The Hentor Sportscaster

[@AnubisXII]

Dude. I don't even know what to say. This is just absolutely mind blowing. A guitar you built looks and sounds exactly like the Hentor. I don't really know how much Glens amp contributed to the end sound, but holy crap. That guitar is amazing. Those open notes under the heavy chords sounds exactly like the recording. And I thought Alex did some overdubbing to get that specific sound. And I've never heard the solo played as well as you played it. And on top of building the guitar and playing it flawlessly, you also got Alex and Glen to loan you their stuff. Alex wont even loan me a cup of sugar. You sir, not only totally outdid everyone I friggen know musically, your craftsmanship is phenomenal. And you must be a pretty trustworthy dude for Alex to leave you his one-of-a-kind guitar. Give yourself a high five. You certainly deserve it.

[@adam872]

That and Ty Tabor's Elite Strat are my dream guitars. Love the sound and look of an HSS Strat.

[@timdoog42]

My dream guitar. if I get my settlement .I'm ordering one just like the one in the video .Alex really should go back to the Hentor. Its the sound we all remember from the 80's

[@stratovani]

I wish Alex would go back to his Sportscaster. It's THE definitive Rush sound from the late 70s and early 80s. Awesome guitar, and you sound EXACTLY like Alex!

[@FreddysFrets]

+stratovani Thanks for the comment!

[@FreddysFrets]

It was both the guitar and the amp. The guitar has a natural snarl and liveliness, and the Morris amp has the beautiful grind that just complimented the guitar.

[@astutzmann]

CONGRATS Freddy, it came out fantastic and sounds amazing!

[@fusionexperiment]

wow. the tone and attention to detail...blown away

[@jamie3183]

What an absolutely incredible guitar.

[@billbecker3090]

Nice work on the Hentor. Probably the most accurate I've seen anywhere. I had one made just like yours. It's funny you even got all of the little details right. Like the upside-down jack plate, and one volume knob and tone knob. For pickups I used the Fender Sensor Lace for the middle and neck pickups and a SD pearly gates for the bridge. I will put a video sometime soon! Again, great work and...great playing as well!

[@Johndrakenosix]

Amazing in every way - opportunity, tone and performance! Wow!

[@Marteeenxurl]

Oh man I'd love to have the red one he used in the early distant warning music vid with that sick mirror pickguard! Great playing btw

[@billydreed1]

since fredy no longer offers the hentors, I had my luthier in michigan assemble one for me out of stu mac parts.. by far the best guitar ive ever had.

[@FreddysFrets]

@@billydreed1 Hey Bill! I am making them again FYI. I thought i was done but the demand increased!

[@cjstroked]

@@FreddysFrets when man!?

[@FreddysFrets]

@@cjstroked Right now. Building a batch to be ready to ship in spring.

[@fredklumpp]

@@FreddysFrets Have you ever though about replicating the black hentor porkflapsocaster? Great job BTW.

[@Adrian-ir3mt]

Finally! I've only been trying to find out since 2009. Thank you. Awesome video by the way, and I think it's wicked that you took up this project. The guitar has really good tone.

[@symonf1966]

Well played Mr Frets. Nice guitar. Sounds just right.

[@cjstroked]

Have you ever noticed in the afterimage video his black sportscastor has the humbucker ring on his bill Lawrence pickup which sits on top of the pick guard?

[@robertjohnson1681]

I like to click on this video every now and then because it's so inspirational to watch you bring this fantastic guitar to life... so for that and all the instructional videos... thank you!

[@rgsss14]

Inspiring video, Freddy! Ridiculously great guitar!

[@manthony6594]

Amazing! I hope I can own one of your guitars someday

[@FreddysFrets]

He went through pickup colour changes for the single coils as well as the L500. The current colour scheme is all black as can be seen on Alex's original Hentor in the first minute of the video.

[@IAmInfinitus208]

That is a killer replica!

[@ChrisOpat]

Mine is on the way! Woot!

[@kammhron]

Wow. Awesome playing. A master luthier that plays like that? You are quite blessed. Thanx for the vids.

[@gilsemarbragajunior9359]

What a beauty!!!!!! Nice work!!!! (Rio, Brazil)

[@eighttracklover1]

Hey Freddy, what is the triangular piece of wood around the truss rod bullet on the original Hentor for? Its at 1:58 in the video. Love your work. Pure craftsmanship!

