At Matheas Guitars we understand that there are many options to consider when getting a guitar setup. This is something that I recognize. In order to help you decide what setup best suits you I have 'Try before you buy'. This is a series of dedicated guitars setup with the most popular or commonly used setups, in order to help you decide what setup suits your playing style the best. In addition we have designated guitars with interchangeable pickup modules that can be tried with a wide selection of amps such as a Vintage Moody Vibralux, Soldano, Fender Twin, Fender Bassman and a Marshall Superlead.

Trial Guitars

Guitar Type	Superstrat with floyd rose tremolo
	This guitar is set up for those of you who like to play fast difficult passages with the least resistance, without any choking of the notes when you bend strings. It is set up to execute fast alternate picking, legato, two-handed tapping and sweeping lines. This type of setup would be common for players such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane , Carlos Santana and Eddie Van Halen.
Musical Style	Lowest action shred style (Steve Vai)
String Gauge	9 to 42
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	Jumbo(6000)
Fretboard Radius	16 inches or greater
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	1.2 mm
Action( nut) High E	0.15 mm
Action( nut) Low E	0.22 mm
Neck Relief	Straight

Guitar Type	Strat Style
	This guitar is set up for players that like the setup and sound of a more traditionally set up guitar, but prefers the action to be a little bit lower than factory specifications. This type of setup enables you to play fast , difficult passages , and bend notes without the worry of notes choking or being inaudible , while keeping a more traditional feel to the guitar.
Musical Style	Low Rock
String Gauge	10 to 46
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	Standard Gibson
Fretboard Radius	20 inches compound
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1.2 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	1.6 mm
Action( nut) High E	0.23 mm
Action( nut) Low E	0.45 mm
Neck Relief	0.25 mm at 9 th fret

               

Guitar Type	Vintage Strat style
	This guitar is set to the recommended Fender factory specifications.
Musical Style	Fender Factory Specifications
String Gauge	10 to 46
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	2.6mm ´ 1.2mm
Fretboard Radius	9 ½ inches
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1.6 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2 mm
Action( nut) High E
Action( nut) Low E
Neck Relief	0.25 at 8 th fret

             

Guitar Type	Gibson Les Paul
	This guitar is set to the reccomended Gibson factory specifications.
Musical Style	Gibson Factory Specifications
String Gauge	10 to 46
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	2.3mm ´ 1.3mm
Fretboard Radius	12 inches
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1.2 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2 mm
Action( nut) High E	0.4 mm
Action( nut) Low E	0.8 mm
Neck Relief	0.3 at 7 th fret

             

Guitar Type	Aged Vintage Style Strat
	This guitar has features that are suitable for blues rock players as popularised by Stevie Ray Vaughn. It has a reshaped neck with thin worn lacquer finish similar to the feel of vintage guitars from the 60s, flattened fingerboard and refretted with jumbo fretwire so bending strings is less restrictive and easier to excecute. String pitches are tuned down to D, so the guitar takes on a voice that is thicker and darker sounding than a regular guitar tuned concert pitch. The string guages are thicker to accomadate the lower string tension associated with lowering the open string pitches. The string clearances on this type of guitar are a little higher to accomadate the dynamic picking hand from light delicate to aggressive hitting. This guitar has fender custom 54 pickups for that vintage tone. This guitar tends to suit players who prefer an aggressive style with the picking and fretting hand.
Musical Style	Texas Blues
String Gauge	12 to 56
Tuning(low to High)	D G C F A D
Fretwire Dimension	Jumbo(6000)
Fretboard Radius	7.25 Inches to12 inches
Action(12 th Fret) High E	2 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2.8 mm
Action( nut) High E	0.3 mm
Action( nut) Low E	0.45 mm
Neck Relief	0.3 at 9 th fret

               

