Schecter Sustainiac Demo & Review

[@gmangsxr750]

I just picked up a used one last weekend primarily for the sustainiac . Can’t wait to give it a run, thanks for the review!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Enjoy!

[@JuxtaCrucem]

Salivated over this guitar as it would be able to do the George Lynch long sustain as found on Dokkens 'Back for the attack'. Exhaustive and detailed review. Good riffs at the end.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks!!

[@philippe_durel]

I've adjusted a couple of guitars equipped with Sustainiac pickups. You can slightly play around the neck pickup height to fine tune the sustain effect to your liking. I wished the Sustainiac system had some basic "EQ adjustments" (like micro pots adjustable with small screwdrivers or anything) in order to filter some annoying frequency responses, though. One of my customers came up with a cool idea about a sustaining system where the "sustain pickup" would have 6 independent small coils each connected to their independent saddle on a piezo bridge in order to better control the sustain and the balance of that effect on all 6 strings, and avoid "punching" feedback from a the vibration of peculiar string back to the other 5 strings, so that sustaining chords wouldn't sound so "messy". Anyway, COOL DEMO !

[@MusicWithMarky]

That's some really insightful commentary there. I agree there could be improvements and I'm going to try to play with that height as you say. Thanks!

[@guitarsrusinc2908]

@@MusicWithMarky I believe there are some small pots on the board inside, but tweak at your own risk, I have not messed with them yet

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@guitarsrusinc2908 I'll have to have my techs look. Thanks.

[@ashuzguitar]

You have earned yourself a new subscriber. This is how all reviews should be done. Also, I just 💜 the guitar 🎸 a lot already just watching your demo!!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thank you!

[@keithfields1178]

There are 2 variable resisters you can adjust on the circuit board under the cover top side of the battery boxes. Also been suggested to vary the string height to tone desired. I have 2 Schecters love them both. Agree the guitar quality is above board. Very disappointing to find no manufacturer support in regards to the sustainiac is non existent. So a buy and try is the only option. Not overly excited with the sustainiac. But some could find it useful. Wrote one song with it, and kinda left it there.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks for the tip!

[@sargentshredder6227]

I’ve been playing solely on this guitar for 3 years. Love it. But I must admit the substaniac takes a bit of the “brightness” out and doesn’t feel as wide. Does anyone else get that vibe. It’s almost like a slight compressed sound. Great for melodic parts but not so much “feel.” Curious what you all think.

[@lorntrent3308]

The tone of the bridge pickup didn’t change after I installed the sustainiac even though everything runs through the board, but it does seem to compress the tone if you switch it on and play without sustaining anything almost like kicking on an overdrive or something.

[@notgnar8506]

I have a Schecter Diamond Series Damien Platinum and it's rock solid. Plays great, stays in tune. Everything about it looks and feels perfect to me.

[@MusicWithMarky]

That makes two then. :). Yeah there guitars are great.

[@jbjb9691]

Thank you *so much* for this great review Marky. I liked your review so much that I just got one for my own birthday :-) I'm not a metal person, more like Prog/Ambient, but that extraordinary guitar fits the bill perfectly for me, can play a bit à la Fripp. I really appreciate all your work for the guitar community.

[@MusicWithMarky]

I really appreciate that and happy birthday!

[@jbjb9691]

@@MusicWithMarky it arrived a few days ago and I couldn't be happier. The second day it started sounding funny on the low E, but a truss rod adjustment by the luthier at Guitar Center fixed it beautifully. He said it happens sometimes after a change in air temperature and humidity conditions upon shipping. It is such an awesome instrument. Thank you again!

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@jbjb9691 glad to hear it!! Guitars often need adjustment after shipping, that's true.

[@lorntrent3308]

There’s got to be something wrong with your Sustainiac. I installed one myself in an old Kramer years ago and it worked well anywhere on the fretboard. I think I had the trim pot on the board wide open and the driver pretty close to the strings. The only odd thing mine would do is drive some of the high notes into harmonics when in fundamental mode but it would even sustain some chords.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Could be. I only had the one to work with though, so I had to roll with it.

[@georgeatkisson2598]

Open up the back theres three dials inside your welcome

[@georgeatkisson2598]

Three blue adjustables inside

[@renorocker64]

I have the Exact Guitar , Same color and everything ,I have 10 guitars and it is the best one !!! Love this MoFo !!!!!!

