This is the third time an EverTuned guitar has graced the Tonight Show stage (the first two were for performances by Lifehouse and Alanis Morissette). Apart from being perfectly in tune (even after going from the hot Burbank parking lot to the studio’s chilly interior) the notable feature of this visit was a personal meeting with Jay Leno.

Russel and Jay pose here with their favorite toys: Jay’s classic car and Russel’s EverTuned guitar.

“The records I make usually have a lot of guitar stacking. This process is so trying, as you typically have to tune for either a part of the neck, or a specific chord in order for it to be perfectly in tune.

Tuning, tracking, tuning, doubling…Next part… tuning, tracking, tuning, doubling, and so on and so on.

We get great rhythm tracks, but it takes FOREVER, and the guitar players are driven to tears during the process. Playing, stoping, tuning, starting OVER AND OVER.”

Sean was amazed and delighted to discover EverTune, and took his EverTuned ESP for a test drive:

“After about 15 minutes, I was tuned, up and running. The guitar felt normal, and the sustain may have been improved. I used the guitar for 4 hours straight, it never went out of tune. NEVER. I’ve never experienced this during a session.

That was nearly three weeks ago: this guitar is still perfectly in tune.”

Not that he hasn’t tried to put it out of tune…

“I’ve tried to get it to mess up, taking it from a crazy hot car to heavily air conditioned studio, and it just stays perfect.”

The real benefit, though, became clear when he went to layer guitar tracks with his EverTuned ESP:

“Doubling parts was a breeze!”

And there were other benefits to the EverTune system as well:
“I’ve set it up so you can’t pull it sharp when fretting a chord. But if I need vibrato: just a few turns on the tuning peg, and I’ve got vibrato, and the guitar still stays perfectly in tune.”

Sean’s advice to producers and guitarists?

“If you’re as crazy about being in tune as I am, you need to get one of these.
Concentrate on the important stuff, being creative, performing, playing compelling parts, and forget about tuning rash that has been inherent in guitars until now.

This has become the only guitar I want to use. Now I just need bridges for my Tele and Gibson!”

David Levita, guitarist for Alanis Morissette, had a problem.

His beloved ’62 Gibson 335 was on her last legs. With decaying tuners, she couldn’t stay in tune more than 30 minutes.

With nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he took a chance on EverTune. We took care of his baby, and brought her back to life…and beyond!

In this video, Levita marvels at his Gibson’s newfound abilities.

Hot. Cold. High or Low. No matter how you treat her, she plays beautifully: Always in Tune.

He even took her into the Tonight Show’s air-conditioned TV studio (out of the summer heat of Burbank, CA) and she played flawlessly!

In fact, at the time he recorded this video, David hadn’t tuned her since the day she returned from her surgery at EverTune Hospital!

Because he’s LOVING his EverTuned Fender Strat!

Phil had the EverTune bridge installed on his primary guitar and loved it so much he filmed a testimonial and demo for us in his Los Angeles recording studio (see below).

Phil’s happy about several things. Not only does the EverTune bridge keep his guitar in tune at all times, “the intonation all the way up and down the neck is accurate!”

Furthermore, Phil is happy to report that there’s been no change in his ability to bend notes.

“You would think that a tension based system would automatically try to correct for a bending note…but it doesn’t. It allows you to still do that and when you come back it’s still in tune.”

(For more on how EverTune can bend and still stay in tune, check out our demo video, which explains all about the “bend stop.”)

Look for upcoming live performances of Phil’s band (and his EverTuned strat) at philgates.com

Longtime collaborator and friend Tom Fletcher stopped by Russell’s studio to see how EverTune has changed Russell’s approach to composing and recording.

Fletcher, a producer/engineer who’s worked with a looong list of Big Names, shared some of his own insight into the revolutionary potential of this new technology.

What’s the take-home message?

Sure, EverTune makes pitch-perfect precision recording sessions possible, but it also allows musicians to let loose and flow freely whenever they want, without the constant interruption of tuning, re-tuning, and special-tuning.

And not only is it possible to bend with EverTune, it makes it more care-free since the guitar comes instantly back into tune.

