The Bench

Diagram of a guitar fretboard showing the high E string drifting toward the treble edge because the bridge string spacing is wider than the nut spacing

Why Does My High E String Slip Off the Edge of ...

The high E slipping off the fretboard edge is almost always a shifted neck, a nut/bridge spacing mismatch, or over-filed fret ends. Here's how a bench tech figures out which...

Why Does My High E String Slip Off the Edge of ...

The high E slipping off the fretboard edge is almost always a shifted neck, a nut/bridge spacing mismatch, or over-filed fret ends. Here's how a bench tech figures out which...

Diagram of a guitar hanging by its headstock comparing string tension around 100 pounds bowing the neck against the guitar's own 7 to 9 pound weight pulling straight down the neck

Is It Bad to Hang a Guitar by the Headstock?

The short answer is no. Hanging a guitar by its headstock won't warp the neck — the strings already put far more load on it. A bench tech explains the...

Is It Bad to Hang a Guitar by the Headstock?

The short answer is no. Hanging a guitar by its headstock won't warp the neck — the strings already put far more load on it. A bench tech explains the...

Diagram of a passive guitar tone control showing the pickup, volume pot, output, and the tone pot with capacitor bleeding treble to ground

Do Tone Capacitor Upgrades Actually Change Your...

The value of your tone cap changes your sound; the brand mostly doesn't. A bench tech breaks down orange drop vs paper-in-oil, what a .022 vs .047 swap really does,...

Do Tone Capacitor Upgrades Actually Change Your...

The value of your tone cap changes your sound; the brand mostly doesn't. A bench tech breaks down orange drop vs paper-in-oil, what a .022 vs .047 swap really does,...

Diagram showing where Fender put the serial number by era: headstock decal from 1976 to present, metal neck plate from 1954 to 1976, and bridge plate from 1950 to 1954

How to Date a Used Fender by the Serial Number ...

The serial number gets you into the right decade; the neck date gets you within a month. Here's how a bench tech actually dates a used Fender - where the...

How to Date a Used Fender by the Serial Number ...

The serial number gets you into the right decade; the neck date gets you within a month. Here's how a bench tech actually dates a used Fender - where the...

Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster signature model in White Blonde on a used-guitar shop bench

Are Signature Model Guitars Worth Buying Used?

Signature guitars split into two camps: real spec upgrades and a famous name on a standard model. A bench tech breaks down which is which, why they rarely hold value...

Are Signature Model Guitars Worth Buying Used?

Signature guitars split into two camps: real spec upgrades and a famous name on a standard model. A bench tech breaks down which is which, why they rarely hold value...

Illustration: a five-minute checklist for inspecting a used guitar at a guitar show, covering neck, frets, headstock, controls, bridge height, and questions to ask the seller.

What to Look For at a Guitar Show: A Bench Tech...

A guitar tech's honest, as-is checklist for buying used at a guitar show: how to spot repairs, judge frets and neck angle, test electronics in a loud room, and settle...

What to Look For at a Guitar Show: A Bench Tech...

A guitar tech's honest, as-is checklist for buying used at a guitar show: how to spot repairs, judge frets and neck angle, test electronics in a loud room, and settle...