key features of this model include gold hardware across the whole guitar, a harmonica style tune-o-matic bridge, a maestro vibrola tremolo system, and die cast tuners. The guitar ships in a custom hardshell case featuring a black exterior with a reproduction of Alex Lifeson's signature, a plush red interior, and gold hardware.