Latest articles by Rod Brakes
In-demand producer Tom Dalgety: “The pedal, amp and guitar are important, but so is the EQ, the preamp and the mic!"
The Royal Blood, Ghost and Pixies producer shares his secrets to killer guitar tones
Adrian Utley: “Playing guitar can be so many things. It’s been my salvation, my way of making a living”
A decade on from Portishead’s last album, we drop in to visit Adrian Utley at his home studio in Bristol to talk about making music in the past, present and future…
Historic hardware: Gretsch Country Gentleman
Chet Atkins is to Gretsch what Les Paul is to Gibson. Their endorsement of electric guitars, let alone their influence on the development of music technology and recording technique, is legendary
Classic gear: Gretsch White Falcon
Most guitar builders have their pièce de résistance. The jewel in Gretsch’s crown came in the form of a guitar called the White Falcon
The playlist: Warpaint's Theresa Wayman
Guitarist and vocalist Theresa Wayman explores her inspiration behind the songs of Warpaint
Classic gear: Gretsch 6129 Silver Jet
The Gretsch 6129 Silver Jet was originally released in 1955 and has its origins in the design of the black top finish Gretsch 6128 Duo-Jet released in mid-1953 (later made famous by George Harrison)
Historic hardware: 1952 Gibson Les Paul Model
Hot on the heels of Fender’s 1950 Broadcaster and Esquire releases, Gibson debuted its own solidbody electric in 1952
Historic hardware: Epiphone Coronet
Raised from the ashes of New York and Philadelphia and born in Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory, we take a close look at one of Epiphone’s first electric solidbody guitars, the Coronet...
Under the microscope: 1937 National ‘Exploding Palm Tree’ Resonator
What was born out of a simple need for more volume has evolved into a highly collectable - and beautiful - piece of guitar history
Hawkwind's Dave Brock: “We do go off at tangents quite often, but the essence to everything is having good melody lines”
With a new album, Into The Woods, landing in the UK’s Top 40, Hawkwind’s mission control and de facto leader, Dave Brock, joins us to discuss his psychedelic past and present
Ethan Johns: “This whole thing about producing - it all came from playing”
From musician, writer and performer to producer, mix engineer and record label owner, Ethan Johns has honed his craft as a guitarist on both sides of the control room glass
Historic hardware: 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Played by few yet revered and coveted by many, this remains the jewel in Gibson’s crown – we get to grips with a beautiful original example of the breed
Roger Mayer: “Jimi and I had synaesthesia - we would see colours in sound”
The UK effects pioneer on collaborating with Hendrix
Under the microscope: 3 mythical PRS Dragons
When we caught wind that a trio of Dragons had been spotted on British soil, we set off to examine these rare PRS beasts whose intricate designs are a spectacle of artistry
The workshop: Stone Deaf FX
In an old industrial spinning mill in the north of England, Luke Hilton and the Stone Deaf team continue the legacy of British manufacturing
EarthQuaker Devices Erupter
EarthQuaker takes the less-is-more approach with a fuzzy revolution in tone
Warpaint talk essential gear, inspirational players and borrowing guitars from John Frusciante
In-depth guitar and bass chat with the LA art-rockers