But it gets better: both Tom and Russell found that EverTune improved the tone of the Gibson! Take a look…

Their revolutionary guitar bridge was honored alongside other innovations ranging from medical advancements to new home electronics gadgets to breakthroughs in agricultural technology.

Yes, the future is here. Flying Cars and Never Tune Guitars…

EverTune inventors Cosmos Lyle and Paul Dowd

EXCITING NEWS! Several new production models are in and being retrofitted to the guitars of some serious sound surfers! Look for more testimonials soon!

This rush of newly-EverTuned guitars means we have to school a lot of folks in the basics of how to use EverTune, so we hired the world’s best hand model and whipped up this little YouTube video to show folks how to string and tune their EverTuned guitars…

To our Beloved Beta-Testers: HAPPY PLAYING!
To all our fans out there: Enjoy the video and ‘stay tuned’ for exciting news as it happens!

Here are the text-based instructions, if you want to go deeper into the rabbit hole:

Evertune Instructions: Stringing, Tuning, Bends

Step 1: STRINGING
The Evertune bridge is strung from the rear of the guitar, similar to a Fender Strat. Feed each string into the corresponding hole, out through the bridge, over the saddle, and attach it to the tuning peg at the headstock.

Step 2: TENSIONING
As you tighten the tuning peg at the headstock, watch the SADDLE. As soon as the saddle starts to rise, tighten the tuning pegs 2 more full rotations.

Step 3: STRETCHING
Once you have tensioned a string, firmly press down on it about an inch from the saddle. Repeat a few times. This stretches the string around the saddle, which makes the tuning even more reliable.
[Note: this step is optional but highly recommended.]

Step 4: TUNING
Plug the amp cable into a tuner and check your pitch. The EverTune bridge is not tuned from the “tuning pegs.” Tuning is done using the hex nuts on the SADDLE (just behind/below where the string comes through the saddle). Insert the hex key into the hex nut on the saddle. Turning the hex key clockwise raises pitch, counterclockwise lowers pitch (righty tighty lefty loosey).
[Note: When you pluck the strings, keep your fingers off the hex key. The saddle is floating, so if the hex key is bumped or pressed, it will act like a mini whammy bar.]

Step 5: BENDING NOTES
If you try to bend with your newly tuned EverTune, you may notice that bends aren’t changing pitch. EverTune maintains pitch within a narrow range, so if you want to bend, tune the guitar just to the edge of that range (we call it the “Bend Stop”) so bends can push the pitch “out of tune.”
HERE’S HOW: While plucking the string, turn the tuning peg at the headstock in the tightening direction until the pitch rises. Then loosen the tuning peg until the string is exactly back in tune. Now test your bends. They should feel pretty natural.
[Note: to prevent “accidental bends” you may want to loosen the tuning peg about a quarter turn more. This will filter out accidentally going sharp from hard fretting. Alternatively, a lead player can set the top strings to bend instantly for solos and the bottom strings to bend a hair later so that bass lines are in tune even when the fatter strings get over-pulled while fretting.]

Step 6: ALTERNATE-TUNING
To change the tuning (e.g. going from conventional to drop D), while plucking the string, turn the tuning pegs at the headstock in the tightening direction until the pitch starts to rise. Then turn the tuning pegs at the headstock back in the loosening direction 2 times. Now use Step 4 and Step 5 to re-tune the string however you want.

Look for more public appearances by EverTune soon!

Because EverTune keeps his guitar in tune at all times, Shim doesn’t have to interrupt the show to re-tune between every song. With all the time they save, the band can actually play an extra song! The EverTune bridge didn’t interfere with the Gibson’s sound quality or handling at all…just freed Shim up to focus on what he does best: rocking people’s faces off!

And if you think this is a glowing review, just watch what Shim’s guitar tech says about EverTune!

(Curious why Shim used to have to re-tune after each song? His Gibson’s tuned to Drop C, which tends to slip out of tune more often…except on EverTuned guitars!)

More questions about EverTune? Check out our FAQ, or ask us a question on our Facebook page.

