upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

[wilkinsi]

i have decided to either buy the dk2s or get a dk2ff (£320)and upgrade it with a sustaniac later when i can afford to. i need to know how much it would cost for the electrics and labour (in £sterling please). if it works out cheaper to get the dk2s, i may consider a translucent finish... oh, nearly forgot - would there be a difference in neck profile between the two guitars that would have a profound effect on the sustaniac's performance?

[rjohnstone]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

It's cheaper to get the DK2S.
The sustainer alone will run you close to £128, that's about $229 US. That is for the Stealth Plus system, which is the same unit that is installed in the DK2S. Plus the cost of labor to have it installed.

Here's a link to Sustainiac so you can see your options.
http://www.sustainiac.com/ord_info.htm

[wilkinsi]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

the dk2s would cost me £500 for plain black. not sure about the labour cost of upgrading the dk2ff.

[Sunbane]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

I'm also considering putting one in my Model 6, but I will have to be a bit careful with my money until some more jobs roll in.

[rjohnstone]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

[ QUOTE ]
the dk2s would cost me £500 for plain black. not sure about the labour cost of upgrading the dk2ff.

[/ QUOTE ]
I forgot you're not in the US.
£500 for a DK2S is highway robbery.
You can find them on ebay for half that.
This one has a BIN of £252
http://cgi.ebay.com/Jackson-DK2S-Sustain...1QQcmdZViewItem
And this one is going for £223
http://cgi.ebay.com/JACKSON-DK2S-DINKY-E...1QQcmdZViewItem

[wilkinsi]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

cost me £600 for a wrmg in trans black
cost me £350 for a dxmg in black, which they now charge £379
price of dk2ff £320 inc. carriage
price of dk2s £479 + carriage + £40 if trans-finish.
i thought the reason for hefty prices was because its the uk import tax.

[rjohnstone]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

Those prices are the full retail list price.
I mean really... if you saw the actual dealer wholesale price on a DK2S, you would shit yourself.
Trust me... Jackson doesn't pay anywhere near $229 US for the Sustainiac they put in the DK2S.
Is that the best price you've been able to find, or is that some sales guy quoting you book?

[wilkinsi]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

i've checked every retailer website i can and these are the sort of prices people seem to pay in this country. i've seen the trade prices on some guitars - scumbags always make a mint. in particular, my local retailer who took back my 6 week old dxmg (i paid £350 by price match) in exchange for a boss gt-8 and £50 credit note. they then put a £379 price tag on it. a dx10dfs in asb 2nd hand has been there nearly a year and they still want £400! the websites for other retailers are suspect. i came across one who when phoned tried to charge more than what they advertised. still, i didn't actually pay £600 for the wrmg. it was a replacement for a shitty bc rich speedloader which i paid £525 (rrp £659, trade was £360!) so not a complete loss. no other retailer has allowed price matching but then they tend to stock crap guitars that no-one wants. i usually try to stick to local retailers because my experience with mail order has been nothing short of problems - faulty goods, wait time for couriors, delivery charges (despite being under warranty), faulty replacements, refusal of alternative goods. just can't win in the uk...

[rjohnstone]

Re: upgrading a dk2ff with a sustaniac

I feel for ya bro.
That realy sucks.
I used to sell Jacksons a few years back and we never asked for full retail. Sure we put it on the guitar along with a "sale" price, but unless the person was an idiot, we always negotiated.
I know web sites and even local retailers have to follow Jacksons MAP (Min. Advertised Price) policy, but they should always be open to negotiations. If they don't, I won't do business with them.
Good luck.