Help Center
What type of benders do you offer?
Matney benders are “strap actuated” benders… That just means that the bender mechanism works by pushing down on the neck, while pulling up on the shoulder strap.
Are your benders short throw or long throw?
My earlier benders were primarily short or medium throw benders. Due to the growing popularity of the more traditional, long throw benders, I’ve updated my design to incorporate a long throw, which once the technique is mastered, gives you the ability to do slow, soulful sounding bends, as well as faster bends.
Can you put a Bender in any type of guitar?
No… I only install my bender system in traditional Tele style, solid body, full thickness guitars, with a flat back, and no comfort contours.
Do you offer double benders?
No… at this time I do not offer an option for a double bender. I offer a choice of either a “B” or a “G” bender, but not a “B&G” bender.
Why does my guitar squeak when I use my bender?
The most common reason for squeaking, when using any bender guitar, is a lack of lubrication. Dry saddles, especially brass saddles, will squeak if guitar lube is not used.
Do I need to use a certain string gauge with my bender?
No… you can use any gauge strings, just keep in mind that a lighter string will require slightly more travel of the pull arm to hit your desired “target note”. Whereas a heavier string will require less travel to hit the same note. Basically, this means if you change to a different string gauge, you’ll need to adjust the stopping point with the included allen wrench so the bender will stop “in tune” when activated.
Will a Matney bender add a lot of weight to my guitar?
No… Usually the wood that is being removed weighs almost the same as the bender unit, so it’s pretty much a wash as far as the weight is concerned. I’ve even had some heavier guitars that ended up being lighter after the installation. In an average guitar, it’s typical to see only about 1/2 lb added weight after the installation.
Contact us with any further inquiries you may have regarding Matney USA Benders. We’ll be happy to help you out.