FOR THOSE GUITARISTS out there who want to try the revolutionary EverTune bridge pre-installed in an instrument, the choices at most retailers are somewhat limited — although the selection is improving. Fortunately, the following companies offer EverTune-equipped models factory direct: B.C. Rich, ESP, Schecter, Framus, Jackson, Ibanez and Solar, with models coming by the end of the year from Dean and Epiphone. EverTune’s website currently offers 70 different models, including six-, seven- and eight-string guitars and various artist signature models, and most cost only slightly more than their non-EverTune equivalents with prices ranging from $799 to $2,299. We took a look at an EverTune-equipped B.C. Rich Shredzilla Prophecy Archtop, which features a factory-installed EverTune bridge and sells for a price about in the middle of EverTune’s offerings.
FEATURES Living up to its name, the B.C. Rich Shredzilla Prophecy Archtop is built for speed, featuring extra-deep asymmetrical cutaways, shallow C-shape profile neck with 25.5-inch scale, flat 14-inch radius, 1.625-inch nut width and heel-free neck-thru-body construction that provides unrestricted access to all 24 extra jumbo frets. The body is made from nyatoh palaquium, a southeast Asian tonewood that’s a good alternative to mahogany with a light reddish color similar to cherry. The neck is constructed from three pieces of maple with two center strips of wenge to enhance stability and stiffness, and it is capped with a dark Indian ebony fretboard surrounded by abalone purfling and single-ply cream binding. Our example had a Cyan Blue burst gloss finish with a satin finish on the back of the neck.