Jackson Sustainer help

[shaman]

any of you cats ever installed/worked on a Sustainer/Jackson...this one is in a PC-1-I am looking for anyone that may own one so I can see wiring...Jackson has no info. on it whatsoever
thanks!

[Fikealox]

Hey dude, check out the sustainiac site (www.sustainiac.com) It had an amazing wealth of information last time i looked.

edit: the sustainiac is what I'm getting in my Jackson. It might be different than the sustainer in yours (maybe yours is a Fernandes Sustainer or something), but I imagine it's similar, at least. I was looking into a Fernandes, and was frustrated by their lack of info. The Sustainiac site was really helpful by comparison. Hope you can get something from it.

[blue]

the jackson does use the sustainiac, not the fernandes. just so you know ;)

those PC1's are gorgeous by the way, hope you're enjoying it

[Fikealox]

Aww yeah, PC-1s are amazing. Which colour is yours, Shaman? I've got a DK2s in transparent red on order, so not nearly as cool as a PC-1, but I'm still excited :)

[shaman]

thanks..its a rootbeer finish...the sustainer in the pc-1 is different than the ones you guys mentioned-I have located a local dealer who is trying to get me a scem. on it...circuit board...lots o' wires...lots!

[FELINEGUITARS]

I have the sustainiac ones in stock.......but they are not the ones used on the PC1

That may have been the Floyd Rose Sustainer - think they were used on Kramers before

[shaman]

thanks feline...I finally figured out the problem..there are so many grounds...had to ground three together and jump a wire to the tone pot..we are sustaining and no buzz......I have a sense of accomplishment :D

[Fikealox]

Congrats :) I'd love to see a photo if you have one handy, a rootbeer PC-1 would look mad

[shaman]

[gbm]

thanks feline...I finally figured out the problem..there are so many grounds...had to ground three together and jump a wire to the tone pot..we are sustaining and no buzz......I have a sense of accomplishment :D

Did you get a wiring diagram? I'm trying to get a sustainer to work on a 1st generation PC-1 (two knobs/no intensity knob) as the original owner cut the sustainer out and used the switches as kill switches. (can't believe it.....)

Thanks for the help!!

[shaman]

might can walk you thru it-will need pics probably...does it have a pc board??how many 9 volt batteries??I will be out on the 25th, but if you will send pics,etc...Ican help!!!
cheers!-Shaman

[donovan.x]

WOW!!! Stunning guitar, big D/L fan and a PC 1 is certainley on my list, not this year though, to much else to get first.

[space_ryerson]

Sorry to bring back an old thread...Shaman, that is a gorgeous PC-1! Beings a lefty as well, I'm envious!

I have a custom guitar with the same sustainer as the PC-1, but I've been having a problem with mine. My neck pickup/sustainer driver won't work when the sustainer is off. Long story short, the culprit is the yellow transformer on the sustainer circuit board. I would replace the transformer, but there are no markings on it, so I don't know which transformer to order! If anyone could let me know what value that transformer is, I'd be very, very grateful.

The transformer is the yellow one part on the left in this picture:


I've seen a photo of someone else's sustainer that does have writing on the transformer, but it's too small to read from this photo:


But, I do have a lot of info on this sustainer, that PC-1 owners (and recent Kramer Sustainer owners--same sustainer) could find useful. Here is the basic wiring diagram I got from Floyd Rose with the sustainer back in the 90's:

I also had some correspondence with the main designer of this sustainer, Rick Knotts, a few years back about calibrating the sustainer:

The four pins not specified in the diagram: For changing the load on the bridge pickup.  The difference is subtle.  Check the sound of the bridge pickup with sustainer switched on and then off.  Use the guitar chord you would normally use.  If the sound is very close to the same, you can ignore the pins.  If you hear a difference not to your liking, try jumping 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 (numbered consecutively).

The trim pots:  One is for sensitivity and the other is for output.  Turn the
output and sensitivity all the way up, then back off until the uncontrolled
feedback ceases.  You will then have the highest possible output.  You then
back the sensitivity down to whatever level you prefer based on touch.

Set the height of the driver as close to the strings as you can for the
best driver performance.

Unfortunately, he doesn't work at Floyd Rose any more, so I can't just ask him what value the transformer is! Here is the manual for the recent Kramer Sustainer, with a wiring diagram:

Kramer's sustainer manual

I hope this helps anyone with wiring trouble on their PC-1's! If anyone can tell me that transformer value, I'd really appreciate it!

[brib33]

The  Jackson PC-1 does NOT use sustainiac NOR Fernandes it uses an old design that Floyd Rose made for Kramer guitars and its about the best sustainer out there.

[nowombats]

sorry for reviving such old thread but its the only info i have so far. i have the exact sustainer pictured above and apparently my thin battery wire was shorted against the  board and cooked the transistor at the lower left hand corner (black) next to the switch. my question is can that be fixed or replaced? do they sell these boards seperately?
bummer i love the sustainer and now im stuck... any ideas? my pc1 is any early one with two knobs not the three version style....thanks Pete