Question if you own a sustainiac equipped guitar

[che_guitarra]

I've recently bought a Jackson DK2S, and i'm just wondering about the sustainiac system.

Basically, there's three sustain modes you can choose from: normal, mix, and harmonic. When in normal or mix mode, it's happy days and playing is very manageable - you can play as normal and let notes ring out as you choose.

However, in harmonic mode uncontrolled squealing takes over everything until you let a hard played note sustain. The only way i've found the harmonic mode to be useable is switching to the mode when you're already on the note you want to ring out... otherwise it's squeal city. This seems a bit counter intuitive - i'd like it to be useable without work-arounds.


Just wondering if this is normal operation, or do I need the sustainiac system properly set up?

[dreadguard268]

I don't have too much experience with it, but the one I played around with awhile ago didn't do that at all. So to me it sounds like somethings not hooked up properly or some such.

[che_guitarra]

Call me fluffy, but great customer service makes my day. I made contact with Alan Hoover @ Maniac Music (sustainiac manufacturers) and within an hour I had two instructive emails that completely sorted my problem.

Just incase someone else ever faces this problem - here's the fix:



Firstly my circuitboard model is GA-8 Rev 5.4... this may/may not influence the fix, just FYI. There's two trim controls on the circuitboard - #1 controls the neck pickup volume, #2 adjusts the amount of sustainer gain. Basically, a you need to find the operating balance between the two - for me that meant slightly backing off #1, raising #2, and also raising the neck pickup height a fraction.

Good as gold.

[DonP]

Good for you for getting off your @$$ and finding some help LOL!

Enjoy your guitar.

[darthphineas]

have a Kramer Sustainer and a Jackson PC-1. I don't believe they are the sustainiac types, but both of them appear to have the pots on the underside of the board so I've never gotten to tweaking it. the Jackson has always been right as rain. the Kramer's sustainer is a bit particular and I've long-suspected needs this sort of tweak.

one of the most common things I've read is to start out with both pots in the mid-way point and take it from there.

[marvelous_seven]

Alan has been helpful with my questions regarding sustainiac so far even though I haven't buy one yet. lol