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks for the comment eighttracklover1! The triangular piece of wood is a thin piece of curved maple that was installed to cover up the mess of holes left from the very first locking nut Alex had on there. It was screwed to the peghead just behind the nut and had three cam locks.

[@eighttracklover1]

FreddysFrets Oh I remember those. The Finger-Tite locking nut. I almost installed one on my strat in the 80's.

[@socialdef3]

Wow huh? So I am used to looking everything up on google and youtube and for years researched the Hentor Sportscaster guitars owned by Alex by never did it occur to me to look this up on youtube. Amazing tone!!!

[@fcamiola]

Freddy...is the overdrive on the amp itself or are you using an overdrive effects unit? Love the crunch, power, and definition. Where can we find a price for a Hentor? Cheers. Frank

[@FreddysFrets]

Hi Frank. Yes the drive was all from the amp. Hentor info and pricing here: www.freddysfrets.com/hentor.htm

[@fcamiola]

@@FreddysFrets Great thanks Freddy

[@vikinglord7545]

Was the original neck a 70s big headstock Fender neck? I swear I've seen pics of Alex with the guitar with the big 70s headstock.

[@NameWithheld999]

What is that tool you're using at 3:02? Is that a bunch of hacksaw blades stacked together to form a rasp?

[@FreddysFrets]

It is a Micro-plane rasp. They are made to fit a hacksaw frame.

[@TheAtomicBen]

Great work Fred!

[@TheF86Sabre]

Amazing as usual Freddy!

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks BigEdWo. Glad you enjoy my channel.

[@14Maxmom]

Oh I am. I am using a 1998 Jackson. Alrady got a patch coming, but not going to mass produce, just one.

[@FreddysFrets]

Alex has his flipped upside down. I think he may have done that so that a right angle plug would fit.

[@s.ritter4500]

Phenomenal! NAILED Alex Lifeson 100%!! KILLER PLAYING & GUITAR/AMP! You what other effects or lil reverb & solo?

[@raulromo7930]

what gibson humbucker was in the hentor prior to the bill lawrence?

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Jamie!

[@catdumpling]

always loved that guitar and tone, and i wish i could've afforded one of the replicas! oh well, it's inspired me to finally install a Lawrence (Wilde) L500L and the switching scheme in my Strat. i was playing Jazzmasters a lot over the past two years and i've become accustomed to that switch position, so i think it'll work out great. here's a couple questions (if you don't mind): what pot values are used in the Hentor? i know humbuckers generally have 500k, but it's always a bit up in the air with single coils in the mix. also, you wouldn't happen to know the Switchcraft part number for that switch, would you? Switchcraft's site isn't much help, and i know it's kind of an odd bird to track down in a size that'll fit Strat bodies. otherwise StewMac has their import (i think they're either Gotoh or Panasonic) version of that switch on sale, so i might just grab one of those if i can't get a Switchcraft version. one more Alex question, purely out of curiosity: what's his string action like? i don't know why i've always wondered that, but i figured i'd ask ;). anyway, you do awesome work and i've enjoyed seeing the Hentor replicas! now we just need some build photos on your website ;).

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Symon!

[@afrodylan671]

That was straight up fucking scary how much you playing "Limelight" sounded like the original record

[@michaelwoods9005]

one thing I'm curious about, is the trem on the replica set to float or dive only? I've wondered if you can set to float on a flush mounted floyd without shimming the neck pocket.

[@FreddysFrets]

All of Alex's Floyd equipped guitars have always been set to float. So yes, the Hentor replicas are set to float.

[@michaelwoods9005]

thanks Freddy.

[@14Maxmom]

Well actually, it will be so complicated to insert that I am keeping a 5 way blade, but I will convert the HSS style it is now to SSS style, and I'm getting Lace Sensor gold's to put in it. I have a montage video of all my gear on my channel.

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes, I have had a request to do a black one.

[@guitarslf132]

Even before second note, I recognised the song and adored the tone!!!! >.< OMG OMG OMGOMG!!!

[@willford8475]

Great sound, great guitar.

[@14Maxmom]

By the way if you look at the P/G DVD, the black AND white hentors have white L500L's in the bridge.

