I may want a Sustainer pickup. Tips, tricks, ideas anyone?

[Sascha Franck]

Ok, I always loved those. Outside of playing at larger volumes, these are the only way to get real feedback/sustain (the FreqOut pedal obviously does not do that). And the only tools to provide absolutely controllable feedback/sustain.

So, what would be my best bet to add them to a guitar? Or should I rather look for a guitar having one built in already?
There's a whole lot of confusing information making me worry about adding one myself, such as them not playing well with other pickups, such as the neck pickup sound being terrrible when you slap one in (and use it as a passive pickup once switched off) and what not.

It's not anything I need to do right now, but I'd like to gather some useful bits of information already, ideally some first hand tips/hints from someone who's been through it already.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Never tried one either but was always curious. I know Vai and Satch have them on select guitars. Maybe there are vids on them discussing it?

 

[DISTORT6]

I would get a guitar that already has it built in before I would commit to altering one of my guitars.

 

[Jynx]

Schecter already have lots of great guitars with Sustainiac in it so I would look there.

Make sure it also has Floyd-Rose because those two go together like ebony and ivory.

This is mine.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Schecter already have lots of great guitars with Sustainiac in it so I would look there.

Make sure it also has Floyd-Rose because those two go together like ebony and ivory.

This is mine.

View attachment 51203

That is a lovely piece!

 

[Sascha Franck]

Schecter already have lots of great guitars with Sustainiac in it so I would look there.

Been eying them already. Not exactly my taste, they largely seem to be oriented towards heavier styles.

Make sure it also has Floyd-Rose because those two go together like ebony and ivory.

Nah. I have one FR equipped guitar, and while I get along with it just fine, I vastly prefer "modern standard" vibratos (Wilkonson VS-100 and Gotoh 510 are my favourites).

 

[KingsXJJ]

Nah. I have one FR equipped guitar, and while I get along with it just fine, I vastly prefer "modern standard" vibratos (Wilkonson VS-100 and Gotoh 510 are my favourites).

I’ve often wondered about those two that you mentioned. It’s nice to hear they are favored.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Anyhow, as you do have some firsthand experience, @Jynx, how does the Sustainer work/sound as a plain pickup? And can you use it as a neck pickup while using the Sustainer functionality (it seems like, just want to make sure)?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Just been looking at all Sustainiac guitars at Thomann, they're all akin towards heavier stuff. The Ibanez JS signature seems to be the least heavy one, but it's only got the single coil Sustainiac (I'd prefer humfree operation all throughout).
The focus on the heavier realm is really making me wonder as Sustainiacs are just incredible when playing clean chords, too.

 

[Jynx]

Anyhow, as you do have some firsthand experience, @Jynx, how does the Sustainer work/sound as a plain pickup? And can you use it as a neck pickup while using the Sustainer functionality (it seems like, just want to make sure)?

It's basically a single coil pickup. It's not bad. Pretty loud. But I don't use it at all.

It can be used in sustain mode.

 

[Jynx]

Just been looking at all Sustainiac guitars at Thomann, they're all akin towards heavier stuff. The Ibanez JS signature seems to be the least heavy one, but it's only got the single coil Sustainiac (I'd prefer humfree operation all throughout).
The focus on the heavier realm is really making me wonder as Sustainiacs are just incredible when playing clean chords, too.

They are great on cleans too. Though I find on chords some strings tend to dominate.