I Retrofitted My #1 Guitar With An EverTune Bridge - Was It Worth It?

I finally committed to it. I put an EverTune bridge on my #1 guitar - it took me two years of talking about it before I finally mustered up the courage to make it happen.
This video is sponsored by EverTune, as they subsidised some of the costs of the bridge.
Installation was carried out by Shuker in the UK, which I recommend wholeheartedly: shukerguitars.co.uk/
EverTune Myths BUSTED: • The Truth About EverTu...
The Story Of My PRS S2: • The Story Of My PRS S2
All guitar tones throughout the video are ML Sound Lab Amped Block Letter - this includes all of the tones in the full mix demo.
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
2:13 What Is The EverTune Bridge?
3:45 Why Didn't I Like The Stock Bridge?
4:53 Full Mix Demo
5:50 Before and After: Sustain
7:57 Before and After: Tone
9:44 Can You Bend On An EverTune?
10:52 Pros and Cons
13:45 Should You Get An EverTune?
14:36 Outro

[@KaiDown]

After speaking to Herbert from EverTune, I have some additional notes regarding the sustain especially. Since the bridge is essentially 6 isolated single-saddles that are all free-floating, you don't get any cross-talk between the strings - this is to say that the vibrations don't transfer across the whole bridge. While this does reduce the overall sustain, it adds a good amount of separation and clarity. It also appears as though this may be an additional factor in why the guitar sounds brighter with an EverTune. It's possible that the standard resonating hardtail bridge muddies the sound slightly.
I would also like to add in regards to the brightness - if this is an undesirable factor to your ears, it's much easier to darken a bright guitar than the opposite. If you're lacking the high-end information to begin with, it's hard to add it - however if you've got too much high end, it's easy to knock it off by tweaking your amp.

[@ibanezmaestro5630]

When weighing the pros and cons of the Evertune bridge and deciding if it is worth it, I've found from experience that the most important aspect of this, which makes the Evertune bridge absolutely priceless, is the amount of time saved tuning the guitar in the studio and onstage. Never having to tune allows you to focus solely on your live performance which can be hampered if you're constantly having to worry about your guitar going out of tune while you're playing and having to taking tuning breaks during your set. It's a pain in the ass and just looks unprofessional. Also in the studio, time spent constantly having to tune and retune between takes adds up like crazy, which is a real pain in the ass for everyone, especially if you're being billed by the hour. The amount of money you could save in the studio with these equiped guitars is rather significant. The Evertune bridge is the finest invention to ever touch a guitar in my opinion, and it pays ridiculous dividends. It is truly a worthwhile investment, simply because of the time it saves.

[@BoyanGeorgiev666]

Almost a year with my first evertune equipped guitar and I really don't see myself using anything else. Simple, effective ang looking great.

[@KaiDown]

EverTune is the way!

[@theunholyguitaristofficial]

Yea, it sounds great, I bet it plays even better now too

[@KaiDown]

Oh yeah, Jon did a fantastic setup on it, super comfy to play

[@mitchthemetalhead2589]

Very informative video! As a metal player, the only thing I didn’t like hearing was not only the tone being brighter, but it seemed to remove some low end as well. That’s a potential deal breaker for me, but I would have to play one through my own rig to hear how dramatic it is. Thanks for the useful content! 🤘

[@scentia_est]

It's getting better and better.

[@FilipFichoBoshevski]

Great video man, it was interesting to hear the difference in sound…it’s like the bass is gone, not necessarily in a bad way, just more clarity 👍 Looking forward to install one in my CE 🤘

[@KaiDown]

Thanks for stopping by! CE with an EverTune will be a killer workhorse guitar

[@FretFriendLaGR]

Marmite! I had an Evertune-equipped guitar in my workshop (belonged to Steve from Lawnmower Deth). I was that impressed, I went and bought myself a Solar S1.6 PB with an Evertune. Kept it for 2 years but after 4 or 5 pickup swaps, I could never get it to sound/feel right. I came to the conclusion that the tone (lacking) problem was caused by the Evertune: maybe the sheer size and 'metalness' of it plus the lack of wood (where the rout for the Evertune system is MAHOOSIVE) changed things too much. All the EQ-ing trickery I tried never got me that feel I want/need! Again, an absolutely fabulous and innovative piece of kit that works amazingly well but: not for me...