James Senter is one of these heroes. Here, he explains how the EverTune guitar bridge keeps Shimon Moore’s Gibson 335 perfectly tuned, despite temperature extremes and intense touring conditions. He’s not joking when he says that EverTune has changed his life!

Another major EverTune advantage? If a string breaks, just restring and start playing again! EverTune takes the guesswork (and stress-work) out of tuning!

James was in the middle of prepping for Sick Puppies’ New York show that night, so he kept it short and sweet. For a more in-depth review and demo of this EverTuned Gibson 335, watch this interview with Shimon Moore, the man who’s been playing it onstage for a year and a half!

More questions about EverTune? Check out our FAQ, or ask us a question on our Facebook page.

Far from being a gimmick, EverTune is a precision-engineered breakthrough designed with everyone from absolute beginners to recording professionals in mind. With guidance from exacting guitar-builders and audiophiles, we’ve worked hard to achieve incredible sound-quality with EverTune. The following FAQs have been added here as well as to our main FAQ.

What’s new? Did you know EverTune restrings faster than a regular guitar? Read on for the nitty gritty on attack, sustain, brightness, reliability, and comparison with the Floyd Rose bridge.

How does EverTune “know” how to hold tune if it’s all mechanical?

EverTune is a totally passive system. All it does is pull the string with the same tension, regardless of the string’s expansion or contraction. We use a compact spring suspension system to accomplish this. The tuners on the EverTune bridge increase or decrease the tension with which the strings are pulled.

Does EverTune REALLY stay perfectly in tune?

In current tests of our older prototypes and early production models, after one to two weeks, we might see a few strings go about 5 cents flat. However, the vast majority of strings on EverTuned guitars are perfectly in tune for the life of the string, through all sorts of conditions and styles of play.

EverTune is a work in progress, and we continue to refine it based on feedback from our beta testers, so even this may be improved before commercial release.

Is it a trem/floating bridge or a fixed bridge?

The EverTune bridge plays like a fixed bridge. In terms of tone, it is on par with a hard tail/fixed bridge.

However, each string is suspended by a spring, and the saddle is floating, so in terms of attack and sustain, it may be more similar to a trem/floating bridge.

Does the spring suspension system affect tone and sustain?

Every change to any bridge affects tone and sustain. We have gone to great lengths to use good tonal materials such as brass to get a tone that we think is great.

Strings attached to springs resonate only 75%-80% as long and usually have a softer attack because some of the resonant energy bleeds into the springs. To compensate, we developed spring buffers, a great saddle design, and lots of brass.

As a result, EverTune’s attack and sustain are as good as other floating bridges, and the tone may be louder and brighter than a stock bridge.

Is EverTune necessary? Shouldn’t real guitarists be able to keep in tune?

Can rock gods rock out WITHOUT EverTune? Of course. A car without a suspension still gets where it’s going. The suspension just smooths the ride.

An experienced guitarist with quality hardware and a good set of pre-stretched strings will be in tune throughout a song, even a whole set, 90% of the time, assuming nothing accidentally bumps the tuning pegs. A pro can tune a regular guitar in just seven seconds after a song is over, but if he has a really good ear, he’ll hear when he is starting to go out of tune, and that’s usually DURING the song.

With the EverTune bridge, that same guitarist will be in tune 99.9% of the time, even if someone bumps the tuning peg, even if he uses cheap hardware, and even if he uses a freshly-changed set of strings. And when instruments are perfectly in tune, they sound really GOOD.

Being in tune also saves time for live acts. Sick Puppies report being able to play one more song per set (using one of EverTune’s oldest prototypes) because they save the time that used to be spent tuning after every song or switching guitars offstage. And their guitar tech says that EverTune makes his life much easier and less stressful. :-)

Is restringing and re-tuning harder or easier with EverTune? How does it compare to a Floyd Rose bridge?

EverTune strings exactly like a regular guitar. Unlike a Floyd/floating trem, if one string breaks, the others stay in tune.

Stringing and tuning a Floyd can take around 30 minutes because the tuning has to be done two or three times before it’s ready to lock.