Guitar Type	Danelectro
	For those of you that are interested in blues slide guitar and open tunings this setup may suit you. This uses thick diameter nickel wound strings .016" to .054". The string guages are thicker to accomadate the lower string tension associated with lowering the open string pitches. The string clearances on this type of guitar are high to accomadate the dynamic picking hand and to have adequate clearance for when the metal slide is deppressed against the strings. String pitches are tuned down to D, so the guitar takes on a voice that is thicker and darker sounding than a regular guitar tuned concert pitch . This is suitable for the technique of playing vibrato with slide.
Musical Style	Alternate tuning/ slide
String Gauge	16 to 56
Tuning(low to High)	D A D G A D
Fretwire Dimension	Jumbo (2.6*1)
Fretboard Radius	16 inch
Action(12 th Fret) High E	2.1 mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	3 mm
Action( nut) High E	.8 mm
Action( nut) Low E	1.1 mm
Neck Relief	.6 mm

                   

Guitar Type	Modified Epiphone SG Tony Iommi Model
	For those of you that are into modern heavy music, it is commom for these bands to play guitars that are tuned well below concert pitch. To set a standard guitar tuned to low pitches requires re adjustments. String pitches are tuned down to C, which is technically Baritone tuning and falls within the range of the Bass guitar, so the guitar takes on a voice that is thicker and darker sounding than a regular guitar tuned concert pitch.It is important to substitute the strings with thicker guages to accomadate the lower string tension associated with lowering the open string pitches. The string clearances on this type of guitar are low but can be a little higher to accomadate more aggressive pickers. Modifications are sometime required to the location of nut and bridge to introduce more compensation to the strings. The bridge saddles and nut are recut to accomadate the thicker guage of strings.
Musical Style	Modern Metal Low Pitch (SYL, Meshuggah, Order of Chaos)
String Gauge	13 to 58
Tuning(low to High)	C G Bb F G C
Fretwire Dimension	Jumbo (2.7 * 1)
Fretboard Radius	14 inch
Action(12 th Fret) High E	2
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2.8
Action( nut) High E	.5
Action( nut) Low E	.8
Neck Relief	.45

                   

Guitar Type	Cort Acoustic Steel String w/Buzz Feiten
	This is a production guitar that is set up for those of you who are used to an electric and would like to keep that same feel when playing a steel string acoustic. To establish such easy playability the frets were re seated and milled to a higher tolerance that allows adequate clearance for the string vibration pattern while the string clearances are lower than factory specifications. This is a popular request for many performing artists.
Musical Style	Lower than standard
String Gauge	12 to 54
Tuning(low to High)	E,A,D,G,B,E
Fretwire Dimension	2MM
Fretboard Radius	14
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1.4
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2.4
Action( nut) High E	.45
Action( nut) Low E	.45
Neck Relief	.2

               

Guitar Type	Gurian Workshops OOO Style Acoustic
	This is a fine musical instrument with a clear tone. The setup and string clearances were deliberately adjusted to enhance the radius of the round fingerboard . The higher than normal fretwire allows you to grab the string with your left hand and manipulate the notes. The saddle location has been adjusted and intonation is accurate. The adjustments are suitable for the tone and behaviour of the guitar and the solo acoustic fingerpicking style. There are other variations on this setup, primarily standard medium fretwire.
Musical Style	Finger Picking setup
String Gauge	12 to 54
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	Medium/Jumbo(2.4 1.2)MM
Fretboard Radius	7 ½
Action(12 th Fret) High E	1.6
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2.5
Action( nut) High E	.45
Action( nut) Low E	.63
Neck Relief	.38 at the 7 th fret

                 

Guitar Type	Peter Van Ree Rosewood Flamenco
	For traditional flamenco setup the string clearances are required to be low and evenly distributed over the entire fretboard. In addition it is essential that the strings at the bridge are close to the soundboard., no more than 9mm.This facilitates easier execution of flamenco technique, rascuedo, percussive drum sound by tapping of the soundboard with individual fingers, thumb or palm in between playing melodies and rhythms on the strings.
Musical Style	Standard Flamenco Setup
String Gauge	Medium
Tuning(low to High)	E A D G B E
Fretwire Dimension	Medium (2mm)
Fretboard Radius	Flat
Action(12 th Fret) High E	2.6mm
Action(12 th Fret) Low E	2.9mm
Action( nut) High E	.3mm
Action( nut) Low E	.5mm
Neck Relief	Straight