An EverTune bridge is a big claim: a 7-string that stays in tune through hard picking, temperature swings and a long set. So the first question is whether it lives up to that. The second is whether you should trust it on a discounted B-Stock unit.

We'll take both. The Schecter Banshee Mach-7 Evertune in Fallout Burst is $1,679.20 in B-Stock, versus $2,099.00 new. That's about $420 off for a guitar that's built for players who hate retuning.

View the Schecter Banshee Mach-7 Evertune guitar in Fallout Burst Product Page

What the Savings Get You

The B-Stock price doesn't change the build. You still get a neck-through construction with Ultra Access, a swamp ash body, and a flamed maple radius top under that Fallout Burst finish. Neck-through means the neck runs the full length of the body, so there's no heel joint to get in the way when you play high on the neck.

• Scale length: 26.5-inch (673mm), the longer baritone-style scale that keeps a low B tight
• Neck: roasted maple and purpleheart multi-ply with carbon fiber reinforcement rods
• Fingerboard: ebony, with a 12-inch to 16-inch compound radius
• Frets: 24 X-Jumbo stainless steel
• Pickups: two Lundgren M7 humbuckers
• Bridge: EverTune F7 in Cosmo Black, with Schecter locking tuners

What an EverTune Actually Changes

A standard fixed bridge lets string tension drift as strings stretch or the room warms up. The EverTune uses a mechanical system at each saddle to hold tension constant. In practice, you tune it once and it stays put, even after hard bends, and chords stay in tune up the neck.

On a 7-string with a 26.5-inch scale, that matters most on the low B. A loose low string sounds flabby and can't hold a tight palm-muted chug. If you've fought that string on a fixed bridge, this is the feature you're paying for.

First-Hour Checklist When It Arrives

B-Stock means the guitar isn't sold as factory-perfect new. Read the listing notes for the specific cosmetic issue, then spend your first hour on the things that affect playing and gigging:

• Match the finish to the listing. Check the flamed maple top and the edges for the noted blemish, and make sure nothing else is going on.
• Tune it, then bend hard. Do some aggressive bends and chord hits, then recheck. A healthy EverTune should hold pitch. If one string wanders, tell us before you adjust anything.
• Check the neck. The Ultra Thin 'U' profile is about .748 inch (19mm) at the first fret and .787 inch (20mm) at the 12th. Sight down the ebony board and run your hand along the stainless fret ends for sharp spots.
• Test every pickup position. Run through the 3-way switch with the Lundgren M7s and check for dropouts or crackle. Operate the volume, tone and push-pull control through their full sweeps.
• Check the locking tuners. Lock and unlock each one and make sure the strings sit properly at the nut.
• Plug in at gig volume. A quiet room can hide hum or a loose jack. Turn it up and listen.

Studio vs. Stage

In a tracking room, the EverTune saves time. You can punch in a part an hour after the first take without the guitar drifting from the original pitch, and doubled rhythm tracks line up better.

On stage, it removes a common failure: the guitar that goes sour two songs into a set under hot lights. Locking tuners make string changes quicker, and the stock Ernie Ball 7-string set (.009-.062) gives a balanced starting feel for the scale.

The Catch

This isn't the guitar for everyone. An EverTune is not a tremolo, so if you want dive bombs or whammy tricks, look elsewhere. Changing string gauges or switching to a drop tuning also takes more adjusting than on a fixed bridge, so it's best if you plan to stay in one tuning. And at $1,679.20 it still isn't a cheap guitar, so if constant tuning stability isn't important to you, a fixed-bridge 7-string will save you money.

Our Take

If you play a 7-string in one tuning, whether in a studio or on stage, the B-Stock Banshee Mach-7 Evertune is a strong buy. You get the stability, the stainless frets and the neck-through build for about $420 less than new. Check the listing's cosmetic note, run the checklist above, and you'll know in an hour whether it's right for you. If you want a trem, or you change tunings every week, skip it.

View the Schecter Banshee Mach-7 Evertune guitar in Fallout Burst Product Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EverTune bridge ever need adjusting?

You'll adjust it when you change string gauges or tunings, and the first setup after a string change takes some patience. Once it's set for your tuning, it should hold pitch with very little attention.

Can I use drop tunings on this guitar?

Yes, but the bridge has to be set for the new tuning, which takes longer than on a fixed bridge. If you swap tunings often, a conventional bridge is easier to live with.

What does B-Stock mean for this Banshee?

B-Stock means the guitar has a cosmetic or packaging issue that keeps it from being sold as new. Read the listing for the specific note, and ask us if you want more photos or details before buying.

Is a 26.5-inch scale hard to play on a 7-string?

It's a longer reach than a 25.5-inch scale, but the 1.889-inch (48mm) nut width and thin 'U' neck make it comfortable for most players. The extra length keeps the low B tighter.