ruggedcross7 Posted March 5, 2006 Report Posted March 5, 2006 I'm considering the Fernandes FSK101 and the Sustainiac Stealth Plus for install in a Cort M1200 (sweet guitar). Anyone have info about the two sustainer systems - pro's and con's, etc.? Thanks for any input .... Quote
Robert Irizarry Posted March 5, 2006 Report Posted March 5, 2006 I'm considering the Fernandes FSK101 and the Sustainiac Stealth Plus for install in a Cort M1200 (sweet guitar). Anyone have info about the two sustainer systems - pro's and con's, etc.? Thanks for any input .... Have you availed yourself of the Search feature on the site? You can access it by clicking on its link in the upper right hand corner between the Help link and the Members link. Do a search on "Sustainiac" (leave out the quotes) and a HUGE thread on sustainers that goes for 30 pages and has over 1100 posts comes up. I'm sure there is plenty of information there - possibly not as specific as particularly models but I could be mistaken. PSW, btw, appears to be the resident expert on these. Its his fault the thread was started and it is positively ginormous. That same search will bring up a thread on the Sustainiac Stealth Plus. Just a hint btw - there are some great people here with a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience and they love to help. However, one of the things that annoys the elder statesmen around here is people popping in with questions that have already been answered in previous posts. I'm a newbie myself and I just thought I'd point that out in case you haven't checked out the search feature already. Also, do a search with the term "google" and the member name "wardd". wardd points out a way to use google.com in order to search the Project Guitar forum. I also contributed to that thread showing an alternate way to use wardd's suggestion. Google is far superior to the search engine on the forum letting you manipulate your searches in a variety of ways. The only drawback I've noticed to this is that it doesn't pickup up newer posts since Google still needs to index them in order to search them. However, it has been very useful for me. Best of luck and welcome! Quote
ruggedcross7 Posted March 5, 2006 Author Report Posted March 5, 2006 Thanks, I'll remember the search function in the future ... excellent forum here. Quote
psw Posted March 6, 2006 Report Posted March 6, 2006 I'm considering the Fernandes FSK101 and the Sustainiac Stealth Plus for install in a Cort M1200 (sweet guitar). Anyone have info about the two sustainer systems - pro's and con's, etc.? Thanks for any input .... Do a search on "Sustainiac" (leave out the quotes) and a HUGE thread on sustainers that goes for 30 pages and has over 1100 posts comes up. I'm sure there is plenty of information there - possibly not as specific as particularly models but I could be mistaken. PSW, btw, appears to be the resident expert on these. Its his fault the thread was started and it is positively ginormous. Hey there Izzy...hope you weren't referring to me...elderly statesman...you young whipper-snapper... Anyway the sustainer thread is 79 pages and makes no sense at all...so and 38,000 visits + can't be wrong can they?? Well, possibly!!! There is lots in there, but finding it may be tricky!!! ok...back on topic... Actually this question has not been asked before so congratulations...a new one! I think there is an obvious reason that I have never seen a comparison before. The Manufacturers can't do it, and if you have one (and they aren't that common) you won't have/need another to compare it to...and then, who would you tell!!! To tell the truth, I haven't seen either, but I have the third alternative...the DIY Sustainer!!! There is some history that ties the two together, and they all work on the same principle so as far as performance there is probably not a whole lot of difference. But there is some differences in in the way it is implemented and in after sales service...this is what I'd be looking into. With the sustainiac you can get a HB size with space for a single coil sized HB to fit next to it...or the stealth plus with active neck pickup. The fernandes is similar to the latter. The fernandes have the switches on the circuit board...so you are stuck with the spacing of the switching and the route size required behind it is quite large... The Steve Vai connection and the only maker of Sustainer Guitars gives them a much higher profile...they don't really have much after sales service and are made overseas...so if you want USA support, sustainiac may have the edge in many ways...but that's not based on performance, just flexability of installation. (of course living in Oz I'd get no service from anyone, and they would both be very expensive) My DIY sustainer is quite different in many ways and attempts in part to offer more flexability but it is very much DIY still. The wiring of any sustainer is quite complicated but do-able...the hardest bit is finding room for all the bits and batteries. There was an article a month or so ago in Guitar Player BTW with an install into a telecaster...there are a few examples that i have posted on the main thread too and are linked in answer to various sustainer questions lately (that's what R.I. is refering to...inside quibble, don't worry). The sustainiac may have the edge in that the switches are off board and the circuit board is a different shape that maybe easier to get into the guitar for that reason. So...anyway...WELCOME...and feel free to join in on the Sustainer Thread (all things sustain)or ask anymore questions. I'm sure you will enjoy either device, it really is great for all kinds of music and so much fun to play...(takes a little practice though!)...good luck... pete Quote
psw Posted March 8, 2006 Report Posted March 8, 2006 Just added some links to recent questions regarding the fernandes sustainer on the main thread and this great article on fitting a Fernandes System yourself from scratch. The pics will illustrate the effect of having the switches mounted to the board... Today I found this stuff over at Unfretted.com the forum for fretless guitars on fitting the fernandes sustainer with plenty of pics...Unfretted Fernandes Sustainer Install and Review Link Well worth checking out if you are interested in doing this and has opinion on what is entailed in fitting a fernandes system. Of particular interest is the size of the board and the effect of having the switches mounted to it. This is a prime advantage of the DIY version...small size and adaptable to the guitar. With the Fernandes this the routing is massive...the Sustainiac is a lot more adaptable. pete oh...for the new guys...click that little pink arrow and it will take you straight to that page of the sustainer thread... pete Quote
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