https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/top-wrapping-vs-raising-the-stopbar 2026-07-02T11:50:18-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d59aa147-f901-4324-98f7-47638cfdc41f_e4ab0dfa-241c-4d07-a47d-5f6d1cf036b1.jpg?v=1783007418 Top-Wrapping vs. Raising the Stopbar: Real Tone Change, or Just Feel? Close-up of a Tune-o-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a Gibson Les Paul Standard, strings breaking over the saddles toward the stopbar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-10-top-worth-the-premium 2026-07-02T11:50:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fdaohrwbt1pgclvozz3t_c5162941-2416-43e2-9202-e7209caab4b4.jpg?v=1783007438 What makes a PRS "10-Top" a 10-Top — and is it worth the premium? PRS SE Custom 24 in Ruby Red with tightly flamed maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-classic-vs-standard 2026-07-02T11:50:30-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/919b4384-6445-4af6-99c0-6211b4053cba_ac8850cb-5736-40d8-820d-13d67f04bcb6.jpg?v=1783007430 Gibson Les Paul Classic vs Standard: which one is actually for you? Gibson Les Paul Classic 1997 in Honey Burst with plain top and black humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/50s-vs-60s-neck-profile 2026-07-02T11:50:46-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ndiwxzt7g5ao9fxvvt3j_a7a0c1b6-c0a5-4a22-b26c-e7db02eb1d1e.jpg?v=1783007446 '50s vs '60s Neck Profile: How to Tell Which One Your Hands Want Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s Gold Top front view, a guitar with the fuller rounded '50s neck profile https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-traditional-vs-classic 2026-07-02T11:50:10-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/62830048-3fd6-46b0-ae0f-1e7cf5d61ebe_35abc9aa-4368-4cd1-895e-d0d435e6ceb6.jpg?v=1783007410 Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs. Classic: What's Actually Different? Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro Exclusive in Ebony in case - Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-studio-vs-standard-used 2026-07-02T11:49:25-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/555d530e-5d65-47a0-a006-7eadb241a994_c0018890-3076-45de-8e79-7e056da2ab0a.jpg?v=1783007365 Gibson Les Paul Studio vs. Standard: Is the Studio Really That Much of a Compromise? Gibson Les Paul Studio Session in Translucent Ebony Burst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-s2-vs-se-whats-the-difference 2026-07-02T11:49:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4e66c988-166e-48e3-a8ec-cce03743e9bb_463fbc33-0ba2-4733-b3ea-959ecd31757f.jpg?v=1783007373 PRS S2 vs. SE: What Are You Actually Paying For? PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline in Vintage Cherry https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/used-gibson-les-paul-buying-guide 2026-07-02T11:49:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/62830048-3fd6-46b0-ae0f-1e7cf5d61ebe_70be16be-029a-47e1-b2f1-7d727f2ecbcc.jpg?v=1783007385 What to Look for When Buying a Used Gibson Les Paul: Red Flags and Green Lights Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro in case for inspection https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-sg-standard-vs-sg-classic-differences 2026-07-02T11:49:54-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/2c803c75-de90-4beb-a4ff-1aa0468ac930_a1c862eb-b468-47a7-a79c-f9ebdfc4e253.jpg?v=1783007394 Gibson SG Standard vs. SG Classic: The Differences Nobody Explains Gibson SG Standard T 2017 in Cherry Burst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/epiphone-casino-vs-gibson-es-335 2026-07-02T11:50:02-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/c240b1c2-0f35-454e-8ca2-8bca06c04e52_b7538adf-2204-4fb0-a235-abbc82e8cb9b.jpg?v=1783007402 Epiphone Casino vs. Gibson ES-335: Why They Sound So Different 1995 Epiphone Casino in Vintage Sunburst showing fully hollow body and P-90 pickups https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-traditional-vs-standard-what-the-weight-relief-actually-means-and-which-to-buy-used 2026-07-02T11:49:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/2c344c70-83c7-423a-829f-949f9509e3d6_4b238b2c-313e-48ef-88b8-4e0a0e2d50a0.jpg?v=1783007354 Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Standard: What the Weight Relief Actually Means (and Which to Buy Used) 2011 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Heritage Cherry Sunburst — classic Les Paul with 9-hole Traditional Weight Relief https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-traditional-vs-traditional-pro 2026-07-02T11:49:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/62830048-3fd6-46b0-ae0f-1e7cf5d61ebe_41c72cd8-b2c1-4329-8619-282b93374d27.jpg?v=1783007345 Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs. Traditional Pro: What's Actually Different? Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro Exclusive in Ebony showing plain maple top and push-pull volume controls https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-s2-vs-prs-se-is-the-upgrade-worth-it 2026-07-02T11:48:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4e66c988-166e-48e3-a8ec-cce03743e9bb_606c3486-dbd5-4748-87a8-bb18da92e370.jpg?v=1783007336 PRS S2 vs PRS SE: Is the Upgrade Worth It? PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline in Vintage Cherry — Aeonic Frets inventory https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-standard-50s-vs-60s-whats-the-actual-difference 2026-07-02T11:48:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d133bf5a-146b-47a1-b5e2-9fb8f4c01c5b.jpg?v=1783007327 Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s vs '60s: What's the Actual Difference? 2019 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in Heritage Cherry Sunburst showing flame maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-weight-relief-ruin-gibson-les-paul-tone 2026-07-03T08:23:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-les-paul-weight-relief-diagram_c155f9c3-e57a-4994-92d5-aa485fead539.png?v=1783081416 Does Weight Relief Ruin a Gibson Les Paul's Tone? Illustration comparing four Gibson Les Paul weight relief routing patterns: solid, 9-hole, chambered and modern https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-weight-relief-change-les-paul-tone 2026-07-03T08:23:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-les-paul-weight-relief-diagram_6ee26eea-c45c-4041-92c9-f1bdec2bc877.png?v=1783081399 Does Weight Relief Actually Change How a Les Paul Sounds? Illustration comparing four Les Paul body routing patterns: solid, traditional swiss-cheese, modern weight relief, and chambered https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/older-korean-epiphones-vs-new 2026-07-07T10:03:39-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gtc4rw4ku7psciti8ttc_5e7a8cef-4faa-4df1-8806-da1bff8acd8f.jpg?v=1783433019 Are Older Korean-Made Epiphones Actually Better Than the New Ones? Modern Chinese-made Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Custom in ebony, representing the post-2020 Epiphone build https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-gibson-weight-relief-change-tone 2026-07-07T10:03:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-weight-relief-diagram_6d6b2183-c104-4a1d-aad6-a15c908017bb.png?v=1783433007 Does Gibson Weight Relief Actually Change the Tone? Illustration comparing Gibson Les Paul weight relief methods: solid, traditional Swiss-cheese, chambered, and modern weight relief https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/coil-splitting-vs-single-coil 2026-07-07T10:03:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4e66c988-166e-48e3-a8ec-cce03743e9bb_6f49f3a5-dd8d-4276-9fe1-b88610b73ad4.jpg?v=1783432993 Why Coil-Splitting Almost Never Sounds Like a Real Single Coil PRS S2 McCarty 594 with push/pull coil-split tone controls https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/nitro-vs-poly-guitar-finish-tone 2026-07-07T10:02:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nitro-vs-poly-finish-cross-section_8ebeda41-d81c-4862-ba29-5cdeb287ab65.png?v=1783432956 Nitro vs. Poly Guitar Finish: Does It Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram comparing a thin nitrocellulose guitar finish cross-section to a thicker polyurethane finish over the same wood https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-refret-on-a-used-guitar 2026-07-07T10:02:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/refret-tells-diagram_d4730981-6273-4e77-8f64-cabb09e131c8.png?v=1783432975 How to Spot a Refret on a Used Guitar Diagram comparing a factory-original bound fingerboard with intact binding nibs against a refretted board with nibs sanded away, lighter wood, and glue and chip marks along the fret slots https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-check-used-guitar-neck-truss-rod 2026-07-07T15:42:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/742de6d6-ed14-47d0-b2c2-04f510e706cd.jpg?v=1783453352 How to Check the Neck on a Used Guitar Before You Buy Neck and fretboard of a used 1997 Gibson Les Paul Classic on the bench, the first area to inspect when buying a used guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-tonewood-matter-electric-guitar 2026-07-08T00:57:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/84a499bf-6f1c-49a9-865b-cdc78a51707b.jpg?v=1783486649 Does Tonewood Actually Matter on an Electric Guitar? Figured cranberry flame maple top on a solidbody Les Paul — the tonewood debate in one photo https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-locking-tuners-actually-necessary 2026-07-08T08:29:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/24d8d4f5-e3b5-4ab5-8198-7f8c96813f17_b6d5a620-53f0-498d-b872-afd4a843b3f8.jpg?v=1783513798 Are Locking Tuners Actually Necessary? An Honest Answer from the Bench Front of a used Fender Telecaster headstock with standard vintage-style tuners and a string tree, on the Aeonic Frets bench. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-repaired-headstock-used-gibson 2026-07-09T09:28:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-headstock-inspection-guide_38650a11-7fc3-47fd-8c11-8a4e854af7e4.png?v=1783603714 How to Spot a Repaired Headstock on a Used Gibson (Before You Buy) Illustration of how to spot a repaired headstock break on a used guitar: overspray halo, glue seam, added volute, and color mismatch https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/will-a-fret-level-fix-fret-buzz 2026-07-09T09:28:43-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/buzz-diagnosis-map_6df6c6da-9a22-4e36-8cfd-5141bb37a4d8.png?v=1783603723 Will a Fret Level Fix Your Fret Buzz? What Leveling Actually Does (and Doesn't) Diagram mapping guitar fret buzz location to its cause: open string or first fret means low nut slots, mid-neck buzz means relief or action, a few frets means high or worn frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/50s-wiring-vs-modern-wiring-les-paul 2026-07-09T09:28:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f76c8626-d8ba-47f2-b86b-ec0708caa6da_080e0ded-4fec-4761-8875-f204d5e37533.jpg?v=1783603735 50s Wiring vs Modern Wiring: Does It Actually Change Your Tone? Gibson Les Paul control layout with two volume and two tone knobs, illustrating 50s versus modern wiring https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-guitar-wont-stay-in-tune-nut 2026-07-10T08:29:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/db2ef5e0-46f5-40ae-86a8-4e9a63eac7a7.jpg?v=1783686598 Why Won't My Guitar Stay in Tune? (It's Usually the Nut, Not the Tuners) Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro headstock showing the nut, string path and tuners https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-neck-joint-affect-guitar-tone 2026-07-10T08:30:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-neck-joint-diagram_c8f97cfb-802c-4931-b5a1-20a5e81ab573.png?v=1783686619 Bolt-On vs Set Neck vs Neck-Through: Does the Neck Joint Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram comparing bolt-on, set neck, and neck-through guitar construction from a top view https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-custom-22-vs-custom-24 2026-07-10T08:31:25-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1255907c-ab76-4d19-8056-e004067c3c32_cf92f646-1f79-4994-9d4f-7333b08e4a69.jpg?v=1783686685 PRS Custom 22 vs Custom 24: Which One Should You Actually Buy? PRS SE Custom 24 in Blue Fade, a 24-fret double-cut electric guitar, photographed on a sheepskin https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-stainless-steel-frets-worth-it 2026-07-11T05:53:24-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/stainless-vs-nickel-fret-hardness-diagram_68eef8e8-10ae-447e-9600-d3d4c354b29c.png?v=1783763604 Are Stainless Steel Frets Worth It? An Honest Answer from the Bench Illustration comparing hardness of nickel-silver frets versus stainless steel frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-refinished-guitar 2026-07-11T05:56:08-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/refin-inspection-map_85c38c13-809c-47d9-b7bd-658bfd8b9bb8.png?v=1783763768 How to Spot a Refinished Guitar (Before You Overpay) Illustration inspection map of a guitar body showing five places a refinish reveals itself https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-fake-gibson-when-buying-used 2026-07-11T05:53:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-spot-fake-gibson-diagram_02d1257b-975c-4edf-836f-63bbf4135cdd.png?v=1783763618 How to Spot a Fake Gibson When Buying Used (What I Actually Check on the Bench) Illustration comparing a genuine Gibson headstock with counterfeit red flags: logo angle and font, two-screw versus three-screw truss rod cover, serial number, and a scarf joint behind the nut. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-nut-material-change-your-tone-bone-vs-tusq 2026-07-11T12:41:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nut-signal-path_6d15db7d-818e-422f-a6b2-640fc98e0589.png?v=1783788097 Does a Bone Nut Actually Improve Your Tone? (Bone vs. Tusq vs. Plastic) Illustration showing an open string vibrating from the nut to the bridge while a fretted note bypasses the nut https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-high-should-your-guitar-pickups-be 2026-07-11T16:11:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/pickup-height-humbucker-adjustment-screws_431ac561-bae6-4e07-b252-0e93bf4c13dc.jpg?v=1783800679 How High Should Your Guitar Pickups Be? The Free Tweak That Beats a New Pickup Close-up of a Gibson Les Paul humbucker in its mounting ring, showing the two height-adjustment screws that flank the pickup bezel https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-scale-length-change-your-tone 2026-07-12T11:54:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/scale-length-diagram.png?v=1783871646 Does Scale Length Actually Change Your Tone? Gibson 24.75″ vs Fender 25.5″ vs PRS 25″ Illustration comparing Gibson 24.75 inch, Fender 25.5 inch and PRS 25 inch guitar scale lengths and relative string tension https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-electric-guitars-open-up-with-age 2026-07-12T11:53:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/opening-up-diagram_7ec8cbce-4074-4343-8b0e-d5fc96bbb062.png?v=1783871632 Do Electric Guitars Really "Open Up" With Age and Playing? Illustration ranking what changes an electric guitar's tone as it ages: player adaptation and setup drift dominate, wood chemistry moves the least https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/stratocaster-vs-telecaster-which-to-buy-used 2026-07-12T11:53:39-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/156f1564-aac6-4f72-940c-52a059aa966c_eb1fe02f-917c-416d-8d4b-75c49b093865.jpg?v=1783871619 Stratocaster vs. Telecaster: Which Should You Actually Buy Used? Surf Green Fender Stratocaster showing three single-coil pickups, five-way switch and tremolo bridge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-string-gauge-actually-change-your-tone 2026-07-12T17:48:11-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-string-gauge-tone-chain_cb0d0ea7-b555-46d6-aaab-cf707713f0b4.png?v=1783892891 Does String Gauge Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram showing where string gauge tone actually comes from: mass and tension leading to feel and attack https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/alnico-2-vs-alnico-5-pickup-magnets 2026-07-13T08:37:22-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-hero-les-paul-humbuckers_eb1b2ba1-9247-4e01-bb11-de035355fed2.jpg?v=1783946242 Alnico 2 vs Alnico 5 Pickup Magnets: Does the Magnet Really Change Your Tone? A pair of covered humbuckers on a wine-red Gibson Les Paul Standard, the pickups whose Alnico magnets this article compares https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/summer-heat-humidity-guitar-care 2026-07-13T08:37:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-humidity-zone_31fa0f59-38b5-4c0c-9e02-67e32b0755b3.png?v=1783946227 Is Summer Heat and Humidity Actually Hurting Your Guitar? Diagram showing the safe 45 to 55 percent relative humidity range for a guitar and what goes wrong when it is too dry, too humid, or too hot https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-players-regret-buying-new-instead-of-used 2026-07-13T19:51:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/79e9e466-ec5d-4ee0-abc4-002c64931f3a_8497e320-257d-48d5-9e52-de44aab3fbe9.jpg?v=1783986667 Why Do So Many Players Regret Buying New Instead of Used? Used Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro in Heritage Cherry Sunburst in its original case with manual and inspection card https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-richlite-fretboards-actually-bad 2026-07-13T19:51:24-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/richlite-vs-ebony-rosewood-fretboard-comparison_e09c8390-8e77-4d79-b355-d91d6da27cc2.png?v=1783986684 Are Richlite Fretboards Actually Bad? An Honest Take From the Bench Illustration comparing rosewood, ebony, and Richlite fretboards side by side, showing Richlite as a uniform matte black board with no open pores or wood grain https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-expensive-guitar-cables-sound-better 2026-07-14T11:21:53-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/cable-capacitance-diagram_0d237619-2d66-423d-8acf-cc95dc4c49e4.png?v=1784042513 Do Expensive Guitar Cables Actually Sound Better? Diagram showing how higher guitar cable capacitance lowers a passive pickup's resonant peak and rolls off treble https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/p-90-vs-humbucker-whats-the-difference 2026-07-14T11:22:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/p90-vs-humbucker-construction-diagram_ca4dd30d-7c51-44ad-a266-313de7a66593.png?v=1784042526 P-90 vs Humbucker: What's the Difference, and Which One Should You Buy? Diagram comparing a single-coil P-90 pickup with a two-coil humbucker and how the humbucker cancels hum https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-gibson-les-paul-worth-3x-an-epiphone 2026-07-14T11:22:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/qjahqxdbaezndyqm1elu.jpg?v=1784042539 Is a Gibson Les Paul Worth 3x the Price of an Epiphone? Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top PRO in Bourbon Burst laid on a soft grey blanket https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-roasted-maple-necks-worth-it 2026-07-14T15:40:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/roasted-maple-roasting-process_cbcf2d82-ab9c-47de-83be-fc9a5ea193d8.png?v=1784058014 Are Roasted Maple Necks Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram comparing standard maple and roasted maple guitar necks and what roasting changes. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-swap-pickups-on-a-used-guitar 2026-07-15T05:42:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/925fa599-2131-4677-9fbc-b72e4213850f_5d3e38af-a5d4-41f7-a92b-eb07b17f24ca.jpg?v=1784108525 Should You Swap the Pickups on a Used Guitar? An Honest Take From the Bench Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro showing its stock humbuckers, illustrating a used guitar pickup swap question https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/long-tenon-vs-short-tenon-les-paul-neck-joint 2026-07-15T23:39:31-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-long-vs-short-tenon-diagram_83296e77-c57f-48a9-adb6-1932d018bfb1.png?v=1784173171 Long Tenon vs. Short Tenon: Does the Les Paul Neck Joint Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram comparing a long neck tenon that runs under the neck-pickup rout to a short rocker tenon that stops short on a set-neck electric guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-oil-your-guitar-fretboard 2026-07-15T23:39:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a3c3aad7-1330-4526-a43c-55eed97ba44c.jpg?v=1784173160 Should You Oil Your Guitar Fretboard? The Lemon Oil Myth, From the Bench Close-up of a bare rosewood fretboard with bird inlays on a PRS electric guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-plek-setup-worth-it 2026-07-15T23:38:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/plek-scan-under-tension-diagram_8097d779-f01a-4ae9-94ce-46073c42ccbf.png?v=1784173107 Is a PLEK Setup Actually Worth It? An Honest Answer From the Bench Diagram of a PLEK machine scanning a guitar neck strung and tuned to pitch, mapping fret heights under real string tension https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-plek-job-better-than-hand-fret-level 2026-07-16T11:45:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/17c8b140-88e1-4c4e-8c6b-59d325a7866a_10a89696-9334-422f-b511-2e6744fea2c3.jpg?v=1784216705 Is a PLEK Job Actually Better Than a Hand Fret Level? Close-up of the rosewood fretboard and frets on a PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline, in stock at Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-fret-size-change-how-a-guitar-plays 2026-07-16T11:45:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-fret-profiles-diagram_477ac921-efeb-4f4f-bcd8-09cb97f7e09b.png?v=1784216714 Does Fret Size Actually Change How a Guitar Plays? Vintage vs. Medium Jumbo vs. Jumbo Illustration comparing vintage, medium jumbo, and jumbo fret wire profiles in cross-section with width and height dimensions https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-boutique-tone-capacitors-change-your-tone 2026-07-16T22:05:08-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-tone-cap-circuit-diagram_41581df9-59f9-437f-97a3-7e5abe29ad7f.png?v=1784253908 Do Boutique Tone Capacitors Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram of a passive guitar tone control showing the capacitor wired between the tone pot and ground. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-fret-size-change-tone-and-feel 2026-07-16T22:04:59-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fret-profiles_c425a4c1-6519-4715-9059-1f30cf1e0c6a.png?v=1784253899 Does Fret Size Actually Change Your Tone and Feel? Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo vs Vintage Illustration comparing guitar fret profiles to scale: 6230 vintage, 6130 medium jumbo, 6105 narrow-tall, and 6100 jumbo fret wire, with crown width and height in inches https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-a-guitar-with-a-repaired-headstock 2026-07-17T07:15:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-headstock-break-diagram_1dc7c101-7f73-4d27-affc-fc1a92210ac1.png?v=1784286904 Should You Buy a Guitar With a Repaired Headstock? Diagram comparing a one-piece angled Gibson headstock, where straight grain runs off at the nut and creates a weak short-grain break line, with a scarf-jointed neck whose grain follows the headstock angle https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-fretboard-radius-actually-matter 2026-07-17T13:53:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/radius-cross-section_57b11ee7-69e0-4679-a1c7-41bee43612d9.png?v=1784310830 Does Fretboard Radius Actually Matter? A Straight Answer From the Bench Diagram comparing a rounder 7.25 to 9.5 inch fretboard radius to a flatter 12 to 16 inch radius https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/abr-1-vs-nashville-tune-o-matic 2026-07-17T21:40:31-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nashville-style-tune-o-matic-stopbar-gibson-les-paul_3e753434-9d67-4a41-86cf-71c6c6ee4c64.png?v=1784338831 ABR-1 vs. Nashville Tune-o-matic: Does the Bridge Actually Change Your Tone? Close-up of a Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a Gibson Les Paul Standard HP in Heritage Cherry Fade https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-norlin-era-gibsons-actually-bad 2026-07-17T21:40:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/norlin-pancake-body-diagram_34b7ed8c-0931-4116-b0b8-94a6d0dbc0a1.png?v=1784338847 Are Norlin-Era Gibsons Actually Bad? Diagram of a Norlin-era Gibson Les Paul pancake body cross-section showing a thin maple layer sandwiched between two mahogany slabs under a figured maple cap https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-bigsbys-actually-stay-in-tune 2026-07-18T04:42:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5b2feee3-d07b-4f23-8c50-3ef8990ec8fa.jpg?v=1784364168 Do Bigsbys Actually Stay in Tune? Close-up of a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge on a Gretsch Electromatic Double Jet FT https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-pickup-covers-change-your-tone 2026-07-18T12:44:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/pickup-cover-eddy-currents-diagram_c98936c7-89be-41b3-967a-34faf3eb9586.png?v=1784393082 Do Pickup Covers Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram showing how eddy currents in a humbucker pickup cover reduce treble and lower the resonant peak, comparing no cover, nickel silver and brass https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-tell-if-used-guitar-electronics-replaced 2026-07-18T23:04:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-cts-pot-code-diagram_b0fd1f8e-5bcc-48c6-a8a5-e90647d8de0b.png?v=1784430256 How to Tell If a Used Guitar's Electronics Have Been Replaced Diagram explaining how to read a CTS guitar potentiometer date code, with 137 as the CTS maker code followed by two digits for year and two for week https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/guitar-mods-that-hurt-resale-value 2026-07-18T23:04:30-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/550c7df8-46f4-4aea-83b1-e8703789913f.jpg?v=1784430270 Which Guitar Mods Actually Hurt Resale Value? Gibson Les Paul Traditional in ebony fitted with aftermarket EMG active pickups, an example of a reversible modification on a used guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-loosen-guitar-strings-shipping-storage 2026-07-19T09:01:54-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-headstock-angle-shipping-forces-diagram_cf1f44b0-fbee-4597-b299-68f80aef8bfc.png?v=1784466114 Should You Loosen the Strings When Shipping or Storing a Guitar? Diagram comparing an angled Gibson-style headstock and a flat Fender-style headstock, showing the short-grain break zone and the direction of string tension and impact force when a guitar case is dropped https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-two-identical-guitars-feel-different 2026-07-19T13:51:24-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/41f782e8-19c8-47b4-9f8c-6f0707137cf5_c2402aeb-e952-4458-bc14-dc3b4d96bc6d.jpg?v=1784483484 Why Do Two Identical Guitars Feel Completely Different? Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V in Blueberry Burst in an open case, illustrating unit-to-unit variation between identical guitar models. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-relic-guitars-worth-it 2026-07-19T18:38:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aging-tiers-diagram_d2a1d7ae-6af1-46a9-aa0e-58c4a34232e7.png?v=1784500736 Are Relic'd Guitars Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram of Fender Custom Shop and Gibson Murphy Lab guitar relic aging tiers from NOS to Heavy Relic https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-gibson-headstocks-break 2026-07-20T08:45:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gibson-headstock-grain-diagram_c716416a-6d9c-4bc9-8908-0ee2c0c50a96.png?v=1784551532 Why Do Gibson Headstocks Break So Easily (and Fender's Don't)? Diagram comparing a flat Fender headstock, a one-piece 17-degree Gibson headstock with short grain and a truss rod cavity, and a scarf-jointed headstock https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-es-335-vs-es-339 2026-07-20T08:45:51-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a66fed51-0877-43d9-8b19-fe193bbf3b51.jpg?v=1784551551 Gibson ES-335 vs. ES-339: Which Semi-Hollow Should You Actually Buy? 1982 Gibson ES-335 Dot in Natural finish, illustrating the wider 16-inch semi-hollow body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-pickup-dc-resistance-mean-more-output 2026-07-20T17:06:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/pickup-dc-resistance-wire-gauge-diagram_20507fed-5d13-4b0d-a39b-2508ac7af520.png?v=1784581564 Does a Higher DC Resistance Mean a Hotter Pickup? Diagram comparing two guitar pickup coils with 7,500 turns each: 42 AWG wire reads 5.5k ohms while 43 AWG reads 7.0k ohms, with essentially the same output https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-guitar-sharp-when-fretted 2026-07-20T17:05:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-nut-first-frets-les-paul-classic_21a8e376-dd5a-472b-bec1-271a4de16b08.png?v=1784581555 Why Is My Guitar In Tune Open But Sharp When I Fret It? Nut and first frets of a 1997 Gibson Les Paul Classic, the area where nut slot height causes fretted notes to play sharp https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-jazzmasters-have-tuning-problems 2026-07-21T06:59:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fig-break-angle_ebfaf9cd-eb2f-4317-9963-a4a3ebef6278.png?v=1784631547 Do Jazzmasters and Jaguars Really Have Tuning Problems? Diagram comparing string break angle over a Jazzmaster bridge with a flat neck pocket versus a shimmed neck https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-it-safe-to-buy-a-used-guitar-online 2026-07-21T06:59:22-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8043f6ba-1d4e-4668-9b9a-37be03ba50e0.jpg?v=1784631562 Is It Safe to Buy a Used Guitar Online Without Playing It First? Figured honeyburst 2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard photographed from the front, a typical used guitar listing beauty shot https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-hum-when-i-plug-in 2026-07-21T21:52:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-guitar-hum-touch-test-diagram_3a7fcef4-e9b5-4c3e-a0e3-e20df6cb7dd3.png?v=1784685170 Why Does My Guitar Hum When I Plug In? (And When It's Actually a Problem) Flowchart diagram of the touch test for diagnosing guitar hum, showing three outcomes when touching the strings https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-signature-guitars-worth-buying-used 2026-07-21T21:52:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a9993b3d-33bf-4500-83ab-5a56b1a8f1c8.jpg?v=1784685162 Are Signature Model Guitars Actually Worth Buying Used? Fender James Burton Signature Telecaster in black with gold paisley finish showing three Lace Sensor pickups https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-made-in-usa-fender-worth-double-the-mexican-one 2026-07-21T21:52:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/137b7afb-ea27-44d0-bf8a-e554fd1e53f4_72c62d0a-9587-4dab-b582-07a98d7e8904.jpg?v=1784685154 Is a Made-in-USA Fender Really Worth Double the Mexican One? Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster in Sunshine Yellow, a Made-in-Mexico Strat https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-boutique-tone-caps-actually-change-your-tone 2026-07-22T06:18:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-tone-circuit-diagram_6548b82e-8eb4-4f03-b327-de2182ddd6b9.png?v=1784715522 Do Boutique Tone Caps Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram of a passive guitar tone control wired as an RC low-pass filter, showing the pickup, volume pot, tone pot and capacitor to ground https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-guitars-neck-dive-and-how-to-fix-it 2026-07-22T18:53:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1f53a1b7-5bbf-44af-aad6-5559c10268a2_fe21568b-fc91-48c7-bc53-5dfa87ad48be.jpg?v=1784760812 Why Does My Guitar Neck Dive — and Can You Actually Fix It? Gibson SG Standard in cherry burst — a thin, light body and long neck make it the classic neck-dive guitar. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-a-treble-bleed-actually-work 2026-07-22T18:53:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/640d179a-ed11-481c-97a1-7ce8f9084b3d.jpg?v=1784760803 Does a Treble Bleed Actually Work? The Volume-Knob Fix, From the Bench Gibson Les Paul control knobs where a treble bleed circuit is wired inside the cavity https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/maple-vs-rosewood-fretboard-tone-and-feel 2026-07-23T09:25:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/3922ab93-6acb-4764-b482-becc0e10943e.jpg?v=1784813114 Maple vs. Rosewood Fretboard: Does It Actually Change Your Tone and Feel? Fender Stratocaster with a light sealed maple fretboard, illustrating the maple side of the maple vs rosewood fretboard comparison https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-date-a-used-gibson-by-serial-number 2026-07-23T09:25:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gibson-serial-number-decoder-diagram_dcface19-8e61-4490-b7fb-94f93eca186e.png?v=1784813105 How to Date a Used Gibson by the Serial Number Diagram decoding an 8-digit Gibson serial number: 1st and 5th digits are the year, digits 2 to 4 are the day of the year, digits 6 to 8 are the ranking and plant. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-coated-strings-worth-it 2026-07-23T09:24:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/coated-string-cross-section_9895f755-e95b-4660-bfb4-884a73e157b6.png?v=1784813096 Are Coated Strings Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram comparing an uncoated guitar string clogged with grime versus a coated string sealed by a polymer film https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-a-heavier-guitar-sustain-longer 2026-07-24T08:26:31-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-guitar-sustain-diagram_65f1eab0-ef74-4610-8a5a-8be10c389e88.png?v=1784895991 Does a Heavier Guitar Actually Sustain Longer? Diagram of where a plucked guitar string loses energy: the nut, the bridge, and neck resonance, with a note-decay curve. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-much-fret-wear-is-too-much 2026-07-24T08:26:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-fret-wear-stages_f8ed8e09-82de-43c8-b9db-bef59e1585dc.png?v=1784896005 How Much Fret Wear Is Too Much on a Used Guitar? Diagram of the four stages of guitar fret wear in cross-section, from a healthy rounded crown to a deep divot that needs a refret https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/which-gibson-humbucker-is-in-your-les-paul 2026-07-24T08:26:57-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gibson-humbuckers-comparison-chart_005a078a-0a7a-4194-b80b-c061fc1fe8b7.png?v=1784896017 What Gibson Humbucker Is in Your Les Paul? '57 Classic vs Burstbucker vs 490/498 Comparison chart of common Gibson humbuckers including 57 Classic, Burstbucker 1 and 2, Burstbucker 61, Burstbucker Pro and 490R/498T https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-gibson-custom-shop-reissues-worth-it 2026-07-24T11:45:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a27af0c0-1b00-4a37-bd16-284bf9ae342e.jpg?v=1784907940 Are Gibson Custom Shop Reissues Actually Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Gibson Custom Shop R7 1957 Les Paul Standard Reissue goldtop resting on a green chair https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-neck-dive-and-how-to-fix-it 2026-07-25T07:32:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/efa36d4a-63ef-4118-9995-e1f6278124da_4073640e-64a2-4e5f-9e46-af9307bd8f72.jpg?v=1784979126 Why Does My Guitar Neck Dive — And How Do I Actually Fix It? Gibson SG Standard body in cherry burst, a thin lightweight mahogany body that makes the SG prone to neck dive https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-the-taylor-t5z-an-acoustic-or-an-electric 2026-07-25T07:32:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/vplcgqtgf1cg3yi7uqxx_5c0bdfb1-3e96-448d-8a61-ec41d782b3eb.jpg?v=1784979148 Is the Taylor T5z an Acoustic or an Electric? An Honest Take From the Bench Black Taylor T5z Standard hollowbody hybrid guitar showing the visible bridge humbucker, f-hole, and acoustic-style pin bridge. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/250k-vs-500k-pots-does-pot-value-change-your-tone 2026-07-25T07:32:17-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/9010e0f9-563e-4868-8032-73d299bcb2b7.jpg?v=1784979137 250k vs 500k Pots: Does Pot Value Actually Change Your Tone? Gold volume and tone knobs on a wine red Gibson Les Paul Classic with humbuckers, illustrating a 500k-pot guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-sg-vs-les-paul-which-to-buy-used 2026-07-26T16:19:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nd0cgokhfnyvafxcbgi5_ef687f83-c8ee-4e55-83a4-aed6972af71a.jpg?v=1785097178 Gibson SG vs Les Paul: Which One Should You Actually Buy Used? Gibson SG Standard '61 in Vintage Cherry with its thin double-cutaway all-mahogany body, compared against the Les Paul in this used-buyer's guide. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-have-sharp-fret-ends 2026-07-26T16:19:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-fret-sprout-diagram_75a368c7-13ad-443a-a29a-0865674deb9c.png?v=1785097167 Why Does My Guitar Have Sharp Fret Ends? (And What Actually Fixes Them) Diagram: a guitar fingerboard shrinks in dry air while the metal frets stay the same width, leaving sharp fret ends overhanging the edge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-relicd-guitars-worth-it 2026-07-26T16:19:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f60cfb61-9325-40df-a3cf-9a7a6232f5e6_7eadc2ef-aa51-410c-968f-b6fccfb6c325.jpg?v=1785097156 Are Relic'd Guitars Worth It? An Honest Take on Fake Wear vs. the Real Thing Genuine fine nitrocellulose finish checking across the top of a 1990s Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus in cherry sunburst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-bad-neck-angle-on-a-used-les-paul 2026-07-26T16:19:02-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/9a3712cb-f24f-4afb-bc21-7d902d8e23a9_a918a769-a20c-4ba1-ab66-fd49b03ba58d.jpg?v=1785097142 A Maxed-Out Tune-o-matic: How to Spot a Bad Neck Angle on a Used Les Paul Used Gibson Les Paul in Heritage Cherry, a set-neck carved-top guitar with a tune-o-matic bridge where neck angle matters when buying used https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-my-guitar-pickups-squeal-at-high-gain 2026-07-26T16:17:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/755de723-cae5-450d-b7e7-d33bc4f14431.jpg?v=1785097043 Why Do My Pickups Squeal at High Gain? Microphonic Feedback, Explained From the Bench Close-up of two uncovered humbucker pickups on a black Gibson Les Paul https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-does-a-guitar-setup-actually-include 2026-07-26T16:17:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8c91b434-ae91-4a9c-b6b0-983a8b62f12d.jpg?v=1785097027 What Does a Guitar Setup Actually Include — and Is It Worth Paying For? Close-up of the fretboard and frets on a Gibson Les Paul Custom, the part of the guitar a setup dials in https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/aluminum-vs-zinc-stopbar-tailpiece-tone 2026-07-27T23:10:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-aluminum-vs-zinc-stopbar-diagram_148045eb-bbbf-40d2-add0-920d32765415.png?v=1785208204 Aluminum vs. Zinc Stopbar Tailpiece: Does the Metal Actually Change Your Tone? Illustration comparing a lightweight aluminum Les Paul stopbar tailpiece (about 1 oz) to a heavier zinc stopbar (about 3 oz), with era, factory spec, and the claimed tonal differences. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/active-vs-passive-pickups-which-should-you-buy 2026-07-27T23:10:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/active-vs-passive-signal-path-diagram_ded97557-4f68-4357-aa4e-3d1452b8507f.png?v=1785208214 Active vs Passive Pickups: Which Should You Actually Buy? Diagram comparing the passive and active guitar pickup signal path from pickup to amp, showing the 9V preamp and impedance differences https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/scarf-joint-vs-one-piece-neck 2026-07-27T23:10:25-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/grain-diagram_48e33d5a-9b8d-481d-a3c0-1be185149385.png?v=1785208225 Scarf Joint vs. One-Piece Neck: Which Is Actually Stronger? Diagram comparing a one-piece carved guitar neck with short-grain runout behind the nut to a scarf-joint headstock where the grain runs continuously up the headstock https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-sg-neck-dive 2026-07-27T23:10:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nd0cgokhfnyvafxcbgi5_ceff1767-8f8d-4323-81c0-6cede9b8f3a3.jpg?v=1785208240 Why Does My SG Neck Dive — and Can You Actually Fix It? Gibson SG Standard '61 in Vintage Cherry, showing the thin mahogany body and long neck behind SG neck dive https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-intonate-a-wraparound-bridge 2026-07-27T23:11:12-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/wraparound-bridge-compensated-melody-maker_473667eb-ab26-47bb-a483-741283885025.jpg?v=1785208272 Can You Actually Intonate a Wraparound Bridge? Close-up of a compensated wraparound bridge on a Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker showing the staggered ridge and stud intonation screw https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-a-setup-if-you-change-string-gauge 2026-07-28T15:02:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-string-gauge-neck-relief-diagram_c3f5dae6-50ef-42e6-8a34-88bc0536bbaf.png?v=1785265358 If You Change String Gauge, Do You Need a New Setup? Diagram showing how heavier gauge strings pull a guitar neck into more forward bow (relief) than lighter strings https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-loosen-strings-to-ship-or-store-a-guitar 2026-07-28T15:02:30-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-string-tension-diagram_551ea4a6-6cfe-4b9c-be08-0c01c75f9a0c.png?v=1785265350 Should You Loosen the Strings to Ship or Store a Guitar? Illustration comparing guitar string tension for shipping and storage: tuned to pitch, down a whole step, and fully slack https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-gibson-faded-guitars-worth-it 2026-07-29T01:48:18-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-faded-finish-cross-section_a93b0e46-78d3-46d9-824e-3d3517ed1ac8.png?v=1785304098 Are Gibson "Faded" Guitars Actually Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram comparing a thick gloss nitrocellulose guitar finish with a thin satin Faded finish in cross-section https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-neck-feel-sticky 2026-07-29T01:48:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/diagram-gloss-vs-satin-friction_766b53c2-bb09-483a-9438-7f2f40dc0669.png?v=1785304107 Why Does My Guitar Neck Feel Sticky? Gloss vs. Satin Neck Finish, From the Bench Illustration comparing a gloss guitar neck finish that grabs the hand with a satin finish that lets the hand glide https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-22-vs-24-frets-change-your-tone 2026-07-29T08:18:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/22-vs-24-fret-pickup-position_6e5989a4-acde-4036-9b67-7ad919037dbc.png?v=1785327500 22 Frets vs 24 Frets: Does the Extra Two Frets Really Change Your Tone? Diagram comparing 22-fret and 24-fret guitar necks, showing the neck pickup sits about one inch closer to the bridge on a 24-fret neck https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-adjust-your-own-truss-rod 2026-07-29T22:08:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/309bfb12-3095-423d-a993-9b706e727f0e_a03b6d10-5c73-4b3c-ad81-8b566458cd66.jpg?v=1785377296 Should You Adjust Your Own Truss Rod? (And Which Way to Turn It) Gibson Les Paul headstock with the bell-shaped truss rod cover between the tuners https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-one-note-on-my-guitar-sound-dead 2026-07-29T22:08:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d14c903f-d3c3-4729-8c8c-bc1723fbbd76_4ac16129-b113-4fc8-9b70-41a37e12aaad.jpg?v=1785377314 Why Does One Note on My Guitar Sound Dead? Dead Spots, Explained From the Bench Close-up of a maple Stratocaster fretboard, illustrating that guitar dead spots come from neck resonance rather than fret condition https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-guitar-string-materials-change-your-tone 2026-07-29T22:08:24-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/diagram-string-anatomy_d450cd74-279e-4a87-a948-f08440df3897.png?v=1785377304 Do Guitar String Materials Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram of a wound guitar string cross-section showing the steel core wire and wrap wire, comparing a hex core to a round core https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-block-your-strat-tremolo 2026-07-30T12:43:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8873bb53-884b-4c67-875c-bb3e480e7328_aa299298-1b81-4744-8294-5b6ccd09bd2d.jpg?v=1785429813 Should You Block Your Strat Tremolo, or Learn to Float It? Vintage six-screw synchronized tremolo bridge on a Surf Green Fender Stratocaster, the hardware at the center of the float versus block debate https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-that-flame-top-real-figured-maple-vs-veneer 2026-07-30T12:43:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/01bdfa0a-c8c4-4f99-98d5-8acb3351334a_3cb21a7b-defe-4f1c-bc8e-57ce96825536.jpg?v=1785429789 Is That Flame Top Real? How to Tell Figured Maple From a Veneer or Photo Top Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus with a real solid figured maple cap, flame wrapping over the carved top edge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/ebony-vs-rosewood-fretboards-does-it-matter 2026-07-30T18:25:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ebony-vs-rosewood-fretboard-comparison_a6d2c8b3-e219-4a1e-8c37-21d98ac5a374.png?v=1785450301 Ebony vs Rosewood Fretboards: Does the Fretboard Wood Actually Matter? Illustration comparing ebony and rosewood guitar fretboards by hardness, feel, look, tone, and maintenance https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-vs-prs-custom-24-used 2026-07-31T07:06:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/les-paul-vs-prs-custom-24-comparison_93691513-ab93-4393-a389-42e642776328.png?v=1785495983 Gibson Les Paul vs PRS Custom 24: Which Should You Actually Buy Used? Illustration comparing Gibson Les Paul and PRS Custom 24 specs side by side. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-tone-capacitors-change-your-tone 2026-07-31T07:06:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-tone-cap-controls_c8918cc0-5544-46d6-b5e0-46bcf1bc8ce4.jpg?v=1785495994 Do Boutique Tone Capacitors Actually Change Your Tone? Gold speed knobs on a honey-burst Gibson Les Paul, the two lower knobs being the tone controls wired to tone capacitors https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-are-my-guitar-knobs-crackly 2026-07-31T09:29:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-pot-crackle-diagram_5c0765e7-0f3e-4741-8a06-5ad98a778b8b.png?v=1785504577 Why Are My Guitar's Volume and Tone Knobs Crackly? Diagram of a guitar potentiometer cutaway showing the carbon resistive track, wiper, and how oxidation causes crackle https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/one-piece-vs-multi-piece-guitar-body 2026-08-01T14:27:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-body-pieces-diagram.png?v=1785608865 One-Piece vs. Multi-Piece Guitar Body: Does It Actually Matter? Diagram comparing one-piece, two-piece, and three-piece solid guitar bodies plus a bookmatched maple top, with glue seams marked https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-fret-size-change-how-your-guitar-plays 2026-08-01T14:27:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fret-profiles_4b4ba86c-2d6e-403c-8274-bd1e5b83d5b5.png?v=1785608872 Jumbo, Medium, or Vintage Frets: Does Fret Wire Size Actually Change How Your Guitar Plays? Illustration comparing vintage, medium jumbo, and jumbo guitar fret wire profiles by width and crown height. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-neck-shim-a-red-flag-on-a-used-guitar 2026-08-01T21:14:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-neck-shim-how-it-works_84aa7c40-69e2-4461-93cf-bccdfaa8f539.png?v=1785633244 Is a Neck Shim a Red Flag on a Used Guitar? Illustration showing how a neck shim tilts a bolt-on guitar neck back to lower high action when the bridge saddles are already bottomed out https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-floyd-rose-guitars-worth-the-hassle 2026-08-01T21:13:57-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/floyd-rose-double-locking-diagram_d3dcd157-5b8f-4cef-b152-6d3726a5c8a5.png?v=1785633237 Are Floyd Rose Guitars Worth the Hassle? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram of a double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo showing the locking nut, locking saddles, fine tuners and the knife-edge pivot that keeps a guitar in tune https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-a-modified-used-guitar 2026-08-01T23:36:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/where-mods-show-up-used-guitar_9c4cf3e4-6482-4fcc-ad81-bf150a961f8a.png?v=1785641796 Should You Buy a Used Guitar That's Been Modified? Illustration of a used electric guitar showing where modifications appear: tuner holes, pickup routes, control cavity, bridge, top holes, and jack https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-float-deck-or-block-your-strat-tremolo 2026-08-02T07:59:17-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5429c316-d920-440d-9d2e-b2e3bdc927a5.jpg?v=1785671957 Should You Float, Deck, or Block Your Strat Tremolo? Close-up of a black Fender Stratocaster two-point synchronized tremolo bridge with chrome saddles and the vibrato arm installed https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-finish-checking-on-a-guitar-bad 2026-08-04T08:20:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nitro-finish-checking-cross-section-diagram.png?v=1785676803 Is Finish Checking on a Guitar Bad? What Those Hairline Cracks Really Mean Cross-section illustration of how a nitrocellulose guitar finish checks, with hairline cracks in the lacquer stopping at the wood line. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-avoid-a-2015-gibson 2026-08-04T08:20:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/0592dfd6-a3b1-4774-b140-1c7c9981d5d8.jpg?v=1785698590 Should You Avoid a 2015 Gibson? The G-Force, Zero-Fret Nut, and Wide Neck, Explained 2015 Gibson Les Paul Standard in Heritage Cherry Sunburst photographed front-on at Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-gold-hardware-wear-off-guitar 2026-08-04T08:20:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/hx3eytoy4cisckh2gug6.jpg?v=1785720263 Does Gold Hardware on a Guitar Wear Off — and Should It Change What You Pay? Fresh gold hardware on a Gretsch archtop — bright gold humbucker covers, Bigsby tailpiece, bridge and knobs before any wear. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/nut-width-vs-neck-profile-guitar-feel 2026-08-04T08:20:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-nut-width-to-scale.png?v=1785741762 Nut Width vs Neck Profile: Which One Actually Changes How a Guitar Feels? Diagram comparing guitar nut widths drawn to scale: Fender 1.650 inch, Gibson and PRS 1.695 inch, and a wide 1.75 inch neck https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-loosen-guitar-strings-for-shipping-or-storage 2026-08-04T08:20:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/diagram1.png?v=1785763371 Should You Loosen Your Guitar Strings for Shipping or Storage? An Honest Answer from the Bench Diagram showing string tension bowing a guitar neck forward while the truss rod pulls back, keeping the neck balanced https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/kluson-vs-grover-tuners-worth-the-upgrade 2026-08-04T08:20:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/kluson-vs-grover-tuner-anatomy-diagram.png?v=1785784792 Kluson vs. Grover Tuners: Is Upgrading From Vintage-Style Tuners Actually Worth It? Diagram comparing Kluson-style Deluxe and Grover Rotomatic guitar tuners by gear ratio, weight, headstock fit, and resale impact https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-twisted-neck-on-a-used-guitar 2026-08-04T08:20:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-twisted-neck-sighting-diagram.png?v=1785806446 How to Spot a Twisted Neck on a Used Guitar (Before You Buy) Illustration comparing sighting down a straight guitar neck versus a twisted neck from the body end https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-factory-second-guitars-worth-buying 2026-08-04T08:20:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/factory-second-2-stamp-headstock.png?v=1785828024 Are Factory Second Guitars Worth Buying? What That Little "2" Actually Means Illustration of the back of a guitar headstock showing where a factory second '2' stamp is impressed in the center. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-does-player-grade-mean-used-guitar 2026-08-04T14:21:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/0749a4f7-d557-4c9c-990e-f59a3a6fbfc9.jpg?v=1785867669 What Does "Player Grade" Actually Mean When Buying a Used Guitar? Black 2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional, a clean player-grade guitar with factory pickups swapped for active EMGs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-strap-locks-worth-it 2026-08-04T22:01:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/diagram-strap-lock-mechanism_6b986bf8-a97d-4c90-b46e-cfac1aef87b7.png?v=1785895279 Are Strap Locks Worth It? Do They Actually Keep Your Guitar From Dropping? Diagram comparing a standard guitar strap button that relies on friction to a strap lock system where a spring-loaded collar latches onto a post https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-often-should-you-change-your-guitar-strings 2026-08-04T22:01:46-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-mini-humbuckers-a-downgrade-les-paul-deluxe 2026-08-05T08:55:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/mini-vs-full-humbucker.png?v=1785914296 Are Mini-Humbuckers a Downgrade? The Les Paul Deluxe Question, From the Bench Illustration comparing a mini-humbucker and a full-size humbucker: the mini has narrower coils and a tighter string-sensing window, giving a brighter, more focused tone. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-to-humidify-an-electric-guitar 2026-08-05T13:44:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-humidity-comfort-zone_f09823ac-5267-461e-9f8b-b3819ab6520a.png?v=1785951860 Do You Really Need to Humidify an Electric Guitar? Diagram of the ideal guitar humidity comfort zone, 45 to 55 percent relative humidity, with too-dry and too-humid problems on either side https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-a-string-tree 2026-08-05T21:21:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7a692cd5-7d11-441f-982b-7cb9a75d9964_3ce6bcd6-2ca3-4f9d-9c60-7777c8767ade.jpg?v=1785979288 Do You Actually Need a String Tree? (And Should You Remove One?) Front of a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster headstock showing a single string tree retaining the B and high-E strings. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-70s-cbs-fenders-actually-bad 2026-08-06T03:17:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/neck-plate-3bolt-vs-4bolt_e6167a30-ab86-4b18-92d5-951456b778cb.png?v=1786000626 Are 70s (CBS-Era) Fenders Actually Bad? An Honest Take From the Bench Illustration comparing a Fender three-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt to a four-bolt neck plate https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/ceramic-vs-alnico-pickups 2026-08-06T08:27:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d2f102b4-e963-41b9-989d-67187c778f9d_46c7e49c-ac99-4af1-8a5b-69ec0b400f59.jpg?v=1786019275 Ceramic vs. Alnico Pickups: Does the Magnet Actually Make a Guitar Sound Cheap? Gibson Les Paul with two covered humbuckers — you can't tell the magnet type by looking https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/quartersawn-vs-flatsawn-neck 2026-08-06T21:11:12-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/quartersawn-vs-flatsawn-neck-grain-diagram_f17d3451-d364-4e4a-bb5c-c0aec43aac91.png?v=1786065072 Quartersawn vs. Flatsawn Neck: Does the Grain Actually Make a Guitar More Stable? Diagram comparing quartersawn and flatsawn guitar neck grain orientation and stability. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-finish-checking-a-problem-on-a-used-guitar 2026-08-06T21:11:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-finish-checking-cross-section_f4c6053f-6e46-43f7-9d43-a3c12d341dea.png?v=1786065066 Is Finish Checking a Problem on a Used Guitar? What Those Nitro Cracks Actually Mean Cross-section diagram showing nitro finish checking cracks that stay in the lacquer and stop at the wood https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-original-case-and-paperwork-matter-used-guitar 2026-08-07T08:43:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-case-candy-decoded.png?v=1786065655 Does the Original Case and Paperwork Actually Matter When Buying a Used Guitar? Illustration decoding used-guitar case candy: certificate of authenticity, warranty card, hang tags, owner's manual, truss rod wrench, and accessory bag, with a note on what each piece is worth to a buyer https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-negotiate-price-used-guitar 2026-08-07T08:43:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-used-guitar-price-ledger.png?v=1786087505 How to Negotiate the Price of a Used Guitar Diagram: what actually knocks money off a used guitar's price https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/will-a-guitar-stand-ruin-a-nitro-finish 2026-08-08T06:49:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7d848a16-8ff9-4e5c-a60b-d9486a5ae266_3e26f0cd-e134-40ca-a0ee-4bc81d656dbe.jpg?v=1786186174 Will a Guitar Stand or Strap Ruin a Nitro Finish? What Actually Reacts (and What's Safe) Gloss nitrocellulose finish on a Gibson Les Paul Standard in its case https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-my-guitar-strings-keep-breaking 2026-08-08T06:49:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-string-break-zones_f26329d0-2177-4583-9f67-446d78644145.png?v=1786186185 Why Do My Guitar Strings Keep Breaking? Diagram of the three places guitar strings break: the tuner post, the nut, and the bridge saddle, with the saddle marked as most common. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-a-volute-make-a-gibson-headstock-stronger 2026-08-10T07:26:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-headstock-volute-diagram_744ff854-3adb-4e10-a68b-edb3dd517474.png?v=1786361205 Does a Volute Actually Make a Gibson Headstock Stronger? Side-view diagram of a Gibson headstock showing the break-back angle, grain runout, and the volute adding wood at the weakest point https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-gibson-fret-nibs-actually-matter 2026-08-10T07:26:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonicfrets-fret-nibs-lp-traditional_01667266-0259-436c-8bc6-8b139da1c370.jpg?v=1786361188 Do Gibson Fret Nibs Actually Matter? (And Should Losing Them in a Refret Bother You?) Bound rosewood fretboard on a 2016 Gibson Les Paul Traditional with binding nibs capping each fret end https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-vintage-guitars-actually-sound-better 2026-08-10T07:25:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-aging-changes_1785151b-05ce-4683-9983-9674b324224d.png?v=1786361135 Do Vintage Guitars Actually Sound Better? Diagram: what actually changes as a guitar ages and how little each change moves the tone https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-your-guitar-pick-change-your-tone 2026-08-10T20:00:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/pick-thickness-diagram.png?v=1786368013 Does Your Guitar Pick Actually Change Your Tone? Illustration comparing how thin, medium, and heavy guitar picks flex against the string and change the attack https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-lower-guitar-action-without-fret-buzz 2026-08-10T20:00:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/action-anatomy-diagram.png?v=1786389616 How to Lower Your Guitar's Action Without Getting Fret Buzz Diagram showing where guitar action comes from: nut slot height, neck relief set by the truss rod, and saddle height, measured at the 12th fret https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/series-vs-parallel-humbucker-wiring 2026-08-11T14:43:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/series-vs-parallel-diagram.png?v=1786411097 Series vs. Parallel Wiring: The Humbucker Trick That Isn't Coil-Splitting Diagram comparing series and parallel humbucker wiring: series routes the signal through both coils for a full, hot output, while parallel feeds both coils at once for a lower, brighter output, both hum-cancelling. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-a-steel-tremolo-block-improve-your-strat-tone 2026-08-11T14:43:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-strat-tremolo-anatomy-diagram.png?v=1786432668 Does a Steel Tremolo Block Actually Improve Your Strat's Tone? Diagram of a Stratocaster tremolo block and how it anchors the strings inside the body cavity https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-the-amp-matter-more-than-the-guitar 2026-08-11T14:43:34-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-guitar-signal-chain-diagram.png?v=1786454318 Does the Amp Matter More Than the Guitar? An Honest Answer From the Bench Diagram of the electric guitar signal chain from string and pickup through amp gain, EQ, and speaker, showing where tone is shaped https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-maxed-out-truss-rod-a-dealbreaker 2026-08-11T19:29:46-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-truss-rod-relief-diagram.png?v=1786476000 Is a Maxed-Out Truss Rod a Dealbreaker on a Used Guitar? Diagram of guitar neck relief showing too much forward bow with a maxed-out truss rod, correct relief, and back bow https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-shielding-your-guitar-reduce-hum 2026-08-12T08:36:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-cavity-shielding-diagram.png?v=1786497414 Does Shielding Your Guitar Actually Kill the Hum? Diagram showing a grounded Faraday-cage guitar cavity blocking electric-field and RF noise while magnetic 60-cycle hum passes through to the single-coil pickup https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-neck-profiles-explained 2026-08-12T08:36:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ef5947a9-213e-4fd1-b4f0-7f0a46f99054.jpg?v=1786519350 PRS Neck Profiles Explained: Pattern, Pattern Thin, Pattern Regular, and Pattern Vintage PRS S2 Standard 24 in Mahi Blue with a Pattern Thin neck profile https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-japanese-made-guitars-as-good-as-american-ones 2026-08-13T08:08:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/68b8f085-e277-4efa-bb5b-a5a415f8b624.jpg?v=1786540915 Are Japanese-Made Guitars Actually as Good as American Ones? Japanese-made Fender ST-62 Stratocaster reissue in Surf Green https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-to-stretch-new-guitar-strings 2026-08-13T08:08:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/30a8d010-749e-4860-9be1-a7b857c70e04.jpg?v=1786562398 Do You Really Need to Stretch New Guitar Strings? Front of a Gibson Les Paul headstock showing strings wound around the tuner posts, where most new-string slack hides. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/neck-pickup-vs-bridge-pickup-why-they-sound-different 2026-08-13T08:08:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/060cf837-ee99-41a6-957f-8ac7ad7fd75f.jpg?v=1786583951 Neck Pickup vs. Bridge Pickup: Why They Sound So Different (and Which One You Actually Want) Close-up of a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop showing the neck humbucker near the fingerboard and the bridge humbucker by the tailpiece. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/hardtail-vs-tremolo-which-should-you-buy 2026-08-13T08:08:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/512d79ab-08b1-47c4-9831-37520b61fc6e.jpg?v=1786605783 Hardtail vs. Tremolo: Which Should You Actually Buy? Vintage six-screw synchronized tremolo bridge on a white Fender Stratocaster, illustrating a floating bridge that pivots https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/string-through-body-vs-top-load-bridge-tone 2026-08-14T11:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/11e5b390-bdc0-4e14-88af-7c6137a7e899.jpg?v=1786627240 Does String-Through-Body Actually Sound Better Than a Top-Loaded Bridge? Close-up of the six-saddle bridge on a black Fender American Standard Telecaster where the string break angle over the saddles is set. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-hand-wound-pickups-worth-it 2026-08-14T11:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d9e75248-7499-4f60-b76b-19ad5f609119.jpg?v=1786648814 Are Hand-Wound Guitar Pickups Actually Worth It? Open-coil humbuckers on a Gibson Les Paul, exposed bobbins showing where thousands of turns of copper wire are wound https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-a-project-guitar 2026-08-14T11:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-project-guitar-real-math.png?v=1786670419 Should You Buy a Project Guitar? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram showing the stacked cost of a project guitar totaling about $820 next to a vetted set-up used guitar at about $700 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-is-out-of-phase-wiring-peter-green-sound 2026-08-14T11:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e2e49aa1-158d-4dd0-b2d9-45f58e689ae3.jpg?v=1786692194 What Is Out-of-Phase Wiring? The "Peter Green" Sound, Explained Close-up of the neck and bridge humbuckers on a Gibson Les Paul, the two pickups whose combined middle-position tone is affected by phase https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-guitar-color-affect-resale-value 2026-08-14T11:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7d848a16-8ff9-4e5c-a60b-d9486a5ae266.jpg?v=1786713664 Does a Guitar's Color Actually Affect Its Resale Value? Gibson Les Paul Standard HP in Heritage Cherry Fade, a red-to-amber burst over flame maple https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-standard-vs-custom 2026-08-14T17:13:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bdb2cf50-fd2b-4319-a7a3-4183d32aac4e.jpg?v=1786735384 Gibson Les Paul Standard vs. Custom: What Are You Actually Paying For? Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s in Unburst with a figured maple top and trapezoid inlays, shown in its case with Gibson paperwork. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/hss-vs-sss-stratocaster 2026-08-15T21:20:21-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ylnyej0bp1geeqtwez4p.jpg?v=1786756898 HSS vs SSS Stratocaster: Best of Both Worlds, or a Compromise? HSS Stratocaster with a bridge humbucker and two single-coil pickups on a cherry burst flame maple body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-a-2015-gibson-les-paul 2026-08-16T19:30:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-2015-nut-width-diagram.png?v=1786843851 The 2015 Gibson Les Paul: Should You Buy That "Weird" Year Used? Diagram comparing traditional Gibson Les Paul nut width of 1.687 inches to the wider 1.795 inch nut of the 2015 redesign https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-tone-really-in-the-fingers 2026-08-16T19:30:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/tone-in-fingers-hands-vs-gear.png?v=1786864753 Is Tone Really in the Fingers? An Honest Answer From the Bench Diagram comparing what your hands control versus what your guitar and amp control when it comes to tone https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-to-look-for-at-a-guitar-show 2026-08-16T19:30:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-show-floor-check.png?v=1786886414 What to Look For at a Guitar Show: A Bench Tech's Buying Checklist 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. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-signature-model-guitars-worth-buying-used 2026-08-16T19:30:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/feec445e-23e0-48e5-aa3e-440f803cb2af.jpg?v=1786907912 Are Signature Model Guitars Worth Buying Used? Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster signature model in White Blonde on a used-guitar shop bench https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-date-a-used-fender-by-serial-number 2026-08-16T21:50:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fender-serial-number-location-by-era_291419ac-ea5c-4227-9eb2-0597a64ce9fe.png?v=1786931427 How to Date a Used Fender by the Serial Number and Neck Date 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 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-tone-capacitor-upgrades-change-your-sound 2026-08-17T09:36:46-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-tone-circuit-diagram_60eaaee6-5505-4a1c-ad00-4ac9a9039781.png?v=1786951093 Do Tone Capacitor Upgrades Actually Change Your Sound? Diagram of a passive guitar tone control showing the pickup, volume pot, output, and the tone pot with capacitor bleeding treble to ground https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-it-bad-to-hang-a-guitar-by-the-headstock 2026-08-17T09:36:46-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-hanging-headstock-forces.png?v=1786972843 Is It Bad to Hang a Guitar by the Headstock? 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 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-high-e-string-slips-off-fretboard 2026-08-17T21:06:18-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-high-e-string-drift-diagram.png?v=1786994557 Why Does My High E String Slip Off the Edge of the Fretboard? 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 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/flatwound-vs-roundwound-guitar-strings 2026-08-18T09:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-string-winding-diagram.png?v=1787016104 Flatwound vs. Roundwound Strings: Which Should You Actually Use? Illustration comparing roundwound, half-round, and flatwound guitar string construction and their tone and feel trade-offs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/solid-vs-semi-hollow-vs-hollow-body-guitar 2026-08-18T09:29:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-body-construction-diagram.png?v=1787059173 Solid, Semi-Hollow, or Hollow Body: Which Should You Actually Buy? Diagram comparing solid, semi-hollow, and hollow electric guitar body construction, showing the solid center block that defines a semi-hollow body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-it-worth-refretting-a-used-guitar 2026-08-18T23:46:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/55939982-7591-405a-b9ea-e98a78e3b640_a1e9e5e0-69af-4f64-acb6-dacf8d5dc228.jpg?v=1787111179 Is It Worth Refretting a Used Guitar? What a Refret Costs — and When to Walk Away Close-up of a rosewood fingerboard and frets on a used Gibson Les Paul, showing frets in good, level condition. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-wind-guitar-strings-tuning-stability 2026-08-18T23:46:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-self-locking-wind-diagram_7a6dc3c7-612a-4038-817c-996a2da2a719.png?v=1787111169 How to Wind Guitar Strings So They Actually Stay in Tune Diagram of the self-locking string wind on a guitar tuning post: thread through, loop the tail over then under to lock, then wind downward https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-lower-action-hurt-your-tone 2026-08-19T08:06:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/action-tone-diagram-low-vs-high.png?v=1787124198 Does Lower Action Hurt Your Tone? Side-view diagram comparing low versus higher guitar action and how much room the string has to vibrate above the frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-adjust-your-pickup-pole-pieces 2026-08-19T09:43:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-les-paul-humbucker-adjustable-pole-screws.jpg?v=1787145917 What Do the Pole Piece Screws on Your Pickup Actually Do? (And Should You Touch Them?) Close-up of the six adjustable slotted pole screws on the humbuckers of a used Gibson Les Paul https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-noiseless-single-coil-pickups-worth-it 2026-08-19T23:34:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/noiseless-coils.png?v=1787167788 Are Noiseless Single-Coil Pickups Worth It? (Do They Really Kill the Strat Magic?) Diagram comparing a true single-coil pickup with a stacked noiseless pickup that cancels hum https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-les-paul-juniors-worth-it 2026-08-19T23:34:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b82eca01-ed1f-4760-88ab-d46996a220f1.jpg?v=1787188787 Are Les Paul Juniors Worth It? Why One P-90 and a Slab of Mahogany Beats a Lot of Fancier Guitars TV Yellow Gibson in the Les Paul Junior lineage with soapbar P-90 pickups and a wraparound bridge on a grey rug. