EverTune Electric Guitar Bridge

What is an EverTune Bridge?

EverTune is a simple concept that keeps a string in tune until it wants to be changed. It is a very exciting development in stringed instrument technology. It is a passive, all mechanical system based on trigonometry and some rudimentary physics. Hence it is a new technology that is actually old school, its main component being a spring set in a clever position.

The benefits of this old school, all mechanical solution are that it is very rugged and reliable with only one moving part, and with all critical parts being made from high quality steel. It is also relatively reasonable in price, as opposed to servo-based (robotic) systems, and extremely effective.

It is distinct from servo-based (robotic) tuner systems: they automatically tune strings for the player, the player tunes the strings with EverTune, EverTune only keeps the strings in the exact tune set by the player.

If the point of a string on a stringed instrument is to play a specific note when the player plucks the string, then EverTune makes the string do its job magnificently for the life of the string. People have a lot of fun trying to get strings using the EverTune system out of tune. Browse around this site and other sites on the internet to see the growing number of videos and testimonials of people holding guitars by one string, taking guitars in and out of hot and cold environments, even turning the tuning machines, and then hitting chords that are still beautifully in tune!

Will EverTune be in all stringed instruments in the future? EverTune is less a choice and more an option, ultimately the users will decide based on its strengths which situations and which guitars and other instruments are right for EverTune.

For many people gigging on the road and at regular shows around town without the funds for a tech yet, they can carry one workhorse guitar with EverTune and be confident that they will always sound good. For pros, who want to be beautifully in tune before and after a crazy solo with five stop bends, and all the way through each of their songs, even with changing temperatures and humidity, EverTune is a must. For people who are doing TV gigs when the back stage is a way different environment then the stage with the lights, EverTune is flawless. For amateurs to pros with a stable of guitars, and one guitar in the stable that is a bear to keep in tune, EverTune is phenomenal.

How EverTune works

EverTune is a concept that ensures a resonating string will always play a specific note, ie. 'be in tune'. It does this by supplying constant tension to the string. EverTune holds one end of the string and pulls on the string with constant tension. The frequency of a resonating string has only three variables: length, mass, and tension. Again, the note a string plays only depends on three data: the length of the string, the weight of the string, and the tension of the string. Strings drift out of tune primarily because the tension changes, their mass and length are more and less constant. EverTune, holding one end of the string, will pull with constant tension, and therefore the string will stay in tune until it wants to be changed.1

EverTune's first embodiment is for electric guitars. EverTune is a bridge for electric guitars. It is secured to the body of the guitar, and the ball end of the string passes through it, and over the EverTune saddle. Since EverTune is a technology that holds one end of one string, there are technically six EverTune modules in a six string guitar, one for each string; and they act completely independently. Thus, if a player breaks a string on a six string guitar, the five others are still in tune (theoretically they will be imperceptibly flat due to the elongation of the neck that comes from the loss in tension on the neck from the string that broke).

The Module

Each EverTune module holds one string. The magnitude of the constant tension supplied by an EverTune module can be set to any amount from 10 - 28 pounds. The tension of each EverTune module is set by a 2.5mm hex key that is supplied with EverTune and available at all hardware stores as well.

Since the tension of each EverTune module can be set by the player to any point in the range from 10 – 28 pounds, off frequency tunings such as 10 cents above and below standard 440, often used to match to off frequency samples, are part of the EverTune modules' capabilities.

The first embodiment of EverTune creates constant tension via a spring set at a very special geometry and pulling on the bottom end of the saddle. Each EverTune module has its own spring. This spring, and spring housing, and bottom end of saddle are all embedded into the guitar and therefore invisible. The route cavity for the EverTune modules is similar to those for tremolo springs, about a half an inch longer, and a bit deeper.

The Faceplate

The six EverTune modules are all housed in an EverTune faceplate. The faceplates and EverTune modules come in four standard colors: chrome, gold chrome, black chrome, and nickel. The faceplate is aluminum to be light weight and the EverTune saddle in each EverTune module is steel.

Intonation Screws

The EverTune modules are held to the faceplate by six intonation screws in the back of the faceplate. The intonation screws are hex head and fit the same 2.5mm hex key used for tuning. Turning an intonation screw right pulls its EverTune module, which includes the saddle, back thus lengthening the string length. Turning an intonation screw left pushes the module forward, thus shortening the string length.

Action Screws

The last component of the EverTune bridge are the six action screws which are screwed into the top of the faceplate. They are hex head set screws which use the same 2.5mm hex key that is used for tuning and intonation. The top of each EverTune module pushes up on the bottom of each action screw. Turning an action screw to the right makes it push its EverTune module farther down, lowering the string height. Turning an action screw to the left allows its EverTune module to rise higher, raising the string height.

EverTune Bridge Types

The EverTune guitar bridge comes in three types: the F model is low to the deck and works with guitars such as the Fender® Stratocaster® and similar guitars with a low string to deck height, the T model is like the F model and works with guitars like the Fender® Telecaster where the bridge extends around the bridge pickup, the G model works with Gibson® Les Paul®s, 335s and similar guitars that use tune-o-matic bridges and have string to deck heights that are much higher than the F and T models.

Will Evertune Work for My Desired String Gauges and Tunings?

Many string manufacturers, such as D'addario, conveniently list the tension data for their string sets on their websites and on the packaging. Before considering EverTune, each player should check his and her desired sets of strings to see if they fall in the 10 – 28 pounds tension range that each EverTune module can supply. As a guide, EverTune can handle 009 sets to 012 sets in conventional tunings. For questions about whether EverTune will work with specific alternate tunings and scale lengths, contact us and supply us with the Scale Length, string size and make, and desired note of string. In special cases we can also custom make EverTune modules with higher Max tensions than 28 pounds and lower Min tensions than 10 pounds.

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