Firstly tone is a personal thing.And snobs will be snobs🙄That out of the way. I adjusted the slugs for a milder stagger. See photo. Assemble with some quality.047 caps, treble bleed, pots,switch, shielding and a good set up. These pups sound as good as anything I've paid $$$ for.Don't be brainwashed by the names on labels. For example there is an amazing number of affordable effects pedal clones and quality guitar bits out there! Experiment and experience the industry from outside the big 3 snobosphere 😒 Plus guitar manufacturing has really evolved over the 50 plus years. Let me close with the old adage that tone is in your fingers and your soul👍If you don't have that?Everything "sounds muddy"