cut mine down to 18" - no loss in reception (course I only play CDs).

 

I bought a cheap Autozone full size one and cut it down. It doesn't have the spiral up it and the ball went back on easier, still a pain to get off though. The only short ones they had then were rubber. They look good standing still, but look retarded driving down the road when they bend over.

 

my friend took the ball off, cut his, then put the ball back on. lost alot of reception. i have a 14 inch shorty, and lost no reception. why idk. just putting this out there.

for the 14.99 i think its worth it to buy a shorty, you will have the stock one too if you ever want it back.

 

I too went to autozone and bought a new regular sized antenna and cut it down myself to the roofline length. Works great with no loss in reception.

 

Are you kidding me? You cant just spend the money and buy one so its done rite. jeeze

 

Reception sucked before the shorty and after no difference so go for it and cut the stock one. I noticed a big difference from the shaker 500 and playing CD's as opposed to the radio and the sound and volume did not suffer anymore than it did before the 8 inch shorty I have now. I listen to CD's and I- pod way more than the radio anyway! J