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

Bernie Marsden, guitarist with heavy rock band Whitesnake, playing the guitar on the set of a video shoot at Shepperton Studios, outside London, England, Great Britain, in 1978.

British Blues-Rock Legend and Whitesnake Founding Guitarist Bernie Marsden Dead at 72

By Rod Brakes published

The owner of the Beast Les Paul and “Here I Go Again” co-writer passes away peacefully alongside his family

Kevin Armstrong attends the David Bowie Music Walk of Fame stone unveiling on Camden High Street on September 22, 2022 in London, England.

“Nobody Cares About Your Amazing Technique but You”: These Brutally Honest Tips for Musicians From David Bowie and Iggy Pop Guitarist Kevin Armstrong Are Some of the Best We’ve Ever Heard

By Rod Brakes published

The “best least-known guitarist,” solo artist, producer and songwriter shows us his rig and offers some hard-earned wisdom

Dinosaural Cogmeister

“It’s My Gain Masterpiece”: Pedal Guru Dan Coggins Reveals the Secrets Behind His New Dinosaural Cogmeister

By Rod Brakes published

Is this stompbox set to be another modern classic? The renowned Lovetone and ThorpyFX circuit designer evokes the “sublime” sound of classic rock with this uniquely voiced and highly versatile three-in-one gain pedal

Guild Standard Series F-40, D-40 and D-50 acoustic guitars in sunburst and natural finishes

Guild Revives Vintage Dreadnought and Jumbo Designs With New American-Made Standard Series D-40, D-50 and F-40 Acoustic Guitars

By Rod Brakes published

Built by hand in California, these upmarket flat-tops are made using premium tonewoods and nitrocellulose lacquer

Erja Lyytinen

"Open C Tuning With a Slide Gives It a Whole New Approach": Watch Blues Rocker Erja Lyytinen’s Up-Tempo Live Rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic”

By Rod Brakes published

Video The Finnish guitarist’s latest track appears ahead of new double live album, ‘Diamonds on the Road – Live 2023’

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Jason Isbell's "Red Eye" 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

“He's Got a Guitar Collection That Would Make Any Guitar Nerd Jealous”: Watch Gibson TV’s New Episode of ‘The Collection’ Featuring Jason Isbell

By Rod Brakes published

Video Feast your eyes on this Holy Grail collection of vintage guitars that includes a ’59 Les Paul Standard and ’61 Les Paul SG

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Former lead singer of "The Band," Robbie Robertson, poses in his recording studio during a 1987 Santa Monica, California photo session to promote his self-titled debut solo album.

Bob Dylan and the Band Guitarist Robbie Robertson Passes Away Aged 80

By Rod Brakes published

Best known for his work with Dylan and the Band, the famed soundtrack producer/composer also created a wonderful musical legacy as a solo artist

Van Halen 'The Collection II' and still from Van Halen's "Humans Being" video showing Eddie Van Halen playing a signature EVH elecric guitar

Van Halen's ‘The Collection II’ Box Set Announced. Watch the Newly Remastered “Humans Being” Video Here

By Rod Brakes published

Video The long-awaited sequel to Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era ‘The Collection’ contains four number-one Sammy Hagar era albums and a disc of rarities

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Steve Miller performs live

“First Takes Are Always Better Than Perfect Takes”: Steve Miller Celebrates 50 Years of ‘The Joker’ With Epic New Release, ‘J50: The Evolution of The Joker,’ and Shares This Advice on Creating a Global Smash

By Rod Brakes published

Diving deep into Steve Miller's creative process with previously unreleased tracks and artist commentary, this expansive set is a virtual case study on how to make a hit record

Boss AC-22LX Acoustic Amplifier

Boss Brings Authentic Studio Microphone Sound to Acoustic Amplification for the First Time With Its AC-22LX Acoustic Amplifier

By Rod Brakes published

Boss’s new Air Feel technology breathes life into dry pickup signals

Sunn amps Jimi Hendrix ad

“The World Needs It Back”: Sunn Amps Make Historic Return

By Rod Brakes published

New amps and accessories are due to hit the shelves later this year

Gibson Certified Vintage lineup July 27 2023

Gibson’s Latest Batch of Certified Vintage Guitars Includes Some Total Classics (and One of the Weirdest Guitars Ever Made!)

