Tone library / Rush / Red Sector A

Red Sector A amp settings — Fender GTX50

The Rush guitar tone for “Red Sector A”, dialed in for a Fender GTX50 with a Epiphone IGC 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue. Studio version, Grace Under Pressure (1984) — main rhythm and chord stab tone

Original rig

Modified Fender Stratocaster (Bill Lawrence L-500) into Marshall JCM800 combo / Gallien-Krueger solid state, Boss CE-1 chorus, Roland SDE-3000 / Korg SDD-3000 digital delay

Cold, bright, articulate 80s chorus-drenched British crunch with tight bass
Amp settings — Fender GTX50
CHANNEL'80s British (Marshall JCM800 model) + 4x12 GB CabBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 5 BASS 4 MID 6 TREBLE 7 REVERB 2 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain5
Bass4
Mid6
Treble7
Reverb2
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Stereo Chorus (GTX onboard Mod block)

Post-amp / FX chain

Rate 3 · Depth 7 · Mix 6

02Digital Delay (GTX onboard Delay block)

Post-amp / FX chain, approx 330ms

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Mix 3
Why these settings

Lifeson used bright, low-wind single coils and hot Lawrence pickups into a cutting 80s British rig; on your warmer Les Paul humbuckers, drop the amp bass to 4 and push treble to 7 to retain the angular chime. Use the GTX50's onboard '80s British amp model at moderate gain rather than heavy saturation so the chorus and delay textures stay pristine. Solo switch: dig in hard with the guitar volume wide open and rely on the onboard digital delay repeats for sustain.

PRO TIPPick right next to the bridge saddles with a stiff, pointed plectrum to get the metallic, razor-sharp attack characteristic of Lifeson's 1984 rhythm stabs.

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These settings are for a Fender GTX50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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