Pickup legs

[Pale Rider]

Hi there all!

What is the leg length I should use for a soloist style guitar with a locking tremolo and DIRECT mount pickups (no pickguard or mounting rings)?

I know the spacing must be the wide one but what about the legs?

Thanks!

[Philly Q]

Probably short, but the best thing to do is measure the legs of the guitar's current pickups because there won't be much room for error!

Short is roughly 1/4", long is roughly 1/2".

[Pale Rider]

Thanks PhillyQ. Actually it's for a custom guitar not built yet. So, maybe the cavities can be made according to the pickups?

If this is the case, what's better? A deep cavity or a short one (less or more wood)?

I'd say more(?).

[WezV]

its really going to make very little difference unless you are direct mounting your pickups to the wood

[Pale Rider]

Yes. They're going to be direct mounted. I decided for that because I like the looks more and I already have 2 guitars with rings.

What difference can this make?

Thanks for the reply.

[WezV]

i would go for shorter legs if direct mounting.

The theory behind direct mounting is that it allows the bodies vibration to be captured as well.  This will be because the pickup is actually vibrating with the body wood as it is sensing the strings vibration.

normally pickups are relatively isolated from the bodies vibration because of the springs and mounting rings.

Some people think it makes a huge improvement to the tone -i wouldnt be so bold to make such claims

[Pale Rider]

Thanks WezV. I thought the same thing too - short legs and shallower cavities.

Yep. That thing about PU mounting is interesting too. I posted some ideas about it on another forum. Interesting discussion.