[@natesamuelsson9634]

Awesome video as usual! Thanks Mark!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks dude!

[@josuepon0318]

This is honestly a really good review! I’m going to buy it!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks and enjoy!

[@ManifestKing83]

I had the same issues with my sustaniac. I found that it was low batteries. I installed fresh 9v batteries and now the sustaniac signal is strong and sounds awesome. Sustain for days.🤙 if your sustaniac signal is weak try installing fresh batteries

[@MusicWithMarky]

I tried that and it got some better but not completely. Maybe I should just try different set of batteries. It's possible the new set didn't have all the juice.

[@ManifestKing83]

@Music With Marky yea some high quality 9v may help. Also I'm thinking it may be beneficial to just get rechargeable 9volts. A 4 pack so i can have fresh 9volts in rotation. Loving this guitar 🤙

[@Rektrishun]

Nice video. As some constructive criticism.... This guitar is not a Hellraiser. This guitar is a Platinum made just for Guitar Center. Specifically it's a Schecter C-1 FR S Platinum. Hellraisers have not ever come in a red matte finish. Usually I wouldn't say anything, however, I just bought one of these used and was confused as to what my guitar actually was. This video is a top search result for several terms related to schecter c1 with sustainiac. This has led to my research confusion. Hopefully this helps clear things up a bit. Hopefully you didn't pay Hellraiser price for that guitar. The Platinum is about $300 less MSRP

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks for the info! I did this one quite some time ago, to so I don't recall what I paid for it. I am*think* it was about a grand.

[@florenttenryu5011]

Very interesting ! An E bow maybe more effective for sustain on any string, as i understand ?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I had one long ago and it worked really well, yes. This is way more convenient in a live situation or to combine sustain with complex picking passages, but the ebow was more effective strictly for sustain on any string.

[@florenttenryu5011]

@@MusicWithMarky Yes, thank you for helping 👍💖

[@NorthTexasEagle1989]

Great vid from a face melter. I played this model and found a high pitch whistle drone when in the octave sustain setting that would be there none stop, playing, muted etc. Seems like a severe defect. Taking the metal of the whammy bar over the strings would stop it but it would start again immediately when touched with hands???

[@MusicWithMarky]

Yeah that one squeal thing can be a real problem. The sustainiac definitely has its uses but it has some weird glitches too. That said, there's nothing like it or there (that's built into the guitar), so I still find it very useful.

[@JeanYvesP]

Thanks! It is hard to find good clean recordings of the Sustainiac.

[@ELPLAK]

Thank you for the video!! I am looking for a Schecter guitar, just I am afraid of the pickups. I like the Elite C1 , again no sure about the PUs.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Well the one sustainiac in the neck you have to keep as is. You can change the bridge pickup to anything you want if you know how to do that or are willing to pay someone else to. It's not super expensive.

[@9hk38f]

Thoughts on the new Schecter coming out, with a solid bridge with a sustainiac? I refuse to do floyd rose, but I have heard some people say, sustainiac is pointless for solid bridge?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I don't see why not. While it's fun to use the tremolo arm on sustained notes, it's certainly not needed to make it work.

[@guitarsrusinc2908]

put a fresh duracel in it and let us know the difference, changed mine when It finally came from sweetwater and the battery made a huge difference.

[@MusicWithMarky]

I've done so. It changes for a bit, but seems to return to a similar state pretty quickly.

[@Fraiyia]

I just bought this guitar . Tried it at the GC and it was sweet ! Be sure and get an E bow dude .

[@MusicWithMarky]

I use the Ebow years ago. Never thought about combining it with this. That's interesting

[@Fraiyia]

Music With Marky yea dude , give it a try .

[@bassinbob1965]

I just bought this AXX Marky Mark. I love your sound. Where can I find info for your set up? Hadn't been here in a while. I probably missed it.

[@MusicWithMarky]

I'm either using the Axe FX 3 or the Kemper in anything you see on the channel. If there is delay or verb, that's usually added via plug-in on the recording. I use Valhalla's delay quite a bit.