[@robertyboberty]

So sick

[@KaiDown]

Thank you!

[@michaelj.anderson1116]

I prefer the sound of the original bridge but it doesn't mean that the evertune is bad. I just like the darker tone.

[@BlazonStone]

Of course it's worht it, it's a goddamn EVERTUNE!
Best thing ever for guitar! :D

[@shawngraves3297]

This sold me to get an evertune retrofitted on my esp sn7b.

[@woodward_alan]

I have one on a Solar and love it. I have a Les Paul std and wish it had one.

[@KaiDown]

That's pretty much how my story went - tried one on a Solar, then instantly wished every one of my other guitars had one 😆

[@xJayKnight]

I've been debating putting an Evertune in my 93 CU24. The guitar sounds dark, muddy and has no sustain so I have nothing left to lose. This might be the final push for me to just route that daddy out. Usually at the Balaguer shop we set it in Zone 2 right before Zone 3 / "Fast Bends". I've noticed a weird tuning issue. If you set the Evertune in the middle of Zone 2 "Bend is off".. then turn the Tuner to get more bend sensitivity, you go slightly sharp. If you set the Evertune in "Fast Bends", then later use the tuner to go "Bend is off", you'll be a bit flat. We're also using Petersons, which are insanely accurate so maybe I'm looking into it too hard.

[@KaiDown]

Stoked to see you here! Evertune CU24 sounds like a great way to give it a bit of brightness and liven it up a touch (as well as all the other benefits of course). I spoke to EverTune a while ago about that variance because I noticed the same thing - they confirmed there is a small range of about 20 cents from the bottom of zone 2 to the top. I set up right on that best stop, just close enough that it fixes my intonation. Once I’m there, I then tune to pitch, tweak position, tune to pitch until I got it perfect. Those few cents are not going to be massively noticeable to most players and I could probably forgo it without really noticing, but it’s great for my peace of mind.

[@27dgonzalezzz]

Great video; just subscribed!! What pickups do you have in there?

[@KaiDown]

Thanks for the sub! Pickups are the Seymour Duncan Pegasus/Sentient set

[@27dgonzalezzz]

Amazing, thanks! Being from MD I love PRS’s

[@guvnafied]

Great video, and kudos for having the gonads of sufficient size to send it of to be fitted! You've got a new subscriber 🙂

[@KaiDown]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@GASH_one]

I think this system is absolutely awesome for what it is and does. However, I don't like the sound as much compared to the old setup.

[@KaiDown]

Totally understandable, I prefer the sound (at least, sonically) after the installation. I'd definitely prefer to have the pre-retrofit sustain, but that's one of the caveats I expected going in.

[@backroadsonline]

Nice video, thanks for sharing! Makes me consider getting my S2 done as well. Did you have to replace / file your nut to fit 11-62 gauge strings? Also, where did you get those cool standing lights? 🤟😊

[@KaiDown]

I widened the nut slots a touch using the strings themselves but it’s nothing too dramatic. The lights have been discontinued, they were from HomesDirect365 though!

[@backroadsonline]

@@KaiDown Very cool, thank you! I’m guessing the S2 body was thick enough for the mod?

[@KaiDown]

@@backroadsonline It was, no additional risers needed

[@backroadsonline]

@@KaiDown Awesome, thanks for the info! 🤟😊🎸

[@FretFriendLaGR]

PS: I subbed to your channel. Impressive...

[@gokhanelmas2820]

İ cant be sure still i will like it or not .i have tried 2 times a guitar with evertune. İts so interesting experience. İ think İt a good thing for a clear record. Maybe not a better choice for feeling of play

[@KaiDown]

I personally love the feel of it, but that’s likely due to me hating the experience of pitch drift

[@AiiZStudio]

It me. I am friend.
Great video, HOSS

[@KaiDown]

SKULL YEAH

[@Timmsie95]

What guitar are you retrofitting next??

[@KaiDown]

Gotta be the Synthwave Espada for sure

[@CTG-TV]

Bro... Clean test:
Before - bridge pickup.
After - neck pickup.
This test is a big failure :X

[@khoiplaysguitar]

yee haw

[@KaiDown]

They always say yee haw but they never ask haw yee 🤠

[@khoiplaysguitar]

@@KaiDownI mean I know yee good because evertune