Fernandes sustainer on Jem - I think I'm going to do it!

davester1234 · #1 03-23-2002, 08:04 PM

I want to put a Fernandes sustainer on my old Jem. *2 Questions for ya'll.
1)What do you think about this idea?
2)How the heck does that thing work? *

SalemB · #2 03-23-2002, 08:11 PM

1. Great idea! I've been thinking of doing it to my old Washburn myself.
2. Easy explanation: The thing sets up a magnetic field that continues to vibrate the string.
* *Full explanation: I think there's a good one at http://www.sustainiac.com.

Two hands31 · #3 03-23-2002, 08:58 PM

Quote:

davester1234 on 7:04 pm on Mar. 23, 2002
1)What do you think about this idea?

I think it's a cool idea! *If I had the money, I'd put one in my Strat.

Quote:

2)How the heck does that thing work? *

It takes the signal from your bridge pickup (without interupting it, you still get the same tone from the pickup coming out the output) and runs it through a circuit that boosts the signal (run on a 9v battery) and shoots it out the neck pickup (sustainer pickup) creating a magnetic field, which vibrates the strings. *

darren wilson · #4 03-24-2002, 12:28 AM

My Sustainiac Stealth Plus just arrived this week. Now i have to just finish my 540R body and slap the whole thing together. I'll keep you guys posted!

littlegreenman · #5 03-24-2002, 12:47 AM

big holes in nice guitars, it just hurts to think about

davester1234 · #6 03-24-2002, 01:03 AM

what do you mean big holes................???

Two hands31 · #7 03-24-2002, 01:06 AM

Quote:

davester1234 on 12:03 am on Mar. 24, 2002
what do you mean big holes................???

Well, the on/off switch, the level knob, the "mode" switch (normal/harmonic/mix)...

davester1234 · #8 03-24-2002, 01:10 AM

just like vai has i guess.

yurich · #9 03-24-2002, 01:18 AM

Quote:

littlegreenman on 11:47 pm on Mar. 23, 2002
big holes in nice guitars, it just hurts to think about

wait, you saying you don't dig the 7PBK??

:biggrin:

Two hands31 · #10 03-24-2002, 01:44 AM

Quote:

davester1234 on 12:10 am on Mar. 24, 2002
just like vai has i guess.

Yeah, cuz it's how the wiring works. *

davester1234 · #11 03-24-2002, 01:54 AM

thats alright...FLO looks kinda cool I think. *A jem with a little bit extra...

darren wilson · #12 03-24-2002, 02:55 AM

I'm wiring up my Sustainiac with push-pull pots. The volume control will have the on/off switch, and the tone will be fundamental/harmonic mode (i don't plan on using the mix mode). No extra holes necessary.

littlegreenman · #13 03-24-2002, 06:08 AM

oh, well, my bad, I thought a sustainer required a big ole route in the back of the guitar. *I have been wrong before though! hehehe

davester1234 · #14 03-24-2002, 10:59 AM

Quote:

darren wilson on 1:55 am on Mar. 24, 2002
I'm wiring up my Sustainiac with push-pull pots. The volume control will have the on/off switch, and the tone will be fundamental/harmonic mode (i don't plan on using the mix mode). No extra holes necessary.

Darren, the mix mode is fantastic brother, take the plunge man, go for it, you wont regret it.

darren wilson · #15 03-24-2002, 12:28 PM

I've tried Sustainer guitars with the three-mode switch before, and i always found that the harmonics came on too slowly in the mix mode. When i want to hear the harmonics, i want them right now. That's why i've opted to forego the mix mode and just go with fundamental/harmonic... in fact, i'll probably have the harmonic mode enabled by default. (Michael Brook is one of my favourite guitarists... if you've ever heard him play, you'll understand why i'm taking this approach.)

Jer: The older Fernandes Sustainers are based on a much older design than the new Sustainiac units, and did require significant routing for the large circuit board. The circuit board on the Sustainiac unit is 1.05 in. x 2.75 in. x 0.5 in, and can probably fit in most guitars' control cavities without any additional routing, though JEM/RG cavities are pretty tiny. Here's a pic of the board and other electronic components that come in the Sustainiac kit, so you can get a sense of scale.