SUSTAINIAC SUSTAIN-MAN User manual
A sustainer is the only effect that operates directly on the strings
A sustainer is the only effect that operates directly on the strings A sustainer is the only effect that operates directly on the strings
A sustainer is the only effect that operates directly on the strings of the instrument.
of the instrument. of the instrument.
of the instrument.
All other effects change the signal that you hear.
All other effects change the signal that you hear.All other effects change the signal that you hear.
All other effects change the signal that you hear.
Sustainiamp floorbox amplifier/controller
Sustainiamp floorbox amplifier/controllerSustainiamp floorbox amplifier/controller
Sustainiamp floorbox amplifier/controller
The
Sustainiac SUSTAIN-MAN
replaces and improves upon
our famous
SUSTAINIAC
Model B and Model C
sustainers
.
The
Model B
is the sustainer that got it all started for us, back
in 1987. It is a workhorse of the studio, and has been used for
30 years around the world to generate effortless, natural
feedback sustain for electric guitar players. For the first time,
an electroacoustic sustainer is powered by a single 9-volt
battery, yet delivers the same sustain intensity as our previous
25 watt Model C that was powered by the power line. This
eliminates the transducer cord that hangs down to the floor.
HERE'S HOW THE SUSTAIN-MAN WORKS:
The
Sustainiac SUSTAIN-MAN
sustainer is an
electro-
acoustic
type sustainer. This is different from an
electro-
magnetic
type sustainer. The
SUSTAIN-MAN
produces
infinite sustain of an instrument's string vibrations by making
intense
acoustic
feedback. It is like getting feedback from the
loudspeakers of a very large, loud amp.
Except much more so
.
Amp feedback is
unpredictable
. Sometimes it works, but often
it doesn't. With the
SUSTAIN-MAN
you get successful
feedback-sustain at any volume level. It is very predictable and
controllable. You can enhance solos or produce vibrational
changes in the strings with success every time, because you are
not relying on room acoustics and amp position as you are with
amp feedback. The best part is that you don't have to play at
high volume to get screaming feedback sustain. No more
hearing loss from playing too loudly. Perfect for studio or
home.
The
SUSTAIN-MAN
has two main parts: (1) The
transducer
(top photo) simply clamps to your guitar headstock, then
transforms your amplified, processed pickup signal coming
from the Sustainiamp into acoustic vibrations. These vibrations
are sent to the strings through the instrument neck. (2) The
Sustainiamp
controller/amplifier (bottom photo) amplifies and
processes your instrument pickup signal, and powers the
transducer
.
NO INSTALLATION REQUIRED
The
SUSTAIN-MAN
doesn't have to be installed inside of the
instrument, like our electromagnetic
Stealth
PRO
sustainer
does. All of your instrument pickups work with the
SUSTAIN-
MAN
. Again, this is unlike the electromagnetic type of
sustainer where only the bridge pickup typically works when
the sustainer is on.
PERFORMING WITH THE SUSTAIN-MAN
Most sustained notes will morph into cool-sounding harmonics within a short time after the note is played. Some notes
will remain as fundamental vibration. Then, you can force the note to morph into a different harmonic vibration mode by
stepping on the HARMONICS footswitch. Some chords will sustain two or three notes, but most chords morph into a
single note after several seconds.
HOW INTENSE IS IT?
The sensation of playing with a Sustainiac electroacoustic sustainer is indeed intense and exciting. Musicians often say
that it feels like the instrument is actually alive in their hands. Yes, you definitely feel the vibrations! (The vibrations
will not harm the instrument.) This sensation is like playing at extreme, deafening volume levels. Yet, the instrument
amplifier volume can be turned all the way down to zero. The intensity and responsiveness are fully adjustable. In fact,
the amount of feedback-sustain is so great that you can use it in ways you have never thought possible.
ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC SUSTAINER
www.sustainiac.com
Sustainiac headstock-mounted transducer
Sustainiac headstock-mounted transducerSustainiac headstock-mounted transducer
Sustainiac headstock-mounted transducer
SYSTEM DETAILS
The
Sustainiac
SUSTAIN-MAN
sustainer consists of three main parts: (1)
Sustainiac
string-driver
transducer;
(2)
Sustainiamp
controller/amplifier;
(3)
Mounting bracket.
It all fits together like this (See diagram inside the booklet):
The
mounting bracket
connects to the guitar body by the lower strap button. The Sustainiamp box
connects to the mounting bracket with hook-and-loop fastner material. A short 18 inch guitar cord comes
from the
Sustainiamp
box and plugs into your guitar output jack. Your guitar pickup signal is tapped off
inside the
Sustainiamp
floorbox and is then amplified and processed by the Sustainiamp
controller/amplifier. Your raw guitar signal goes on
unchanged
to your amp or effects chain.through the
1/4 in. jack using any standard guitar cord.
The Sustainiac
transducer
attaches to the guitar headstock by the attached clamp. A 6 ft., 1/8 in. diameter
wire goes up over the strap (held in place by nylon tie wraps) to the headstock-mounted transducer. The
other end of the 1/8 in. cable has a 3.5mm plug. This 3.5mm plug is inserted into the jack labelled
TRANSDUCER
. The high-energy amplified pickup signal comes from the 3.5mm
Sustainiamp
output
jack. The
transducer
then produces intense acoustic vibrations that are in synchronization with the string
vibrations. Vibration energy is added to the strings during each vibration. This is what sustains the
vibrations.
WARRANTY:
One year from date of purchase.
