pickup leads(wires) why cut them so short?

[john1880]

I have noticed that some people will replace pickups and cut the wires so they barey reach the pickup selector. Even too short sometimes. I have a tone Zone and the wires are too short. I'm going to need to extend the wires.
Why cut them so short? Does it improve the sound or lessen hum, or what? I will cut a little off mine but I leave a good 5 inches in case someone wants to ever use it in the neck position.

john

[frankfalbo]

No good reason. If you're totally anal you'll say any reduction in signal travel is an improvement, but it's total hogwash. You're going to send it through a 6'-20' cable anyway. 6" in the cavity is irrelevant.

[ibanezcollector]

I usually try to keep them as long as possible but sometimes you get good deals on short lead pickups cause some people dont want to deal with them

[brothersnowgone]

I don't cut them unless I have too, cause it's easier to sell a pick-up with all of it's wire left.

[Jaden]

I dont cut them, I either cable tie the excess in a nice loop or I gluegun the spare lengths of cable to the side/bottom of the electrical cavity....
then when you want to change it out !!!
sweet, a full length of cable !

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

No good reason. If you're totally anal you'll say any reduction in signal travel is an improvement, but it's total hogwash. You're going to send it through a 6'-20' cable anyway. 6" in the cavity is irrelevant.

So so true. Its better to be completely anal about your soldering job if your worried about resistances. Although i can tell the difference between a 6foot and 20 foot cable too :P

[john1880]

Good to know. Thanks. Apparently some people feel differently and now I have a Tone Zone with about 1 1/2 inches of wire. Oh well. I can "fix" that.

john

[j.arledge]

most of the time i just leave my pickups with the full factory lead and just strip the ends off instead of cutting them down . I just take a wire tie and fold whatever i dont need and tie it up .

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

No good reason. If you're totally anal you'll say any reduction in signal travel is an improvement, but it's total hogwash. You're going to send it through a 6'-20' cable anyway. 6" in the cavity is irrelevant.

Yea, I once did the maths on cable length vs signal degradation and didnt even bother math'ing the pup leads !!!

its all bloody millivolts anyway !!! - hardly going to matter if you trim 4" off the pup cable !!!

dont ask me the results cos I cant remember them - I just remember it being a complete waste of time !

[frankfalbo]

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

So so true. Its better to be completely anal about your soldering job if your worried about resistances. Although i can tell the difference between a 6foot and 20 foot cable too :P

That's the best part (also echoing what WIS just said) lots of people can tell the difference between a 6' and 20' cable. I can totally tell. But could I tell between 6' and 6' 4"? No way. That's the difference of cutting down your pickup leads.

[john1880]

"6 inches in the cavity is irrelevant". that just sounds wrong in my dirty mind. ;-)
thanks guys. i cut 2 inches off a pickup with lots of lead and soldered it to the tone zone that was butchered. all is well now.

john

[TonyT1000]

I have lengthened cut ones, too. Just solder more wire on and use some shrink tubing to make it look neat...

[frankfalbo]

I almost always replace the whole 4-conductor with new cable if it's short. It's just easier that way. Then I get to clean it up and re-tape it.

As for "6 inches in the cavity" yes you have a dirty mind and should be ashamed of yourself. Let's think of it like this: Everyone should have at least 6 inches (of wire) in the cavity.

[john1880]

Oh, I dont think I can do that...unwrap the pickup and replace the entire lead. That sounds a little scarey for me.
Yeah, 6 inches of wire in the cavity and everyone is happy!


john