Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

[Downrazor11]

Hello people!

I am curious if there are any people/services that offer to cut down pickup mounting legs:
1.) taking a long leg pickup,
2.) cutting off the current mounting face,
3.) bending the end of the remaining leg 90 degrees to make a new mounting face,
4.) and then punching and threading a new, perfectly aligned, 3-48 mounting hole.

I know I can unsolder the mounting base and put a new short leg base on, but the few times I have done that I had to deal with the wax, the REALLY high temp factory solder, and ordering 3 different size bases to find the appropriate pole spacing, I swore I would make every attempt to avoid that in the future, especially considering, after all of that, I can't escape the thought that the pickup sounds different (I have no empirical data to show it does however)..

So.. anyone know anyone that can shorten the legs, professionally, as a service? I can also dremel and punch/thread myself, but my results on test mounting bases (the leftover wrong-sized ones from above) has not looked pretty..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

its much easier to get a new base plate but if you have the correct tools it can be done. i dont think id try it though. got a local machine shop?

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

I've replaced the base plate on a pair of other pickups, it was kind of a pain in the ass.. I can check a few local shops, just wanted to see if the service existed before I get charged too much by people who may not be very familiar with the item/process..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

trust me, its much more of a pita to bend the legs without the right tools. a machine shop is the place that has those tools but im sure itll be cheaper to get a new baseplate. what pups are these? ive changed a baseplate a few times and it wasnt that bad

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Just buy a new baseplate.


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[AlexR]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

New baseplates are a far better option here. Simply buy the baseplate and take to the local shop (or indeed get them to do the whole thing if the measuring skills are not up to scratch) to get them to fit it if you are concerned about the work involved.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Yeah, with a new baseplate you can do this in a few minutes, really. I wouldn't bother altering what you have and having to get a new baseplate anyway when the legs snap off.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

It is WAY easier to just replace the baseplate. If you're thinking that it is just a matter of bending the legs, it isn't...the baseplate will still have to be removed from the pup the same as if you were just changing it. What do you expect to save by doing that?

What do you have to unsolder anyway? What pup is this for? Does it have a cover?

Sounds like you're making a very big and expensive deal out of an extremely simple and quick operation.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Bending is a bad idea, To do it you will have to straighten the legs then rebend them. The straightening is likely to break the base plate. The metal type is ok to be bent once, but bending it back so you can rebend it in another spot is a big risk.

My money is even if you go to a machine shop with a sheet metal brake you will wind up buying a new baseplate anyways.

 

[Artie]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Bending is a bad idea, To do it you will have to straighten the legs then rebend them. The straightening is likely to break the base plate. The metal type is ok to be bent once, but bending it back so you can rebend it in another spot is a big risk.

Hey Edge: This hasn't really been a problem when I've shortened legs. First, I grab the leg with flat pliers right below the current bend. Then I grab the bent part and bend it back & forth 'til it breaks off. (I have the actual pup wrapped in blue tape first.) I then take my Dremel and smooth that edge. A fine file works just as well. I do both legs like that. Then I have a piece of white oak that I've cut to perfectly fit between both legs, at the correct distance to go to the new bend. I clamp it in from leg to leg to prevent risking breaking them off. Then I make the new bends, (emphasis on "new" bend), and then drill and tap the holes. Works great.

My piece of oak lays where you see the red here, clamped at the ends:

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Thanks to all the replies, the pickup in question is a BKP Painkiller long leg with a chrome cover. I want to fit it in a strat but I will probably just leave it alone for now until I work up the determination to redo the baseplate..

Thanks ArtieToo for your method!

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

Hey Edge: This hasn't really been a problem when I've shortened legs. First, I grab the leg with flat pliers right below the current bend. Then I grab the bent part and bend it back & forth 'til it breaks off. (I have the actual pup wrapped in blue tape first.) I then take my Dremel and smooth that edge. A fine file works just as well. I do both legs like that. Then I have a piece of white oak that I've cut to perfectly fit between both legs, at the correct distance to go to the new bend. I clamp it in from leg to leg to prevent risking breaking them off. Then I make the new bends, (emphasis on "new" bend), and then drill and tap the holes. Works great.

My piece of oak lays where you see the red here, clamped at the ends:

View attachment 98235

That’s a lot of work for something that cost a couple of bucks. To replace the baseplate, just unscrew 4 screws, and if it uses the vintage braid wire, unsolder it. Then swap in the new baseplate and screw it back together. [emoji2]


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[Artie]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

It sounds harder than it is. I hate unsoldering that ground wire, if I can avoid it. It really only takes a minute or two. Granted, you do have to invest in the proper size tap. But since I do this often, not a biggie.

That’s a lot of work for something that cost a couple of bucks.

Add another $10 if you order it online, as most people would do.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Any pro service to shorten pickup legs?

In the past, to do this, I have folded both legs under, then back out at the proper point. No need to drill/tap new holes.