Cheers all, went for the same as BareKnuckleJack, splitting the bridge screw and the neck slug coils via a push/pull, and also got a tone bypass push/pull for the volume. Thought I'd prefer the two together when split, since that's my favourite on a tele, but actually I've been using the bridge the most, activating the tone control and rolling it down a bit. It's actually relatively close in character I think to the full humbucker mode, and not much quieter, but just drives the amp less which naturally works great for cleaning up on the same amp/pedal setting.
The VHIIs certainly are bright, a tad more than I'd imagined, but I'm happy; they have pretty much exactly the kind of dynamics I was hoping for. Dynamics, balance, low compression and a little extra garlic were my main criteria in the end, and I couldn't imagine a better humbucker for this so I'm satisfied. Actually I do use chunkier more compressed tones aswell, but I have a few posh pedals to achieve that when required and the sound is fantastic (I'm a bit of a pedal nerd, and with pickups like this you always have the option of clipping the guitar's signal more if you want).
Actually now I'm hankering after another solid mahogany guitar so I can put some Crawlers or Holy Divers or similar, to get the fatter hotter more compressed end of the hot-rodded PAF spectrum, but I have a 335 which I'm 90% sure will get an AIV bridge/AII neck Stormy Monday set, and a seven-string's in the works, so three sets of next level pickups will have to do this year.
:violin1:
What are peoples thoughts on the new SC245 sunburst with the nitro finish???
The new 245 looks pretty sexy but yeah, £3000? To be honest I expect way more than a posh finish for that price. Nitro is cool, but isn't it just a top coat over some kind of plastic? Always surprised not to see more Standard Satins about. Pretty much my ultimate specs for a humbucker guitar and half the price of the SC245 Sunburst.