POWER CONSUMPTION:
9 volts, 1/2 watt (one watt in TURBO mode).
Battery current: 50 milliamperes for a typical sustained note. 100 milliamperes in TURBO mode.
Battery life: 10 hours for a typical sustained note. 5 hours in TURBO mode.
TRANSDUCER
: Impedance = 16 ohms.
CAUTION
: Do not use the
SUSTAIN-MAN transducer
with our older
Sustainiac Model B
or
Model
C
sustainer floorboxes. This will likely damage the
SUSTAIN-MAN transducer
.
We can modify the
Model B or Model C Sustainiamp to provide the right amount of power for safe, very intense sustain
energy
PHYSICAL:
Amplifier box = 6.5 oz., 5 x 2.5 x 1 in. Transducer = 8.5 oz.; shipping weight = 1.5 lb.
(2.6kg)
Retail price:
SUSTAINIAC SUSTAIN-MAN
sustainer is $229.00 (U.S. dollars).
Prices subject to
change without notice.
Maniac Music, Inc.
5348 N. Tacoma Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA ph: 317-340-1161
www.sustainiac.com email: info@sustainiac.com
SUSTAINIAC
is a registered trademark of Maniac Music, Inc. Patents existing and pending.
August 2016
SUSTAIN-MAN
SUSTAIN-MAN
TONE
TONETONE
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SUSTAINIAMP OPERATION:
SWITCH CONTROLS:
POWER
switch: Turns the Sustain-man
ON
and
OFF
.
CHANGE HARMONICS
switch: Harmonic mode of string vibration is changed using the
CHANGE HARMONICS footswitch. Red/green LED changes color to indicate which mode is
selected.
MANUAL/AUTO/MAN
switch: Selects between MANUAL and AUTOMATIC operation.
(CHANGE HARMONICS FOOTSWITCH will force change of harmonic mode when switch is in
either position: MANUAL or AUTOMATIC.)
TURBO
switch: Increases string drive power. Makes sustain more intense. But it doubles the
battery current from about 50 ma to 100 ma.
HARMONIC MODES:
There are two HARMONIC MODES:
RED
HARMONIC
MODE, and
GREEN
HARMONIC MODE.
The two modes are indicated by the two-color HARMONICS OPERATION LED. This LED
illuminates either RED or GREEN, depending on which mode you are in. This visual indicator lets
you know what harmonic mode you are in. Both RED and GREEN modes are similar: Some notes
will fade into harmonics and some will vibrate as fundamentals. When you change modes,
fundamental notes will always fade into a harmonic. Harmonic notes will fade either into a
different harmonic or into a fundamental. Often, you will get several harmonics to occur in
sequence from the same note by simply changing mode over and over.
When the HARMONICS OPERATION slide switch is set to
MANUAL
, pressing the CHANGE
HARMONICS footswitch will change modes back and forth from
RED
to
GREEN
modes.
When the HARMONICS OPERATION slide switch is set to
AUTOMATIC
, you can simply release
fret pressure for an instant and the mode will change. Or, gently touch a vibrating string, or quickly
turn down guitar volume, then back up, and a note will automatically change harmonic modes. This
is a powerful feature. You can still use the MANUAL HARMONICS footswitch while in
AUTOMATIC mode of operation. This is a Maniac Music first.
A NOTE ABOUT AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION:
Occasionally, a note will tend to rapidly
come to a stop rather than sustain. For these notes, the sustainer acoustic energy reaching the string
arrives "out of phase" with the string vibration because of the time it takes for the energy to travel
the distance to the fret from the Sustainiac transducer.
Usually
, in one mode or the other, about 2 or
3 notes on a guitar can have this characteristic. When this happens, the Sustainiac circuit senses
that a note is decaying rapidly, and automatically
forces
a harmonic mode change.
KNOB CONTROLS:
HARMONICS: Actually an equalizer. As the control is rotated toward "0", treble frequencies are
rolled off, and more fundamental notes will sustain. Rotating toward "10" means low frequencies
are rolled off, and notes will "
morph
" more easily into harmonics. Mid-rotation will sustain a
combination of both.
GAIN: Adjusts sustainer gain. More gain means faster sustain buildup, but it is harder to control
guitar. Doesn't change the amount of string drive, however.
STRING DRIVE: Adjusts signal level going to sustainer power amplifier (and overall gain).
Stronger sustained string vibration means more gain and faster sustain, but also harder to control
guitar.
SUSTAINIAM CONTROLLER
SUSTAINIAM CONTROLLERSUSTAINIAM CONTROLLER
SUSTAINIAM CONTROLLER
GUITAR
GUITAR GUITAR
GUITAR
AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFIER
TRANSDUCER
STRING
DRIVE GAIN HARMONICS
BAT.
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1010
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OWER
TURBO MANUAL CHANGE
HARMONICS
TO AM GUITAR
AUTO/MAN.
9V
ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC SUSTAINER
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1010
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SUSTAIN-MAN
Maniac Mus ic Inc.
TRANSDU CER
STRING
DRIVE GAIN HARMONICS
BAT.
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OWERTURBO MANUAL CHANGE
HARMONICS
TO AM GUITAR
AUTO/ MAN.
9V
ELECTRO -ACOUSTIC SUSTAINER
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NYLON TIE WRA S. Drill 1/8 in. holes
in guitar strap for tie wraps. No tie wrap
where strap crosses your shoulder.
RED - GREEN
INDICATOR LED.
6 ft. transducer wire
18 in. guitar wire
ordinary guitar cord
