The Bench

Gibson Les Paul body showing two humbuckers, four control knobs, and the three-way toggle switch

Why Does My Les Paul (or SG) Lose Volume in the...

On almost every two-humbucker Gibson, the middle position is normally a bit quieter and darker, and rolling one volume to zero mutes the whole guitar. Here's why that's not a...

Why Does My Les Paul (or SG) Lose Volume in the...

On almost every two-humbucker Gibson, the middle position is normally a bit quieter and darker, and rolling one volume to zero mutes the whole guitar. Here's why that's not a...

Used Epiphone Les Paul in worn wine red, a mid-tier electric guitar that makes a strong first guitar for a beginner

Should a Beginner Buy an Expensive Guitar?

No — but the real mistake isn't overspending, it's buying the cheapest guitar on the wall. A bench tech's honest take on how much a beginner should actually spend, the...

Should a Beginner Buy an Expensive Guitar?

No — but the real mistake isn't overspending, it's buying the cheapest guitar on the wall. A bench tech's honest take on how much a beginner should actually spend, the...

Green lights vs red flags: why a used guitar is priced below market

Why Is This Used Guitar So Cheap? When a Below-...

A below-market price on a used guitar isn't automatically a deal or a scam — it's a question. A bench tech breaks down the honest reasons guitars sell cheap, the...

Why Is This Used Guitar So Cheap? When a Below-...

A below-market price on a used guitar isn't automatically a deal or a scam — it's a question. A bench tech breaks down the honest reasons guitars sell cheap, the...

Diagram showing how to measure guitar action at the 12th fret, from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string

How to Measure Your Guitar's Action — and What ...

There's no single correct action number, but there is a correct way to measure it. Here's how I read string height at the 12th fret on the bench, the Gibson...

How to Measure Your Guitar's Action — and What ...

There's no single correct action number, but there is a correct way to measure it. Here's how I read string height at the 12th fret on the bench, the Gibson...

Labeled cross-section diagram of a guitar pickup showing which parts actually wear out over time

Do Guitar Pickups Wear Out or Lose Their Magnet...

Do guitar pickups wear out or lose their magnetism? A bench tech breaks down what actually fails on a used guitar - corroded pole pieces and broken solder joints -...

Do Guitar Pickups Wear Out or Lose Their Magnet...

Do guitar pickups wear out or lose their magnetism? A bench tech breaks down what actually fails on a used guitar - corroded pole pieces and broken solder joints -...

Diagram comparing Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul specs: scale length, pickups, bridge, neck joint, body wood, and weight

Stratocaster vs. Les Paul: Which Should You Act...

A bench tech's honest breakdown of Strat vs. Les Paul: scale length and feel, single-coils vs. humbuckers, weight, the bridge question, and the used-buying red flags that matter for each.

Stratocaster vs. Les Paul: Which Should You Act...

A bench tech's honest breakdown of Strat vs. Les Paul: scale length and feel, single-coils vs. humbuckers, weight, the bridge question, and the used-buying red flags that matter for each.