The Bench

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline in Vintage Cherry

PRS S2 vs. SE: What Are You Actually Paying For?

The S2 is made in the USA; the SE is made in Korea or Indonesia. But the differences run deeper than the country of origin label — here's what actually...

PRS S2 vs. SE: What Are You Actually Paying For?

The S2 is made in the USA; the SE is made in Korea or Indonesia. But the differences run deeper than the country of origin label — here's what actually...

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro in case for inspection

What to Look for When Buying a Used Gibson Les ...

A practical inspection checklist from someone who's evaluated hundreds of used Les Pauls — what to look for, what to walk away from, and what's actually fine.

What to Look for When Buying a Used Gibson Les ...

A practical inspection checklist from someone who's evaluated hundreds of used Les Pauls — what to look for, what to walk away from, and what's actually fine.

Gibson SG Standard T 2017 in Cherry Burst

Gibson SG Standard vs. SG Classic: The Differen...

The SG Classic has P-90s and a 50s neck; the Standard has humbuckers and a 60s neck. Here's why that matters and which one to buy used.

Gibson SG Standard vs. SG Classic: The Differen...

The SG Classic has P-90s and a 50s neck; the Standard has humbuckers and a 60s neck. Here's why that matters and which one to buy used.

1995 Epiphone Casino in Vintage Sunburst showing fully hollow body and P-90 pickups

Epiphone Casino vs. Gibson ES-335: Why They Sou...

Same general shape, wildly different construction. The Casino is fully hollow with P-90s; the 335 is semi-hollow with humbuckers. Here's what that means in practice.

Epiphone Casino vs. Gibson ES-335: Why They Sou...

Same general shape, wildly different construction. The Casino is fully hollow with P-90s; the 335 is semi-hollow with humbuckers. Here's what that means in practice.

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro Exclusive in Ebony in case - Aeonic Frets

Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs. Classic: What's...

The Traditional and Classic Les Pauls share a name but diverge on feel, pickups, and electronics. Here's what actually matters before you buy used.

Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs. Classic: What's...

The Traditional and Classic Les Pauls share a name but diverge on feel, pickups, and electronics. Here's what actually matters before you buy used.

PRS SE Custom 24 in Ruby Red with tightly flamed maple top

What makes a PRS "10-Top" a 10-Top — and is it ...

A bench tech explains PRS's 10-Top maple grade, why it's cosmetic (not tonal), the premium, and why SE/S2 "flame tops" are NOT 10-Tops.

What makes a PRS "10-Top" a 10-Top — and is it ...

A bench tech explains PRS's 10-Top maple grade, why it's cosmetic (not tonal), the premium, and why SE/S2 "flame tops" are NOT 10-Tops.