EverTune actually strings FASTER than a conventional guitar because the system retains the same tension from before the old string broke, so the new string is in tune from the get go. That’s right: no more waiting times for the strings to stretch before they finally hold tune!

Across the board, everyone we met with LOVED the feel and sound quality of EverTune. Wish we’d brought a video camera…

If you’re down there today, look out for our pal (and board member) Dave Weiderman. He’s got the EverTuned Fender with him and would be delighted to show it off!

One question that’s come up has to do with Intonation. Cosmos and Paul (who invented and engineered EverTune over 4 years) wrote this very detailed response:

If the saddles move to keep the tension constant, does this affect intonation?
Theoretically, when saddles move, they change string length, which changes intonation. But during normal use of the EverTune bridge, the saddles don’t move far enough to affect intonation.

In our tests* of the EverTune bridge, a saddle had to move AT LEAST 0.75mm before there was a measurable change in intonation (about 5 cents at the 17th fret). 0.75mm is a HUGE change, nearly impossible to recreate in normal play. How impossible? On a standard guitar, if the low E string of a set of 010s changes length by just 0.25 mm, it will go out of tune a WHOLE STEP (e.g. an E would drop to a D). That just doesn’t happen in the real world–and it would take THREE TIMES as much detuning to make a noticeable intonation difference on an EverTune bridge.

In other words: conditions that would create a noticeable (5 cents at the 17th fret) intonation difference with EverTune would cause a normal guitar to be 3 WHOLE steps flat!

*tests performed using 010 gauge strings on a Mexican Telecaster.

Gibson’s Robot Guitar may have gotten off to a head start, but EverTune is here at CES with an automatic guitar tuner of its own that promises to keep your guitar in tune forever. To do that, EverTune makes use of a simple mechanism that relies on springs to maintain the same amount of tension on each string as the tuner post loosens, which should ensure that your guitar won’t go out of tune even while playing (something that other self-tuning guitars can’t account for).

Don’t let the comparison confuse you: EverTune is not a self-tuning system. EverTune maintains whatever tuning you set, as long as you want, until you decide to change (for Drop D and other alternatives). In theory, EverTune could even be combined with a self-tuning system…but let’s not get ahead of ourselves now!

Got more questions? Read our FAQ. Still not detailed enough? Ask us on Facebook or Twitter.

I became interested in the EverTune bridge during its development stage. Todd Binder from ESP introduced me to it, and I immediately saw its usefulness.  

EverTune was kind enough to install it in a ESP JH600 guitar shortly before I began recording Throwdown’s Deathless CD for E1 Records. During the recording, we found ourselves turning more and more to the EverTune-equipped JH600.  What I thought might be a gimmick proved truly useful in a professional recording environment.  The tone of the guitar was not impacted by the bridge.  

Deathless is mostly tuned to ‘drop C,’ so tuning was difficult on most guitars. The Evertune handled drop C tuning flawlessly.

On every record I produce, there seems to be at least one song that just won’t sit in tune.  The EverTune guitar makes that a non-issue.  The EverTune bridge equipped JH600 has become an ‘A’ list guitar in my collection.

Stay tuned for more reviews like this from recording pros taking EverTune through the paces! Questions about EverTune’s technical details or sound quality? Join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter!

They also had some kind words for our baby:

At the Startup Debut event earlier on at CES, we got to check out this great, and practical, new guitar component called Evertune. It’s a bridge that keeps your guitar tuned at whatever you put it at, but not using freaky electronics. I thought it had to involve microservos and such, but no: “The EverTune bridge feeds your guitar strings into an adaptive spring-tensioner inside the guitar body. As each string or tuner posts loosens, the springs compensate, maintaining exactly the tension you set the first time you tuned the guitar, no matter how hard or how often you play.”

Like all good newshounds, they found a twist to spice up the story:

I am a little suspicious, however: if it’s such a simple principle and essentially has no downside, can it really have not occurred to anyone yet to create it? I mean, it is self-evident that no one has, but I wonder if there’s a dark side to the product they’re not telling us about.