[@alexey7459]

This is amazing.. one of the coolest sounding and looking guitars. Perfect replication! I also saw your recent video about the lost replica which is horrible. Hope it turns up. I also had a question, I have a SSS strat. Would a Bill Lawrence L250 stacked humbucker work ok for these Alex Lifeson tones?

[@StickHits]

If it wasn't for the slightly higher volume on the guitar track (and you on video lol) it wouldn't have even crossed my mind that this wasn't the studio track. Amazing work. PS. I must have lost Alex's (we go way back) phone number, if you could PM it to me that would be great ; )

[@FreddysFrets]

glad you like!

[@justinhouston1414]

I've never touched a guitar in my life and I have to have one of these.

[@raulromo7930]

Hi Freddy amazing tone from that Hentor replica, do you know what Gibson hum bucker will be equivalent to the one the Hentors had at some point before they got the Bill Lawrence

[@FreddysFrets]

No plans to do replicas of Great White.

[@peterbishop9771]

And you nailed the solo too! Are you able to put a dual truss rod in the neck and stainless steel frets? If you already answered this somewhere else, sorry for the stupid question.

[@FreddysFrets]

Stainless steel frets are offered as an option. Yes I could do a two way truss rod. Cheers! Freddy

[@alexmurphy5289]

Dream guitar no doubt…maybe one day

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes I know. He switched the cream L500L to black later. I'm offering either colour. BTW, only the white guitar is called the Hentor. The black one had a different name...again Letraset applied by Alex.

[@rushtabconvideo]

Alex’ black strat was called the Pork Flapsocaster. It’s shown here at the Canadian Museum of History. www.historymuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1370155/?fbclid=IwAR0zoRICr2wMPstxkj79FeKYRwWX72AEiQtq_bFDvSOLznxhl3W90hgI3ic

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Wilf!

[@Stratamania]

Just curious which single coil Di Marzios were used for the upgrade? I since found out it was Di Marzio FS1

[@FreddysFrets]

Thank you!

[@michaelwoods9005]

This is cool! What happened to his black Hentor? that's my favorite of his guitars, along with the Howard Roberts fusion. seems like he favored the black one for the majority of sets, at least in the bootlegged concert footage I have seen.

[@FreddysFrets]

Alex donated the black one (AKA Pork Flapsocaster) to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.

[@michaelwoods9005]

That would be neat to see. I actually want to build something like this but black with white pickup covers and knobs (a nod to Gilmour's black strat) I would love to play one of your Hentors. I really admire your playing, BTW!

[@rushtabconvideo]

michael Woods www.historymuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1370155/?fbclid=IwAR0zoRICr2wMPstxkj79FeKYRwWX72AEiQtq_bFDvSOLznxhl3W90hgI3ic

[@pmichaelbutler]

Hey Freddy! Do you suggest the brass sustain block rather than the stock that the original Floyd comes with? I think Alex uses the L shaped sustain block you suggested in the latest version of the Hentor, but did he use that in 84🤔 thanks!

[@FreddysFrets]

no he didn't use that in 84....just the stock block

[@plattanbergman9614]

what kinda bridge are you using is that some kind of floyd?

[@FreddysFrets]

+Plattan Bergman Yes, it's the original Floyd.....no fine tuners.

[@ericwirsing]

Hi Freddy. Is the pickup in the Hentor the Bill Lawrence L500-L? Great job BTW!

[@joeguitargod]

Well, it's obvious who Alex can call upon to fill in for him if he's ever unable to play a show! As good(if not better) than Alex himself. Good Job!

[@quantiquefilms]

Do you still build those?

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks!

[@FreddysFrets]

Cheers!

[@yagoravell7944]

I'm curious about the pickup selector, wich are on in the 3 positions?

[@FreddysFrets]

Switch down is bridge humbucker. Middle position is both single coils, and up is neck single coil.

[@MrLosfuegos]

I love this man !! Awsome work! Theoraticly, would you build a lefty one? Some of these parts must hard to find..

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes, I could build a lefty. The only tricky part would be custom machining a lefty Floyd Rose base plate.

[@DrummingMoose]

FreddysFrets floyds website can supply lefty original tremolos.

