Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.

Latest articles by Rod Brakes

1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard 'Sunny'

Gibson Offers “Mint” 1960 Les Paul Standard Dubbed ‘Sunny’ By Kirk Hammett

By Rod Brakes published

“It’s like the sun cutting through clouds on an overcast day,” says the Metallica guitarist

Sister Rosetta Tharpe performs on stage at Hammersmith Odeon, London, 1967. She is playing a Gibson Barney Kessel Regular.

Rarely Played by the Artist Himself, the Gibson Barney Kessel Regular Was More Famously Spotted in the Hands of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and T-Bone Walker

By Rod Brakes published

In the early ‘60s, Gibson entered a new era of signature models with the giants of jazz guitar

Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994), performs with his group Nirvana at a taping of the television program 'MTV Unplugged,' New York, New York, Novemeber 18, 1993.

The History of Martin 18-Series Acoustic Guitars

By Rod Brakes published

From mid-19th-century parlors to MTV, we retrace the history of Martin’s all-American 18-series flat-tops with CF Martin & Co’s museum and archives specialist, Jason Ahner

Steve Howe performs live on stage with progressive rock group Yes at the Rainbow Theatre in London, 14th January 1972.

Watch Steve Howe’s Jaw-Dropping “Clap” Instrumental Solo Performance

By Rod Brakes published

Video The legendary Yes guitarist gives an energized live rendition of his timeless acoustic guitar number in this classic clip

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'Mark I' Mesa/Boogie

“It’s an Amazing Piece of Kit”: Vintage Amp Restorer Fabio Cutolo Details the Resurrection of a ‘Mark I’ Mesa/Boogie

By Rod Brakes published

Get an in-depth look at this rare giant killer from the 1970s

The first L-5CES guitars were shipped in late 1951 with dual P-90s. Each pickup of the L-5CES features independent volume and tone controls in addition to a three-way selector switch

The History of the Gibson L-5

By Rod Brakes published

As the L-5 celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, we take a look back at the evolution of Gibson’s seminal f-hole jazzbox with archtop historian Thomas Van Hoose and examine how this watershed design set benchmarks in guitar building

Fender Jazzmasters

The History of the Fender Jazzmaster

By Rod Brakes published

With the Jazzmaster’s underdog image rapidly fading into the past, we take a step back in time with Fender historian Terry Foster, and catch up with Mike Long, proprietor of vintage specialists ATB Guitars in Cheltenham, U.K., to touch on its future

Furch Guitars

This Behind-the-Scenes Mini Documentary Reveals Why Furch Acoustics Have Been Causing Such a Stir in the Guitar World

By Rod Brakes published

Video The Czech Republic acoustic builder is now a favorite of Al Di Meola and Suzanne Vega

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Jeff Healey perform in Switzerland in 1997.

New Jeff Healey Film ‘See the Light’ In the Pipeline – Watch the Trailer Here

By Rod Brakes published

The Estate of Jeff Healey announces the “first official feature length documentary” on the Canadian music icon

Gibson Certified Vintage

Vintage, Rare, NOS and Prototype: Mark Agnesi Introduces More Stunning Gibson Certified Vintage Guitars

By Rod Brakes published

The second batch from Gibson’s groundbreaking program comprises a quintet of vintage beauties from across the decades

Taylor Builder's Edition 814ce

Taylor Adds High-End 814ce to Esteemed Builder’s Edition Collection

By Rod Brakes published

New for 2023, this flagship Grand Auditorium sports sleek body contours, an Adirondack spruce top and upgraded aesthetics

1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris 1996

The Iconic Rickenbacker 325 Has a Story Like No Other Electric Guitar

By Rod Brakes published

Favored by John Lennon, this short-scale model was the first in Rickenbacker’s defining Capri range

Randy Bachman with a selection of guitars from the ‘Randy Bachman: Every Guitar Tells a Story’ exhibition

“The Guitar Is the Most Personal Instrument of Them All”: Randy Bachman Teams With National Music Centre for Epic Guitar Exhibition at Calgary’s Studio Bell

By Rod Brakes published

The ‘Randy Bachman: Every Guitar Tells a Story’ display features over 80 of the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive founder’s treasured axes

MONTE URANO, ITALY - 2022/08/12: Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel performs live during a concert at Bambu Festival.

"I'm so Honored to Be on This Track With These Legends": Watch Acoustic Virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel Cover “Cajun Girl” With Little Feat

By Rod Brakes published

Video The Australian guitarist’s new single appears ahead of his highly anticipated collaborative album, ‘Accomplice Two’

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Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V

Gibson Launches the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V

By Rod Brakes published

This limited-edition model is the Custom Shop's latest recreation of the Metallica guitarist’s famous Gibson axe

A pair of Fender Telecasters side-by-side

Best Telecasters 2024: Top-Rated Fender Teles for All Players

By Rod Brakes published

Shopping around for a Fender Telecaster? Here’s a list of our top choice Teles from Fender and Squier

Paul Gilbert

“Before I Ever Played Guitar, I Really Wanted to Be a Singer”: Paul Gilbert Makes His Guitar Sing On New Release, ‘The Dio Album’

By Rod Brakes published

The virtuoso’s instrumental LP imitates Ronnie James Dio’s vocals on guitar with stunning accuracy

Martin Dreadnoughts 2023

Martin Unveils New Look Dreadnought Models Ahead of NAMM 2023

By Rod Brakes published

The historic firm’s latest designs include two Authentic Series Aged instruments, plus satin finish models in the Standard Series (including a pair of new StreetLegend relic instruments!)

Jeff Beck in the Mojave Desert

“He’s the Best Guitar-Playing Mechanic You’ll Ever Hear”: Roger Mayer Looks Back On Jeff Beck’s Formative Years in the Surrey Delta

By Rod Brakes published

From leafy England to the streets of New York and back, the gear innovator shares some heart-warming stories about his unique relationship with the late guitar hero

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van Halen Unveils Mammoth WVH's “Another Celebration at the End of the World” Music Video

By Rod Brakes published

Video This “high-energy rocker” appears ahead of the band’s new album, ‘Mammoth II’

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Positive Grid Spark GO

Positive Grid’s New Spark GO is No Ordinary Guitar and Bass Amp

By Rod Brakes published

Packed with amazing features, this pocket-sized rig is available at a special pre-order price with over 25% off

Mojo Hand FX GRRRocker overdrive pedal

Mojo Hand FX Partners With Non-Profit Program Girls Rock! Grand Rapids (GR!GR) on Limited Edition Stompbox, the GRRRocker Overdrive

By Rod Brakes published

A nod to the Riot Grrrl movement, this unique effects pedal has a special sound and story

Dunlop Crybaby 95Q and Fender Stratocaster signed by Steve Vai, Tosin Abasi, Nuno Bettencourt, Yngwie Malmsteen and Zakk Wylde.

Steve Vai’s Practice Rig for Sale on Reverb

By Rod Brakes published

This rare collection includes an Ibanez JEM7V-WH and a Fender Stratocaster signed by Steve Vai, Tosin Abasi, Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, and Yngwie Malmsteen

Malina Moye“F.I.N.E (F*ck’d up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotionally Unstable)” single artwork

Watch Malina Moye’s Fuzzed up Music Video, “F.I.N.E (F*ck’d up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotionally Unstable)”

By Rod Brakes published

Video "I wanted to play a song that reflected the emotional roller coaster ride that is America," says the guitarist

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Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton’s Top Ten Tips for Guitarists

By Rod Brakes published

With their debut collaborative album, ‘Death Wish Blues,’ ready to drop, the powerhouse duo shares some priceless pointers for fellow guitarists

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