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

Gibson Super 400CES

The History of the Gibson Super 400CES

By Rod Brakes published

We trace the evolution of these superlative guitars with jazzbox expert and author Dr Thomas A. Van Hoose

Gibson Les Paul Recording

Les Paul Said He Gave Gibson All of His Secrets for This Guitar, but Why Didn’t It Sell?!

By Rod Brakes published

An under-the-radar vintage gem, here’s why Les Paul’s favorite signature model suffered a similar fate to the now uber-collectible ‘Burst

Martin Standard Series 0-18

The History of the Martin 0-18

By Rod Brakes published

Available now in Martin’s Standard Series, the 0-18 remains small in stature but big on tone

Steve Lukather

“I See It as a Bridge Between My Solo Music and Toto Music”: Check out Steve Lukather’s New “Someone” Visualizer From His Forthcoming Album, ‘Bridges’

By Rod Brakes published

Video "Toto will never record another studio album," says Luke

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Photo of Peter GREEN; posed, studio, holding the Gibson Les Paul guitar he sold to Gary Moore

Want to Know the Secret to Peter Green’s Guitar Setups?

By Rod Brakes published

Restoration expert and ‘Famous Frets’ author Steve Clarke reveals this surprise from Bonham’s Peter Green Collection

Yes From left: drummer Jay Schellen, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Billy Sherwood, singer Jon Davison, and keyboardist Geoff Downes

“This Album Is Demonstrative of Us Growing and Building Again”: Watch the New Yes “Circles of Time” Music Video

By Rod Brakes published

Video The band’s latest single is taken from their sensational new studio album, ‘Mirror to the Sky’

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ROTHBURY, MI - JULY 05: Guitarist Dave Shul of Michael Franti and Spearhead performs during the Rothbury Music Festival at the Double JJ Ranch on July 5, 2008 in Rothbury, Michigan.

“I Grew up With Songs. Now, It’s the YouTube, Instagram Age Where You’ve Got All These Bedroom Mozarts”: Listen to Our Compelling ‘No Guitar Is Safe’ Podcast Featuring Dave Shul

By Rod Brakes published

“Could these people actually play with other musicians?” asks the San Francisco funk ace

Jared James Nichols

Watch Jared James Nichols’ Barnstorming “Easy Come, Easy Go” Video

By Rod Brakes published

Video This live performance film accompanies the second single from the guitarist’s new album

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D'Addario XS packet and Taylor acoustic guitar headstock

“They Make a Guitar Sound Musical”: Taylor Guitars Switches to D'Addario Coated XS Phosphor Bronze Strings

By Rod Brakes published

Taylor and D’Addario join forces to create an “enhanced level of premium sound and performance”

Dutch-born American Rock musician Eddie Van Halen (1955 - 2020), of the group Van Halen, performs onstage at the Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, January 18, 1984.

Watch the Epic ‘Van Halen 1984 Documentary’ Miniseries for Free! First Two Episodes Out Today

By Rod Brakes published

Video Don’t miss this essential five-part fan-made rockumentary debuting today on YouTube

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John 5 plays a Fender John 5 Ghost Telecaster

The Fender John 5 Ghost Telecaster Finally Materializes

By Rod Brakes published

This new limited edition model captures the spirit of the Mötley Crüe guitarist

1937 Martin 000-45

The History of Martin 45-Series Acoustic Guitars

By Rod Brakes published

Take a close look at this stunning pre-war 000-45 with CF Martin & Co’s museum and archives specialist, Jason Ahner, as he schools us on the history of Martin’s flagship flat-tops

'Jeff Beck Tribute' EP artwork

Listen to the New ‘Jeff Beck Tribute’ EP

By Rod Brakes published

Featuring previously unreleased material, this three-track collection appears ahead of next week’s Royal Albert Hall tribute concerts

Gretch Double Platinum Collection

Gretsch Celebrates 140th Anniversary With the Double Platinum Collection

By Rod Brakes published

The historic instrument builder’s new line includes six models inspired by classic designs

Joe Bonamassa plays a Gibson ES-355 live

“The Crowds Are Really Digging It”: Watch Joe Bonamassa’s New “I Want to Shout About It” Music Video

By Rod Brakes published

Video JB’s crowd-pleasing version of the Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters “party song” is taken from his new studio album

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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

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