[@davebrown7536]

Nice review, I just picked up one used for about 550$ and in good shape, and the electronics alone are worth it. I also play a 1988 PRS Custom 24, and looking forward to having this one in the mix for a few rock tunes that require very strong sustain for lead work in some areas, while keeping volume levels low. Apparently there is a Fernandez system, for your guitar, but this looked way easier route to go and compares well with it. I was surprised to see pros using this technology on their stage guitars for rock acts, and one act had only in-ear monitors so it makes sense. Thanks!

[@MusicWithMarky]

I'm another guy with an old PRS too. 1987 for me. Enjoy the new one!

[@davebrown7536]

@@MusicWithMarky Yeah, old PRS are forever. :-) I have seen that on the C1 guitar, with sustainiac on, the 3-way octave switch seems to work best with lower octave setting for lower strings, vs the G,B,E upper strings, to achieve feedback. The tone of the guitar definitely cuts through, a lot more bite than many electric guitars, perhaps due to the EMG pickups I suspect. Best investment I've made in a while for a guitar, the technology is alone worth it, and the action is very low, and smooth neck. As you said, feels like a $1K+ guitar.

[@dedespedida4515]

I love that intro, dis you wrote it? If so have you ever recorded that

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks! I did write it. I never did more with it than as an intro for the video.

[@dedespedida4515]

@@MusicWithMarky wow it sounds amazing man! And thanks for the video, Subscribed!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Awesome. Much appreciated. I have a bunch of my songs on the playlist here: My Songs: kzbin.info/aero/PL5nXZdmaIH4j0TFEzY-Zgqo9TG-KtOO7l

[@atomic2012a]

Not a word about the bridge pickup?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I shot this so long ago, I have to go back and watch it. I don't remember when I covered!

[@davidbathkedb]

Nice review, how long would you say the 9v batteries last?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I've only replace them once in a couple years but I don't play it a ton so I'm not really sure how many hours you get out of it.

[@davidbathkedb]

@@MusicWithMarky sounds like the best best would be to grab a 4 pack and have spares just in case👍🏻

[@MusicWithMarky]

Oh yeah for sure, if you're playing it regularly.

[@davidbathkedb]

@@MusicWithMarky well I’m sold, i’ve done numerous reviews on this guitar and I think this sums it all up🤘🏻thank you!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Happy to help! It's a very Superior instrument at that price point.

[@pyphus]

I like the squeak! Also, I haven't seen any of these demos just play chords, using the Sustainiac. Is that because you can't?

[@MusicWithMarky]

You know, I never thought of trying that! It should work.

[@cjc2611]

@@MusicWithMarky forgive my dumb question, if you don't have the sustainiac pickup engaged/active, does it act as a regular pickup?

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@cjc2611 that isn't a dumb question at all. It was the first thing I wondered before I got it. I probably should have mentioned that in the review. Yes it works as a regular neck pickup.

[@cjc2611]

@@MusicWithMarky is it a quality pickup in its own right? I just bought a hellraiser hybrid C1 FR-S so I'm super stoked.

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@cjc2611 yeah just as good as the bridge one on this.

[@ibanizgumangan2896]

Where i can buy a guitar like that here in the phillipines....

[@MusicWithMarky]

Does sweetwater.com deliver there?

[@michaelmattson3515]

For the money to replace or repair my Fernandez I think I may get this guitar instead. Mine has a loud hum in the middle & neck position. I’ve had it for 15 years and this has been going on for two years now. And today the sound is in bridge too. I have to stand 95 degrees from my amp and have the guitar facing straight up to eliminate the sound & that’s in the clean Fender bank on my GT100.It’s totally weird. Never before has this happened. It might be the circuit board. I’ve always liked Schecter guitars.

[@MusicWithMarky]

That's odd. It's probably something that can be fixed if you bring it to a decent guitar tech.

[@guillaumemd_]

the neck pickup sounds like a single coil, is it?

[@MusicWithMarky]

As far as I know, to yes. The sustainiac takes up one of the coil slots.

[@guitarsrusinc2908]

@@MusicWithMarky the plain black pickup part of the sustainiac is just a blank cover.

