Rabea Massaad
Artist Profile & Setup
- Instruments: Electric Guitar (Ernie Ball Music Man Rabea Massaad Artist Series Sabre), Custom Synthesizers, Bass
- Primary Roles: Solo Artist, Producer, Mix Engineer, Content Creator, Signature Gear Collaborator
- Genres: Progressive Rock, Modern Metal, Djent, Ambient Instrumental Rock
- Notable Bands & Projects: VOWER, Toska, Dorje, The Totemist, Frog Leap (Live Band)
Note: Rabea Massaad is a widely influential British-Lebanese guitarist, songwriter, and high-profile industry innovator based in Brighton, UK, renowned for his deep groove-oriented progressive metal playing, massive online presence, and signature gear developments with brands like Neural DSP and Ernie Ball Music Man.
Extensive Biography
Rabea Massaad (born 1988) is a self-taught musician, producer, and one of the most prominent figures in the modern online guitar community. Emerging through his highly popular educational and gear-focused YouTube channel, Massaad quickly bridged the gap between internet content creation and elite musicianship, earning global respect for his soulful touch, signature heavy-yet-ambient riffing style, and mastery of tone engineering.
Massaad built his reputation as a formidable heavy band member through projects like the groove-heavy progressive rock band Toska (releasing acclaimed EPs like *Ode to the Author*), the riff-centric metal band Dorje (alongside Rob Chapman), and as a high-octane touring guitarist for Leo Moracchioli's metal phenomenon Frog Leap. Continuing to expand his sonic footprint, he co-founded the alternative/progressive rock supergroup VOWER (alongside members of Toska and Acoda) and leads ambient/instrumental solo vehicles such as The Totemist.
Beyond his performance output, Massaad is an industry trailblazer in guitar technology and product design. He has collaborated extensively with top-tier audio manufacturers, co-designing signature amplifiers with Victory Amps (such as the Kraken), signature instruments with Ernie Ball Music Man, and working alongside Neural DSP to release his own powerhouse software suite, *Archetype: Rabea*, which notably integrated synth emulation directly into a guitarist's digital rig.
Selected Discography & Releases
Solo Instrumental & Grinding Gears Series
- Grinding Gears (2018)
- Grinding Gears, Vol. 2 (2019)
- Grinding Gears, Vol. 3 (2020)
- Grinding Gears, Vol. 4 (2024)
- Less We Know (EP, 2023)
Selected Collaborative & Band Works
- Toska – Ode to the Author (EP)
- Dorje – Centennial (EP)
- VOWER – Apricity (EP)
- Collaborative Singles & Projects – Featuring joint releases with Plini ("Giving 6") and Jack Gardiner (Gran Turismo Track Select).
My Equipment:
2x Victory VX Kraken MKII
GigRig G3S Switcher
NDSP Quad Cortex Mini
MusicMan Rabea Massaad Sabre
Pedals:
Does it Doom Baghdad & Giza
Buffalo FX Germanium MKI
EHX Micro POG
Maxon OD808
Origin Effects Cali Stacked Compressor
Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact
Strymon Timeline MX
Strymon Mobius
Strymon DIG V2
CHECK OUT MY BAND VOWER: https://linktr.ee/vowerband
VOWER LIVE TICKETS:
https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15541287-vower
Debut EP Apricity: https://tr.ee/ek5AqzO_ou
Our Merch Available Here: https://vowerstore.myshopify.com/
Follow & Stream: https://linktr.ee/vowerband