No, Lifeson is playing a modded Les Paul in that photo. The last of 11 times I saw Rush (summer '08) he played 9 different Les Pauls in the course of the evening. And I know Les Pauls. I own 5 myself at the present (besides a few SGs, a Hamer and several basses). I recorded & toured for more than 30 years till I semi-retired from music 4 years ago. His multi-tracking techniques are industry standard. And of course the iconic instrument that bears his name will live on.
However, he did NOT invent the electric guitar (that distinction belongs to Adolf Rickenbacker), he perfected and mainstreamed it. And Leo Fender also has some claim to that achievement.
But Les was truly one of a kind. My wife and I saw him in NYC several times over the last 20 years and found him to be one of the warmest folks we've ever met.
If you're into the screeching metal and distorted dirges that account for a lot of current music, Les Paul wouldn't be your cup of tea. But if you want to hear what a master of the instrument truly sounded like, do a search for "Les Paul & Mary Ford," or "Chester & Lester," or
anything he recorded as a solo artist.
Sadly a man that can
honestly say he shaped the course of modern music for the last 60 years gets barely a mention in the news, but Michael Jackson (talented though he was) still gets the headlines every single day.
Les will be sorely missed by those in the music business and those old enough to remember his hits. Farewell old friend...