Pickups: Long or Short Legs

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AusTexCap

AusTexCap

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Is there a way to know if you need pickups with long or short legs (brand, direct mount, etc) or is it something that totally varies by guitar type and needs to be measured? Can one type fit in the other with simple modification?
 
I'm not sure about pickups, but when it comes to rigtalk members in amp demo videos, I want to see some long legs!
 
AusTexCap":oftqz1rc said:
Is there a way to know if you need pickups with long or short legs (brand, direct mount, etc) or is it something that totally varies by guitar type and needs to be measured? Can one type fit in the other with simple modification?


Short legs work on everything - just get those.

Long legs are generally used in thick guitars like LPs, but can fit in some thinner guitars. I have long leg pick-ups in my PRS standard - only because I bought the pick-ups used.
 
mhenson42":evdqm881 said:
AusTexCap":evdqm881 said:
Is there a way to know if you need pickups with long or short legs (brand, direct mount, etc) or is it something that totally varies by guitar type and needs to be measured? Can one type fit in the other with simple modification?


Short legs work on everything - just get those.

Long legs are generally used in thick guitars like LPs, but can fit in some thinner guitars. I have long leg pick-ups in my PRS standard - only because I bought the pick-ups used.


I need a set for my Gibson Gothic studio LP
I found a better deal on short legs- will athat work? Or should I just get long legs?

Thanks!
 
Short legs oughta do the trick, albeit a lot of Lesters, at least all of mine, are long legged pups. I think what's more important here is understanding the purpose of the leg and what it is. The leg on a pup is located at either side of the pick up, is typically 'L' shapped, and at the bottom of this 'L', is bored out for a screw to go in it. These are the pick up height adjustment screws usually located in the plastic shield surround the pup when it's mounted on the face of the guitar. Seeing as the screws need to 'get into' the lower portion of the 'L', the short legs will usually provide this. The longer legs are simply for thicker bodies. If you get a long leg for a shallow cavity, no dice - as the brackets (the 'L's) will be bottoming out in the routed area for the pup. Short legs will plunk into anything, and that being said, will usually accept the side screws for adjustments just fine.

I kept my long legs long in my Lesters when purchasing my BKPs as I thought 'stick with convention', and have short legs in my ESPs.

Hope this helps.
Mo
 
Get short legs, they will work in pretty much everything. Long legs usually only fit in Les Paul type guitars.
 
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