[@brandonringo7459]

I am getting ready to buy a semi-expensive metal guitar and this is #1 on my list. Would it be worth it to pull the trigger on this, or should I consider something else?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I was just playing it again last night and thinking how great it plays for that price. I think it's a solid guitar in and around $1k. If you're not planning on having to do many other styles of music, the pickups do the job for rock & metal, quite well too.

[@brandonringo7459]

@@MusicWithMarky awesome, thanks!!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Glad to help. I have a video on the PRS SE as well, to which is a touch more expensive, but you might want to check it out for a comparison of you haven't already.

[@guitarsrusinc2908]

@@MusicWithMarky the super shredders are pretty good also, I've got one of those and a 7 string elite frs... both great guitars

[@MusicWithMarky]

They are surprisingly good for the cost. I've played guitars twice the cost that aren't put together as well.

[@bluegenix7641]

I actually went to guitar center to try out new amps and I saw a schecter with sustaniac pickups, I was curious so I picked it up and tried to use it. Now I don’t know if there were no batteries or if they just plain dead but it didn’t work. Maybe user error because I can be a little dumb sometimes but yeah. Over all cool pickup but sadly I couldn’t work it.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Most likely it was just that they didn't have a live battery in it.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Places like Guitar Center don't often check all of their equipment regularly. There's too much there and not enough staff that has that kind of diligence.

[@bluegenix7641]

@@MusicWithMarky That makes sense, I did think about it when I was there. I’m actually looking into a syn gates series that has a sustainiac pickup I’m just scared if it acts as a normal pickup too.

[@MusicWithMarky]

You can return it if it doesn't work. I've never heard anybody saying they bought one and it didn't function properly so I don't think it's really a concern.

[@prorenzo]

Does the neck pickup still work with flat batteries if the sustainiac mode is turned off?

[@MusicWithMarky]

Yes it's a fully functional pickup aside from the sustainiac. I haven't checked if the pickups themselves need battery juice however (in other words are they active). I'll have to unplug it and get back to you.

[@gabrielnegreira2493]

The sustainiac driver generates a very weak current when capturing the vibration of the strings, so in order to generate sound, its signal is amplified by the sustainiac board. So it needs the battery in order to work. If the battery is dead and you select the neck pickup you'll actually hear the blend between the bridge pickup and a very weak sound from the neck, which sounds terrible to my ears.

[@KenKellySWFL]

My Schecter Damien Platinum with the Sustainiac arrives tomorrow… can’t wait! 😁

[@MusicWithMarky]

Enjoy!!!

[@Thenicksamples]

I’m thinking of modding my guitar with one, is $350 worth it for the pickup?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I get a ton of use out of mine so I would say yes!

[@Thenicksamples]

@@MusicWithMarky thank you for such a quick response!

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@Thenicksamples happy to help!

[@ray.a7343]

Would be sick for flying in a blue dream

[@MusicWithMarky]

Love that song!

[@TomGrubbe]

How long do those two 9v batteries last? If you leave the guitar plugged in wil it drain the battery?

[@MusicWithMarky]

I'm pretty sure it only drains when you have the sustainer switch engaged. I didn't use it heavily so it lasted a good year on my first battery.

[@kabudahtv331]

Oh shit I want that guitar strap!!

[@kabudahtv331]

Where can I find that strap?

[@MusicWithMarky]

@kabudahtv331 I think I got it on Amazon, but I don't see it any longer. It was either that or guitar center had it. It was several years ago.

[@veasg]

Just got one used(practically brand new) for 500$ with Schecter case!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Great deal!!!

[@veasg]

@@MusicWithMarky great video man! I saw this guitar at Guitar Center in LA and didn't really know what it could do.

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@veasg I love it. That's a good GC there. Have you been to the one up in Hollywood too?

[@baristurk1545]

what is that song u play at 10 min with mid gain amazing!!!

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks! It's just something I made up on the spot to demo the guitar sound. I only do original stuff on the channel.

[@PrantikNath]

how about acoustic simulation with multieeffects??

[@MusicWithMarky]

An acoustic sim is not something this guitar does. I could go there with something in the Kemper, but it wouldn't be unique to the Schecter.

[@PrantikNath]

@@MusicWithMarky i actually use boss me-80 and other zoom pedal for my jackson dinky. its cheap guitar but the acoustic sound and any clean sound is awesome with this, it has humbuckers, now i was looking for schecter. but i want a versatile guitar with original floyd rose setup.