By Rod Brakes published

A “mint” 1960 Les Paul Standard ‘Burst dubbed Sunny by Kirk Hammett remains unsold

Marshall Studio JTM

“The Amp That Started It All Returns”: Marshall Announces New JTM 45-Inspired Studio JTM Designs

By Rod Brakes published

The historic British firm honors its founder Jim Marshall’s 100th birthday and debut design

Grateful Dead 'Wake of the Flood' album artwork

Grateful Dead Unveil Remastered and Expanded 50th Anniversary Editions of ‘Wake of the Flood’ Featuring Previously Unreleased Material

By Rod Brakes published

Listen to Jerry Garcia’s "Eyes of the World" demo from the Grateful Dead vault here

Guild GSR D-55 70th Anniversary Limited

Guild Announces Top-of-the-Line D-55 70th Anniversary Acoustic Guitar

By Rod Brakes published

This limited-edition flat-top appears as a Guild Special Run overseen by Master Luthier Chuck Sanzone

Brian Setzer

“The Sound Is Monstrous, Dirty and Twangy”: Watch Brian Setzer’s “Girl on the Billboard” Music Video Featuring the Quintessential Rock and Roll Tone of a 1957 Gretsch Jet Fire Bird

By Rod Brakes published

Video This tremolo-drenched single appears ahead of Setzer's new solo album, ‘The Devil Always Collects’

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John Petrucci

John Petrucci Launches New Company, Tonemission, With the 'John Petrucci IR Collection: Vol. 1' Speaker Impulse Responses

By Rod Brakes published

The prog metal master shares tone secrets from his ‘Terminal Velocity,’ ‘A View from the Top of the World’ and ‘Liquid Tension Experiment 3’ records

Tommy Emmanuel playing an acoustic guitar

Watch "The Greatest One-Man Music Show in the World" Tommy Emmanuel And "Genius" Richard Smith’s Insane “Son of a Gun” Acoustic Guitar Duet

By Rod Brakes published

Video This jaw-dropping studio rendition showcases the superlative talent of two of the world’s greatest acoustic pickers

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Boss ME-90 Guitar Multiple Effects

Boss Unveils Its “Most Advanced ME Model to Date” – the ME-90 Guitar Multiple Effects

By Rod Brakes published

This compact, lightweight unit features premium Boss amps and effects derived from the flagship GT-1000 Guitar Effects Processor

Cesar Gueikian plays with Better Than Ezra during day one of the 2022 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival on September 24, 2022 in Franklin, Tennessee.

Slash Called Him the “Most Passionate Gibson Guitar Enthusiast” While Tony Iommi Said He Transformed the Company: Cesar Gueikian Is Appointed President and CEO of Gibson Brands

By Rod Brakes published

Self-confessed “guitar nerd” Cesar Gueikian says he is “honored and humbled to take on the permanent CEO role”

American luthier Wayne Henderson playing a guitar in his workshop, Rugby, Virginia, 20th June 1998. Henderson is a guitarist and specialist maker of custom acoustic guitars.

Eric Clapton, Brad Paisley and Doc Watson Have All Played Wayne Henderson Instruments – Listen to the Master Luthier’s Fascinating Interview Here on Our Latest ‘No Guitar Is Safe’ Podcast

By Rod Brakes published

A highly talented player in his own right, Wayne Henderson reveals how he learned his world-class guitar building craft

Mosrite six-string bass

You May Know the Fender VI, Gibson EB-6 and Danelectro UB-2, But Have You Ever Seen a Mosrite Six-String Bass?

By Rod Brakes published

Dating to 1966, this sparkle-finish rarity could be the only instrument of its kind in the world

Peggy SEEGER; Posed portrait of Peggy Seeger at home in Beckenham

"There Was This Feeling That Women Don’t Play Certain Instruments, Like Guitar and Banjo": Feminist Icon Peggy Seeger Looks Back on Her Pioneering Musical Career

By Rod Brakes published

"I’d love to see a new river of women playing differently and not trying to imitate male bands," says the folk legend

Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd’ movie poster

New Documentary ‘Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd’ Hits Theaters This Month – Watch the Trailer

By Rod Brakes published

Video A must-see for any fan, the film features new interviews with Syd Barrett’s family, friends and lovers, plus Pink Floyd bandmates Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason

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Jeff Beck performs at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California on April 17, 1999.

Watch Jeff Beck Play Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” and Blow TV Host's Mind

By Rod Brakes published

Video The audience is left stunned while the presenter is rendered speechless by this awesome display of guitar-playing talent

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