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Tonewood Teardown: The Final Verdict on Our Harley Benton Experiment
DIY Columns

Tonewood Teardown: The Final Verdict on Our Harley Benton Experiment

After 17 months of modding, our $500 budget Harley Benton stands toe-to-toe with guitars that cost 10 times more—and explodes most of what the internet insists is true about tonewood.

Close-up of a guitar fretboard covered with tape, resting on textured fabric.
Mod Garage

Tonewood Teardown: Polishing the Frets

We near the finish line as we tackle the polishing job that turns dull frets into glass.

Tonewood Teardown: Headstock Health
Mod Garage

Tonewood Teardown: Headstock Health

Our guitar makeover nears the end as we fine-tune our tuners, nut, and string tree.

Tonewood Teardown: Upgrading Our Harley Benton Guitar’s Tuners
Mod Garage

Tonewood Teardown: Upgrading Our Harley Benton Guitar’s Tuners

After tweaking the neck, let’s put some work into our budget electric’s tuning machines.

Tonewood Teardown: Making Your Budget Guitar’s Neck Feel Like a Vintage Gem
Mod Garage

Tonewood Teardown: Making Your Budget Guitar’s Neck Feel Like a Vintage Gem

It’s time to take a closer look at our test subject electric’s neck and headstock, and see what we can do to improve them.

Heiko Höpfinger, BassLab Founder and Composite Pioneer, Dies at 60
Gear Talk

Heiko Höpfinger, BassLab Founder and Composite Pioneer, Dies at 60

The BassLab founder and longtime Premier Guitar columnist leaves behind three decades of groundbreaking instruments and countless friendships.

Close-up of a guitar neck with frets and strings against a black background.
Mod Garage

Mod Garage: Prepping Your Electric’s Neck

Next up in our Tonewood Teardown budget-guitar mod series, we take a look at the quirks and quibbles of neck construction.

Close-up of an electric guitar's body showcasing wiring and cavity details in mint green.
Mod Garage

Tonewood Teardown: Upgrading Your Single-Pickup Guitar’s Wiring

In the eleventh installment of our ongoing project, we wire up our Esquire-style electric with some simple tricks to boost its versatility.