The Origin Story of the Lerxst Omega MKI
While I was working at Mojotone in August 2012, we received a call from Skully (Geddy Lee’s tech) asking if we could build a clone of a Marshall 50W Silver Jubilee 2554. I helped develop three amplifier models for the Lerxst line of amplifiers for Alex Lifeson of Rush.
Alex was preparing for the Clockwork Angels tour and had used a Marshall Silver Jubilee 2554 in the studio but wanted to take one on tour. Most of the amps he found were either in rough shape and not roadworthy or were priced very high on the used market. So he contacted Mojotone, where I worked at the time, to see if they could build one with some tweaks. I started with a JCM800-style chassis and Heyboer iron, building the amp on a turret board using carbon comp resistors, Mojo Dijon caps (mustard style), and CTS pots. We sent #001 to their rehearsal space. They plugged it in, A/B’d it with a Jubilee they had there, then put the Jubilee back in storage. He loved the amp and asked for a second one to be built as a backup. So a week later, #002 was shipped out to him. These amps were used on the Clockwork Angels and R40 tours for all of the overdrive sounds.
***This is the original posting that was posted on the Lerxstamps.com site years ago. It has since been removed with the re-launch of the Lerxst line in November of 2023. Original posting is still available on Wayback machine.
In 2012, Mojotone was contacted by Geddy Lee’s bass tech, John “Skully” McIntosh. Alex Lifeson was in search of an amp to use on their upcoming Clockwork Angels tour. He had used a Marshall Silver Jubilee in the studio and was having a hard time nding something reliable to use on the road. Skully knew that Mojotone had an arsenal of amp kits and parts at our disposal, and was also aware that Mojotone did contract manufacturing for other amp companies. He asked us to build him something close to a Jubilee and told us he needed it delivered to Canada in one week. We quickly put Mojotone tech Steve Snyder to task building this new amp. Steve put in more than a few long nights and added a few of his own ideas to the classic design. One week later the new “Lerxst Omega” amp was delivered to Alex where the band was rehearsing for the tour that was only two weeks away. We knew the amp sounded good when it left but Alex’s response was much more than we ever expected:
“I am so blown away by the fantastic job you and your colleagues have done creating the Lerxst amp for me. We pulled the Marshall last night after A/B-ing the two. The tonal character is quite similar but the response of the Lerxst has greater immediacy, sustain and grip. It sounds so good!”
Alex Lifeson Lead Guitarist, Rush Alex immediately commissioned us to build a second amp to use in his backup rig on the road. Lerxst #002 was
delivered the day of their first show in Manchester, New Hampshire.