Sustaniac Issues - Synyster Gates Custom-S Gold Burst

[Mark Laszutko]

Hey guys, I just got my guitar in about two weeks ago and have been playing around with the sustainiac a ton.

Anyways, the other day using only the neck pickup (the sustainiac) with it being turned off was dead. The pickup was not working, but when the sustaniac was turned on it worked perfectly fine. I figured it was a battery issue grabbed a 9V Duracell and changed it out. The good news is the sustainiac pickup now worked with it being turned off and was getting normal sounds.

The big issue however was now the sustain was not nearly working as well as it used to. Before I could sustain notes infinitely and this one while it can sometimes do it infinitely it's random at best. The note has to be struck extremely hard and even then the note will decrease in volume quite a bit before it reaches the sustain point, this was not happening before as I could slide around anywhere and hold it infinitely. The other issue is the harmonic mode. Unless I turn the harmonic mode on right away, the note doesn't have enough volume to trigger it and it just dies. I've tried two different Duracell 9 Volt batteries and I get the same issue (mind you I have had them for a few years but haven't used em).

Any help or advice on this issue is greatly appreciated.

 

[idssdi]

First try brand new batteries from the shops, battery leakage is kind of a thing.

Besides that I really wouldn't know what's the issue.

 

[carlosmqr]

I would try a new battery like Ids said! It happened the same to me before, old battery never used and wasnt sustaining like it was normally doing.

 

[tamagotchigraveyard]

Many electronics will not perform properly with cheaper brands of batteries. Energizer and duracell batteries for any guitar application, always. Cheaper dollar store type 9v batteries do not carry enough voltage to properly push the current through certain circuits. Try an energizer 9v and let me know what happens

 

[tamagotchigraveyard]

Also batteries def do not last forever. Think of voltage like pressure, and think of batteries like a balloon full of air. over time that pressure is gonna force its way out

 

[Muz Malek]

Hey guys, I just got my guitar in about two weeks ago and have been playing around with the sustainiac a ton.

Anyways, the other day using only the neck pickup (the sustainiac) with it being turned off was dead. The pickup was not working, but when the sustaniac was turned on it worked perfectly fine. I figured it was a battery issue grabbed a 9V Duracell and changed it out. The good news is the sustainiac pickup now worked with it being turned off and was getting normal sounds.

The big issue however was now the sustain was not nearly working as well as it used to. Before I could sustain notes infinitely and this one while it can sometimes do it infinitely it's random at best. The note has to be struck extremely hard and even then the note will decrease in volume quite a bit before it reaches the sustain point, this was not happening before as I could slide around anywhere and hold it infinitely. The other issue is the harmonic mode. Unless I turn the harmonic mode on right away, the note doesn't have enough volume to trigger it and it just dies. I've tried two different Duracell 9 Volt batteries and I get the same issue (mind you I have had them for a few years but haven't used em).

Any help or advice on this issue is greatly appreciated.

You may need to check the contacts on the 3-way toggle switch as well for the weak signal. And yes, energizer batteries recommended.

 

[Zachary Virga]

I've been having the same issue with my Syn Custom-S for years now. Could never fix it or find any sort of solution to this problem.

 

[tamagotchigraveyard]

I've been having the same issue with my Syn Custom-S for years now. Could never fix it or find any sort of solution to this problem.

I am trying to find some sustainiacs to put in myself in some of my guitars so I’ll get back to y’all on anything I discover

 

[Mark Laszutko]

So I fixed the issue, it turns out the gain trimpot inside got turned down somehow (I guess a wire turned it) all I had to do was turn the trimpot and everything went back to normal.

 

[Mark Laszutko]

I've been having the same issue with my Syn Custom-S for years now. Could never fix it or find any sort of solution to this problem.

I recently fixed the issue, it was an issue with the trimpots, have you tried turning them at all? I could take a photo and show what I did and see if it helps for you

 

[dryurtears]

I recently fixed the issue, it was an issue with the trimpots, have you tried turning them at all? I could take a photo and show what I did and see if it helps for you

can you send a photo of it?

 

[Juarito]

can you send a photo of it?

Can I see the photo because I am having the exact same problem. When the sustaniac is off I don’t get any sound from the neck pick up at all. I have to have the sustaniac turned on to get any sound out of it at all. It’s pissing me off.