Fernandes Sustainer FSK 401 in a HSH guitar

[Guitaraxz]

The Fernandes Kit is meant for a HSS guitar and I was afraid it wouldn't work. The web says that there should be a good distance between the bridge humbucker and the driver, so 22 fret guitars are recomended. This is a 24 fret ax and my way of adapting the single coil sised driver into the neck humbucker made the driver get closer to the bridge pup.

Method:
1- Rout out the necessary space for the sustainer, to be mounted untop.
2- Usee the same pickguard Fernandes suplies, just painted it black on the inside (if you paint it outside you will put pick scratches all over it).
3-shielded the plate with aluminium tape.
4- made a single coil pickup ring sized for a humbucker rout.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Fernandes Sustainer FSK 401 in a HSH guitar

Nice work, but I was under the impression the driver should be as close to the end of the fretboard as possible since there's a crucial harmonic node there, and for the fact that the strings are at the ideal point for the magnet in the driver to stimulate without its magnet interfering with the operation of the middle pickup (if present).

At least that's how the Sustainiac is explained.

 

[Guitaraxz]

Re: Fernandes Sustainer FSK 401 in a HSH guitar

Impressions:

The driver worked fine at that distance; no problemo. The 5 way lever switch provided in the kit did not work, I had to change it. This was very annoying. For the price of the kit all peices should work! The bridge humbucker in their kit sounds too thin and weak. I would change this peice ASAP. The harmonic option they have is a cool addition, nice feedback ala Hendrix if you want.

Great effect, it allows you to have not only infinite sustain playing clean at low volume, but gives you more volume. By more volume I mean I could do tapping (without distortion) with great clarity, no need to hit the strings with great force. Lets call it a natural compressor sound. Great control on your technique is required, you have to be clean, you have to be in conrol of your guitar, otherwise it will go rampage. I mean that if you play a note on the 6th string and don't be carefull all other strings will start humming. Keep all strings not being played muted with your palm!

When using the sustainer the tone comes from the bridge pup only, so this should be a great pup, personally I would stick in a Mod 78 (seymour). But that's just me, put your own favorite in there, say a Pearly Gates or something. But definetly a PAF type, the driver gives it more power if that's what you want.

 

[Guitaraxz]

Re: Fernandes Sustainer FSK 401 in a HSH guitar

Nice work, but I was under the impression the driver should be as close to the end of the fretboard as possible since there's a crucial harmonic node there, and for the fact that the strings are at the ideal point for the magnet in the driver to stimulate without its magnet interfering with the operation of the middle pickup (if present).

At least that's how the Sustainiac is explained.

Yeah, that's exactly why I posted it! It works fine. No problem at all. I think "the harmnic node" is a bunch of BS, what they are concerned about is squeeling. The same effect as putting a mike to close to the speaker. It was not an issue.