Bridge/mid pickups to go with sustainiac

[Jacksonguy666]

Vass - A Sustainiac is designed specifically to be as close to the neck as possible, meaning it has to go in the neck. On the humbucker-sized driver, the neckward coil is the driver. It may interfere with the fields of other pickups, which is why it comes with a small metal tab that can be inserted next tot he driver between it and the middle pickup. The strings are simply too loose at the middle position to support the driver - the power would have to be amplified so much that it would pull the strings out of whack, and disrupt the other pickups.
The best sustainer design would be mounted into the fretboard after the last fret, and have a shaped field that was aimed directly at the strings rather than being football shaped. That would keep it from disturbing the neck pickup.


p-mac - All DK2Ss were made in Japan.
I'm not a DiMarzio fan but I do like the ToneZone over the Duncan JB. The TZ can cop a JB sound (no balls, the choked-potential sound) if you back it off the strings a bit, but it can get more balls and more punch if you keep it pretty close to the strings, whereas a JB can't.

And you can get more highs from a humbucker by using a 1Meg volume pot, though it's not that the pot adds highs, it lets more pass through. If the pickup doesn't have enough highs, it won't matter if you're using a 1M or 500K pot. Most people prefer a 250K volume with a JB to control the highs, saying it's too shrill with a 500K. I think it sucks anyway, so I haven't bothered testing that myself.



J-guy - Almost all single-spaced pickups will sound more stratty than humbuckery IMO. I've had Hot Rails in the neck, and while it definitely has more balls and beef than a regular single (especially the Duncan Designed stuff), it still has that Strat sound. If you're good with that, get one. Haven't tried a Cool Rails, but I'm assuming it's just a louder single - halfway between a Hot Rail and a regular single.

You might also look into a Lil59 or Lil Screamin Demon. A JBJr might be good as well, but the one I had in the bridge of a 1990 Warrior had very high output - like a Distortion. It had more drive than the Duncan Custom Shop DistortionJr I ordered.

Speaking of that, you could get a Duncan Custom Shop CustomJr or JazzJr. I ordered those two as well and the CustomJr is very warm. It makes a great middle pickup. The JazzJr is a bit low-volume, but it works pretty well as a middle pickup when paired with a neck and bridge humbucker.

Thank you! That was exactly what I wanted, just a little blurb on the end of your original post. Ill look at the little 59 and the duncan custom shop. (by the way, HOLY SHIT! you know alot about the sustainer thing. )

[Vass]

Newc- Thanks for your reply. Your explanation makes perfect sense as usual. Wonder if there's ever been a unit made as you describe, more towards the last fret.

[patmac3]

Wow, I raised my bridge a little and my guitar started sounding alive again. I thought this had fixed my dull sound, but came back later and it was back. The problem actually turned out to be a bad pot on the volume control. You could hear the guitar out of it but for some reason it sounded muffled. I started messing with the knob and it came back to life again. I almost want to take back all the bad things I said about my guitar, even the sustainiac is more responsive. Still a little too smooth sounding for my liking, but things are looking up. Still want to change the bridge at least. Maybe put an OFR on it and see what that does for the sound.

[VoiceX3]

Vass - A Sustainiac is designed specifically to be as close to the neck as possible, meaning it has to go in the neck. On the humbucker-sized driver, the neckward coil is the driver. It may interfere with the fields of other pickups, which is why it comes with a small metal tab that can be inserted next tot he driver between it and the middle pickup. The strings are simply too loose at the middle position to support the driver - the power would have to be amplified so much that it would pull the strings out of whack, and disrupt the other pickups.

Newc, while that is considerred ideal, I still put one in my warrior pro and it worked just fine. Actually it was a bit more controllable sonically. I didn't find any interference with the bridge pickup either. I had a Dimebucker in it originally which was just too hot for the guitar but then switched it to a Jackson J90C and it sounded great.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Vass - A Sustainiac is designed specifically to be as close to the neck as possible, meaning it has to go in the neck. On the humbucker-sized driver, the neckward coil is the driver. It may interfere with the fields of other pickups, which is why it comes with a small metal tab that can be inserted next tot he driver between it and the middle pickup. The strings are simply too loose at the middle position to support the driver - the power would have to be amplified so much that it would pull the strings out of whack, and disrupt the other pickups.

Actually the string tension is looser at the neck position. Which is part of th ereason the neck pup is under wound vs the bridge pup. The neck pup is closer to the middle of the string length where the string vibrates in the widest pattern. Not in the middle pup position which is closer to the bridge. Where the string is anchored. Just an observation and not in anyway a critique. So if in fact the driver needs a tighter string pattern than it would be better in the middle than it would in the neck. It doesnt rely on string vibration patterns as much as it does the overall harmonic tones of the string. Which are richer in the neck position vs the middle. The driver is a pickup and works like a pickup. In the fact that it relies on magnetic field just lie a JB or a Strat pup does. However it has wider magnet to help generate the field over a wider surface area of the string and not just the narrow field of a typical pole of a pickup. The pup is passive but the electronics its hooked too is active. The driver will work as a pickup with out the sustainiac system intact. Ive tried it.. As for pups that will work with it. The stock DD that the DK2S comes with is the equivilant to the JB. The single coil in th emiddle is the equivilant to the SSL1 or Vintage staggered single. Albeit they are made in korea and dont sound the same. Probably due to the gauge of the wire or the magnet used in each. (inferior magnets made of lesser quality metals compared to the real duncans). If ya want to swap the pups out go for it. But im glad it sounds better and ya narrowed the problem down to a bad pot.
Gil