Fortunately, we have nothing to hide! Check out our FAQ. Still have questions? Ask us on Facebook and Twitter! We promise our dark side won’t bite!

Curious about something we don’t answer in our FAQ?

EverTune’s Facebook page is a handy way to stay connected and ask us questions directly!

Want to twitt-and-run? Follow our Twitter feed for bite-sized blips!

Keep those cards and letters coming: we’re keen to answer your questions.

VIDEO DEMO and other surprises COMING SOON!

“Interesting. The notion of a guitar that doesn’t go out of tune I’m sure, will appeal to all players, beginner and pro alike. Depending on price and sheer invasiveness (or lack thereof) of installation, this thing could turn out to be the Floyd Rose of its generation.

Tremelo, B-bender and bass versions of the EverTune are in development.”

The Floyd Rose tremolo bridge definitely had a huge impact on the way guitars are made and played, especially after Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai became fans. EverTune is already gathering fans and will soon be posting VIDEO DEMOS and TESTIMONIALS from our famous beta-testers…

Stay Tuned…

Just the FAQs, m’am…

Does the spring suspension system affect tone and sustain?
Every change to any bridge affects tone and sustain. We have gone to great lengths to use good tonal materials such as brass to get a tone that we think is great. We have developed a saddle design that also has good sustain.

Is it a trem/floating bridge or a fixed bridge?
The Evertune bridge plays like a fixed bridge. However, each string is suspended by a spring, and the saddle is floating, so tone-wise it may be more similar to a trem/floating bridge.

Does the spring suspension system affect tone and sustain?
Every change to any bridge affects tone and sustain. We have gone to great lengths to use good tonal materials such as brass to get a tone that we think is great. We have developed a saddle design that also has good sustain.

If the saddles move to keep the tension constant, does this affect intonation?
Theoretically, when saddles move, they change string length, which changes intonation. But during normal use of the EverTune bridge, the saddles don’t move far enough to affect intonation.

In our tests* of the EverTune bridge, a saddle had to move AT LEAST 0.75mm before there was a measurable change in intonation (about 5 cents at the 17th fret). 0.75mm is a HUGE change, nearly impossible to recreate in normal play. How impossible? On a standard guitar, if the low E string of a set of 010s changes length by just 0.25 mm, it will go out of tune a WHOLE STEP (e.g. an E would drop to a D). That just doesn’t happen in the real world–and it would take THREE TIMES as much detuning to make a noticeable intonation difference on an EverTune bridge.

In other words: conditions that would create a noticeable (5 cents at the 17th fret) intonation difference with EverTune would cause a normal guitar to be 3 WHOLE steps flat!

*tests performed using 010 gauge strings on a Mexican Telecaster.

DEMO VIDEO coming soon! Stay Tuned for updates…

Thanks again to Gizmag!  We’re looking forward to sharing EverTune with the world.  If you’d like to write about us (and to take one of our beauties for a spin) contact us HERE.

Frequently Asked Question

Can you bend notes with EverTune?
Yes, when properly set up (which is simple), guitars with the Evertune bridge bend and trem like normal guitars.

Is it electric?
The Evertune bridge is all mechanical, consisting of one spring for each string. It never needs batteries and nothing is “automated”. The player hand-tunes and the bridge holds the tension (tune) set by the player indefinitely…until restringing or deliberate tuning (for alternate keys)

Is it like the Robot Guitar® and other auto tune guitar systems?
Evertune is unique. Auto Tuning systems re-tune guitars when they are activated by the player, but guitars with auto tuners go out of tune during play, like any other guitar. We keep the guitar always in tune. 

Can it tune to any tunings and detune?
Yes, the player sets the tune like a normal guitar. 

Is it a trem/floating bridge or a fixed bridge?
The Evertune bridge plays like a fixed bridge. However, each string is suspended by a spring, and the saddle is floating, so tone-wise it may be more similar to a trem/floating bridge. 

Any plans for a trem version?
Yes, we will have a trem version in the future.

Will it be available for other instruments?
Yes, first guitar, and then bass.

Can it be a B-bender?
Yes it works very well as a B-bender. This is also currently in development.

