What to do with short leads?

[wickedmartini]

I have the opportunity to purchase a box full of pickups in very good condition. The problem is that the majority of the pickups have very short leads on them. They were very carlessly removed from guitars over the years. I'm looking at picking up a box of pickups that is probably worth around $500 bucks for the price of $50 dollars. I was just worried about how to deal with the short leads and if any methods for extending the leads would affect the integrity or characteristics of the pickup. Just wanted to get some feedback before I made a move here. What is the best way to deal with this and how much affect will this have on the pickup? Or, am I just worrying too much? Most of the leads are about 2-3 inches long.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What to do with short leads?

short leads really arent a big deal at all. buy the box, or let me know how to get in touch with the guy and ill buy em (im not joking)

unless you have to go into a pup to reattach a wire extending the leads is very easy and will have virtually no effect on its performance

 

[jeremy]

Re: What to do with short leads?

stable-y do what? add a longer lead? yeah, use some wire and cover the joint in shrink tube.

you can buy wire almost anywhere, size doesnt really matter all that much but you want it to be flexable. i think i have 28, 22 and 20 gauge. you can actually buy spools of 4 cond + bare just like pup manufacturers use

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: What to do with short leads?

First off there's really not much of a reason to worry about the strutural strength of spliced wires. You shouldn't be pulling on the wires too hard, whether spliced or not. You can twist them together, solder and wrap or just twist them together and then use shrink wrap tubing. Splicing wires shouldn't have any noticeable impact on tone if done correctly.

I went to a surplus store and bought some rainbow cable that is used for punch down blocks & phone switches. It is roughly the same gauge as pickup wire and has the same colors.

 

[wickedmartini]

Re: What to do with short leads?

Can I splice and solder the connection?

Thanks for the help. I'm buying the box of goodies.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What to do with short leads?

yes, thats all you need to do

 

[wickedmartini]

Re: What to do with short leads?

Cool. Thank you.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: What to do with short leads?

I have the opportunity to purchase a box full of pickups in very good condition. The problem is that the majority of the pickups have very short leads on them. They were very carlessly removed from guitars over the years. I'm looking at picking up a box of pickups that is probably worth around $500 bucks for the price of $50 dollars. I was just worried about how to deal with the short leads and if any methods for extending the leads would affect the integrity or characteristics of the pickup. Just wanted to get some feedback before I made a move here. What is the best way to deal with this and how much affect will this have on the pickup? Or, am I just worrying too much? Most of the leads are about 2-3 inches long.

Depending on the pickup, I would probably just replace the leads entirely...

Where is this sale? I want 'em! :naughty:

 

[wickedmartini]

Re: What to do with short leads?

Already picked up the box. Some interesting stuff in there too ranging from brand spankin' new to old and well enjoyed. An almost new JB, some older Bill Lawrence PU's, a couple of PAF Pro's, some beat up P90 style PU's and a pile of single coils. I think I even got a couple of old Seth designed humbuckers that this guy took out of my buddy's Fender Lead I. Gonna sort it out over the weekend.

 

[pinto79]

Re: What to do with short leads?

Sweet score. I'd be all over that too.

 

[wickedmartini]

Re: What to do with short leads?

I always hear these stories from my buddies but it never happens to me. Plus, I think this guy sold me the stuff just to p*ss some other people off. There was definitely a list of people that he didn't want to get anything.