Sustainer/Sustainiac Guitars

not_the_dj

I've been wanting to scratch this itch for a while...and I was watching Phil Collen's (Def Leppard) live Instagram chat last night and he's a big user of these, and I've been listening to a lot of Satriani recently as well.

Only existing guitar that I have that I'd consider having hacked about is an EVH Wolfgang, which would be quite cool with a sustainer, but I've no idea what sort of ballpark it'd be to source and fit (this won't be a DIY job). Anyone got any ideas on cost for that mod? (@ICBM IIRC you've fitted these before haven't you?)

Other options is a new guitar, I'm thinking 80s cheesy rock style not the Fender EOB Strat by the way. Schecter seems to be the one manufacture with lots in their catalogue, but that's not a brand I've ever tried before.

Any others I should look at?

dhaywood67

Check on fleabay regularly. There's currently a superstrat type Fernandes on there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fernandes-Revolver-Pro-Guitar-Sustainer-Floyd-Rose/274407190955?hash=item3fe3f171ab:g:NaUAAOSwAa9e6f1O

The basic Fernandes sustainer kit is around £200 then you'll probably need significant body routing by someone to get it fitted

ICBM

not_the_dj said:

Anyone got any ideas on cost for that mod? (@ICBM IIRC you've fitted these before haven't you?)

Not many, but in my experience the Sustainiac is both better and easier to fit than the Fernandes. Jonathan @FelineGuitars is the authority on them and was doing the Sustainiac kits, but from a recent enquiry I made they're not available at the moment.

How much it costs depends on how much work it is to adapt the existing guitar - it can be fairly easy if you're lucky, or involve extensive routing and buggering about if you're not...

One of the ones I did that turned out to be quite easy was @Moe_Zambeek 's Reverend Reeves Gabrels, which I think he's still selling, if that's of interest.

kentuckyklira

dhaywood67 said:

Check on fleabay regularly. There's currently a superstrat type Fernandes on there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fernandes-Revolver-Pro-Guitar-Sustainer-Floyd-Rose/274407190955?hash=item3fe3f171ab:g:NaUAAOSwAa9e6f1O

The basic Fernandes sustainer kit is around £200 then you'll probably need significant body routing by someone to get it fitted

No routing needed usually.

stonevibe

I have two and they are lots of fun.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBFx3gB3QS/  

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvh27LUg2by/  

Moe_Zambeek

ICBM said:

not_the_dj said:

Anyone got any ideas on cost for that mod? (@ICBM IIRC you've fitted these before haven't you?)

Not many, but in my experience the Sustainiac is both better and easier to fit than the Fernandes. Jonathan @FelineGuitars is the authority on them and was doing the Sustainiac kits, but from a recent enquiry I made they're not available at the moment.

How much it costs depends on how much work it is to adapt the existing guitar - it can be fairly easy if you're lucky, or involve extensive routing and buggering about if you're not...

One of the ones I did that turned out to be quite easy was @Moe_Zambeek 's Reverend Reeves Gabrels, which I think he's still selling, if that's of interest.

Mine is indeed for sale, though that's not down to the Sustainiac, which is (as others have mentioned) a lot of fun, especially with a trem and a huge amount of fuzz

@ICBM did a pretty much factory install on mine, in fact it's cleaner than the recent Reverend factory version because they routed a battery box for theirs, whereas the battery actually fits under the existing control plate quite nicely.

FelineGuitars

Yup - I like the Sustainiac  system, but have resisted getting stock while the £ is so poor against the dollar  as it means they would just cost so darn much.

fastonebaz

A schecter Nikki Stringfield signature has one in. 

daisie_guitar

Most schecters have a version with a sustainiac.

not_the_dj

daisie_guitar said:

Most schecters have a version with a sustainiac.

Oooo, the Sun Valley Super Shredder in dayglo yellow/green looks suitably subtle 

Seziertisch

I got one installed by Steel Custom Guitars a few years back, looking at what I paid back then the price he charges looks to be unchanged. I was happy with the work.

skullfunkerry

not_the_dj said:

daisie_guitar said:

Most schecters have a version with a sustainiac.

Oooo, the Sun Valley Super Shredder in dayglo yellow/green looks suitably subtle 

GAK have got a b-stock one as well. You could fix the damage with a highlighter pen, no-one would ever know

hassleham

I had a cheap Fernandes with a sustainer in which was a decent guitar for the price! Lots of fun

not_the_dj

Seziertisch said:

I got one installed by Steel Custom Guitars a few years back, looking at what I paid back then the price he charges looks to be unchanged. I was happy with the work.

Thanks, I’ll check them out.