[@John-fc9iw]

How does the pickup selection work? Looks like just a 3 way switch on the bottom horn. What pickups does it select in what positions?

[@FreddysFrets]

+Matt Lovett When the toggle is down it is the bridge humbucker. Middle position is both single coils and up is the neck pickup.

[@fcamiola]

My new fav version of Limelight....it's Lerxst on steroids!

[@FreddysFrets]

The Signature guitars Alex had were not that great. I know because I worked on them and I also owned some. I actually gave one away to a kid learning to play. That's how much I thought of them. The one that I kept was a far superior model compared to the Aurora....the Odyssey, which incidentally was built by Larivee. The bolt ons were built by Godin.

[@riffs66]

AWESOMENESS

[@Ptrkwlsh]

Fred I'm going to share this with all my Rush fans on my Facebook this is just to good not to share.

[@darrinhowse2399]

Hey Freddy! Do you remember what cab you used in this video? Would love to know what speakers you used. You have that nasally and snarly tone down pat! Certainly confirms that the guitar is a dead on replica.

[@FreddysFrets]

Hey Darrin, I used an open back 2 X 12 cab I built loaded with a pair of old Celestion G12-65s. Thanks for the comment!

[@darrinhowse2399]

@@FreddysFrets Thanks for the reply! Greenback, creamback or white, if you remember? Happy New Year Freddy!!

[@FreddysFrets]

@@darrinhowse2399 not cream or greens....just the black and white label. Same as G12-65 Heritage re-issue, but these were both from 1983

[@darrinhowse2399]

@@FreddysFrets Awesome, thanks!!

[@steveaustin3524]

I read somewhere alex had a teal strat as well but i cant find any info or pics of it. Do you know anything about it?

[@FreddysFrets]

No I have never seen a teal strat from Alex. But he owns a LOT of guitars.

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes that's the same guitar. He had cream colour pickups at that time.

[@14Maxmom]

Why'd you go with all black pickups when alex used all white pickups in it

[@FreddysFrets]

Max T Because Alex's Hentor has all black pickups now, he had white pickups in the early years. Look at the start of the video where I'm in the recording studio holding Alex's guitar. Nevertheless, if someone wants all white pickups I can do that as well....no problem at all. Cheers!

[@14Maxmom]

FreddysFrets One last question. Would you ever consider building the Red and Black strats Alex modified? I'm sure people would love those two, especially if they were professionally built by you.

[@FreddysFrets]

Max T The only way I would do that would be if I actually had the black one or the red one in hand to be able to properly backwards engineer and then replicate them. I know one of them is on display somewhere at an exhibit so that one's out and frankly I would not want to pester Alex to lend me the other one. He was gracious enough the first time with the Hentor.

[@14Maxmom]

FreddysFrets I thought all three were exactly the same except for the color and names of them.

[@FreddysFrets]

Max T Nope. I've had them all on my bench. All different.

[@HeadfirstHumanity]

Wow, Amazing job! (and great cover of Limelight, by the way) If only I had the money, I would order 10 right now! :D But unfortunately, I'll be getting the cheapest Squier HSS I can find and modding it for now.

[@JacobSchoenle]

Awesome guitar! What is the model of the Morris amp you're using?

[@FreddysFrets]

+Jake Schoenle Thanks Jake! That was a Morris Grinder.

[@2112primagen]

Ok I want it. How do I get it?!?!?!

[@FreddysFrets]

You can just email me directly freddy at freddysfrets dot com

[@timdoog42]

Freddy what size strings did you use on the video. and also I notices no locking nut on that model. Did the real Hentor have a locking nut?

[@FreddysFrets]

I used 10-46 strings. The Hentor replica I play in the video was the version during Moving Pictures when there was no locking nut and Alex had the Floyd Rose bridge with no fine tuners. He later changed to the locking nut and Floyd with fine tuners.

[@timdoog42]

Thanks Freddie. Will be talking to you soon brother.

[@simont4435]

Does it come left-handed?

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes.

[@hunterreid5727]

How are you playing with no string trees?

[@FreddysFrets]

The tuners have staggered post heights.

[@hunterreid5727]

FreddysFrets Thank you

[@beltermedia]

Hi Freddy, great video! This is my dream guitar and I hope one day I will be able to afford one from you! I liked the Hentor in black but I didn't know the black one had a different name. Do you know the name of the black one?

