The Bench

Diagram of a Stratocaster 5-way switch showing which pickups are active in each of the five positions, with positions 2 and 4 labeled as the quack in-between tones

What Do the 5 Positions on a Strat's Switch Act...

A plain-spoken, bench-tested guide to the Stratocaster 5-way switch: what each position selects, where the "quack" in positions 2 and 4 really comes from (it isn't out-of-phase wiring), and why...

What Do the 5 Positions on a Strat's Switch Act...

A plain-spoken, bench-tested guide to the Stratocaster 5-way switch: what each position selects, where the "quack" in positions 2 and 4 really comes from (it isn't out-of-phase wiring), and why...

Illustration of a Les Paul style pre-wired guitar wiring harness with CTS pots, tone capacitors, and a Switchcraft output jack

Are Pre-Wired Guitar Wiring Harnesses Worth It?...

Pre-wired harnesses promise better tone, but the upgrade is really about component quality and a healthy jack. And 'solderless' is a separate question with a real tradeoff. A straight answer...

Are Pre-Wired Guitar Wiring Harnesses Worth It?...

Pre-wired harnesses promise better tone, but the upgrade is really about component quality and a healthy jack. And 'solderless' is a separate question with a real tradeoff. A straight answer...

Raking-light close-up of a flamed maple Les Paul top, the low angled light revealing the true condition of the finish before buying used

How to Inspect a Used Guitar From Photos Before...

Buying a used guitar online? A bench tech walks through reading the listing photos — the angles to demand, what raking light reveals about the finish, what the frets and...

How to Inspect a Used Guitar From Photos Before...

Buying a used guitar online? A bench tech walks through reading the listing photos — the angles to demand, what raking light reveals about the finish, what the frets and...

PRS SE Custom 24-08 with a figured poplar burl top and bird inlays, illustrating the flashy look PRS is known for

Why Do People Say PRS Guitars Are “Soulless”? A...

PRS guitars get called sterile and soulless. A bench tech breaks down where that reputation really comes from, what's fair about it, and what it gets wrong.

Why Do People Say PRS Guitars Are “Soulless”? A...

PRS guitars get called sterile and soulless. A bench tech breaks down where that reputation really comes from, what's fair about it, and what it gets wrong.

Indonesia-made PRS SE Custom 24 in Blue Fade with a flame maple top and bird inlays, resting on the bench

Are Chinese- and Indonesian-Made Guitars Actual...

Country of origin barely predicts a guitar's quality. A bench tech breaks down where Epiphone, PRS SE, and Squier are actually made in 2026 — and what really decides whether...

Are Chinese- and Indonesian-Made Guitars Actual...

Country of origin barely predicts a guitar's quality. A bench tech breaks down where Epiphone, PRS SE, and Squier are actually made in 2026 — and what really decides whether...

Diagram of an electric guitar's ground path from the strings and bridge through the cable shield and amp chassis to the outlet's ground pin.

Why Does My Guitar Shock Me? Grounding, Zaps, a...

A tingle at the lips or hands is a grounding fault, not a quirk. Here's why your strings are tied to the wall, how the classic mic-and-guitar shock happens, the...

Why Does My Guitar Shock Me? Grounding, Zaps, a...

A tingle at the lips or hands is a grounding fault, not a quirk. Here's why your strings are tied to the wall, how the classic mic-and-guitar shock happens, the...