jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

[thatsbammer]

i was just wondering if anyone has noticed that jackson makes guitars with 3 different sustainers:
jackson sustainer/pc1 model
sustainiac model/DK2S model
floyd rose sustainer/not sure what model
i just wanted to know the differences in the 3(if any)
thanks for reading my post

[2Loud2Old]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

I *think* the sustain units operate pretty much the same.

[toejam]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

I believe the sustainer in the PC1 is the Floyd Rose version. I don't think Jackson ever made their own.

[mikedocy]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

Originally posted by thatsbammer:
i was just wondering if anyone has noticed that jackson makes guitars with 3 different sustainers:
jackson sustainer/pc1 model
sustainiac model/DK2S model
floyd rose sustainer/not sure what model
i just wanted to know the differences in the 3(if any)
thanks for reading my post

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Jackson uses 2 kinds only although 3 kinds do exist: Floyd Rose, Sustainiac, Fernandes.

The PC1 uses the Floyd Rose Sustainer sometimes
refered to as the Jackson sustainer because
Jackson licensed it from Floyd Rose.

The DK2S uses one based on the "Sustainiac Stealth Plus",
see www.sustainiac.com

Differences:
Floyd Rose Sustainer: 18 volt (2 nine volt batteries) When the sustainer is off the
3 pickups are set up as standard passive pickups
with 5 way pickup selector switch. (excellent).
(If batteries die guitar still works).
When sustainer is on you can use bridge and middle pickup. (Cool, two different sounds with sustainer on). If you switch to neck pickup with sustainer on you are still using the middle pickup but with a capacitor switched in to make it sound more like the neck pickup. (nice try).

Sound: Good, strong fundamental sustain.
Harmonic switch makes 1 octave higher.
Easy to control. Seems to have a gate/threshold
controlling the sustainer so strings don't fly-off
into feedback accidently when not palm muting.
I use with sustainer level turned up about 1/3.

Sustainiac: 9 volts (1 battery). When sustainer
is off bridge and middle pickups are passive, neck pickup is active (if battery dies so does neck pickup). When sustainer is on only bridge pickup is used. If you switch 5 way switch to any
other position there is no change, bridge pickup
is forced on at all positions.

Sound: The sustainiac is a little harder to control because it acts more like real amp feedback. You must palm or hand mute strings
when not playing so they don't fly-off into feedback. 3 way switch for sustainer: fundamental,mix,harmonic. Fundamental mode works good. Harmonic mode is a little hard to use. It doesn't always break into feedback due to the nature of the design. I don't use this mode.
The Savior: mix mode. The switch on my guitar is practically glued in this mode because I like it so much. Low notes bloom into a sweet octave
harmonic feedback (sounds just like real amp feedback). High notes sustain at their fundamental
(perfect). This sustainer can emit some unwanted buzzy noise caused by leakage of the sustainer signal into the pickup. This buzzy noise is only
audible when treble and gain cranked way up on amp. Not really a problem (because buzzy noise is very low level) but stumbled onto this one time while playing very light with distortion stomp box on.

Fernandes Sustainer: Works good also. 1 battery. Similar to Sustainiac. Only can use bridge pickup when sustainer on. Sustainer pickup is an active
pickup when sustainer is off. Fundamental/harmonic mode switch. Fundamental works good and has some "mix" characteristic to it. Some notes bloom into an octave higher while other notes remain at the fundamental (nice).
The harmonic mode on this sustainer is different. It doesn't make the feedback jump up 1 octave. it makes the feedback jump up a fifth?? (or whatever interval, definitly not an octave).

I own all three varieties and these are my observations. I like the PC1 the best because
it is easy to control. I wish it had a "mix" mode.

PS. Oh yeah, I own the Sustainiac Model C acoustic
sustainer too. This is a stomp box and widget that clamps to your headstock and actually vibrates the guitar through the headstock
to create feedback. It is a little awkward to use
because of the extra "thing" with a wire clamped
to your headstock but works on my Soloist's and Strat without modifying the guitars. Use for playing at home only. The extra wire would be a PIA at live gig.

Mike

[Sunbane]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

Excellent review Mike! [img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[jacksondk2s]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??



Jackson on the left is a DK2S with the sustainiac system. I love this guitar. The PUP config is absolutely complimentary to the axes wood, and design. I love the feedback from the sutainiac as well! It does however take getting use to, to keep from going into run away!

Mike
NoizeyNeighborAmps

[thatsbammer]

Re: jackson uses 3 different sustainers??

mike, you are THE sustainer expert and i thank you for the awesome reply and pics.you would think that jackson would make available the sustainer that they put in their PC1 guitars(without buying the guitar of course)hey didnt you say that you own all three systems?and the pic of the 5 or 6 jacksons was yours right? im not an expert on jackson PC1s or anything but none of them looked like a PC1.or maybe you just werent showing your entire collection are you holding out on us??? [img]graemlins/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] anyway,thanks for the sustainer 411

troy