Evertune setup — how it works and how to adjust it

Evertune promises the end of tuning — and it truly delivers. On one condition: you have to understand the three working zones of its saddles. Without that, the bridge can be “unbearable” (as a famous forum thread title puts it): bends don’t work, the tuner “does nothing”, the feel goes strangely rubbery. All of those symptoms are one and the same thing — a string in the wrong zone.

How Evertune actually works

Inside the bridge, every string has its own spring that maintains constant tension. When temperature, humidity or string settling try to change the tension — the spring instantly compensates. The pitch stays put. No electronics, pure mechanics.

All the magic (and all the confusion) lies in where within its range the spring is working:

Zone 1 — too little tension

The spring “hangs” below its compensation range. The string behaves like on a normal bridge: the tuner works, but there’s no added stability. This is where you usually land right after fitting a new string.

Zone 2 — full compensation

The heart of the system. The spring cancels every tension change — weather, string settling… and unfortunately also your bends. Perfect for tight rhythm parts and recording, but bends and vibrato don’t work — the string snaps back to pitch as if glued. If your Evertune feels “rubbery”, you are exactly here.

Zone 3 — the “sweet spot”

Tune the string up to the top edge of zone 2 until the spring rests against the end of its range. Tuning is still protected against drift, but bends raise the pitch again — bends and vibrato work normally. This is how most players run it: plain strings in zone 3, wound strings in 2 or 3 to taste.

One sentence that solves 90% of the frustration: turn the key and watch the tuner — the moment the pitch starts to move as you tune up, you’ve entered zone 3.

Changing strings on an Evertune

1. Slacken the string with the tuner until tension clearly drops (you leave the compensation range), then remove it from the saddle and the tuner as on any bridge.
2. Fit the new string, wind it properly (2–3 wraps) and tune it up into zone 2 — you’ll know you’re there when the pitch stops responding to the key.
3. Stretch the string by hand; notice that the tuning… doesn’t drift. Not a bug — that’s Evertune.
4. Want bends on that string? Keep tuning up until the tuner responds again — you’re in zone 3.

Change strings one at a time, and don’t panic when the tuner “freezes” — you’re simply working in zone 2.

Changing tuning or string gauge

Drop C? An 11-56 set? Evertune will handle it, but the springs have a finite range — bigger tension changes require re-setting each saddle’s working range with a hex key (spring tension adjustment), then setting the zones again. On top of that comes standard guitar physics: different tension = different neck relief, action and intonation. That’s full-setup (269 zł) territory — once, done properly.

Action and intonation with Evertune

String height and intonation are adjusted at the bridge saddles with a hex key — much like conventional bridges, just in the tighter geometry of the Evertune housing. A practical order: neck relief → action → zones/tuning → intonation. After any action change, re-check the zones: moving a saddle shifts the spring’s working point.

Common symptoms — cheat sheet

Symptom	What’s happening	Fix
Key turns, pitch stays	string in zone 2	that’s normal; want bends → tune up to zone 3
Bends “don’t work”, rubbery feel	zone 2	tune up to zone 3
Tuning drifts despite Evertune	string in zone 1 (too slack)	tune up into zone 2/3
String breaks at the bridge	sharp saddle slot edge	chamfer/replace at the workshop
Everything’s off after a gauge change	spring range outside the new tension	range adjustment + full setup

When the workshop earns its keep

Day-to-day Evertune care is simpler than the legend says — you’ll manage the zones with a tuner and a hex key. What lands on my bench instead: tuning and gauge changes (re-setting every spring’s range), action + intonation after changes, breaking strings, Evertune installation (routing), and guitars that are “impossible to set up” after a series of experiments. A premium Evertune setup is 269 zł — inspection included. Floyd Rose guitars have their own guide.