Latest articles by Rod Brakes
What you need to know about Gibson 'Dreadnought' Jumbos
We decipher some of the mumbo jumbo surrounding Gibson’s most popular flat-top acoustics
Classic gear: Gibson Trini Lopez Standard
The story of the classic signature model that offered a new twist on Gibson's semi-hollow designs
Kurt Vile: "A guitar or any piece of gear has to look cool – it’s almost equally as important as the sound"
From battered Martins and vintage Gibsons to pre-CBS Fender Jazzmasters we talk to the Philadelphian indie-rocker about all the guitars he’s loved and lost
Gretsch Chet Atkins signature models: everything you need to know
Chet Atkins will always be remembered for his golden-era Gretsch guitars, but can you remember which one’s which?
Gibson Custom Shop's rarest signature Les Paul Standards: Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Billy Gibbons 'Burst replicas examined in-depth
Historic Hardware: we get up close and personal with some of the most coveted guitars to come out of the Custom Shop
Mini-humbuckers: exploring the tonal magic of Seth Lover's 'other PAF' humbucker
Ben Fletcher of Fletcher Pickups goes in deep with a mid-'50s Gibson classic
Gibson Flying V: the futuristic electric guitar that was ahead of its time
Futuristic in both design and success, the Flying V was ahead of its time
Kirk Hammett reflects on Peter Green's legacy: "You could put Oh Well or Green Manalishi up against the first two Sabbath albums"
The custodian of the Greeny Les Paul recounts his recent meeting with Peter to reunite him with the guitar after decades apart
Everything you need to know about Gibson Non-Reverse Firebirds
The 'bird that never quite flew was a radical new angle for '60s Gibson design
The history of Martin's earliest acoustic guitar designs, from the 1800s to the early 1900s
Historic hardware: Martin & Co’s museum and archives specialist Jason Ahner guides us through some pivotal 19th and 20th-century Martins
Classic gear: the enduring legacy of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
From Hendrix to Gilmour, this iconic fuzz pedal has been delivering for decades
Bibi McGill: “Every night before I went on stage with Beyoncé, I meditated until it was just me and the guitar“
The former lead guitarist and musical director for Beyoncé on creativity, playing with Pink, performance tips, and finding her life-shred balance
The history and mythology behind Fender's rare Blackguard Telecasters
Historic Hardware: Tele expert Richard diZerega walks us through the Blackguard era of Esquires, Broadcasters, Nocasters and Telecasters
The rise, fall and rediscovery of the Fender Jaguar
From clean-cut surf to punk, the Jag is an offset with a lot of history. Guitar historian Martin Kelly unpacks its story
Classic gear: Gibson ES-225
The story behind the thinline hollowbodies that helped revolutionize Gibson design
Everything you need to know about Gibson Reverse Firebirds
With eight designs, four models and two body shapes, Gibson’s Firebirds were anything but one and the same...
Classic gear: Epiphone Riviera
The history of Epiphone’s mini-’bucker-loaded thinline, which was the answer to Gibson’s PAF-toting ES-335
Steve Howe: "You can’t search for your own sound. You’ve already got it - it’s there"
The prog icon discusses his diverse career, love of vintage guitars and why Yes sought to decommercialize their music
Classic gear: Maxon Overdrive and Ibanez Tube Screamer
That Pedal Show co-host Mick Taylor, Analog Man’s Mike Piera, and Tube Screamer circuit designer Susumu Tamura on one of the world's most popular and influential overdrive pedals
What you need to know about Fender finishes
From the blonde to Candy Apple Red Metallic, the history of vintage Fender finishes
Classic gear: Fender Reverb
A new sound springs to life and makes a splash in the surf-rock scene - this is the story of Fender's iconic reverb unit
ThorpyFX The Field Marshal review
Adrian Thorpe and Dan Coggins' latest fuzz box will make Lovetone fans stand to attention with Big Cheese-y grins
Johnny A: “I love vintage guitars and amps, but I love new ones, too. The bottom line is: does it sound good?”
We join the mercurial Massachusetts guitar legend to talk gear, playing with the Yardbirds and what the future holds...
