Fernandes 401 Sustainer Kit

[John Kingma]

Is anyone familiar with these units?

I've been trying to get Fernandes to answer a couple questions, but they don't seem to want to reply so I thought I would try a couple other places.

I bought one of these kits on ebay a few years ago with the intent of building a guitar around it some day. So that day has finally come around and a few days ago I took it out of the box to check it out a bit.

It comes with 2 pickups and a 5 way switch. I was planning on wiring in a 3rd middle pickup but the instructions do not have enough info to show how to do that. Can a 3rd pickup easily be wired into the circuit, and if so, how?

Secondy, the sustainer intensity pot seems to freely spin round and round both directions without a "start" and "stop" position. This doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone know the makeup of this pot and how it is actually supposed to function? My gut tells me it's defective.

[David King]

John,

I'm not too familiar with that system but the general concept is simple enough. You probably have a pickup and a driver. That endless pot might be an encoder of some sort rather than a pot. I've never seen a pot with that defect. I'd install as is and then test the possibility of a 3rd pickup mounted above the strings to make sure it plays well with the other(s) once you get it up and running as designed.

[Art Davila]

I tried to connect to the fernandez web site, but can not connect to it are you sure they are still in business?

I know there is a sustaniac, maybe they bought out the business. I have never installed this unit but have seen 3 pick up versions before so it is possible.

did another search and found that "The Fernandes was initially a licensed version of the Sustainiac." according to a post in another forum.

[John Kingma]

Thanks David and Art.

I have had no problem getting on their website. I'll try the phone number since I still have not received a reply. I'll also take a look at Sustainiac.

[Steve Benford]

Is anyone familiar with these units?

I've been trying to get Fernandes to answer a couple questions, but they don't seem to want to reply so I thought I would try a couple other places.

I bought one of these kits on ebay a few years ago with the intent of building a guitar around it some day. So that day has finally come around and a few days ago I took it out of the box to check it out a bit.

It comes with 2 pickups and a 5 way switch. I was planning on wiring in a 3rd middle pickup but the instructions do not have enough info to show how to do that. Can a 3rd pickup easily be wired into the circuit, and if so, how?

Secondy, the sustainer intensity pot seems to freely spin round and round both directions without a "start" and "stop" position. This doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone know the makeup of this pot and how it is actually supposed to function? My gut tells me it's defective.

Hi John. Yes a middle pickup can be wired into the 401 kit. The driver, which is also a pickup, when the sustainer is off, goes in the neck position. A mid pickup of your choice can be used. On the 401 K wiring diagram there is two wires labeled middle pickup. Its on the left hand side. The HOT goes in the same clip as the bridge PU. The ground goes to a spot on the circuit board. Now heres the crap part. They need those little clips so they can slide on to the plug that attaches to the circuit board. Ive successfully soldered the PU wires to the clip before but thats a PAIN.

The intensity pot should not spin all the way around. It should be center detented. It operates just like any normal pot would with the exception of the center detent.

Also, the included bridge pickup can be swapped out with whatever you choose. Some higher output works best. Although I do like the sound of the included PU. If you use something else, rob the clips off the included pickup to make your life easier.

STEVE

[John Kingma]

Thanks Steve. That's very helpful.

[John Kingma]

The intensity pot should not spin all the way around. It should be center detented. It operates just like any normal pot would with the exception of the center detent.

So, worse case scenario, if it is screwed I could just replace it with a normal pot of the same value... whatever that is.

[David King]

According to the 401 installation instructions PDF it's a B-500K which is linear.
Same for the volume pot.
The tone pot is an A-500K which is forwards audio logarithmic. A standard guitar pot in other words.
I'm sure Radio Shack and all other electronics places will carry the linear pot. Allparts sells them as well.

If it is Center Detented then that will limit your choices. Bartolini uses those but I can't think of anywhere to order them so you'll have to go to the source there.

[John Kingma]

Thanks David. That info is not on the instructions that came with my kit. Where did you find that?

I have linear pots in my stock bin.

I know what a center detented pot IS but what exactly does center detented MEAN? From an operational standpoint. Will a normal linear pot work?

JK

[David King]

Here are the links:
http://fernandesguitars.com/support/dow ... ainer.html

[John Kingma]

I took a close look at the pot last night. It's made by Alps... the numbers have been soldered over... but so I should be able to find a replacement if necessary.

[David King]

Fernandes should send you a replacement.

[John Kingma]

Yes, they should... but they don't return my calls or answer my emails.

[John Kingma]

Boy I feel stupid.

Last night I completely unpacked the sustainer kit so I could get a better look at the "bad" pot. As it turns out the knob that comes with the kit was not tightened properly and it was spinning on the shaft, making it seem like the pot was defective.

So it was the knob that was free wheeling... not the pot.

So, everything is fine with it.

[David King]

We've all been there. It would have been a first.