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Sludgey McDoom. The black one had a very obscure name. I can't really find any reference to it online so I believe you might the first person I'm spilling the beans to. Many people mistakenly call it the "Black Hentor". No. It was called the "Porkoblaster".

[@beltermedia]

FreddysFrets Excellent! have you ever made a Porkoblaster decal for any of your Hentor replicas?

[@DrummingMoose]

+FreddysFrets The full name of the black guitar was the "PORKFLAPSOCASTER". I found it on the Canadian Museum of Civilization website. Also the red strat or the signatures never made it to the museum.

[@DrummingMoose]

FreddysFrets any thoughts on recreating the red hentor? that guitar has a special place in my heart, i don't know why.

[@beltermedia]

there's a red hentor??

[@steveexplodes]

Freddy, I don't know if you've already gotten this, but what kind of PAF is the Gibson humbucker? Great work, man!

[@DrummingMoose]

the PAF pickup is a Gibson Classic 57 Humbucker

[@BigEdWo]

your videos are always great. so are your guitars i quess.

[@Taylordude-Productions]

Freddy how long does it take to build this guitar? I'm very interested in purchasing one.

[@FreddysFrets]

Please e-mail me directly. [e-mail]

[@mikemetrusias4324]

You make instruments the old fashion way. Just like me. You're more skilled with hand plane I am. Is that an ash or alder strat? The tone is brilliant. Is there an equalizer in your effects loop? You make a mean guitar, you spray a mean guitar and you play a mean guitar. Bravo sir! I just discovered you today, so pardon my lateness to your group.

[@s.ritter4500]

Also RIP Neil Peart! 😭

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Alfred! Should have made at least one lefty huh? :)

[@lovetogolf4184]

I want it..same one..

[@FreddysFrets]

For purchase inquiries please contact me here: freddy at freddysfrets dot com

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Patrick....share away!

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks Matt. I can build your dream guitar....just let me know what you want!

[@FreddysFrets]

L500L. The one from Bill and Becky...not Bill Lawrence USA!

[@BigDancin]

This is a good video, but it would be nice to see a demo that does not have the original song as a backtrack. I would like to hear what the Hentor sounds like -- not the Hentor plus the original track blended. I lusted after this guitar in the 80s, along with his red one with the mirrored pick-guard! Glad to see it tributed this way.

[@FreddysFrets]

Thanks BigDancin. Just to correct you though. I used a multitrack of Limelight where I was able to mute Alex's original guitar track. The guitar you hear in the video is the replica alone.

[@BigDancin]

Ah, then the Hentor sounds awesome! But then how much doubling did you do? At least some (squeal at 4:47...)? Just curious. The rhythm tracks sound doubled and it seems like two tracks during the "clean" parts.

[@FreddysFrets]

BigDancin Good ear! While I was able to mute the main distortion guitar track, what remained embedded in the multitrack files was the clean, chorused arpeggio guitar under the "living in the limelight, the universal dream" parts. Also, that epic squeal with delay at the end of the guitar solo was Alex's original which was also embeded.

[@BigDancin]

Ah, that makes sense. Congrats on these guitars -- very nice. Wish I had the dough but will have to pine from afar for a while.

[@cmath8577]

I wish this video was of the guitar and amp by itself and not blended in to the original Rush moving pictures recording...please!

[@alexm2623]

If you want to see Alex rocking the Hentor after the mods Freddy did for Alex (new middle/neck pickups, brass block, etc) as well as the modern changes Alex has made (like switching to the double locking Floyd model) just this one out and watch how he makes it wail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4abqaxvgZpsrdk

[@FreddysFrets]

Yes, it's the same guitar.

[@FournierDon]

oh yeah!!

[@Ichijoe2112]

HOLY SH-- （°0°） I was just messin' with ya in the last Vid. Now I bow before you. I'm not worthy I'm not worthy....

[@guitarslf132]

If you like music, and don't like this video... You don't like music! ;) Was it the guitar, amp, or pedal rig that mostly gave that tone?!

[@kirtthomason4620]

one of my life's regrets was not getting in on the initial batch. 10 years of 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@FreddysFrets]

I'm still making them!