Evertune bridge installation goes awry

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Inearthed said:
I'll chime in as my main guitar for the last 4-5 years has an Evertune (ESP Eclipse custom install)

Pros-
- Stays in tune -- saves a lot of time on stage and while recording, no scrapping takes because you forgot to tune, or a bend pulled a string out of tune, less time spending tuning. After I was confident that the system stayed in tune I no longer check my tuning between every take while tracking, saves a lot of time.
- Intonation good all up the neck --- once dialed in you're set
- Once you figure out the zones and how to tweak the bridge you're in set it and forget it mode

Middle Ground-
- It will change the way your guitar sounds, so if you have a specific guitar you absolutely love the tone of I'd recommend against getting the bridge installed
- Some people randomly have a ton of issues with the system --- I cannot discern if its user error or actual issues, the 5 different Evertune loaded guitars I've played have been issue free
- Palm muting feel is different than any other bridge I've played on, takes a little bit getting used to

Cons-
- Its obvious but still worth saying, there is no "going back" on an install --- you're stuck once you've pulled the trigger
- Most non-top of the line factory installed Evertune guitars are kinda shitty quality imo. The 1000 level ESP LTD's I've played loaded with the Evertune system have felt lower quality then the same 1000 level guitars.
- Installs on guitars you already own are extremely expensive (labor + hardware= $$$) and you'll never be able to recoup that value if you sell the instrument --- seriously. I bought a used ESP Eclipse that had a custom install done for $800 (yay eBay) which is almost as expensive as what I was quoted by Evertune proper to do an install on one of my guitars. The prior owner took a bath on that.
- Evertune guitars have less sustain on higher frets compared to their non-Evertune peers - this pops up in their groups and forums and people come out of the woodwork to defend the system and claim it doesn't happen to them but notes decay much faster on frets 15 and above, especially if there is a bend involved. Each Evertune loaded guitar that I've spent time on has the same issue. It isn't a deal breaker for me but if I'm doing lead work that has some sustaining sections I will use a different guitar.
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Interesting! How does the Evertune compare to a Floyd in regard to tuning stability? Is it the same or better than a Floyd? Always wanted to try an Evertune but if it basically has the same tuning stability as a Floyd I think I'll pass. BTW nice, detailed post!
 
Inearthed said:
I'll chime in as my main guitar for the last 4-5 years has an Evertune (ESP Eclipse custom install)

Pros-
- Stays in tune -- saves a lot of time on stage and while recording, no scrapping takes because you forgot to tune, or a bend pulled a string out of tune, less time spending tuning. After I was confident that the system stayed in tune I no longer check my tuning between every take while tracking, saves a lot of time.
- Intonation good all up the neck --- once dialed in you're set
- Once you figure out the zones and how to tweak the bridge you're in set it and forget it mode

Middle Ground-
- It will change the way your guitar sounds, so if you have a specific guitar you absolutely love the tone of I'd recommend against getting the bridge installed
- Some people randomly have a ton of issues with the system --- I cannot discern if its user error or actual issues, the 5 different Evertune loaded guitars I've played have been issue free
- Palm muting feel is different than any other bridge I've played on, takes a little bit getting used to

Cons-
- Its obvious but still worth saying, there is no "going back" on an install --- you're stuck once you've pulled the trigger
- Most non-top of the line factory installed Evertune guitars are kinda shitty quality imo. The 1000 level ESP LTD's I've played loaded with the Evertune system have felt lower quality then the same 1000 level guitars.
- Installs on guitars you already own are extremely expensive (labor + hardware= $$$) and you'll never be able to recoup that value if you sell the instrument --- seriously. I bought a used ESP Eclipse that had a custom install done for $800 (yay eBay) which is almost as expensive as what I was quoted by Evertune proper to do an install on one of my guitars. The prior owner took a bath on that.
- Evertune guitars have less sustain on higher frets compared to their non-Evertune peers - this pops up in their groups and forums and people come out of the woodwork to defend the system and claim it doesn't happen to them but notes decay much faster on frets 15 and above, especially if there is a bend involved. Each Evertune loaded guitar that I've spent time on has the same issue. It isn't a deal breaker for me but if I'm doing lead work that has some sustaining sections I will use a different guitar.
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Very-well summed-up IMHO from what I've read over the years bro'. :thumbsup:
 