Is it available for 7 string guitars?
The six string model is standard, the 7 string will be custom, but will be available.

Does the spring suspension system affect tone and sustain?
Every change to any bridge affects tone and sustain. We have gone to great lengths to use good tonal materials such as brass to get a tone that we think is great. We have developed a saddle design that also has good sustain.

If the saddles move to keep the tension constant, does this affect intonation?
Theoretically, when saddles move, they change string length, which changes intonation. But during normal use of the EverTune bridge, the saddles don’t move far enough to affect intonation.

In our tests* of the EverTune bridge, a saddle had to move AT LEAST 0.75mm before there was a measurable change in intonation (about 5 cents at the 17th fret). 0.75mm is a HUGE change, nearly impossible to recreate in normal play. How impossible? On a standard guitar, if the low E string of a set of 010s changes length by just 0.25 mm, it will go out of tune a WHOLE STEP (e.g. an E would drop to a D). That just doesn’t happen in the real world–and it would take THREE TIMES as much detuning to make a noticeable intonation difference on an EverTune bridge.

In other words: conditions that would create a noticeable (5 cents at the 17th fret) intonation difference with EverTune would cause a normal guitar to be 3 WHOLE steps flat!

*tests performed using 010 gauge strings on a Mexican Telecaster.

How much wood does it take out?
The style with which we are launching will have about the same size rout as the trem pocket for a strat, but just a tad deeper.

How much is it ?
We are working diligently to make these bridges an affordable product. They will cost much less than servo-motor based auto tuner guitars such as the Robot Guitar®.

Will it be available in different colors?
Yes, we are currently working on Gold Chrome, Black Chrome, Chrome, and Nickel.

Our new pals at Dvice were the first to break the story on EverTune after meeting up with us at a CES press event. Great pictures! Great scoop!

Stringed instruments have been around for centuries, but nobody’s figured out how to keep those strings in tune — until now. The breakthrough introduced at CES 2010 is called the Evertune Bridge, with individual springs constantly pulling against each string at precisely the correct tension to keep each note the same … indefinitely.

It’s hard to see the inner workings of this miracle machine, but in our hands-on encounter with two guitars rigged with the Evertune Bridge, each string stayed in tune no matter what we did. It not only works on guitars, but any stringed instrument such as a piano or banjo. This is brilliant. Look for it on guitars everywhere within a year or two.

This is the story that got ‘em twittering on Twitter.
If you’d like to write about us (and to take one of our beauties for a spin) contact us HERE.

We can’t wait…and there are several world-famous artists who can’t wait either! We’ve been getting so many requests from interested musicians that we can barely keep up!

The buzz about EverTune is already making its way through the music world, fueled by reports from satisfied beta-testers whose ranks include famous rock/metal studio producer Andrew “Mudrock” Murdock.

Stay tuned for pictures of the new beauties as we unpack them!

Hollywood Rock Walk founder Dave Weiderman has been taking an EverTuned guitar through the paces for the last month, and he’s RAVING about this breakthrough technology!

“EverTune changes everything. It’s is like the invention of the automatic transmission!”

Weiderman sees the potential for EverTune to reach every level of the guitar industry. “In just a few years, everyone from rock gods to total beginners will be using EverTune.”

This sets the stage for EverTune to move forward with licensing partnerships with some of the world’s biggest manufacturers of electric guitars.

Four years in the making, EverTune was developed by Cosmos Lyle, a musician who studied Physics and Engineering at Duke University. Lyle set out to create a solution to the age-old chore of frequently re-tuning stringed instruments. Other solutions have been explored by companies over the years, but EverTune is the first device that keeps the stringed instrument in tune for the life of the strings. Tuning is performed once, when strings are replaced, but artists can alter the tuning at any time for alternative keys and 1/4 steps, just like on a regular guitar.

Not only does EverTune represent a significant convenience for beginning musicians who would rather learn to play their guitar than tune it, EverTune is also a breakthrough for professional studio musicians and producers, who will no longer need to alter recordings in order to compensate for instruments that fall out-of-tune in the course of a recording session.