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-much-will-a-guitar-shop-pay-for-your-used-guitar 2026-08-20T10:43:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/72b23d93-b048-45e8-94e6-fcdc7a42fcff.jpg?v=1787210557 How Much Will a Guitar Shop Actually Pay for Your Used Guitar? Used Gibson Les Paul in gold sitting in an open hardshell case, brought in to a guitar shop to sell or trade https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/which-epiphone-upgrades-are-worth-it 2026-08-20T10:43:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/tah7ypjuloeoz2nughqg.jpg?v=1787232240 Which Epiphone Upgrades Are Actually Worth It? (And Which Ones Are a Waste of Money) A modern Epiphone Les Paul Standard with alnico ProBucker humbuckers and gold top-hat knobs, the kind of guitar players ask about upgrading https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/jazzmaster-vs-jaguar-which-offset-to-buy-used 2026-08-21T21:26:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/36e5c172-62af-454c-9a74-18245fe76ad1.jpg?v=1787253648 Jazzmaster vs Jaguar: Which Offset Should You Actually Buy Used? Fender Jazzmaster in natural pine finish showing the wide flat single-coil pickups and offset body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/telecaster-3-saddle-vs-6-saddle-bridge 2026-08-21T21:26:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/tele-3-saddle-vs-6-saddle-diagram.png?v=1787275242 Telecaster 3-Saddle vs 6-Saddle Bridge: Can You Actually Intonate a Vintage Tele Bridge? Diagram comparing a Telecaster 3-saddle bridge with a 6-saddle bridge, showing why each string wants its own saddle for accurate intonation https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-compensated-nuts-and-buzz-feiten-actually-work 2026-08-21T21:26:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-compensated-nut-diagram.png?v=1787296970 Do Compensated Nuts and Buzz Feiten Tuning Systems Actually Work? Diagram comparing a standard straight guitar nut with a compensated nut where each string's contact point is shortened a different amount https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-the-unplugged-sound-of-an-electric-guitar-matter 2026-08-21T21:26:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/72b23d93-b048-45e8-94e6-fcdc7a42fcff_411391db-4f06-4435-b70f-4812705e8bc8.jpg?v=1787318452 Does How a Guitar Sounds Unplugged Actually Tell You Anything? Yellow Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker solidbody with two P-90 pickups lying in a hardshell case https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/where-to-buy-a-used-guitar 2026-08-21T21:26:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/975abf16-9c3c-49f7-821f-315d5a722cfe.jpg?v=1787339966 Where Should You Actually Buy a Used Guitar? Reverb vs. a Local Shop vs. Facebook Marketplace Used Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s in Translucent Oxblood, an example of a used guitar you can inspect before buying. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-saddle-material-change-your-tone 2026-08-21T21:26:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-saddle-materials-diagram.png?v=1787361860 Does Bridge Saddle Material Actually Change Your Tone? Brass vs. Steel vs. Titanium Diagram comparing brass, steel and titanium guitar bridge saddles by density, hardness and tonal reputation https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/p-90-dog-ear-vs-soapbar 2026-08-23T10:00:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/p90-dog-ear-vs-soapbar-diagram.png?v=1787493604 P-90 Dog-Ear vs. Soapbar: Does the Cover Actually Change the Sound? Diagram comparing dog-ear and soapbar P-90 pickup mounting styles https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/f-spaced-vs-standard-humbucker-spacing 2026-08-23T09:59:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonicfrets-humbucker-spacing-diagram_7afabf82-0464-421f-93a4-7bfceeb69067.png?v=1787493596 F-Spaced vs Standard Humbuckers: Will the Pole Pieces Line Up With Your Strings? Diagram comparing a standard-spaced humbucker and an F-spaced Trembucker under strings on a wide Fender-style bridge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/rolled-fretboard-edges-worth-it 2026-08-23T09:59:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-rolled-edge-diagram_90d949a8-e464-4d83-ace1-7d1da314bbcc.png?v=1787493588 Do Rolled Fretboard Edges Actually Make a Guitar Play Better? Cross-section diagram comparing a new square fretboard edge with a rolled, played-in fretboard edge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-left-handed-guitars-worth-more-used 2026-08-23T09:59:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7d848a16-8ff9-4e5c-a60b-d9486a5ae266_718d1285-c4ee-44c1-9a07-63da3c8d7edd.jpg?v=1787493577 Are Left-Handed Guitars Worth More Used — and Why Are They So Hard to Sell? A figured-top Gibson Les Paul Standard, a popular model that is common right-handed but scarce as a used left-handed guitar. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-to-do-after-buying-a-used-guitar 2026-08-23T09:59:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/9894e397-385c-47a5-91ad-894b65a8ebb6.jpg?v=1787493568 You Just Bought a Used Guitar. Here's Exactly What I'd Do First. Used 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Plus in Honeyburst resting on a chair https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-zero-fret-better-than-a-nut 2026-08-23T09:59:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/zero-fret-vs-nut_cfded225-0709-453d-a843-3399e2df0332.png?v=1787493559 Is a Zero Fret Better Than a Nut? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram comparing a standard guitar nut and a zero fret, showing the open string resting in a bone or plastic nut slot versus resting on a metal zero fret https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-a-guitar-setup-twice-a-year 2026-08-23T18:37:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/seasonal-humidity-cycle.png?v=1787512858 Do You Need a Guitar Setup Twice a Year? Why Your Action Changes With the Seasons Diagram showing how relative humidity moves a guitar across seasons: dry winter shrinks the wood causing back-bow and fret sprout, 45-55% is the stable sweet spot, and humid summer swells the wood raising action. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gig-bag-vs-hard-case 2026-08-24T11:43:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-gig-bag-vs-hard-case.png?v=1787584089 Gig Bag vs. Hard Case: What Your Guitar Actually Needs Illustration comparing a guitar in a gig bag versus a hard case, showing how a hard case suspends the neck on a support block while a gig bag offers only thin foam padding https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-clean-a-guitar-without-ruining-the-finish 2026-08-24T16:17:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4e66c988-166e-48e3-a8ec-cce03743e9bb.jpg?v=1787599251 How to Clean a Guitar Without Ruining the Finish Glossy Vintage Cherry PRS S2 McCarty 594 electric guitar body with clean gold hardware https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-fret-out-when-i-bend 2026-08-25T09:18:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-fret-out-radius-diagram.png?v=1787620874 Why Does My Guitar Fret Out When I Bend? Diagram comparing a string bending across a rounded 7.25-inch fretboard radius (choking into the fret crown) versus a flatter radius where the bend rings clean https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-flying-vs-actually-worth-it 2026-08-25T09:18:31-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d7f2031a-76b4-462f-b8c2-ff29b359dfe1.jpg?v=1787663911 Are Flying Vs Actually Worth It — or Just for the Stage? Gibson 50th Anniversary Flying V in Brimstone Burst with a flamed top and gold hardware https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/audio-vs-linear-taper-guitar-pots 2026-08-26T10:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-pot-taper-diagram.png?v=1787664202 Why Does My Guitar's Volume Knob Have a Dead Zone? Audio vs. Linear Taper Pots, Explained From the Bench Diagram comparing linear, vintage 30% audio, and modern 10% audio pot tapers, showing signal level versus guitar volume knob position https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-ce-24-vs-custom-24-bolt-on-neck 2026-08-26T10:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/tivd7lcsmteiqvwusb11.jpg?v=1787685843 PRS CE 24 vs Custom 24: Does the Bolt-On Neck Actually Change Anything? PRS CE 24 in Scarlet Red with a flame maple top, front view https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-your-guitar-nut-too-high 2026-08-26T10:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nut-third-fret-test.png?v=1787707340 Is Your Guitar's Nut Too High? The 30-Second Test That Explains a Lot of "Hard to Play" Guitars Diagram of the third-fret test showing how to tell if a guitar nut is too high, just right, or cut too low by the gap over the first fret https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-shock-me 2026-08-26T10:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/grounding-path.png?v=1787728920 Why Does My Guitar Shock Me? Grounding, Zaps, and When It's Actually Dangerous 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. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-chinese-and-indonesian-made-guitars-actually-bad 2026-08-26T10:42:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1255907c-ab76-4d19-8056-e004067c3c32.jpg?v=1787750362 Are Chinese- and Indonesian-Made Guitars Actually Bad? An Honest Take From the Bench Indonesia-made PRS SE Custom 24 in Blue Fade with a flame maple top and bird inlays, resting on the bench https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-people-say-prs-guitars-are-soulless 2026-08-26T19:41:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/634814a2-9217-4b1d-b348-d59090a9d408.jpg?v=1787772127 Why Do People Say PRS Guitars Are “Soulless”? An Honest Take From the Bench PRS SE Custom 24-08 with a figured poplar burl top and bird inlays, illustrating the flashy look PRS is known for https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-inspect-a-used-guitar-from-photos 2026-08-27T09:57:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d59aa147-f901-4324-98f7-47638cfdc41f.jpg?v=1787793513 How to Inspect a Used Guitar From Photos Before You Buy 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 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-prewired-guitar-wiring-harnesses-worth-it 2026-08-27T09:57:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-prewired-harness-anatomy.png?v=1787815260 Are Pre-Wired Guitar Wiring Harnesses Worth It? A Straight Answer From the Bench Illustration of a Les Paul style pre-wired guitar wiring harness with CTS pots, tone capacitors, and a Switchcraft output jack https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/strat-5-way-switch-positions-explained 2026-08-27T09:57:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/strat-5-way-switch-positions-diagram.png?v=1787836739 What Do the 5 Positions on a Strat's Switch Actually Do? (And Where the "Quack" Comes From) 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 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-much-neck-relief-should-a-guitar-have 2026-08-27T22:50:13-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/neck-relief-measure.png?v=1787859311 How Much Neck Relief Should a Guitar Have? (And the Fast Way to Check It) Diagram showing how to check guitar neck relief with a capo on the first fret, the string held at the last fret, and a feeler gauge measuring the gap at the eighth fret https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-need-a-different-setup-for-drop-tuning 2026-08-28T14:52:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/drop-tuning-neck-relief-diagram.png?v=1787940241 Do You Need a Different Setup for Drop Tuning? (Or Can You Just Tune Down?) Diagram showing how tuning a guitar down lowers string tension and flattens neck relief, requiring a truss-rod adjustment https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-partscasters-worth-it 2026-08-29T13:45:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/partscaster-anatomy.png?v=1787944819 Are Partscasters Worth It? What an Assembled Guitar Is Really Worth Illustration labeling the four separate parts of a partscaster: neck, hardware, body, and loaded pickguard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-are-my-guitar-fret-ends-sharp 2026-08-29T13:45:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fret-sprout-diagram.png?v=1787966669 Why Are My Guitar's Fret Ends Sharp? Fret Sprout, Explained From the Bench Diagram of fret sprout showing a properly humidified fretboard beside a dried-out board with protruding fret ends https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-use-your-guitars-tone-knob 2026-08-29T13:45:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d59aa147-f901-4324-98f7-47638cfdc41f_20066f0a-5d94-49c3-8d90-2796d402046f.jpg?v=1787988051 How to Actually Use Your Guitar's Tone Knob (and Why Most Players Leave It on 10) Close-up of the four control knobs on a flame-top Gibson Les Paul, the two lower knobs being the tone controls https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-a-used-guitar-that-needs-a-refret 2026-08-29T13:45:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/685fc65c-52d4-4e1c-b6f4-40b7d4eebfc0.jpg?v=1788009503 Should You Buy a Used Guitar That Needs a Refret? Close-up of a used Gibson Les Paul rosewood fretboard showing frets with height remaining https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-gibson-sunbursts-fade 2026-08-30T13:41:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-sunburst-fade-diagram.png?v=1788031501 Why Do Gibson Sunbursts Fade? Unburst, Lemonburst, and Honeyburst Explained Illustration: why a Gibson sunburst fades - the finish stack with the fugitive red aniline dye layer, and a fade spectrum from Cherry Sunburst to Honeyburst to Lemonburst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-capos-damage-your-guitar 2026-08-30T13:41:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/capo-placement-right-vs-wrong.png?v=1788053113 Do Capos Damage Your Guitar? What Actually Wears (and What Doesn't) Diagram comparing correct capo placement snug behind the fret wire versus too far back, which pulls notes sharp and can buzz https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-is-a-paf-pickup 2026-08-30T13:41:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/92428993-9b48-40e8-a7be-c71977d85fe2.jpg?v=1788074562 What Is a PAF Pickup, and Why Do Players Chase the "PAF Sound"? Two covered nickel humbuckers on a Gibson Les Paul Standard — the classic PAF look https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-the-gibson-les-paul-tribute-worth-it 2026-08-30T13:41:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/atpxmrmxgu8wxrc6x8yi.jpg?v=1788096057 Is the Gibson Les Paul Tribute Worth It? A Bench Tech's Honest Take Gibson Les Paul Tribute T in Faded Honey Burst with a satin nitrocellulose finish and covered humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-guitar-cuts-out-when-switching-pickups 2026-08-31T08:28:12-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-signal-path-diagram.png?v=1788117769 Why Does My Guitar Cut Out or Crackle When I Switch Pickups? Diagram of an electric guitar signal path showing the toggle switch and output jack as the two most common causes of crackle and cut-outs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-used-guitars-a-good-investment 2026-08-31T08:28:11-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-guitar-value-over-time.png?v=1788139314 Are Used Guitars a Good Investment? An Honest Answer From a Shop That Buys Them Every Week Illustration of guitar resale value over time: most guitars depreciate and plateau while a small minority of rare or vintage guitars appreciate over decades. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-the-epiphone-inspired-by-gibson-custom-worth-it 2026-08-31T08:28:11-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/eyrwlqjzgyyh77db6xil.jpg?v=1788161195 Is the Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson Custom" Line Actually Worth It? Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom in Ebony with gold hardware, front view https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-locking-bridges-worth-it-les-paul-sg 2026-08-31T13:54:08-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/0f4269ce-5490-4e49-b041-5ac0d0297df2.jpg?v=1788182516 Are Locking Bridges and Tailpieces Worth It on a Les Paul or SG? Standard tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a Gibson SG, the hardware a locking kit replaces https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-cut-out-output-jack 2026-08-31T22:37:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-output-jack-anatomy-diagram.png?v=1788204071 Why Does My Guitar Cut Out When I Move the Cable? (It's Usually the Output Jack) Diagram of the inside of a 1/4-inch guitar output jack showing the tip-contact clip, jack nut and washer, solder lugs, and the spinning-jack problem that makes a guitar cut out https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-re-glued-neck-joint-bad-on-a-used-guitar 2026-08-31T22:37:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-set-neck-joint-cross-section.png?v=1788225680 Is a Re-Glued Neck Joint Bad on a Used Guitar? Cross-section illustration of a set-neck mortise-and-tenon joint showing the glued surfaces and common crack line https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-special-worth-it-used 2026-09-01T11:15:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7d798b13-2d28-4024-bddb-898c2d275bac.jpg?v=1788247446 The Gibson Les Paul Special: Two P-90s, a Slab of Mahogany, and What to Check Before You Buy One Used Black single-cut Gibson Les Paul with two black soapbar P-90 pickups https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-push-pull-pots-wear-out 2026-09-01T11:15:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/039b7977-7cb4-408d-96b7-3afc06a9344f.jpg?v=1788269120 Do Push-Pull Pots Wear Out or Fail? An Honest Take From the Bench Close-up of the control layout on a PRS S2 McCarty 594, whose two tone knobs are push-pull pots used to coil-tap each humbucker https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/stratocaster-vs-les-paul-which-to-buy-used 2026-09-01T23:13:44-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/strat-vs-les-paul-comparison_38f0e6e0-a31a-421a-bac5-ceeac2f3bd81.png?v=1788318824 Stratocaster vs. Les Paul: Which Should You Actually Buy Used? Diagram comparing Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul specs: scale length, pickups, bridge, neck joint, body wood, and weight https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-guitar-pickups-wear-out-or-lose-magnetism 2026-09-01T23:13:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/pickup-failure-diagram_fc86dd08-d2ac-4d84-b6d4-0d7fc24d347c.png?v=1788318835 Do Guitar Pickups Wear Out or Lose Their Magnetism Over Time? Labeled cross-section diagram of a guitar pickup showing which parts actually wear out over time https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-measure-guitar-action 2026-09-03T08:04:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/action-12th-fret.png?v=1788333767 How to Measure Your Guitar's Action — and What the Numbers Should Actually Be Diagram showing how to measure guitar action at the 12th fret, from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-is-this-used-guitar-so-cheap 2026-09-03T08:04:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-used-guitar-green-lights-vs-red-flags.png?v=1788355420 Why Is This Used Guitar So Cheap? When a Below-Market Price Is a Red Flag Green lights vs red flags: why a used guitar is priced below market https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-a-beginner-buy-an-expensive-guitar 2026-09-03T08:04:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/0386ac88-53b8-4489-b6de-43bc0a9e36a9.jpg?v=1788376717 Should a Beginner Buy an Expensive Guitar? Used Epiphone Les Paul in worn wine red, a mid-tier electric guitar that makes a strong first guitar for a beginner https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-les-paul-loses-volume-in-middle-position 2026-09-03T08:04:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f76c8626-d8ba-47f2-b86b-ec0708caa6da.jpg?v=1788398500 Why Does My Les Paul (or SG) Lose Volume in the Middle Position? Gibson Les Paul body showing two humbuckers, four control knobs, and the three-way toggle switch https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-les-paul-sound-muddy 2026-09-03T08:04:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bblos6sy7szlwojnsix9.jpg?v=1788420044 Why Does My Les Paul Sound Muddy? (And How to Actually Fix It) Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s goldtop, a warm dark-voiced guitar, laid flat showing its humbuckers and controls https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-fretboard-radius-should-you-get 2026-09-03T17:50:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-fretboard-radius-crosssection.png?v=1788441571 What Fretboard Radius Should You Get? 7.25" vs 9.5" vs 12" vs Compound Diagram comparing 7.25, 9.5 and 12 inch guitar fretboard radius cross-sections showing rounder versus flatter boards https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-gibson-firebird 2026-09-03T17:50:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5cc10b92-75f5-40fd-945e-915f0a874f5b.jpg?v=1788463430 Should You Buy a Used Gibson Firebird? What to Know Before You Do Black 2018 Gibson Firebird in Ebony with the classic reverse body shape and two mini-humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/reverb-payout-delay-over-2000 2026-09-03T18:09:17-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/reverb-payout-delay-header.png?v=1788466816 Reverb's New Payout Policy: Sales Over $2,000 Now Pay 3-6 Days After Delivery Orange thumbs-down icon on a dark background with the words Payout Delayed, over a line reading: sell over $2,000 and you now wait 3 to 6 business days after delivery. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-gibson-explorer 2026-09-04T08:36:51-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gzbvgujrtnebdldxksss.jpg?v=1788484830 Should You Buy a Used Gibson Explorer? Natural korina-finished Explorer showing the classic angular Gibson Explorer body shape https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/squier-vs-epiphone-which-budget-brand-holds-up 2026-09-04T08:36:51-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/lerccq4mzfxi3t23ci8k.jpg?v=1788506725 Squier vs. Epiphone: Which Budget Brand Actually Holds Up on the Bench? Used Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top in heritage cherry sunburst on the bench at Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-a-guitar-setup-worth-it 2026-09-11T12:33:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-setup-adjustment-points.png?v=1788528010 Is a Professional Guitar Setup Actually Worth It? What It Fixes — and What It Can't Illustration of a solidbody electric guitar labeling the six things a guitar setup adjusts: truss rod neck relief, nut slot height, string action, intonation, pickup height, and fresh strings https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-maple-top-on-a-les-paul-change-tone 2026-09-11T12:33:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/les-paul-vs-sg-body-cross-section-maple-cap.png?v=1788549592 Does the Maple Top on a Les Paul Actually Change the Tone? Cross-section diagram comparing a Les Paul body (carved maple cap over mahogany) with an all-mahogany SG, Les Paul Junior and Special https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-silver-sky-just-a-strat 2026-09-11T12:33:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/prs-silver-sky-vs-strat-headstock.png?v=1788571456 PRS Silver Sky: Is It Just an Expensive Strat? Illustration comparing a Fender six-in-line headstock with string trees to the PRS Silver Sky reverse three-plus-three headstock https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-es-345-vs-es-335-is-the-varitone-worth-it 2026-09-11T12:33:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/42d70808-4bb8-4c95-87ce-9ecf1cf043fe.jpg?v=1788592857 Gibson ES-345 vs ES-335: Is the Varitone Worth It? Gibson ES-335 in Sixties Cherry, the reference point for comparing the ES-345 and its Varitone switch https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-a-guitar-warranty-transfer-when-you-buy-used 2026-09-11T12:33:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/919b4384-6445-4af6-99c0-6211b4053cba.jpg?v=1788614390 Does a Guitar's Warranty Transfer When You Buy It Used? Used 1997 Gibson Les Paul Classic in honeyburst on a bench, illustrating a used guitar with no transferable factory warranty https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/is-gibson-quality-control-actually-bad 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gibson_qc_timeline.png?v=1788636188 Is Gibson's Quality Control Actually as Bad as the Internet Says? Illustration timeline of Gibson quality control by era, from the 1950s-60s golden era through the Norlin era, the 2015 robot-tuner year, the 2018 sale to KKR, and the more consistent 2019-onward era. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-much-to-spend-on-a-used-electric-guitar 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e9225acd-2977-4e36-9f2d-e0704b70dfa6.jpg?v=1788657776 How Much Should You Actually Spend on a Used Electric Guitar? PRS Custom 24 10-Top figured quilt maple guitar in Whale Blue, used on the Aeonic Frets bench https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-many-times-can-a-guitar-be-refretted 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5f0cef62-e399-4f4e-8bba-6b97a6309cf1.jpg?v=1788679366 How Many Times Can a Guitar Be Refretted — and When Do You Need a New Fretboard? Close-up of a rosewood guitar fretboard and its frets on a used Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-mccarty-594-vs-custom-24-which-to-buy 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/prs-mccarty-594-vs-custom-24-hero.png?v=1788701246 PRS McCarty 594 vs Custom 24: Which One Should You Actually Buy? PRS McCarty 594 in Vintage Cherry beside a PRS Custom 24 in Blue Fade, showing the difference in controls and bridge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-wide-range-humbucker-cunife-vs-reissue 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/wide-range-magnet-structure.png?v=1788722507 Fender Wide Range Humbuckers: Why the '70s Ones Sound Different From the Reissues Diagram comparing a standard humbucker's single bar magnet and steel poles to a Fender Wide Range humbucker's individual CuNiFe rod magnet pole pieces https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-pack-and-ship-a-guitar-safely 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-guitar-shipping-suspension-pack-diagram.png?v=1788744380 How to Pack and Ship a Guitar So It Arrives in One Piece Diagram of the suspension-pack method for shipping a guitar safely https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-the-pot-brand-matter-cts-vs-import-pots 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-lp-custom-controls.jpg?v=1788765848 Does the Pot Brand Actually Matter? CTS vs. Import Pots, From the Bench Volume and tone control knobs on a Gibson Les Paul Custom, the tops of its four potentiometers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-one-guitar-do-every-genre 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a0a58e63-2dd8-4184-a133-5c522fefd319.jpg?v=1788787370 Can One Guitar Really Do Every Genre? An Honest Answer From the Bench Cherry Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow guitar, a versatile do-it-all electric that covers many genres https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-relic-guitars-play-or-sound-better 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/uszh7xzqjhvkb6yb25ef.jpg?v=1788808849 Do Relic'd Guitars Actually Play or Sound Better? An Honest Take From the Bench Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded in Worn Cherry satin finish, a used guitar in stock at Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-set-guitar-intonation-with-a-tuner 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/intonation-12th-fret-test-diagram.png?v=1788830595 How to Set Your Guitar's Intonation With Just a Tuner Diagram of the 12th-fret intonation test: compare the harmonic to the fretted note, then move the saddle back if sharp or forward if flat https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-boutique-guitars-worth-it-vs-used-gibson-fender-prs 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ec1a3cf5-b4dc-456e-8e44-2d669ea986b3.jpg?v=1788852038 Are Boutique Guitars Worth It? What You're Really Paying For Over a Used Gibson, Fender, or PRS Used PRS Custom 24 Wood Library with a figured flame maple top, an example of premium hand-selected wood on a big-brand guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-limited-edition-guitars-worth-it 2026-09-11T12:33:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bd089d14-3a1f-43d2-b9cc-bd667baed2d2.jpg?v=1788873708 Are "Limited Edition" and "Rare" Guitars Actually Worth Paying More For? Fender Limited Edition HM Strat reissue in bright white with a Floyd Rose, an example of a genuinely limited-run guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-buy-the-floor-model-display-guitar 2026-09-11T12:33:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-floor-model-checklist.png?v=1788895367 Should You Buy the Floor Model? What a Display Guitar Has Really Been Through Illustration: six things to check when buying a floor model or display guitar - finish, frets and fretboard, neck and setup, body edges, hardware, and electronics https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-trust-youtube-guitar-demos 2026-09-11T12:33:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-recorded-tone-signal-chain.png?v=1788916863 Can You Trust YouTube Guitar Demos? Why the Tone in the Video Might Not Be the Guitar Diagram of the recorded guitar tone signal chain: guitar, amp settings, mic placement, the mix, YouTube compression, and playback device https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-gretsch-guitars-sound-different-filtertron-pickups 2026-09-11T12:33:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e636fc8c-7749-4c40-bc9e-7ebc8a2ccb42.jpg?v=1788938716 Why Do Gretsch Guitars Sound So Different? Filter'Tron Pickups, Explained From the Bench Fairline Blue Gretsch Electromatic Double Jet FT with two Filter'Tron pickups and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-tell-if-a-used-guitar-is-stolen 2026-09-11T12:33:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/provenance-check-illustration.png?v=1788960067 How to Tell if a Used Guitar Is Stolen Before You Buy Illustration of a five-step provenance checklist for confirming a used guitar is not stolen before buying https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-water-damage-on-a-used-guitar 2026-09-11T12:33:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/inspection-map.png?v=1788981860 How to Spot Water Damage on a Used Guitar (Before You Buy) Illustration: the six places water damage hides on a used electric guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-date-a-used-prs-by-serial-number 2026-09-11T12:33:44-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/prs-serial-anatomy.png?v=1789144069 How to Date a Used PRS by Serial Number Illustration of how to read a PRS serial number: the year-code prefix separated from the sequential build number for USA Core, Korean SE, and Indonesian SE guitars https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/wound-vs-plain-g-string 2026-09-12T10:57:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/wound-vs-plain-g-string-construction-diagram.png?v=1789154519 Wound vs. Plain G String: Which Should You Actually Use? Diagram comparing a plain G guitar string with a wound G string https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-rattle-when-its-not-fret-buzz 2026-09-12T10:57:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-guitar-rattle-hot-spots-diagram.png?v=1789176308 Why Does My Guitar Rattle or Buzz When It Isn't the Frets? Illustration of an electric guitar labeling common non-fret rattle sources: tuner bushings, string tree, truss rod, bridge saddles, pickup height springs, tremolo springs, output jack nut, and loose knobs and cavity covers. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/2-point-vs-6-point-strat-tremolo 2026-09-12T10:57:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-2point-vs-6point-tremolo-diagram.png?v=1789197854 2-Point vs. 6-Point Strat Tremolo: Which Bridge Actually Stays in Tune Better? Diagram comparing a vintage six-screw Stratocaster tremolo with a modern two-point tremolo, showing how each bridge pivots. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-tools-do-you-need-to-set-up-your-own-guitar 2026-09-12T10:57:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-home-setup-map.png?v=1789219444 What Tools Do You Actually Need to Set Up Your Own Guitar? Diagram of a guitar showing the three home-setup adjustment points: truss rod for neck relief, bridge saddle height for action, and saddle position for intonation, with the nut flagged as the job where DIY gets risky. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-is-my-guitar-binding-cracking-shrinking 2026-09-12T22:14:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8ec92d5b-fa67-40f1-a885-d72c652dbc9d.jpg?v=1789241675 Why Is the Binding on My Guitar Cracking and Shrinking? Cream multi-ply binding tracing the body, f-holes, bound neck and headstock of a natural-finish Epiphone Sheraton II semi-hollow guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-multiscale-fanned-fret-guitars-worth-it 2026-09-12T22:14:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fanned-fret-neck-anatomy.png?v=1789262408 Are Multiscale (Fanned-Fret) Guitars Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Illustration of a fanned-fret multiscale guitar neck with a longer bass-side scale, shorter treble-side scale, and a straight neutral fret. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-buzz-only-on-open-strings 2026-09-13T10:45:08-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/nut-slot-height-diagram.png?v=1789284152 Why Does My Guitar Buzz Only on Open Strings? Diagram comparing a correct nut slot height to a slot cut too low that causes open-string buzz https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-wont-my-guitar-stay-in-tune-in-the-cold 2026-09-13T10:45:08-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f95fa121-dee5-482f-80ca-ba54e4c2d605.jpg?v=1789305637 Why Won't My Guitar Stay in Tune in the Cold? Maple-neck Fender Stratocaster headstock and tuning machines, where cold-weather tuning drift shows up first https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-baritone-guitars-worth-it 2026-09-13T20:49:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-baritone-scale-length.png?v=1789327220 Are Baritone Guitars Worth It? An Honest Take From the Bench Diagram comparing guitar scale lengths: 24.75-inch Gibson, 25.5-inch Fender, and 27-inch baritone, with the tunings each is happiest in https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-date-a-used-epiphone-by-serial-number 2026-09-14T07:18:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/cab7aab4-0d74-4a56-b5f2-fa5a7abcf5b1.jpg?v=1789348993 How to Date a Used Epiphone by the Serial Number Back of an Epiphone Les Paul Standard headstock showing the stamped serial number 11021506289 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-use-steel-wool-on-guitar-frets 2026-09-14T07:18:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-frets-mask-pickups-diagram.png?v=1789370453 Should You Use Steel Wool on Your Guitar's Frets? Diagram showing how to mask off guitar pickups with tape and paper before polishing frets with 0000 steel wool https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-original-collection-vs-modern-collection 2026-09-15T15:24:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bn7s2m7facgw1gpnamdi_6402e65f-6e9c-4edc-8161-e981b9d04b1e.jpg?v=1789500298 Gibson Original Collection vs. Modern Collection: What's Actually Different (and Which Should You Buy Used)? Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s Gold Top, a classic Original Collection guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-leave-a-guitar-in-the-car 2026-09-15T15:25:15-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-car-temp-timeline.png?v=1789500315 Can You Leave a Guitar in the Car? What Heat and Cold Actually Do to It Illustration of cabin air temperature inside a parked car on a 90F day climbing past 120F within 30 minutes, with the guitar glue and finish damage threshold marked near 90F https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/nickel-vs-chrome-guitar-hardware 2026-09-15T15:26:04-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/755de723-cae5-450d-b7e7-d33bc4f14431_329c8992-7c7d-41ea-8d78-4c7c8f0bdab4.jpg?v=1789500364 Nickel vs. Chrome Guitar Hardware: Does the Plating Actually Matter? Bright silver tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a black Gibson Les Paul, illustrating nickel vs chrome guitar hardware https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-stratocaster-what-to-check 2026-09-15T15:27:07-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/oq89kvgrl6zlhyc3dovq_3c52d919-6987-47a2-b798-4496a4e85a84.jpg?v=1789500427 Buying a Used Stratocaster: What I Actually Check Before I Hand Over the Cash Used Fender Standard Stratocaster in Midnight Blue, full front view on a grey blanket https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/single-action-vs-dual-action-truss-rod 2026-09-15T15:27:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/single-vs-dual-action-truss-rod-diagram_5a5ca42e-a003-4232-bac7-b5573211fc53.png?v=1789500455 Single-Action vs. Dual-Action Truss Rods: What the Difference Actually Means Diagram comparing a single-action one-way truss rod to a dual-action two-way truss rod https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/maple-vs-mahogany-neck-does-neck-wood-change-tone 2026-09-15T15:27:49-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-maple-vs-mahogany-neck-diagram_bccc6d66-07f7-4ba2-9270-a32af8956cae.png?v=1789500469 Maple vs. Mahogany Neck: Does the Neck Wood Actually Change Your Tone? Diagram comparing maple and mahogany guitar neck wood by weight, stiffness, hardness and humidity movement https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-do-gibson-reissue-r-numbers-mean 2026-09-16T08:13:53-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-gibson-r-number-decoder.png?v=1789521761 "R9," "R8," "R0": What the R-Numbers on a Gibson Reissue Actually Mean Diagram decoding Gibson Custom Shop reissue R-numbers: R means Reissue and the digit is the last digit of the year, so R4 is 1954, R6 is 1956, R7 is 1957, R8 is 1958, R9 is 1959, and R0 is 1960 https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-tariffs-making-used-guitars-more-expensive 2026-09-16T08:13:53-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/used-guitar-price-index-2026.png?v=1789543167 Are Tariffs Making Used Guitars More Expensive? What's Actually Happening to Prices in 2026 Line chart of the used electric guitar price index, 2019 to 2026, showing prices peaking about 32% above 2019 in 2022 then settling near 20% above 2019 by 2025-2026. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-my-guitar-strings-go-dead-so-fast 2026-09-16T10:10:02-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-string-cutaway-fresh-vs-dead_dd1d52c3-7b39-4b3a-af25-9705b36004a7.png?v=1789567802 Why Do My Guitar Strings Go Dead So Fast? Cutaway illustration comparing a fresh roundwound guitar string with empty winding grooves to a dead string whose grooves are packed with sweat, skin oil, and corrosion. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/ash-vs-alder-guitar-body-wood 2026-09-17T07:52:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ash-vs-alder-comparison.png?v=1789586279 Ash vs. Alder Guitar Body Wood: Does It Actually Change Your Tone? Comparison chart of ash versus alder guitar body wood showing weight, grain, best finishes, tone tendency, and availability https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-gibson-sg-what-to-check 2026-09-17T07:52:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/934f986e-ad78-4f84-b57b-10df7c49e8f8.jpg?v=1789608094 Buying a Used Gibson SG: What I Actually Check on the Bench Used Gibson SG Standard in tobacco sunburst, front view, on the bench at Aeonic Frets https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-prs-what-i-check-on-the-bench 2026-09-17T07:52:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4e66c988-166e-48e3-a8ec-cce03743e9bb_aa5d5328-5860-4841-b540-63712085dc18.jpg?v=1789629868 Buying a Used PRS: What I Actually Check on the Bench Used PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline in Vintage Cherry with a carved flame maple top and bird inlays. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/coil-split-vs-coil-tap-difference 2026-09-17T14:38:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/coil-split-vs-coil-tap-diagram.png?v=1789651260 Coil Split vs. Coil Tap: What's Actually Different (and Why Everyone Mixes Them Up) Diagram comparing a full humbucker, a coil split, and a coil tap https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-are-les-paul-upper-frets-hard-to-reach 2026-09-18T11:24:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-cutaway-upper-fret-access.png?v=1789672745 Why Are the Top Frets So Hard to Reach on a Les Paul? (And What Actually Helps) Diagram comparing upper-fret access on a single-cutaway guitar versus a double-cutaway guitar, showing where the neck joins the body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/p90-vs-fender-single-coil 2026-09-18T11:24:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/p90-vs-single-coil-construction-diagram.png?v=1789694456 Are P-90s Just Fat Single Coils? Cross-section diagram comparing a P-90 and a Fender-style single coil: the Fender uses six rod magnets as pole pieces in a tall narrow coil while the P-90 uses two bar magnets under a wide short coil feeding steel screw poles. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-any-humbucker-be-coil-split 2026-09-18T11:24:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/521d241f-f605-4377-99bf-2ff0f020f307.jpg?v=1789716205 Can Any Humbucker Be Coil-Split? What 2-Conductor vs 4-Conductor Actually Means Two humbuckers with visible coils on a blue quilt-top PRS Custom 24 electric guitar https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-epiphone-probuckers-actually-good 2026-09-18T11:24:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/lerccq4mzfxi3t23ci8k_de00a3bb-33af-42ea-a04a-93e1e3a7affb.jpg?v=1789737721 Are Epiphone ProBuckers Actually Good? How Close They Get to Gibson Humbuckers Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top PRO in Heritage Cherry Sunburst with nickel-covered ProBucker humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-used-epiphone-what-to-check 2026-09-19T14:09:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/99cc0025-834e-43d8-9721-e5113290804a.jpg?v=1789759066 Buying a Used Epiphone: What I Actually Check on the Bench Used Epiphone Les Paul Standard in vintage sunburst with a flamed maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/seymour-duncan-vs-dimarzio 2026-09-19T14:09:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/sd-vs-dimarzio-voicing-map.png?v=1789780709 Seymour Duncan vs. DiMarzio: Which Pickups Should You Actually Buy? Illustration mapping Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio flagship humbuckers by output and brightness https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-buckle-rash-hurt-a-guitar 2026-09-19T14:09:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/buckle-rash-depth-cross-section.png?v=1789802277 Does Buckle Rash Actually Hurt a Guitar? Cross-section diagram of a guitar finish showing buckle rash at three depths: light swirls in the clear coat, a scratch through the color coat, and a gouge into bare wood. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-stop-semi-hollow-guitar-feedback 2026-09-19T14:09:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-hollowbody-feedback-crosssection.png?v=1789823866 How Do You Stop a Semi-Hollow or Hollowbody Guitar From Feeding Back? Diagram comparing a fully hollow guitar body with no center block to a semi-hollow body with a solid maple center block that resists feedback https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-mix-and-match-guitar-pickups 2026-09-19T17:36:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/c1eafb52-40a4-4e69-95d3-9abd00d24c60.jpg?v=1789845904 Can You Mix and Match Guitar Pickups? Do Your Neck and Bridge Have to Be a Matched Set? Neck and bridge open-coil humbuckers on a Gibson Les Paul Classic — deciding whether to run a matched pickup set. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/truss-rod-wont-turn-stripped-snapped-or-maxed 2026-09-20T21:36:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/truss-rod-anatomy-failure-points_ff40c325-08fd-4f97-a467-911dc1341b77.png?v=1789954610 Truss Rod Won't Turn? Stripped, Snapped, or Maxed — How to Tell What's Actually Fixable Cutaway diagram of a guitar neck labeling the truss rod's adjustment nut and anchor and its three failure points: stripped nut, stripped threads, and a snapped rod. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-spot-a-cracked-or-repaired-guitar-body 2026-09-20T21:36:39-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/crack-prone-zones-solidbody-guitar_a6dbba37-f8d4-48ba-8135-536f80738851.png?v=1789954599 How to Spot a Cracked or Repaired Guitar Body (and When It's a Dealbreaker) Diagram showing where solidbody electric guitars crack: neck joint and heel, side output jack, control-cavity edges, and end-pin https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-se-vs-epiphone-which-to-buy-used 2026-09-20T21:36:10-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/prs-se-vs-epiphone-hero_5f1cb659-5ec7-4be9-bf90-e1d67bccb933.jpg?v=1789954570 PRS SE vs Epiphone: Which Import Should You Actually Buy Used? PRS SE Custom 24 in blue flame beside an Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pro in wine red, both used guitars on the bench https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/buying-a-guitar-as-a-gift-for-someone-who-plays 2026-09-20T21:35:48-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/gift-guitar-decision-tree_cee8d93b-b0bc-4e9f-b48f-a73612be2e04.png?v=1789954548 Buying a Guitar as a Gift for Someone Who Already Plays: What Actually Works Decision tree diagram for buying a guitar as a gift https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/guitar-out-of-tune-after-whammy-bar 2026-09-20T21:35:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/512d79ab-08b1-47c4-9831-37520b61fc6e_e1008501-d2f3-4ca4-90bc-49584a72fb57.jpg?v=1789954538 Why Won't My Guitar Come Back In Tune After I Use the Whammy Bar? Close-up of a vintage six-screw Stratocaster synchronized tremolo bridge showing the pivot screws, saddles, and trem arm https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-fly-with-a-guitar 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/db2ef5e0-46f5-40ae-86a8-4e9a63eac7a7_e618d8e3-f369-4ac6-9871-71f9213c0d59.jpg?v=1789975456 Can You Fly With a Guitar? What Actually Happens to It in the Air (and How to Get It There in One Piece) Close-up of the angled headstock on a Gibson Les Paul, the most common break point when a guitar is dropped in transit https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-high-output-pickups-ruin-your-tone 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-pickup-output-frequency-peak.png?v=1789996843 Do High-Output Pickups Actually Ruin Your Tone? Frequency response of a vintage-output vs a high-output humbucker, showing the hotter pickup's resonant peak shifted lower with less treble https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-restring-a-bigsby 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bigsby-anchor-pin-restring-diagram.png?v=1790018234 How Do You Restring a Bigsby Without Losing Your Mind? Illustration of how a Bigsby string ball-end loops over the axle pin and pops off when slack, and the crimp-and-wedge fix https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-sound-thin-and-weak 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/755de723-cae5-450d-b7e7-d33bc4f14431_f842cb77-63a6-4a05-9c05-1e3a417a6485.jpg?v=1790040829 Why Does My Guitar Suddenly Sound Thin and Weak? (And How to Fix It) Close-up of the two humbuckers and controls on a used Gibson Les Paul, the pickups sitting just below the strings https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-are-1959-les-paul-bursts-so-expensive 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1959-les-paul-burst-anatomy.png?v=1790062219 Why Are 1959 Gibson Les Paul 'Bursts So Expensive? What Actually Makes Them Special Illustration labeling the features of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Burst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-sound-too-bright-and-harsh 2026-09-22T09:49:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/02ba8512-fdc3-4eba-a2a4-edf13923ce82.jpg?v=1790084017 Why Does My Guitar Sound Too Bright and Harsh? Close-up of a Stratocaster's single-coil pickups with the volume and tone knobs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/should-you-upgrade-a-cheap-guitar-or-buy-a-better-one 2026-09-23T09:25:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/aeonic-upgrade-vs-tradeup-cost.png?v=1790105316 Should You Upgrade a Cheap Guitar, or Just Buy a Better One? Diagram comparing $300 spent upgrading a $400 guitar versus selling it and buying a $700 used step-up. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-guitars-go-bad-if-you-dont-play-them 2026-09-23T09:25:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/guitar-that-sits-what-ages.png?v=1790127086 Do Guitars Go Bad If You Don't Play Them? What Actually Happens to a Guitar That Sits Illustration of the six things that age on a guitar that sits unplayed: strings, frets and fretboard, tuners and hardware, wood and humidity, pots and switch, and the active pickup battery https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-does-a-humbucker-work 2026-09-23T09:25:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a15dfc91-ffeb-4f5d-87b0-e3021ed1e22c.jpg?v=1790148792 How Does a Humbucker Actually Work? Why Two Coils Kill the Hum Two covered humbucker pickups on a Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow guitar, a classic humbucker-equipped instrument. https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/do-you-actually-need-a-tube-amp 2026-09-24T08:30:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/amp-comparison-tube-solidstate-modeling.png?v=1790170443 Do You Actually Need a Tube Amp? An Honest Take From the Bench Comparison chart of tube, solid-state, and modeling guitar amps across feel, bedroom volume, weight, reliability, upkeep, sounds, cost, and resale https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-government-series-ii-explorer 2026-09-23T11:44:09-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-wood-library-explained 2026-09-24T08:30:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/ec1a3cf5-b4dc-456e-8e44-2d669ea986b3_9b95b129-db23-4f13-a280-ead79d13fd89.jpg?v=1790191282 What Does “Wood Library” Mean on a PRS? The Special-Order Program, Decoded 2019 PRS Custom 24 Wood Library 10-Top in Copperhead with heavily flamed maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/hide-glue-vs-titebond-guitar-neck-joint 2026-09-24T08:30:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/66abcf26-616c-45cc-a173-d42a6022ce38.jpg?v=1790212792 Hide Glue vs. Titebond: Does the Glue in a Set-Neck Guitar Change the Tone? Gibson Custom Shop R7 1957 Les Paul Standard reissue in Goldtop, a post-2013 Historic built with a hide-glued neck joint https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/heritage-h-150-vs-gibson-les-paul-standard 2026-09-24T08:30:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/16356e29-ab18-451b-bd73-1630c7a937d4.jpg?v=1790234444 Heritage H-150 vs. Gibson Les Paul Standard: Is the Kalamazoo Alternative the Smarter Used Buy? Heritage Standard H-150 in Original Sunburst with figured maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/does-neck-thickness-affect-tone 2026-09-24T15:21:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f26a50d4-2f7f-47d9-a655-d75e7846f55e.jpg?v=1790256067 Fat Neck, Big Tone? What Neck Thickness Really Does to an Electric Guitar Back of the fuller '50s-profile neck on a 2023 Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s in Honey Amber https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-custom-shop-nos-closet-classic-relic-levels 2026-09-24T15:21:45-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/sxbgppp7tl1hnztafsag.jpg?v=1790277639 NOS, Closet Classic, or Relic? Reading a Fender Custom Shop Spec Sheet Fender Custom Shop '67 Reissue Stratocaster Relic showing lower bout finish wear through to the wood and aged bridge saddles https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-andy-mooney-world-stamp-telecaster 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/55a263eb-1914-4d1d-975f-7c7bd9698180.jpg?v=1790299136 The Fender Andy Mooney World Stamp Telecaster: A CEO's Stamp Collection Turned Custom Shop Tele Fender Custom Shop Andy Mooney World Stamp Telecaster, Comoros edition, with a cream stamp-collage top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/collapsed-tune-o-matic-bridge 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/036f8525-9db1-4bd0-9541-0d58621e7009.jpg?v=1790320971 Is Your Tune-o-matic Bridge Collapsing? How to Spot a Sagging Bridge on a Used Gibson Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a 2013 Gibson Gary Moore Les Paul Standard in Lemonburst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/american-vintage-ii-vs-american-professional-ii-stratocaster 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1f2540dd-d89e-47fe-82ef-3961ed77f607.jpg?v=1790342609 American Vintage II '57 vs. American Professional II Stratocaster: Which USA Strat Fits Your Hands? 