Fernandes Sustainer Question

[Lordiesel]

Hello all,

I want to add a sustainer to my rg570 which is H-S-H, but I would like the mix mode if possible. The Fernandes FSK-401 has the mix mode but is a single coil driver. Is there a way to fill up the other half of the driver. If not I might just go for the fsk-101. Any thoughts... I've put it off long enough.


Thanks in advance

Themi

[Ryan350DX]

Well I typed it all out nicely but then I realized the 570 doesnt have a pickguard.. You could always glue a single coil to the driver and put it in there like a humbucker..

Heres what I typed out...

Well in my Rg (which is also H-S-H-) its currently resting in the middle of the humbucker spot. That is be cause there is 2 screw holes on both sides of the pickup.. and they are in the middle.

What you are going to want to do is take a dremel (or a router), take off the pickguard and trim a little around the neck there so you can fit the driver snug to the neck, drill 2 holes (one on each side) of the pickup to hold it into the pickguard then buy a really cheap single coil to put next to it (you will need to drill 2 more holes for that, as for the middle 2 holes you will need to just put screws in there for show. If any of this doesnt make sence.. just ask

[pilotfish]

Have you considered the sustainiac sustainer? The stealth-pro also have the mix-mode function. Humbucker sized driver is available in black or white. I have the kit but I have not installed it yet.

[Ryan350DX]

Does that have toggle switches that go on the body?

[Lordiesel]

nah i'll go for the fernandes...

Ryan, you have installed yours (fsk-401) into a guitar with a pickguard haven't you? hrmm....

So I guess what I need to know is :

can you fill the gap with a plastic cover?
can you fill it with a single coil pickup?
Does the fsk-401 driver act as a pickup?
Apparently Vai rewired his to have the humbucker as the neck pickup, is this true?

Has anyone done any of these or can shed some light. I am beyond clueless when it comes to electronics in a guitar.

[pilotfish]

Originally Posted by Ryan350DX

Does that have toggle switches that go on the body?

Yes you can choose from toggle switches or push&pull pots. I have toggle switches like the fsk-401 kit. The driver of the sustainiac acts as a humbucker when the sustainer is not activated =)

[Ryan350DX]

Originally Posted by Lordiesel

nah i'll go for the fernandes...

Ryan, you have installed yours (fsk-401) into a guitar with a pickguard haven't you? hrmm....

So I guess what I need to know is :

can you fill the gap with a plastic cover?
can you fill it with a single coil pickup?
Does the fsk-401 driver act as a pickup?
Apparently Vai rewired his to have the humbucker as the neck pickup, is this true?

Has anyone done any of these or can shed some light. I am beyond clueless when it comes to electronics in a guitar.

For your guitar I would somehow put a single coil next to the sustainer driver (remember the sustainer driver is a wee bit longer than a regular single coil). YES the driver will act as a neck pickup while the sustainer is off. While the sustainer is on, your sound will be whatever bridge pickup you have - the sound is brought to the sustainer driver and magnetically driven by the sustainer driver. Say you have a PAF in the bridge, you will still have the wonderful tone of a PAF but its brought thru the driver. I recommend using the FGI Custom Humbucker bridge pickup that comes with the sustainer package, as that is a great pickup with nice overtones and nice smooth gain.

Everything is pre-wired and plugs directly into the chipboard via plastic clips. There is some soldering required to the chipboard (middle pickup) and to the Intensity pot.

Maybe you can buy a cool little pickguard for your guitar, like a chrome one or a matching one off of that Pickguard Paradise website.

Hope I helped.