SMB-5D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

[Hapijoel]

Hello all

Currently trying to get my head around the aforementioned mouth full to plan my first bass build - possibly a matter of first-Warmoth-overkill.

Spoken to a guy at Maniac Music and while they didn't know what a Music Man pickup was (slightly worrying) he seemed to think it would be ok.

My only problem is understanding how to wire a MM pick up, a Quarter Pounder Jazz and a preamp PLUS the Sustainiac together.

If any of you can help I'd be truly grateful.

Many thanks!

Joel

EDIT: that should be a SMB-5D in the title

 

[Hapijoel]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Oh just to add to that I'd ideally be adding a blend pot between the two SD pickups as well...

 

[uOpt]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Well the big question is whether you put the blending (or individual volume control) in front or behind the preamp. Obviously you would need 2 preamps to do the latter, although they could share an EQ. I think the SD preamp doesn't have any provision for having two active inputs and sharing the EQ.

If you mix passive you face the usual problems that the sound changes pretty massively as you mix.

I have no idea whether the sustainiac can run passive.

Myself I am about fed up with active and I will actually try my Stingray passive this weekend.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

The Sustaniac control PCB is the key here.

The signals from each of the two pickups run to the balance pot. The combined pickup signal is fed to the Sustainiac PCB, possibly using horrid little block connectors. The output then passes to the STC-3p Volume pot, the EQ PCB and, finally, the output jack.

The Sustainiac device itself simply induces vibration in the strings.

The complete system is going devour batteries in short order. External powering might be desirable.

 

[Hapijoel]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

From what I understood the Sustainiac would only be connected to the bridge MM? Or is that not possible with the two pickups?

Many thanks guys!

 

[Hapijoel]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Perhaps I'm gonna have to drop the J pickup - just wanted to have the flexibility. Funkfingers, do you know if the MM pickup would work with the Sustainiac if the MM was in the sweet spot rather than the bridge position?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

I am not familiar with the exact Sustainiac model that you described. Scrutinise its instructions closely. These will show where the pickups need to be connected to the PCB. The system then chooses between normal and sustain modes. It also deals with the buffering.

I cannot comment much further without seeing the installation instructions for your exact model of Sustainiac.

There should be no need to drop the J Bass pickup. I suspect that both pickups will have to be connected to the PCB first, then to the Balance pot. In sustain mode, the J Bass pickup will be ignored.

 

[Hapijoel]

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Re: SMb-3D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

I am not familiar with the exact Sustainiac model that you described. Scrutinise its instructions closely. These will show where the pickups need to be connected to the PCB. The system then chooses between normal and sustain modes. It also deals with the buffering.

I cannot comment much further without seeing the installation instructions for your exact model of Sustainiac.

There should be no need to drop the J Bass pickup. I suspect that both pickups will have to be connected to the PCB first, then to the Balance pot. In sustain mode, the J Bass pickup will be ignored.

Thanks Funkfingers, I'll have a closer look...

 

[Hapijoel]

Re: SMB-5D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

Sooo having looked over a lot of wiring diagrams and squinting really hard so it looks like I'm thinking...

...I've decided perhaps a P+J setup would be a) easier to wire and b) has a fairly good mix of sounds in it.

So I'll have another look and come back when its figured out.

Thanks all!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: SMB-5D + SJ5-3 + Sustainiac Stealth Pro via STC-3p wiring diagram HELP!

I was gonna say, it sounds like you were not aware of the fact that the Sustainiac system is not something you connect an existing pickup to (like a preamp board) and get the sustain and harmonic modes. It comes with a pickup-shaped driver that doubles as its own pickup. When engaged, the Sustainiac driver switches from pickup mode to electromagnetic field generator mode. The driver at that point does not pass sound like a pickup, and by default the bridge pickup is the only one active, regardless of the switching (unless you finagle the wiring so that 2 pickups are active).