MetalThrasher said:
Interesting! How does the Evertune compare to a Floyd in regard to tuning stability? Is it the same or better than a Floyd? Always wanted to try an Evertune but if it basically has the same tuning stability as a Floyd I think I'll pass. BTW nice, detailed post!
Click to expand...
A perfectly setup Floyd will stay in tune quite well but I’ve always found myself making minor fine tuning adjustments on a Floyd every few songs, but the evertune is good to go for like a multi hour session without even needing to check tuning. Usually when I would arrive at rehearsal I’d make sure that I’m right at the spot between zone 2/zone 3 (so i could have stable tuning and the ability to bend) using the tuners on the headstock and do a quick spot check my tuning (would always be ready to go) and play for the entire session, guitar would go into the case after rehearsal, and when I next would bust it out of its case the following day it’d still be good to go. To adjust your tuning you need to use this small key they give you that you adjust the bridge with - I think over the span of 2 months (formal rehearsals once a week, daily 2-3 hour sessions) where I was super lazy and didn’t change my strings I didn’t need to bust out the key to adjust the tuning, just zone2/zone3 adjustments. Even with restringing (assuming same gauge/brand) around half of the time once I am adjusted into zone 2 no further tuning adjustments were needed at the bridge, if anything was needed it would be like a quarter turn of the key at the bridge.

To me it’s a totally different beast from a Floyd rose, closer in how you would use a tune-o-magic bridge but with newer technology to make it so your stuff stays in tune even better

One other con I failed to mention - if you change tunings a lot then this bridge is likely not for you, quick on the fly “oh I’ll tune down a half step” is a bit more involved since you need to adjust each string to zone 2, tweak tuning at the bridge, then get to your preferred spot (usually edge of zone 2 / zone 3). not quite Floyd rose status but definitely more involved than a fixed / tune-o-matic bridge.

Monkey Man said:
Very-well summed-up IMHO from what I've read over the years bro'. :thumbsup:
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Cheers! It’s a fun system, not for everyone but like if you’re sticking in one tuning and playing it’s awesome
 
Inearthed said:
- Evertune guitars have less sustain on higher frets compared to their non-Evertune peers - this pops up in their groups and forums and people come out of the woodwork to defend the system and claim it doesn't happen to them but notes decay much faster on frets 15 and above, especially if there is a bend involved. Each Evertune loaded guitar that I've spent time on has the same issue. It isn't a deal breaker for me but if I'm doing lead work that has some sustaining sections I will use a different guitar.
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For my own taste, that is enough to discard the whole thing entirely.
 
Jack Luminous said:
For my own taste, that is enough to discard the whole thing entirely.
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FWIW, I’m not sure I know a single song that would be negatively effected by it. While it does hinder sustain around the 15th fret and above area, I can’t even think of an example of a song where someone hit a note, without hitting it again, that sustained longer than the Evertune allows for. While there’s a decay to the note, I absolutely would put off trying one out because of that. And if you do and you notice it, ask yourself when you’ll realistically need to sustain a single note, without it feeding back and not picking it again, within any song you’ll ever play. And if the long sustain into feedback is what you’re going for, it still does that just fine.

Outside of that, I can’t really add anything that @Inearthed didn’t, that was one of the best write ups of it I’ve read yet!

My favorite use for it is in the studio. Not having to check my tuning between each take is absolutely worth the price of admission. People will read that and say “Just learn how to set up your guitars better”, that’s not what I’m talking about, I don’t have tuning issues with my guitars, but when you’re putting everything under a microscope and layering the shit out of everything, all those -/+ cents start adding up and if you’re sensitive to shit being out of tune or on the verge, it’ll drive you up the wall.
 
RevDrucifer said:
My favorite use for it is in the studio. Not having to check my tuning between each take is absolutely worth the price of admission. People will read that and say “Just learn how to set up your guitars better”, that’s not what I’m talking about, I don’t have tuning issues with my guitars, but when you’re putting everything under a microscope and layering the shit out of everything, all those -/+ cents start adding up and if you’re sensitive to shit being out of tune or on the verge, it’ll drive you up the wall.
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This 100%.
 
I think grabbing a guitar that comes with one stock is the way to go, if you want to experiment with it. Like adding a modeler to your gear...but still keeping your fav tube amps.
 
tallcoolone said:
Fair. I‘m never in a studio and I don’t mind taking 20sec to check my tuning every couple songs so it sounds like it’s not marketed to me
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Too much hassle for what a fixed bridge does 99% of
 
tallcoolone said:
Fair. I‘m never in a studio and I don’t mind taking 20sec to check my tuning every couple songs so it sounds like it’s not marketed to me
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Yeah, playing live shows I don’t give a shit, it’s the nature of the beast and if it’s just a couple cents it’s not ruining the show or a song. Spending 8-12 hours tracking in the studio, taking 20-30 seconds between every single take, by the time you’re done tracking you’ve spent 2 hours of that time checking your tuning for a string being -2 cents flat, gets tedious.
 
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