[@MusicWithMarky]

The EMG pickups in the shelter are not my favorite, but they are not bad either. It doesn't do a split coil or anything like that, so I would say it is not the most versatile. I find it the sounds of these pickups to be most useful for rock and metal. I don't know how they would sound with your setup doing clean sounds.

[@ashuzguitar]

Hey, is this Crimson Red Burst Satin or some other colour? I really like this one but I'm only able to find hellraiser apocalyptic red, which I don't like as much as this.

[@MusicWithMarky]

I believe it is, yes. I got it at a guitar center in new York city and I haven't kept the label or anything that I could use to double check.

[@ashuzguitar]

@@MusicWithMarky Thanks

[@rogerdai16]

"精诚所至，金石为开" in your back

[@domenicogiordano1836]

I have the same guitar and I have upgraded the tremolo system to the Floyd rose original and I upgraded the nut to Floyd rose original.. I would highly recommend you upgrade it makes a world of a difference the Floyd rose special sucks in my opinion

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks for the advice!

[@originalfallinggirl]

Is this good for a smoker who plays guitar?

[@MusicWithMarky]

Not sure why smoking matters?

[@originalfallinggirl]

@@MusicWithMarky just wasn’t sure if all the nicotine might might be bad for it.

[@MusicWithMarky]

Not that I could see.

[@brians7181]

I have one. Love it.

[@kakarot666.]

U have a room full of Schecter 😊

[@ambrooks5]

I use to be pretty big into PRS but man I do love my Schecters… a lot 🤘

[@kakarot666.]

@@ambrooks5 same here 🤝💯

[@MaTTheWish]

Sick ass demo...

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks!!

[@MaTTheWish]

​@@MusicWithMarkykiller intro, and you covered all the key points. Subscribed! By the way this guitar is on sale a GC right now for 699.00 I'm tempted. I was really considering the EOB Stratocaster from fender. Have you gotten their hands on that guitar yet? It has some excellent specs and some not so excellent such as adjusting the truss rod by taking off the neck. Uhg. And a very specific custom-shaped neck profile. But I prefer that pickup consideration over the schecter. Thanks again man.

[@MusicWithMarky]

I haven't had a chance to try that guitar. I can say for $699, the schechter is a fantastic deal though!

[@MaTTheWish]

@@MusicWithMarky oh man, I might have to pull the trigger. Uh oh!

[@MaTTheWish]

@@MusicWithMarky thanks for replying, I respect your opinion. You make great music and videos. I scrolled through and see a couple that I save for watch later. Thanks again!

[@martyf663]

I think that's a platinum not a hellraiser...

[@MusicWithMarky]

That's correct. I made a mistake on that. I had the other model previously and it was stuck in my head.

[@martyf663]

Cool...I was looking at the Platinum one and might buy it....that's why I brought it up...great video BTW!

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@martyf663 Thanks!

[@biroesustainer573]

Nice

[@MusicWithMarky]

Thanks. :)

[@bradleenarzary7315]

Give me the guitar 😳😳

[@anthonythelopez]

6:05

[@normc8169]

Sounds like a EBow

[@MusicWithMarky]

It is similar yeah.

[@andym5195]

mmmmmm!! g spot !!

[@utsavroy6414]

That doesn't look like Hellraiser.

[@ambrooks5]

Yeah my Hellraiser has a third knob. Not sure 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kadenvolan3557]

Why can’t Schecter make a guitar with sustainiac and fixed bridge. I can’t stand Floyd rose bridges. Only one I know of is the type o negative custom and that thing is ugly as hell.

[@MusicWithMarky]

The Floyd Rose bridges are not my favorite by far either.

[@Caleb_Tekwa]

LOVE FROM 🇮🇳

[@notgnar8506]

What on earth are you wearing?

[@MusicWithMarky]

Some shirt I got in a way trendy store. Like Affliction or something. I do my best to look as ridiculous as possible at all times. :)

[@notgnar8506]

I thought it might be a onesie.

[@MusicWithMarky]

@@notgnar8506 oh man that would be brilliant! I'm going to Amazon right now...

[@philippe_durel]

@@MusicWithMarky ( ... ridiculous is a concept from the past ... :D )