2022 Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster in 2-Color Sunburst with maple neck https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-pickups-explained-85-15-58-15-57-08 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b45666a4-8a1f-427d-b789-9cadcc3f4829.jpg?v=1790364093 HFS, Dragon II, 57/08 or 85/15? Figuring Out Which Pickups Are in a Used PRS PRS CE 24 Satin Nitro in Gold Top with covered PRS 57/08 humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/nitro-finish-sinking-into-grain 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b729448b-dba8-4206-91c3-f0203447e794.jpg?v=1790385711 Pores, Dimples and a Ghost Seam: Why Nitro Finishes Sink Into the Grain Gibson Custom Shop Brian Ray '62 SG Junior in White Fox with mahogany grain visible through a thin nitro finish https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-standard-years-buying-guide 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5ec1faf6-efc7-406c-b7d9-3f270bac9975.jpg?v=1790407532 The Les Paul Standard, Era by Era: Which Years to Hunt Used, and What Changed Early-2000s Gibson Les Paul Standard with '60s neck profile in Latte Creme finish over a figured maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-is-my-telecaster-neck-pickup-so-quiet 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/vmahjf4bvisibqxbvah7.jpg?v=1790428840 Why Is My Telecaster Neck Pickup So Quiet and Dark? Close-up of a Fender Telecaster showing the chrome-covered neck pickup and the bare bridge pickup in a steel bridge plate https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-robot-les-paul-min-etune-buying-used 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/17ba5943-de16-442b-bfac-7b38b18f58a6.jpg?v=1790450490 Keep the Robot or Pull It? Buying a Self-Tuning Gibson Les Paul Used 2007 Gibson Les Paul Robot in Blue Silver Burst with the chrome-topped Master Control Knob https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/ace-frehley-budokan-les-paul-custom 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/9a20d93a-6ed6-4dd6-8266-15ec9a96284a.jpg?v=1790472020 Three Humbuckers and a Spaceman: The Gibson Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul Custom 2012 Gibson USA Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul Custom in Heritage Cherry Sunburst with three cream humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/used-gibson-es-335-what-to-check 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/7edb84d2-de2a-4110-8ae9-ab5ab082ca24.jpg?v=1790493725 Checking Out a Used Gibson ES-335? The Semi-Hollow Problems a Solidbody Checklist Misses 2022 Gibson ES-335 Satin in Satin Cherry, front view showing f-holes, bridge and controls https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/what-does-vos-mean-gibson-custom-shop 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d24ba66d-d076-4815-8e7d-dad875ac745e.jpg?v=1790515347 What Does VOS Mean on a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul? Gibson Custom Shop 1957 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty reissue in factory VOS Ebony finish with gold hardware and Bigsby https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/shaving-a-guitar-neck-thinner 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/f26a50d4-2f7f-47d9-a655-d75e7846f55e_d9ab4dd7-1546-4546-b4c1-513bc001c765.jpg?v=1790536930 Can You Shave a Guitar Neck Thinner? What You Gain, and What You Can't Get Back Back of the neck on a 2023 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s showing the fuller 50s neck carve https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/pau-ferro-vs-rosewood-fretboard 2026-09-28T08:08:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b578eba6-0332-43c2-b509-0f444e2a7a3e.jpg?v=1790558456 Pau Ferro vs. Rosewood: Is a Fender With a Pau Ferro Board a Lesser Guitar? 2018 Fender Classic Player '60s Stratocaster in Sonic Blue with a pau ferro fretboard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/how-to-set-up-a-guitar-for-slide 2026-09-28T08:08:40-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b637dba9-d78e-4ae7-ac33-c7510bd9abd5.jpg?v=1790580163 How to Set Up an Electric Guitar for Slide (Without Ruining It for Everything Else) Gibson Custom Shop Brian Ray '62 SG Junior in White Fox, a single-P-90 guitar well suited to a slide setup https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/crumbling-guitar-tuner-buttons 2026-09-29T10:07:57-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/4440ee6e-4fe8-49be-bd1c-e06d60dade50.jpg?v=1790601760 Crumbling Tuner Buttons: Why Vintage-Style Buttons Rot and How to Fix Them Gibson Vintage Deluxe tuners with cream keystone buttons on the back of a Les Paul Standard '50s headstock https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/slab-vs-round-lam-rosewood-fingerboard 2026-09-29T10:07:57-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/2c0117bf-d3d9-4eec-a3ce-9a9d976cb31e.jpg?v=1790623286 Slab Board or Round-Lam? What the Rosewood on a '60s-Style Strat Tells You Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster in 3-color sunburst with a slab rosewood fingerboard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-brian-ray-62-sg-junior 2026-09-29T10:07:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/b637dba9-d78e-4ae7-ac33-c7510bd9abd5_c3291469-8766-4f0c-bc5c-8a5ae89c1068.jpg?v=1790644851 What Makes the Gibson Brian Ray '62 SG Junior More Than a Junior? Gibson Custom Shop Brian Ray '62 SG Junior in pearlescent White Fox with black pickguard, dog-ear P-90 and ebony block Vibrola https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-les-paul-plus-premium-plus-aaa-top-grades 2026-09-29T10:07:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/98b30fa0-ef87-4030-92ab-ee058e7fca1a.jpg?v=1790666535 Reading the Flame: What "Plus," "Premium Plus" and AAA Mean on a Used Les Paul 2007 Gibson Les Paul Studio Premium Plus in Natural with dense flame maple figure across the carved top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-sg-standard-vs-sg-standard-61 2026-09-29T10:07:56-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/sg-standard-vs-61-fronts.jpg?v=1790688509 SG Standard or SG Standard '61? What Separates Gibson's Two Core SGs Side-by-side fronts of a 2023 Gibson SG Standard with a batwing pickguard and a 2025 Gibson SG Standard '61 with a small teardrop pickguard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/tune-o-matic-saddle-notching 2026-09-30T09:37:58-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a15dfc91-ffeb-4f5d-87b0-e3021ed1e22c_2c4a2d95-a172-4a62-aa1c-0c02df94e858.jpg?v=1790775478 Strings Popping Off Your Tune-o-matic? Blank Saddles, Bad Slots, and How to Notch Them Right ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge and aluminum stopbar tailpiece on a 2022 Gibson ES-335 Satin in Cherry https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-neck-shapes-explained 2026-09-30T09:37:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/94dad46f-d3c3-415b-8fc4-61bfd7bbde19.jpg?v=1790775467 Fender Neck Shapes, Decoded: Which C, V, U or D Fits Your Hand? Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster in 2-Color Sunburst with a maple neck, leaning on a chair https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-singlecut-gibson-lawsuit 2026-09-30T09:37:38-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/6747024c-2c5e-4f4f-b143-5f99336ac744.jpg?v=1790775458 Why Did Gibson Sue PRS Over the Singlecut? The Lawsuit, the Ban, and What It Means for Used Buyers PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut in Scarlet Red with flame maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-tremolo-setup 2026-09-30T09:37:25-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/df947a68-b5b1-4c66-ac34-b6587531edba.jpg?v=1790775445 How to Set Up a PRS Tremolo: The 1/16-Inch Float and the F# Test PRS tremolo bridge on a green quilted maple PRS CE 24 Wood Library, showing the saddles and the front edge of the bridge plate https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-custom-egyptian-sands 2026-09-30T14:20:25-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-older-prs-guitars-better 2026-10-02T10:09:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e70a414d-40d6-424c-b4a6-e1d979badaee.jpg?v=1790796078 Were Older PRS Guitars Better? What Changed Since the '90s 1999 PRS Custom 22 Stoptail 10-Top in Vintage Yellow with a flamed maple top and original rotary pickup selector https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-guitar-of-the-week-2-les-paul-classic 2026-10-02T10:09:42-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8d597b98-4be8-4afb-8364-a5dfb5bac317.jpg?v=1790817553 Gibson Guitar of the Week #2: The 2007 Les Paul Classic in Fireburst 2007 Gibson Guitar of the Week #2 Les Paul Classic in Fireburst with figured maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-pickguard-on-or-off 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1b3dadad-7691-4383-8976-74549abbbfb5.jpg?v=1790839347 Pickguard On or Off? What Pulling the Guard Off a Les Paul Really Costs You Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus in Heritage Cherry Sunburst with no pickguard, showing a clean flame maple top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-goldtops-turn-green 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/66abcf26-616c-45cc-a173-d42a6022ce38_bdfacdf2-54b4-48b6-96f7-d02063aaf318.jpg?v=1790860883 When Gold Goes Green: Why Les Paul Goldtops Change Color (and Whether Yours Will) Gibson Custom Shop R7 1957 Les Paul Standard reissue goldtop in gloss finish, angled view https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-dgt-vs-custom-24 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/15f6364a-5f4f-4689-b2bd-cf491ddb0bd6.jpg?v=1790882486 PRS DGT vs. Custom 24: What David Grissom Changed, and Who Should Care 2011 PRS DGT 10-Top in Solana Burst with flamed maple top, cream pickup rings and amber knobs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/are-lace-sensor-pickups-good 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bfb7db2b-a642-4182-89b6-9fd309755ae7.jpg?v=1790904099 Are Lace Sensor Pickups Any Good? The Clapton Strat Pickup That Still Splits Players Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster in Olympic White with three white Lace Sensor Gold pickups on a gold anodized pickguard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-american-ultra-vs-american-professional-ii-stratocaster 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/8747812b-d524-4910-a3e3-b02d497f8d68.jpg?v=1790925838 Spending More for an Ultra Strat: What You Get Over an American Professional II Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster in Solar Flare metallic with maple fretboard and black anodized pickguard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/can-you-buff-out-scratches-on-a-guitar 2026-10-02T10:09:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5583767b-b28d-4b02-a0e3-57f96a0b1c44.jpg?v=1790947371 Can You Buff Out Scratches on a Guitar? What Polish Fixes and What Needs a Fill Quilted Emerald Green top of a 2006 PRS Custom 22 10-Top around the bridge and control knobs https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-private-stock-explained 2026-10-03T10:22:32-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/prs-mccarty-soapbar 2026-10-03T10:21:53-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/prs-mccarty-soapbar-1999-03.jpg?v=1791037313 The PRS McCarty Soapbar: When PRS Put P-90s on Its Most Vintage-Minded Guitar 1999 PRS McCarty Soapbar in McCarty Sunburst with figured maple top, two cream soapbar P-90-style pickups and a wraparound stoptail bridge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/get-smoke-smell-out-of-used-guitar 2026-10-03T10:22:11-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/lifting-frets-how-to-spot-and-fix 2026-10-03T10:22:23-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/913fa59e-00f4-4d2c-a6a6-9904835e77e3.jpg?v=1791037343 Lifted Frets: How to Find One, and When a Drop of Glue Is Enough Close-up of a maple Telecaster fingerboard showing fret ends sitting flat against the board edge https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/les-paul-modern-vs-standard 2026-10-05T18:16:14-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e21e0338-e3f1-4cc4-96c8-8d240de8ffab.jpg?v=1791238574 Les Paul Modern or Les Paul Standard? Five Differences You Feel Before You Hear Them Gibson Les Paul Modern Figured in Cobalt Burst with flamed maple top and ebony fingerboard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-granadillo-baked-maple-fretboards 2026-10-05T18:16:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d13fd06c-8949-4105-85d3-c3a699215e5b.jpg?v=1791238565 No Rosewood on That Used Gibson? Granadillo and Baked Maple Boards, Explained Bound torrefied granadillo fretboard with trapezoid inlays on a 2018 Gibson Firebird https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-american-original-vs-american-vintage-ii 2026-10-05T18:15:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/1f2540dd-d89e-47fe-82ef-3961ed77f607_a730db2d-da67-4da3-8932-5948ca162f27.jpg?v=1791238552 Why Fender Swapped the American Original for the American Vintage II, and Which to Buy Used Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster in 2-Color Sunburst with maple fingerboard https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/no-load-tone-pot-worth-it 2026-10-05T18:15:29-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/no-load-tone-pot-diagram_4246631e-6fe5-43e6-99a9-a53ababd54c8.png?v=1791238529 Is a No-Load Tone Pot Worth It? What Changes When the Knob Hits 10 Diagram comparing a standard guitar tone pot on 10 with a no-load tone pot on 10, where the tone circuit is disconnected https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/which-pickups-are-in-my-used-strat 2026-10-05T18:15:19-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/09950814-f9a2-4ac3-baa4-9b8bfc909ccf.jpg?v=1791238519 Which Pickups Did Fender Put in That Used Strat? A Year-by-Year Decoder Close-up of the three single-coil pickups on a 2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster in Candy Cola https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/1957-les-paul-custom-reissue-black-beauty 2026-10-05T18:15:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/5fa97431-3714-4cd4-89a4-3c12d2c75862.jpg?v=1791238506 Why the '57 Les Paul Custom Reissue Has No Maple Top (and What That Means When You Buy One) Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 Les Paul Custom two-pickup Black Beauty reissue in Ebony VOS with gold hardware https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/historic-makeover-les-paul-worth-it 2026-10-05T18:14:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/historic-makeover-vs-factory-historic-les-paul-diagram_4876b535-1cbd-46eb-90b7-c21ff7a1e488.png?v=1791238492 Is a Historic Makeover Les Paul Worth It? What the Conversion Changes and Costs You Diagram comparing a factory Gibson Historic Les Paul with a Historic Makeover conversion https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/sg-maestro-vibrola-tuning-stability 2026-10-05T18:14:43-04:00 weekly https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-player-vs-player-ii-stratocaster 2026-10-05T18:14:32-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/dphi4vhe7g14v9yoxchj.jpg?v=1791238472 Fender Player vs. Player II: Is the Newer Mexican Strat Worth Paying More For Used? Fender Player Stratocaster in Silver with pau ferro fingerboard and parchment pickguard on a guitar stand https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-does-my-guitar-disappear-in-band-mix 2026-10-06T10:57:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/90a1b29e-0ed3-42ec-8622-a1b5b22ed9f9.jpg?v=1791249674 Why Does My Guitar Disappear in a Band Mix? (It's Usually the Mids) Fender American Standard Stratocaster in Candy Cola with maple fretboard, the kind of guitar players blame when their tone gets lost in a band mix https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/why-do-white-guitars-turn-yellow 2026-10-06T10:57:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/bfb7db2b-a642-4182-89b6-9fd309755ae7_be78af85-2741-4fa4-86a4-390ddeebd9ba.jpg?v=1791271413 Why Do White Guitars Turn Yellow? Olympic White, Aged Finishes, and the Blue Strat That Went Green Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster in NOS Olympic White with gold hardware, showing a fresh, unyellowed white finish https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/brazilian-rosewood-fretboard-worth-it 2026-10-06T10:57:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/09e6c4f2-6476-42c3-be38-76412c3c3024.jpg?v=1791293030 Brazilian Rosewood Fretboards: What the Premium Really Buys on a Used Guitar Close-up of the dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard and abalone bird inlays on a 2018 PRS McCarty 594 Wood Library https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/memphis-vs-nashville-es-335 2026-10-06T15:24:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/e0ce3cb5-6e81-43dd-a4f2-4bd51cac48e9.jpg?v=1791314539 Memphis or Nashville? What the Factory Behind a Used Gibson ES-335 Tells You Nashville-built 2022 Gibson Modern Collection ES-335 Satin in Satin Cherry with figured maple laminate top https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/fender-pine-jazzmaster-2017-limited-edition 2026-10-07T08:00:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/fender-pine-jazzmaster-2017-front.jpg?v=1791336118 The Fender Pine Jazzmaster: A 2017 Limited Run Cut From a 19th-Century Grain Elevator 2017 Fender Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster with knotty natural reclaimed pine body https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/strat-body-route-under-the-pickguard 2026-10-07T08:00:52-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/strat-body-routes-diagram.png?v=1791357710 Lift the Pickguard: What a Strat's Body Route Tells You Before You Buy Diagram of four Stratocaster body routes under the pickguard: SSS, swimming pool, HSS and HSH https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/gibson-mod-collection-worth-it-used 2026-10-08T15:39:55-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a7b784af-7c8e-4147-a94b-d68fcd566765.jpg?v=1791379414 Are Gibson Mod Collection Guitars Worth It Used? What the MOD Stamp Really Means Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s Mod Collection in Key Lime Sparkle Burst https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/adding-a-bigsby-to-les-paul-or-sg 2026-10-08T15:39:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/a947790d-e79d-499e-94ca-9660ad72152e.jpg?v=1791400917 Putting a Bigsby on a Les Paul or SG: When to Drill, and When to Bolt It On Gibson SG Standard '61 in Vintage Cherry fitted with a Bigsby vibrato on a no-drill Vibramate adapter plate https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/thinline-telecaster-69-vs-72 2026-10-08T15:39:31-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/c1772bb1-b3dd-4e04-b0ec-87ab6d8b1e4f.jpg?v=1791422550 '69 or '72 Thinline Telecaster? Two Different Guitars Under One F-Hole Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline in natural ash with pearloid pickguard and two Wide Range-style humbuckers https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/tune-o-matic-bridge-posts-leaning 2026-10-08T15:39:12-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/d0f1754d-62dd-431a-9d73-5462b28473e7.jpg?v=1791444171 Bent Tune-o-matic Posts: Why Your Bridge Leans Toward the Neck, and How to Straighten It ABR-1 style tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece on a Gibson Custom Shop '57 Les Paul Custom reissue https://aeonicfrets.com/blogs/the-bench/epiphone-elitist-worth-it-used 2026-10-08T15:39:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0745/8344/1579/articles/giarox5me8pby2ggge6y.jpg?v=1791465648 Epiphone Elitist Guitars: Why the Japanese-Made Epis Cost More Used, and When They're Worth It Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino in natural finish with dog-ear P-90 pickups