Sustainer

[SamaelXV]

im new to bass effects, may i ask about sustainers (the one that prolong the bass sound)? does it really function like an active bass pick up? if so, it can be an alternative to active pickups right?

 

[spz8]

A "sustainer" is a variant name for a compressor. The sustain is a result of the threshold, ratio, attack and release controls working together. It has nothing to do with pickups, active or otherwise.

 

[SamaelXV]

oh.. but can a compressor prolong a bass note? thanks for the reply..

 

[bongomania]

Yes it can. Be aware though that more sustain comes with more noise, and more flattened dynamics.

 

[Deep Cat]

Fernandes makes a sustainer system for guitars that basically mounts in the place of a guitar pickup. They work by using the pickups in reverse (sending out a magnetic field) to agitate the strings.

It doesn't function like an active pickup, and can't replace them.

 

[spz8]

^^^ Read Bongo's compressor FAQs, it will tell you everything you need to know!

 

[johnk_10]

the mad professor (BJF designed) forest green compressor has a sustain mode that doesn't compress your attack but compresses your signal afterwards which lengthens the sustain of your notes.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Yes it can. Be aware though that more sustain comes with more noise, and more flattened dynamics.

+. Yep

 

[Joe Louvar]

the mad professor (BJF designed) forest green compressor has a sustain mode that doesn't compress your attack but compresses your signal afterwards which lengthens the sustain of your notes.

Huh? The sustain happens when a compressed signal is expanded (release time, etc). So that doesn't make much sense - unless maybe what they're calling the "sustain mode" is just some sort of time delayed booster? EDIT: Or is it a two stage compressor - for example, like the RNC?

 

[johnk_10]

Huh? The sustain happens when a compressed signal is expanded (release time, etc). So that doesn't make much sense - unless maybe what they're calling the "sustain mode" is just some sort of time delayed booster? EDIT: Or is it a two stage compressor - for example, like the RNC?

well, in this pedal it does make sense and the sustain mode works exactly as I described it, and it works great.
it's not a time delayed booster.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Fernandes makes a sustainer system for guitars that basically mounts in the place of a guitar pickup. They work by using the pickups in reverse (sending out a magnetic field) to agitate the strings.

It doesn't function like an active pickup, and can't replace them.

They do not make them for bass. There was an extremely limited run of basses released with them in Japan but the only way to actually buy just a bass sustainer was to be a Fernandes artist. Peter Steele bought most of them up.

Sustainiac makes a similar product that I might try one day if I make a Type O bass.

 

[Joe Louvar]

well, in this pedal it does make sense and the sustain mode works exactly as I described it, and it works great.
it's not a time delayed booster.

Oh okay, I'm not looking for an argument, its just that I don't know how that's possible and I was hoping you could tell me? If not, that's okay too. Thanks

 

[johnk_10]

AFAIK, it basically lets the original attack pass thru uneffected, and then the compressor kicks in.

here's the schematic:

 

[Joe Louvar]

Oh Okay - a blend. Thank you very much.

 

[dannybuoy]

Sounds like it could be just a regular compressor set with a long attack time?

 

[johnk_10]

I don't think so. it has a standard compression mode as well as a sustain mode and the two modes are completely different.

 

[boomertech]

Oh Okay - a blend. Thank you very much.

+1 Exactly.

Most compressors that have a dry blend will allow the initial signal dynamics and sustain. Just adjust the comp for heavy compression for sustain and mix in some clean (uncompressed) signal.

Sounds like it could be just a regular compressor set with a long attack time?

That works too for notes with enough silence between them. But when there is a constant signal over the threshold, the compression doesn’t get a chance to “reset” and the initial part of the next note envelope is compressed because of the notes before it.

I don't think so. it has a standard compression mode as well as a sustain mode and the two modes are completely different.

It is blending the dry signal via R5.

-Frank

 

[Raineman_13]

Fernandes asb 100s. Made in 95, I modded mine out to look more peter Steele' esque
But they are very rare, my circuit is blown right now so I am going to try the guitar circuit version. After alot of research on the past year I discovered that it's essentially just the driver that they have discontinued, I had an electric Engineer compare circuits and he said it would function the same. The newer up to date Fernandes circuit is the same as they're 18v model just more power efficient.

 

[franklindayala]

im new to bass effects, may i ask about sustainers (the one that prolong the bass sound)? does it really function like an active bass pick up? if so, it can be an alternative to active pickups right?

You should check. Ebow.
The Amazing EBow :: Home

 

[Wfrance3]

I used to own one of those pigtronix bass compressors. They have freakishly ling sustain. Probably others as well, but I found extended sustain to be especially easy to dial up with the pigtronix bass comp.